Day 2 Recap
Event Website – Recaps, news, results and standings, photos and more.
#womenskeelboat
By Leif Skodnick
After two days of competition competition, Allie Blecher of Long Beach, California leads the International Women’s Keelboat Championship, having completed 17 races with 60 total points for an average score of 3.53.
Melinda Henshaw of Remuera, New Zealand is second with 63 points over 17 races for an average of 3.71 points, and Clemmie Everett of Rye, N.Y. is third with 58 points over 15 races (3.87).
The regatta uses the league racing format, with each race contested by 10 of the 16 teams entered using boats with the same rigging and sails. Races last an average of 10 to 15 minutes.
Wednesday’s races were conducted in shifty winds coming from the northeast off of Mamaroneck Harbor.
“We felt really comfortable today, which was sort of surprising,” Blecher said. “We never really lost our cool. Anything’s possible. If we were on the wrong side of a shift, we knew hopefully that something else would be there to gain it back.”
Blecher’s boat, crewed by Rebekah Schiff, Molly Robinson Noble and Sarah Somes, has won three races, finished second twice and third twice on the way to the two-day lead.
Henshaw, with Carla Holgate, Zib Campbell and Wendy Faulkner aboard, has taken three bullets and finished second three times.
“Perhaps a few of our starting tactics weren’t right today, and I think that cost us the consistency we were looking for,” said Henshaw. “That cost us two or three races where we could have been further up there.”
Racing out of her home club, Clemmie Everett and her crew of Alix Hahn, Carolyn Russell, and Erin Sprague have taken three races, finished second three times and third once.
“The wind was coming right off the land, which was really shifty,” Everett said. “We were able to get into that ‘play the shifts’ mode, and though we had a penalty for contact early in the day, after that, we played it conservative, didn’t take crazy risks. We’re just aiming to be top three or top five every race.”
Following the conclusion of Thursday’s racing, competitors will be split into silver and gold fleets, with the winner of the gold fleet being awarded the Bengt Julin Trophy.
“Those that make gold, it’s going to be a challenge, going to be a fight,” Blecher said. “You’ve just got to be on your toes the whole time.”
Event Coverage & Social Media
- For social media coverage, results and standings, photo gallery, video highlights (to be posted Saturday, August 20), and more information from the 2016 International Women’s Keelboat Championship, please visit the event website.
- For breaking news and race results, follow Twitter hashtag – #womenskeelboat – and participate in the conversation throughout the championship on all social media platforms.
- Day 1 News Feature
- Preview
- List of competitors
Championship History
- The International Women’s Keelboat Championship was inaugurated in 1985 through the efforts of US Sailing’s Women’s Championship Committee. Held biennially, the event became one of the premier women’s sailing event in the U.S. and worldwide.
- The Championship will cycle to international venues in future years.
- The trophy is named for Bengt Julin, an international judge and strong supporter of women’s sailing.
- Previous winners include Betsy Alison, Cory Sertl, Sally Barkow, Anna Tunnicliffe, Jody Starck and JJ Fetter
The International Women’s Keelboat Championship, is hosted by American Yacht Club in Rye, N.Y. and is sponsored by Gill North America, Old Pulteney, and Switlik. This US Sailing Championship is supported by J/Boats and North Sails.
This event is a Sailors for the Sea certified – Clean Regatta.
About US Sailing
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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, US and Canada. Gill is a worldwide apparel and accessories brand serving the marine industry with over three decades of experience. Gill specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company develops and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear. Gill products are available through hundreds of independent dealers and select West Marine Stores. For further information, please contact: Gary Barker at 941 505 2111 or gary.barker@gillna.com.
About Old Pulteney
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky is strongly rooted in the whisky’s nautical heritage and is commonly referred to as ‘The Maritime Malt.’ Old Pulteney is the Official Scotch of US Sailing and recently released a limited-edition ‘Navigator’ expression, commemorating the brand’s sponsorship of the 2013-2014 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Crafted in Pulteney Distillery in Wick, Scotland, the distillery was founded in 1826 by James Henderson in the heart of “Pulteneytown,” one of the largest fishing ports in Europe. Each Old Pulteney expression is carefully crafted and carries the windswept and rugged character of the North and the salty, fresh air of the North Sea. It is distributed by International Beverage, Inc. Visit Old Pulteney on Facebook or at www.oldpulteney.com for more information.
About Switlik
Established in 1920, Switlik Parachute Co. has been owned and operated by the Switlik family for four generations and is known worldwide as a manufacturer of the highest quality sewn and heat sealed inflatable safety and survival products for the aviation, marine, and military/government markets. Our capabilities include a wide variety of anti-exposure and anti-g suits, inflatable life rafts, inflatable life vests, inflation systems and other specialty textile-based military equipment all manufactured at our 85,000 sq. ft facility located in Trenton, NJ USA. www.switlik.com