SUNDAY: Watch McNay and Hughes (USA) Go for Gold LIVE on ESPN3

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Pictured: Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (Men’s 470), US Sailing Team Sperry. Image: Will Ricketson/US Sailing.
Click for ESPN3 link.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2015

Portsmouth, R.I. – After scoring an impressive 5,4,2 in the final series of full-fleet races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland, US Sailing Team Sperry athletes Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) head into the medal race with a seven point lead on the reigning world champions from Australia, Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan, in the men’s 470 class. McNay and Hughes hope to secure an overall victory against the world’s best Olympic talent in a regatta they have led from the opening races on Wednesday.

In Partnership with ISAF and award-winning media production company Sunset+Vine APP, ESPN3 will broadcast all medal races LIVE online in the USA on Sunday, June 14. (Link)

TV programming from Weymouth will go on the air at 6:00AM ET on Sunday morning.

Also competing in the medal round will be North American Champion Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) in the Men’s Laser class. Buckingham heads into the final race on Sunday in 5th overall, but only five points from podium position and nine points from the lead. Medal races count for double points, so a medal is within Buckingham’s reach.

In the Women’s 470, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), currently sit in 6th overall. The pair, who are currently ranked 6th in the world, are not in contention for a medal tomorrow but will look to hone their skills in the challenging 10-boat medal race format. Just barely missing out on the medal race in the Women’s 470 were Haeger and Provancha’s US Sailing Team Sperry teammates Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), who finished 11th overall.

Racing began at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland on Wednesday, June 10 and concludes on Sunday, June 14.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland Event Website.

Notable US Standings: ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland 2015

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy):


  • 1st overall, Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry

Laser (Men’s One-Person Dinghy):


  • 5th overall, Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry

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


  • 6th overall, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 11th overall, Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry

US Sailing Team Sperry Social Media

The Medalist Newsletter: US Olympic and Paralympic Sailing News

US Sailing Team Sperry Media List

To be added to our media list, please send a request to Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing.

Website

To learn more about the 2014 US Sailing Team Sperry athletes and staff, visit the team’s homepage.

Media Guide:

US Sailing Team Sperry Reports: www.ussailing.org/olympics
Sign Up for Reports: http://bit.ly/1MbLNap 
Photos (Daily): www.usst.photoshelter.com

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 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 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

About the ISAF Sailing World Cup

The ISAF Sailing World Cup is a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing. It is open to the sailing events chosen for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Its centre piece is the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup will consist of five regattas for all ten Olympic events and where possible, Formula Kite Racing. Qualification places for the ISAF Sailing World Cup final are up for grabs at each event. The final will bring together the top 20 boats in each Olympic event and an Open Kiteboarding event where the World Cup Champions will be crowned.

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Contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 (978) 697-2384.