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Sunday July 10, 2005
Conditions: Temperatures in the 80's with northwesterly breezes 5-10 knots in the morning, shifting to northerly in the afternoon. Today was the final day of racing for the 90 competitors of the U.S. Jr. Women’s Doublehanded Championship. The weather was hot and sunny with winds from the northwest. The start was aggressive in the first race with the black flag used again. Allie Blecher and Rachael Neal won the first race and Rebecca Dellenbaugh and Leigh Hammel came second, which confirmed their ultimate victory. The Race Committee got in just one race in the morning before the wind died. After a long break, the breeze once again filled in from the north and the race committee set the final race. Dellenbaugh and Hammel's scores were such that they did not have to sail that final race. Leigh Hammel, fresh off her victory in the U.S. Youth Sailing Championships, contributed their win to more time in the boat and attending more clinics. Rebecca Dellenbaugh, last year's third place winner, has continued to improve and as her crew said, she knew the tricks to make the boat go faster. The team of Taylor Grimes and Lauren Gautschi won the most improved prize awarded by the coaches and judges and Kerry Morrison and Kerri McHugh won the sportsmanship prize awarded by Judy and Stephanie McLennan.
Saturday, July 9 2005
Conditions: Temperatures in the 70’s with westerly breezes 10 knots in the morning, shifting to southwest in the afternoon and increasing to 15 knots with stronger gusts. View tomorrow's weather. Today was the second day of racing for the 90 competitors of the U.S. Jr. Women’s Doublehanded Championship. The weather was considerably nicer than the day before. Mike Kalin, US SAILING's Youth Development Coach noted that it was a great day for racing. The competition was tight and the starts aggressive; the black flag was used in the third race. The Race Committee got in four races with two short courses in the morning and then longer courses as the breeze began to fill in. Last year's third place winner, Rebecca Dellenbaugh sailing this year with Leigh Hammel is now leading with 16 points. Emily Maxwell and Avery Field are in second with Shannon Heausler and Kathleen Gallagher in third. Yesterday's leaders, Sara Watters and Christina Murray are in fourth. Complete results will be posted as soon as they become available. The girls were debriefed after the race by the team of coaches and then went to have a much needed shower before attending the Tenth Anniversary dinner this evening. With racing starting again tomorrow morning, the forecast is for better and even more summer-like conditions, which will be appreciated by the sailors, Race Committee, judges, and spectators alike. Stay tuned for the latest results and reports as the final day of racing is scheduled to start at 10.
Friday, July 8, 2005
Conditions: Temperatures in the 60’s with east northeast breezes gusting to 15 knots and very rainy. View tomorrow's weather. Today was the first day of racing for the 90 competitors of the U.S. Jr. Women’s Doublehanded Championship. The weather was miserable with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy pouring sheets of rain down throughout the day. Fortunately, Team One of Newport stayed open late last night as the sailors stocked up on some warmer gear. With the steady breezes, the Race Committee got off three races despite the cold, rainy conditions/ Sara Watters (Oxford, MD) and Christina Murray (Annapolis, MD) with a 6-2-2 are holding a narrow lead over Leigh Hammel and Rebecca Dellenbaugh and close behind are Shannon Heausler and Kathleen Gallagher. All three teams are fresh off the U.S. Youth Sailing Championships. Hammel and Dellenbaugh have been consistent throughout the day with a 4-3-3. National chair, Shannon Bush noted that the team of Heausler and Gallagher had been the clear leaders in the first race but after missing the offset mark and having to go back and re-round, came back in impressive style to finish in second place. With a first in race two, they had a disappointing 10th in the final race of the day putting them in third after the first day. The coaches were on the water all day working with the competitors between races. The sailors have really appreciated the support and encouragement they've received from the coaching team. One sailor said, " I have learned so much this regatta." Anthony Kotoun, a coach commented on how well the girls had improved from yesterday to today. The sailors had absorbed the coaching and were applying their new knowledge to their clear advantage. With racing starting again tomorrow morning, the forecast is for better and more summer-like conditions, which will be appreciated by the sailors, Race Committee, judges, and spectators alike. Stay tuned for the latest results and reports as racing is scheduled to start at 10.
Thursday, July 7, 2005
Conditions: Temperatures in the 70’s with northerly breezes gusting to 20 knots. View tomorrow's weather. For the 90 competitors of the U.S. Jr. Women’s Doublehanded Championship today was an educational day: sailing on a windy day surrounded by some of the best coaches in the country. Today was the second day of racing clinics, with racing starting tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday. In a complete change from yesterday, today's winds were strong and occasionally gusty. Coaches working with the competitors have come from across the country and include head coach, Stan Schreyer; US Disabled Sailing Team coach & five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison; Olympians Meg Gaillard and Katie McDowell; US Sailing Team coach Skip Whyte; Anthony Kotoun; and Beth Holland. The team gave the sailors an extensive debriefing following lunch and reviewed their heavy air sailing skills. The sailors asked a great many questions and learned how to improve setting up their boats for conditions like today's. Due to the strong winds, some of the young sailors decided to go back onshore, choosing to take an off-the-water clinic in hiking on the trapeze offered by Anthony Kotoun and Meg Gaillard. For the 16 boats who decided to sail some more in the afternoon, it was a unique opportunity to get some one-on-one coaching. The young sailors are off this evening and with racing starting tomorrow-morning, they’ll need the rest to get ready for the tough competition. Stay tuned for the latest results and reports as racing is scheduled to start at 10. Conditions are expected to be windy and rainy to start with improving conditions coming later in the day. Wednesday, July 6, 2005 Conditions: Temperatures in the 70’s with northerly breezes. View tomorrow's weather. It was a lovely if again slightly foggy summer’s day in Newport, Rhode Island as the 2005 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Sailing Championship participants participated in their first day of a two day clinic Fortunately the weather for the racing is predicted to be great. Sailors have had a full day of morning classroom and afternoon on-the-water coaching led by Stan Schreyer, the head coach for this year’s event. It is a great learning experience for all the sailors with such coaches as Olympian Meg Gaillard and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Betsy Alison helping the girls enhance their sailing skills. After an evening's harbor cruise on the Viking Queen and the opening ceremonies and dinner provided by Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the girls headed back to their host families to prepare for the final day of the clinic. Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Conditions: Temperatures in the 70’s with southerly breezes. It was a lovely if slightly foggy summer’s day in Newport, Rhode Island as the 2005 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Sailing Championship participants began to gather at Ida Lewis Yacht Club and Sail Newport, launching site of this year’s event. The club has done a tremendous job preparing for this tenth anniversary championship. The Vanguard representatives are on hand to assist anyone who needs it. Boats have been unloaded, masts stepped and all 90 competitors registered. Sailors will be spending the night at their host families preparing for the clinic which begins bright and early tomorrow with competitors having to arrive for the clinic at 7:30 am. They will have a full day of classroom and on-the-water coaching led by Stan Schreyer, the head coach for this year’s event. It should be an outstanding learning experience for all the sailors with such coaches as Olympian Meg Gaillard and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Betsy Alison helping the girls hone their sailing skills.
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