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Saturday July 30 Registration Day began at noon at California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, California for this year's U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagget Memorial Trophy. Competitors from as far away as St Croix, USVI, Puerto Rico, from Seattle to San Diego and Maine to South Florida all convened in Southern California, each with the goal of obtaining the title, U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Champion. The day was spent applying recall numbers to sails, tuning rigs in the boat park and checking out chartered boats. Thanks to Vanguard Sailboats, 22 new boats were provided followed by an equal number of charters of local private boats arranged by their local dealership in Santa Barbara. Returning competitors spent time visiting and catching up with other, and first timers used the opportunity to meet and get to know others arriving at at this championship venue for their first time. The busy day concluded with a barbeque poolside and introductions to host families. Sunday July 31 Under sunny California skies, the coaches began the first of two days of classroom and on-the-water instruction for the 59 sailors in this year’s U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship. The Championship is being hosted by California Yacht Club and ably chaired by Mike and Barbie Blecher. The competitors began their two days of clinics prior to Championship racing led by Coach Mike Kalin, the US Sailing Youth Development Coach. He is ably assisted by Coach Danny Pletch, SUNY Maritime, multiple collegiate All Americans Amanda Clark and Molly Carapiet, Olympian Meg Gailliard, and two time U.S. National Champion and former USMMA Coach Nate Stofelsma. After a short opening ceremony on the yacht club lawn and a welcome by Commodore Bill Peterson, a proper salute to the flag, some introductions of dignitaries, the US SAILING burgee was raised, followed by the Regatta Class Flag, signifying the beginning of the event. Then, off to the boat park to rig and 60 boats were launched and headed for the Pacific Ocean. Fifteen knots with some higher gusts, and good sized waves was the introduction to sailing in Southern California for the fleet. The veteran sailors, according to one sailor, had “fun, fun, fun!” Some of the smaller women in the fleet struggled with the challenging conditions, but overall, the first day on the water in Southern California proved to be perfect conditions for what is sure to be great championship racing. Monday, August 1 With the arrival of US SAILING Chief Judge Sandy Grosvenor, day two of Coach Mike Kalin’s clinic took on a very business-like air, with much of the lecture/class time spent dealing with rule 42. The competitors hit the water after lunch.
The weather has turned a little cold (ok, for southern California, anyway) and the wind has eased a bit. With overcast skies, about 10 knots of wind and flatter seas than yesterday, the competitors sailed on courses set by the coaches and held practice races off Venice Beach. They were observed by the cadre of judges that are here and that will be looking hard for rule violations during the racing.
After their return to the yacht club, the competitors snacked and listened to a de-brief by the coaches which included video of their on-the-water performance. The evening was spent with their host families. Hopefully this included turning in early in anticipation of the first day of racing which begins tomorrow. Tuesday, August 2 The marine layer that usually burns off leaving sunny skies and the normal 10 to 15 knots never left the area today, producing only 8 to 10 fluky knots and cold, nasty conditions for the day.
In typical first race style, the fleet had to be recalled twice, prompting PRO Bill Stump to put the I flag up for the rest of the day’s racing. That settled things down, and the fleet started the first race of 2005 U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship and two more before the day was over without further incident.
With a second in the first race and two bullets after that, Stephanie Roble from Wisconsin is in the top spot with four points. Morgan Wilson from Maryland had a bullet in the first race and stayed in the top five for the next two races to finish the day in second, with Sarah Lihan of Florida filling out third with a 6, 3 and a 2.
Racing ended about 4:30 with showers, and a debrief by the coaches. The evening activity was a trip by bus to visit historic Santa Monica Pier where the Ladies of Leiter had dinner, followed by amusement rides, arcade and carnival games, and miniature golf. Then they watched the sun set into the Pacific Ocean from one of the most visited sites in Southern California.
We will attempt four races on Wednesday in winds predicted to be somewhat heavier than today, and hopefully sunnier and warmer weather.
Thursday, August 4 The last day of the 2005 Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagget Memorial Trophy Regatta bore three more races in 8-10 knots of breeze. Stephanie Roble, hailing from Wisconsin, added two more bullets and another low throw of 5 to her score. She will easily win with a total adjusted score of 10. Morgan Wilson of Maryland posted a throw-out 10 but quickly recovered with a two and and three to finish her series with 24 points and a second place, with Sarah Lihan scoring a five, and then her two throw-outs in the last two races of the event to post a third place. Ann Haeger of Illinois was injured on Wednesday but she would not leave the race course. She took a hit by the boom in her mouth, and loosened two teeth. After racing that evening she visited with CYC’s resident Dentist and catamaran sailor Scott Solitz, who examined her (aboard his boat as he was leaving for the Santa Barbara – King Harbor race later that evening) who pronounced her healthy enough to continue to race. And Ann is glad he did, because she had a 3,3 and a 2 today, putting her in fourth for the series, her best Leiter finish ever. The top five is rounded out by Cal Yacht Club’s own Allie Blecher, Fullerton, California, who dropped from 4th to fifth going into the last day of competition because of an OCS and a 14, races which became her two throws. Allie finished with a 65, locking her into the fifth spot. Well, all good things must come to a close. The burgees were lowered in a short closing ceremony, the music began, and food and goodies flowed from the Chef Hector’s kitchen. Cal Yacht Club sent the competitors off to their respective corners of the country tired, full, and ready to do it again next year. |
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