Pictured: Sailing World Cup Miami gold medalists Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.), Men’s 470, US Sailing Team Sperry.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2016
Miami, Fla. – For the second time since the last Olympic Games, Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.) have won gold at Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, North America’s premier Olympic and Paralympic classes regatta. McNay and Hughes won their medal race in dominating fashion, as did Laser Radial athlete Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), which moved her up to 7th overall. For nine sailing classes, the event served as part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team athlete selection series for Rio 2016.
WATCH REPLAY: ESPN3 Live Medal Race Coverage from Miami – Saturday Starting At 11:00AM EST
McNay and Hughes led their race nearly from the moment it began, as they launched off the line faster than their world-class medal race competitors. “We saw an opportunity at the start, and we were able to take advantage of it and take an early lead on the fleet,” said McNay. “Dave called some great shifts on the upwind [leg], and that helped us extend.” Hughes noted that their team has been building positive momentum as the Olympics draw nearer, and heading into their first Olympic Team selection event in San Isidro, Argentina, in February. “We’re excited. It’s been three regatta wins here [in Miami this winter], with the Nationals, the North Americans, and now the Sailing World Cup. It’s wonderful preparation going into Argentina.”
The Finn class battle had been close all week, with the leaders often separated by less than a dozen points. For American sailors battling for Olympic selection, the stakes were high. Heading into the medal race, top-ranked Finn athlete Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) held a narrow lead over Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), but it was not to last. “I was in third place on the last downwind leg, but the other U.S. guy match raced me farther back [into the fleet],” said Paine. “He was [then] able to leave me when the opportunity was best, and put some boats in between us.” Despite the setback, Paine remains determined. “I’m right behind him. Basically we’re tied in terms of Olympic qualification. It’s ‘who beats who.’ We thought we might as well make it exciting for everyone.”
READ: Key USA Names and Facts To Know For The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team Selection Series
Railey used his extensive experience to improve his position right when it seemed Paine would solidify his lead. “On the last downwind, I had to try to slow myself and Caleb down as much as I could, and let everybody catch back up,” said Railey. “I was able to do that with some maneuvers near the leeward gate, and put two boats between us, which was very fortunate. To be basically even, which is what we’ll be going into the second [selection] event, I feel very confident.” The second and final selection event is the Finn European Championship, in Barcelona, Spain, from March 5-12.
Paige Railey won the Laser Radial medal race in Miami for the second consecutive year, and again in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. The victory moved her from 10th to 7th place overall. “I went out there to just do my own race and try to move up,” said the London 2012 Olympian. “I was sailing restricted and conservative.” Railey’s top competition for the Olympic Team berth is Laser Radial Youth World Champion Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), who finished 17th. “The trials is a two-part system, and currently I’m leading. It’s based on how you do in both events. My goal was to move up as much as possible and put more boats in between us.”
Competing in the Women’s 470 medal race was Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), who finished 7th overall. Like McNay and Hughes, the pair is looking ahead to their first trials event in Argentina in February. “Miami was an event where we wanted to bring it all together, and see what final preparations we need to make it advance of the World Championship.” said Bolger, who with Shevitz recently won both the 2016 470 U.S. Nationals and 470 North Americans. “Overall, we’re happy with how we sailed, although there were some disappointing moments throughout the week. Those are the areas we’re going to work on over the next few days.”
Racing at Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, ran from January 25 to January 30, 2016.
Sailing World Cup Miami: USA Results
Sailing World Cup Miami is a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Selection event for the following classes: 2.4mR, 49er, 49erFX, Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, Nacra 17, RS:X Men, RS:X Women.
Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy): 21 boats
- 1st overall, Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
2.4mR (Open One-Person Paralympic Keelboat): 10 boats, FINAL
- 3rd overall, Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 6th overall, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md., pictured), US Sailing Team Sperry
Sonar (Open Three-Person Paralympic Keelboat): 9 boats, FINAL
- 5th overall, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 7th overall, Andrew Fisher (Greenwich, Conn.) Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.) and Tom Brown (Northeast Harbor, Maine), US Sailing Team Sperry
Finn (Men’s One-Person Heavyweight Dinghy): 46 boats
- 5th overall, Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
- 6th overall, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
Women’s 470 (Women’s Two-Person Dinghy): 17 boats
- 5th overall, Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
Laser Radial (Women’s One-Person Dinghy): 60 boats
- 7th overall, Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 17th overall, Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
Nacra 17 (Mixed Two-Person Multihull): 47 boats, FINAL
- 12th overall, Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.), US Sailing Development Team
- 20th overall, Mark Mendelblatt and Carolina Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
49er (Men’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff): 61 boats, FINAL
- 13th overall, Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) and Joe Morris (Annapolis, Md.)
- 21st overall, Judge Ryan (San Diego, Calif.) and Hans Henken (Coronado, Calif.)
- 18th overall, Brad Funk (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.)
- 31st (Canada*), David Mori and Justin Barnes
- 28th (British V.I.*) Alec Anderson and Chris Brockbank
* USA has won the final North American qualifying berth for Rio 2016 in the 49er, beating CAN and IVB.
Laser (Men’s One-Person Dinghy): 98 boats, FINAL
- 16th overall, Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 24th overall, Erik Bowers (Excelsior, Minn.), US Sailing Development Team
Women’s RS:X (Women’s Board): 37 boards, FINAL
- 17th overall, Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 19th overall, Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
49erFX (Women’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff): 34 boats, FINAL
- 17th overall, Paris Henken (Coronado, Calif.) and Helena Scutt (Kirkland, Wash.)
- 18th overall, Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and Elizabeth Barry (Riverside, Conn.), US Sailing Development Team
- 25th overall (U.S.V.I*) Mayumi Roller, Agustina Barbuto
- 31st overall, Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.)
- 33rd overall (Aruba*) Odile van Aanholt and Philipine van Aanholt
* USA has won the final North American qualifying berth for Rio 2016 in the 49erFX, beating ISV and ARU.
Men’s RS:X (Men’s Board): 48 boards, FINAL
- 20th (Canada*), Zachary Plavisc
- 24th overall, Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 32nd overall, Carson Crain (Houston, Texas), US Sailing Team Sperry
- 33rd (Aruba*) Mack van den Eerenbeemt
* USA and CAN have won the final North American qualifying berths for Rio 2016 in Men’s RS:X, beating ARU.
Pictured: Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), Laser Radial, US Sailing Team Sperry.
Previous Reports
- Day 5: Miami: US Sailing Team Takes 2.4mR Bronze, Qualifies for Four Medal Races, Earns Rio 2016 Berth In All Classes
- Day 4: Rains Dampen Miami Racing, But U.S. Olympic Selection Series Intensifies
- Day 3: US Sailors Raise Their Game In Finn & Nacra 17, Americans Top Five in Six Classes
- Day 2: USA Jumps Up Across the Board In Miami On Day Two
- Day 1: Light Air, Nerves On First Day of Sailing World Cup Miami
- Event Preview: Key US Sailing Team Sperry Names and Facts Heading Into Miami
Event Information
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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.