Pictured: Fred Strammer and Zach Brown, 49er.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2014
Santander, Spain – Day 4 saw 1,200+ competitors at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships treated to bright, clear and hot conditions, and though abundant natural beauty was on display in one of Europe’s most picturesque cities, one key ingredient was missing: Wind.
Despite intentions to start races for 16 different flights of boats in ten Olympic classes across 7 racecourses, in the end only one flight on one course (Men’s 49er, Yellow Division) completed any races. “It’s really hard to keep your focus when racing is delayed on the water for such a long time,” said US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Women’s 470 crew Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.). “We did some mental exercises to stay sharp, and just tried to stay ready to race at any minute.” Men’s 470 helm Jordan Factor (Burlington, Vt.) noted that there was probably enough breeze to start a race, but another factor prevented any progress. “There was so much current on the course that it would have been tough to even get to the windward mark,” observed Factor.
Day 4 was the first day that races were scheduled for the 49er, 49erFX, Finn and Nacra 17 classes. With results in classes that had previously raced frozen on the final results from Day 3, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes continues to be tied for the lead in the Men’s 470, with Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) being the winners of yesterday’s lone race in their division. In the Laser, Charlie Buckingham and Chris Barnard (both of Newport Beach Calif.) sit in 2nd and 11th places, respectively, in the 147-boat fleet. In the Laser Radial, Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) is in 6th overall out of 120 boats.
In the only action seen on Day 4, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 49er athletes Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) and Zach Brown (San Francisco, Calif.) participated in two extremely light and difficult races near the current-filled entrance of Santander harbor. The pair finished mid-fleet both races, and are in 27th overall. “We had a good start in the first race, but it didn’t go our way,” said Brown. “The fleet inverted downwind in the light air, positions reshuffled, and it didn’t help us. Today you really had to know where you needed to race to. In the first race, you had to head to the right [side of the racecourse], but in the second race, the left was better. It was pretty difficult.”
Racing will continue on Day 5 in all classes except the RS:X Men’s and Women’s fleets, which are scheduled for a lay day.* Competition concludes in Santander on September 21.
*Subject to change at the discretion of the Race Committee.
Pictured: Waiting for breeze on the Men’s 470 course, as seen from shore.
Notable US Results (Overall):
470 Men (73 boats):
- 1st (tied), Stuart McNay and David Hughes, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Laser Men (147 boats):
- 2nd, Charlie Buckingham, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
- 11th, Chris Barnard, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
- 24th, Erik Bowers, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Laser Radial Women (120 boats):
- 6th, Erika Reineke, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
470 Women (54 boats):
- 19th, Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
49er Men (40 boats raced on Day 4, 80 total boats):
- 27th, Fred Strammer and Zach Brown, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Santander 2014 Media Guide:
Results: http://bit.ly/1s3FKhN
Event Website: http://www.santander2014.com
US Sailing Team Live Updates: www.Twitter.com/USSailingTeam
US Sailing Team Daily Reports: www.ussailing.org/olympics
Social Media (Facebook): www.Facebook.com.USSailingTeam
Social Media (Instagram): www.Instagram.com.USSailingTeam
Photos (Daily): www.usst.photoshelter.com
The Medalist Newsletter: September Issue
The Medalist is out! We are in championship season, and the biggest Olympic sailing event of the year is taking place at the ISAF World Championships in Santander, Spain. The Medalist, September Issue: http://bit.ly/1qHG82Q Subscribe: http://eepurl.com/EZH6D
Featured In This Issue:
– SANTANDER WORLDS: The Biggest Event Before Rio 2016
– VIEW FROM RIO, by Charlie McKee
– SNAPSHOTS: Images from Training and Racing
– QUOTABLES: Social Media Roundup
– DISABLED SAILING WORLDS, by Betsy Alison
– RISING TIDE, Episode 3: “A Technical Direction.”
– THE GOLDEN SPINNAKER REGATTA & GALA: Support your team! Event details inside.
– FAN & MEDIA GUIDE
About the 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 helps these elite athletes with with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. Yale Cordage is a team supplier. The US Sailing Center Miami is an Olympic training site. Oakcliff Sailing and Clearwater Community Sailing Center are US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org
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Press contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 978 697 2384