Sailing World Cup Hyères: Paine (Finn) and USA Sonar Stay Consistent

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US Sailing Team Sperry || Sailing World Cup Hyeres, France 2016

Pictured:  Caleb Paine, Finn, US Sailing Team Sperry. Photo: Jen Edney/US Sailing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2016

Hyères, France – After two days of racing at Sailing World Cup Hyères (April 27 – May 1), the US Sailing Team Sperry (national team) has five boats in top-ten positions in their fleet.  This week’s regatta in Hyères is widely considered to be a key stop for sailors of many nations as Rio 2016 draws closer. The event also serves as the final event in US Sailing’s Rio 2016 Paralympic Athlete Selection Series in the 2.4mR and Sonar classes.

Sonar athletes Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) celebrated their selection to the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team by scoring pair of 2nd place finished in the day’s two races, which moved them up into 2nd overall. “We’re very happy with the day,” said Kendell. “We knew we had great starts, which was key, and great communication on our boat. We stayed in front of the pack, and it’s a lot easier up there.”

In the men’s heavyweight Finn Class, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) enjoyed another consistent day, and moved to 4th overall. Paine has no score worse than 7th place after four races in both heavy and light conditions.

Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) recorded a pair of 8th place finishes, and are now in 8th overall. “I wouldn’t say we were satisfied, though it’s always good to come away with two single-digit scores,” said Hughes. “We had it within our hands to improve in both races, so we know we’re close, and are ready to pounce tomorrow.”

Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) rebounded from a slow start to the event, and a second place finish in Race 4 pushed them up to 11th overall. “They got off the [starting] line well, and sailed a pretty clean race in the last one,” said Haeger and Provancha’s coach, recently-named US Sailing National Coach of the Year Dave Ullman (Newport Beach, Calif.). “It’s good that we’re already back up near the top-ten.”

Racing at Sailing World Cup Hyères (April 27 – May 1) continues on Friday, with medal races taking place on Sunday. American sailing fans will be able to watch medal race action LIVE online at WatchESPN (ESPN3).

US Sailing Team Sperry || Sailing World Cup Hyeres, France 2016

Pictured: Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), Sonar, US Sailing Team Sperry.

US Results, Day 2: 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyères

Sonar (Paralympic Three-Person Keelboat):

Finn (Men’s One-Person Heavyweight Dinghy):

2.4mR (Paralympic One-Person Keelboat):

  • 7th overall, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
  • 9th overall, Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
  • 16th overall, Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
  • 19th overall, Kevin Holmberg (Tampa, Fla.)

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy): 

Women’s 470 (Women’s Two-Person Dinghy):

Women’s RS:X (Women’s Board):

Nacra 17 (Mixed Two-Person Multihull):

49er (Men’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff):

Laser (Men’s One-Person Dinghy):

  • 35th overall, Chris Barnard (Newport Beach, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)

Men’s RS:X (Men’s Board):

SWC Hyères: Full Results

Note: U.S. Olympic Team members Paige Railey (Laser Radial), Charlie Buckingham (Laser) Paris Henken (49erFX) and Helena Scutt (49erFX) are not competing at the 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyères.

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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.

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