FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2016
Palma de Mallorca, Spain – After medal-winning performances at Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, and at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, the US Sailing Team Sperry’s Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) will aim to make the podium for a third time in 2016 at the 470 Class European Championship (April 7-12). In addition to being the reigning North American Champions, McNay and Hughes hold the European title, having won the 2015 edition of the event in Aarhus, Denmark.
“In the 470, the Europeans is just as hard as the World Championship from a competitive standpoint, as all of the top teams are here,” said McNay, a two-time Olympian. “This is also typically a larger regatta than the Worlds, since so many teams are based in Europe.”
Standout performers at this same venue last week at the 79-boat Princess Sofia Trophy, McNay and Hughes bring a high degree of familiarity with the venerable racecourses of Palma. “Stu and I have sailed here for many years, and are comfortable in Palma,” said Hughes. “We were excited to perform well at the Princess Sofia Trophy and, as expected, it was a high-quality event with challenging conditions.”
Hughes noted that many Rio 2016 hopefuls have circled this European Championship on their calendars. “The Europeans is one of the most respected and well-attended events in our class. For us, this is another important step in our preparation for the Olympic Games,” said Hughes, a 2015 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year finalist alongside McNay. “We have the ability to win here, and in Rio. Though we are defending champions, the goal at the Europeans is to improve our overall regatta processes and put ourselves in position to perform our best any time we show up to race.”
Coached by Barcelona 1992 Olympic silver medalist Morgan Reeser (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), McNay and Hughes have seen their level of success increase each year since 2013, when they formed as a team. “This is the stage of the four-year Olympic cycle where all the top teams are elevating their game,” said Hughes. “We are doing the same by soaking up valuable lessons from every event we go to.”
The 2016 470 European Championship will feature 70 of the world’s best Men’s 470 teams, and will serve as the second and final U.S. Olympic Team athlete selection event for Rio 2016.
Note: The Women’s 470 Europeans and Olympic Selection Series Preview will appear tomorrow (April 6).
Pictured: McNay and Hughes won gold at Sailing World Cup Miami in January 2016.
Quick Links:
- 2016 470 Europeans Event Website & Results
- Recap: Silver for McNay & Hughes In Palma, USA Competes In Four Medal Races
- Current Standings, U.S. Olympic Sailing Team Selection Series
- Photos: USA 470 Europeans Gallery
- US Sailing Team Sperry Social Media:
About the US Sailing Team Sperry
The US Sailing Team Sperry 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. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry; other sponsors include Gold-Level partner Sunbrella and Silver-Level partners Harken, Team McLube and Groupe Beneteau. 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 Training Centers. Chubb Personal Insurance and the Gowrie Group sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry athletes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics
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
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Press Contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 (978) 697-2384.
