DATE: January 28, 2014
Daily Summary: Light air returned to Miami, and forced delays of racing in all classes on Day 2. However, American athletes still delivered strong performances in the tricky conditions, and are in the top five overall in seven of thirteen classes, and are in the top ten in ten classes.
Laser Radial (Women): With three athletes in the top ten overall, the American Radial contingent continues to look strong. Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) maintained her dominant form from Day 1, and notched another 2nd. Railey remains in 1st overall. Hanne Weaver (Gig Harbor, Wash.) finished 28th in today’s race, but is still lying in 6th overall. 2013 US Junior Singlehanded Women’s Champion Dana Rohde (Richmond Hill, Ga.) finished 7th, and now finds herself in 8th overall.
470 (Men): Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) continued their consistent performance in the men’s 470 fleet by scoring yet another top finish, this time a 4th. An impressive scoreline of 2,2,4 put them in 3rd overall.
Finn (Men): Luke Lawrence (Palm City, Fla.) didn’t ease up pressure on the top end of the Finn fleet, and scored his best finish of the event, a 2nd, which places him in 3rd overall. “My expectation, honestly, was just to get out here and see how my boat speed compared with the rest of the world,” Lawrence noted. When asked about possible roots of his strong showing so far, Lawrence paid tribute to the camaraderie in the US Finn fleet. “I Love the Finn class, because the Masters guys who have been in it forever have a strong support group to build and generate the junior sailors coming up.”
Laser (Men): Derick Vranizan (Shoreline, Wash.) had no trouble addressing a difficult tactical situation on the Laser course, and led all Americans with a 3rd place finish in the sole race of the day. “It was really just a matter of keeping the boat moving, and looking for pressure all day long,” said Vranizan. He now finds himself in 26th, and the battle for a roster spot on the 2014 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider promises to be intense in this class. Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) was close behind Vranizan in 9th, and is now lying in 13th overall after his first race score on Day 1 was wiped out by a U flag penalty.
2.4mR (Mixed): Danny Evans (Miami, Fla.) came out focused after a challenging first day, and scored a 5th place finish in race 3. This moved Evans into the top 10, and he now sits in 9th overall.
49er (Men): “Team Funky Burd,” the personable team of Brad Funk (Miami, Fla.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.) continued their strong showing despite the light and tricky conditions. By scoring another 13th, they stayed in the hunt for the podium and are in 6th overall.
Sonar (Mixed): Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.) and Hugh Freund (Brookline, Mass.) continue to lead the fleet after scoring a 5th in the sole race held today. Despite being called OCS at the start, and with few passing lanes available in the light conditions, the veteran team managed to work their way nearly halfway back up the fleet. “We actually had a bit too much speed [at the start], getting over the line by about a quarter length,” said Freund. “We managed to make a pretty good move at the leeward gate, and get back in the hunt.”
For Day 2 interviews with US athletes Luke Lawrence (Finn), Derick Vranizan (Laser), Joe Morris (49er), Hugh Freund (Sonar) and Sarah Everhart-Skeels (SKUD-18), visit our SoundCloud Channel: https://soundcloud.com/ussailingteam
ISAF Sailing World Cup Team Photo Gallery: http://on.fb.me/1d6YX4s
ISAF Sailing World Cup Day 2 Report: http://bit.ly/1hL5JRQ
About US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing supports these elite athletes with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken Team McLube. Oakcliff Sailing is an official training center.
Press contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, 401-683-0800 x621, willricketson@ussailing.org
For press use of photos, please email Will Ricketson.