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Marlieke de Lange Eaton
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Chubb U.S.
Junior Sailing Champions Go Into History Books
Single-, Double- and Triplehanded
National Champions Crowned
after Three Days of Racing
Chicago, Ill. (July 31, 2008) - The Chubb U.S.
Junior Championships wrapped up this afternoon with the 93 sailors safely
returning to shore just before a thunderstorm rolled in over Lake Michigan.
After three days of racing in light wind conditions, the winners will be
awarded the Smythe Trophy (singlehanded - sailed in Lasers), the Bemis
Trophy (doublehanded - sailed in Club 420s), and Sears Cup (triplehanded -
sailed in Lightnings) at an awards ceremony this evening. The US SAILING
National Championship was hosted by Chicago Yacht Club and sponsored by
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies and LaserPerformance.
History was written in the doublehanded Club 420 fleet when Korbin and Haley
Kirk became the first siblings to win the event in its 34-year history.
Representing Long Beach Yacht Club (Calif.), these two strong competitors
bring back the Bemis Trophy to Long Beach turf 29 years after the last Long
Beach YC sailors won the trophy in 1979. The siblings were thrilled after
their win. "We're very excited!" exclaimed 16-year-old Haley.
When asked what it's like to crew for her brother who is two years younger,
Haley says, "We get along great on the water. It's probably because we had
the same coaches growing up so we think alike."
Second-place finishers Kaye Siemers and Hilary Kenyon, representing Wayzata
Yacht Club in Minnesota, were just as thrilled. "After four years of trying,
this was my first time qualifying for the national championship and I'm just
so excited," said Siemers. "We went into this regatta hoping to finish in
the top half, but halfway through the regatta we changed that goal to
finishing in the top five and we did it!"
Singlehanded champion E.J. O'Mara (Burton, Mich.) of Sarnia Yacht Club said
the light winds that dominated the event worked out in his favor. "I often
sail in light air and that helped me stay pretty consistent." O'Mara was the
only sailor of the 20-boat fleet who stayed in the top 10 throughout the
regatta. His parents, seeing the results after the second day of racing,
hopped into their car and drove eight hours overnight to be there in time to
see their son cinch the championship.
Racing was tight further down the singlehanded fleet with only 1 point
separating second-place finisher Timothy Zacher of Vermillion Boat Club
(Ohio) and the tie in points for third place, which was won by local
favorite Drew Shea of event host Chicago Yacht club.
The winners of the triplehanded fleet were decided a little later in the day
after a protest hearing. In the end, the San Diego Yacht Club team skippered
by Nevin Snow got disqualified in the last two races of the regatta, which
propelled the North Cape Yacht Club team (Perrysburg, Ohio) of Andy Gunkler,
Nick Gilmore, Sydney Rush to a silver medal. Will Stocke, Max Famiglietti,
and Matt Dowd of Sarasota Youth Sailing Program in Sarasota, Fla. won the
fleet and the famed Sears Cup, finishing a comfortable nine points ahead of
the team from Ohio.
For daily reports and results from the Chubb U.S. Junior Championships,
please visit
www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/2008/DailyReport/DailyReport.asp.
Photos are posted at the websites for each event, with singlehanded
competition at
www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/single;
doublehanded competition at
www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/double;
and triplehanded competition at
www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/triple.
The Faye Bennet Sportsmanship Award went to singlehanded competitor Ben
Leibovitz of Stamford Yacht Club (Stamford, Conn.). The Seattle Yacht Club
(Wash.) team of Sam Oldroyd, Matt Stillin, and Alexis Aird won the Cox
Sportsmanship Trophy, while the doublehanded team of Henry Blanchette and
Aimee Kelleher of Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, Mass., won the F. Gregg
Bemis Sportsmanship award. The Shipshape Award was awarded to Nathan Fast,
James Greenfield, and Harry Yates of the Mystic River Mudhead Sailing
Association in West Mystic, Conn.
US SAILING’s Chubb U.S. Junior Championships are part of US SAILING’s
National Championship series. For more information about these
championships, visit
www.ussailing.org/championships.
About Chubb
Member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a
multi-billion-dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance
for personal and commercial customers through 8,500 independent agents and
brokers worldwide. Since its founding in the seaport district of New York
City in 1882, Chubb has been a leading insurer of marine-related operations.
Chubb provides insurance and loss control services to marina operators,
charterers, ship repairers, stevedores, terminal operators, wharfingers and
vessel builders. It also insures yacht owners. Chubb’s global network
includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin
America, Asia and Australia. More information on Chubb may be obtained at
www.chubb.com.
About LaserPerformance
Demonstrating a continuing commitment to youth sailing, LaserPerformance,
manufacturer of the Lasers and Club 420s sailed in the singlehanded and
doublehanded events, is once again sponsoring these events. LaserPerformance
has been a dedicated sponsor of numerous U.S. National Championships for
more than a decade, encouraging sailors to enjoy the sport while also
ensuring great competition. Visit their website at
www.laserperformance.com.
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing
body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the
United States. 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 U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit
www.ussailing.org.
Final Results
Chubb U.S. Junior Championships
Singlehanded - Laser (20 boats; 10 races, 1 discard)
1. E.J. O’Mara/ Sarnia Yacht Club (Burton, Mich.); 3, 5, 7, [10], 2, 1,
8, 2, 7, 2: 37 points
2. Timothy Zacher/ Vermillion Boat Club (Wooster, Ohio); 2, 8, 11, 9, 5, 2,
2, [16], 1, 3: 43 points
3. Drew Shea/ Chicago Yacht Club (Wilmette, Ill.); [14] 11, 4, 7, 1, 4, 9,
5, 2, 1: 44 points
Doublehanded - Club 420 (21 boats; 10 races, 1 discard)
1. Corbin Kirk and Haley Kirk/ Long Beach Yacht Club (Long Beach, Calif.);
2, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1, 1, 5, 1, [9]: 18 points
2. Kaye Siemers and Hilary Kenyon/ Wayzata Yacht Club (Maple Grove, Minn.);
4, 5, 2, 4, 2, 5, 2, 4, 4, [5]: 32 points
3. Brady Stagg and Courtney Alexander/ Annapolis Yacht Club (Annapolis,
Md.); 5, 6, 7, 9, 3, 2, 5, 12, [16], 8: 57 points
Triplehanded - Lightning (11 boats; 11 races, 1 discard)
1. Will Stocke, Max Famiglietti, Jon Dowd/ Sarasota Youth Sailing Program
(Sarasota, Fla.); 2, 2, 2, 1, 3, [8], 2, 3, 6, 3, 3: 27 points
2. Andy Gunkler, Nick Gilmore, Sydney Rush/ North Cape Yacht Club
(Perrysburg, Ohio); 3, 1, 1, 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, [8], 7, 5: 36 points
3. Luke Adams, Dylan Vogel, Sam Hallowell/ Sail Newport (Middletown, R.I.);
1, 7, [10], 3, 5, 1, 5, 1, 7, 6, 1: 37 points
(End)