Full Report - Day 1
August 12
The weather is great in New Jersey!
The 2007 edition of the Chubb U. S. Junior Sailing Championships is underway. This year, Lavallette Yacht Club, Lavallette, NJ is the host venue for the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Sailing Championship for the Sears Cup and the Bay Head and Mantoloking Yacht Clubs are jointly hosting the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Sailing Championship for the Smythe Trophy and the U.S. Junior Doublehanded Sailing Championship for the Bemis Trophy.
Today (Sunday) was the clinic day with Head Coach John Vandemoer taking care of the Doublehanded fleet in Club 420’s. Elizabeth Kratzig is the coach for the Singlehanded fleet in standard rig Lasers. Ned Jones is the coach for the Triplehanded crowd sailing in Nomads. The boats in all three fleets are being supplied by Vanguard Sailboats.
The weather is almost perfect… The day started out clear and still but the cumulus clouds started to build over the land and the sea breeze started about 1000 hours. The morning was spend onshore rigging and classroom chalk talks. By the time the kids were fed an early lunch and were sent out on the water about 1230, a nice 8-10 knot breeze had come in. Temperatures in the mid eighties, a moderate sea breeze and a few fluffy clouds; three more days, please.
The championships have been raced for in 420’s and Lasers for many years. Vanguard Sailboat’s Nomad was selected this year for the first time. The Nomad is a fairly new design and is a 17 foot center boarder with an extending spinnaker sprit. We expect a great regatta with the boats.
Other interesting tidbits: Antonella Barba the American Idol quarter-finalist from Point Pleasant, NJ (just down the road) sang the National Anthem at Mantoloking YC at the opening ceremony for the Bemis & Smythe this morning and James Gandofini from the Sopranos was sighted with his entourage at a near-by bar (by an adult coach) last night. The kids are excited.
Racing for the Championships start tomorrow and conclude on Wednesday. More daily reports will follow.