US Sailors Raise Their Game In Finn & Nacra 17, Americans Top Five in Six Classes

Pictured: Finn regatta leader Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2016

Miami, Fla. – America’s ascent up the standings continued on the third day of racing at Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, and US Sailing Team Sperry athletes battled light air for a third consecutive day. The event is a Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team athlete selection event in nine of thirteen classes.

See Also: Key USA Names and Facts To Know For The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team Selection Series

In the Finn, an exciting battle is brewing between the US Sailing Team Sperry’s Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.), and recently un-retired Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.). Railey put on a show on Wednesday as he cruised to two race wins, showing much of his former speed. However, Railey also scored a 15th in race two, while Paine earned consistently excellent scores of 4,3,3. As a result, Paine has assumed the overall lead in the Finn, and Railey stands in 6th. “Today was a big day, because who knows if we’re going to be able to sail over the next two days,” said Paine. “The forecast for the rest of the week is a bit crazy, with possible storms. In terms of my racing, the starts need to be improved. With better starts, I might have had a chance to win all three races today.”

Pictured: Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), Finn.

Railey noted that it felt good to find his old form, and race well. “Today was very good,” said Railey. “The 15th was disappointing, as I went right [on the course] and thought the breeze would come in over there. However, my speed and decision making are good.” Railey said it has been a difficult but enjoyable task to get ready for the Olympic selection events. “I’ve been back in boat for five months, and am now back to the right weight for the boat. I’m training with friends and enjoying it. In the last two months I’ve improved a lot, and that should only continue over the next six weeks [until the second selection event in Barcelona, Spain].”

In the Nacra 17, Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.) had another impressive day, with all of their scores ending up within the top fifteen. Gulari and Chafee have opened up a lead on the other American teams, with the second U.S. boat, Mark and Carolina Mendelblatt, standing in 17th.

Pictured: Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.), Nacra 17. Photo: Jen Edney/US Sailing.

In the Men’s 470, overnight regatta leaders Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.) fell one spot to 2nd overall, trailing the Spanish team by two points after posting a 2,5,5. “Luckily, we’ve posted all keeper scores so far,” said Hughes. “The conditions today were patchy and tactical. In the last two races today, we know we could have done better.”

Men’s Laser athlete Charlie Buckingham  (Newport Beach, Calif.) moved up to 11th overall with two solid races (2,10). The Laser North American Champion is now only eleven points from 3rd position in a closely packed fleet. “My starts were the big difference today,” said Buckingham. “I got off the line clean, and hopefully can keep doing that.”

The Women’s 470 National and North American Champions Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.) won the opening race of the day en route to improving to 5th overall. “We executed the plan we had before that first race,” said Bolger. “The key to today was good starts and keeping up with the [wind] phases.” While Sailing World Cup Miami is not a U.S. Olympic Team selection event for either the Men’s or Women’s 470 classes, Bolger explained that it was definitely valuable to be testing themselves here this week. “We are definitely looking to do well here in Miami, and solidify the progress we have made over the last few months.” The first 470 selection event is the Worlds in San Isidro, Argentina, in February.

In the Laser Radial, the two top Americans remain close together in the standings, with London 2012 Olympian Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) in 17th, and US Sailing Team Sperry teammate Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) in 24th. “It’s definitely been an interesting regatta so far,” said Reineke, the top American at the 2015 Radial Worlds. “I’m glad we got 3 races in, though they didn’t go as well as planned. The conditions are pretty hard. Going forward, I’m happy with what I learned today, and will use it tomorrow.” Reineke also mentioned that she was relishing sailing against the world’s best on home waters. “I love being home in the U.S. to sail, and knowing the restaurants and the area. It definitely makes this regatta a lot of fun every year.”

Pictured: Two top U.S. Olympic Team contenders in the Laser Radial – Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla., left), and Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., right).

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.

Full Results

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

• 1st overall, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 6th overall, Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
• 10th overall, Luke Muller (Ft. Pierce, Fla.), US Sailing Development Team
• 18th overall, Phil Toth (Los Angeles, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy):
 21 boats

• 2nd overall, Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.)

Nacra 17 (Mixed Two-Person Multihull): 47 boats

• 3rd overall, Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.), US Sailing Development Team
• 17th overall, Mark Mendelblatt and Carolina Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

2.4mR (Open One-Person Paralympic Keelboat): 10 boats

• 4th overall, Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 5th overall, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md., pictured), US Sailing Team Sperry

Sonar (Open Three-Person Paralympic Keelboat): 9 boats

• 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

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

Women’s RS:X (Women’s Board):
 37 boards

• 8th overall, Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 19th overall, Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry

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

• 11th overall, Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) and Joe Morris (Annapolis, Md.)
• 14th overall, Judge Ryan (San Diego, Calif.) and Hans Henken (Coronado, Calif.)
• 19th overall, Brad Funk (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.)
• 26th (Canada*), David Mori and Justin Barnes
• 29th (British V.I.*) Alec Anderson and Chris Brockbank

* USA, CAN & IVB looking to win final North American qualifying berth for Rio 2016 in the 49er.

Laser (Men’s One-Person Dinghy):
 98 boats

• 11th overall, Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 22nd overall, Erik Bowers (Excelsior, Minn.), US Sailing Development Team

Laser Radial (Women’s One-Person Dinghy):
 60 boats

• 15th overall, Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 23rd overall, Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry

49erFX (Women’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff): 34 boats

• 20th overall, Paris Henken (Coronado, Calif.) and Helena Scutt (Kirkland, Wash.)
• 21st overall, Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and Elizabeth Barry (Riverside, Conn.), US Sailing Development Team
• 24th overall (U.S.V.I*) Mayumi Roller, Agustina Barbuto
• 28th overall, Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.)
• 29th overall (Aruba*) Odile van Aanholt and Philipine van Aanholt

* USA, ISV, ARU looking to win final North American qualifying berth for Rio 2016 in the 49erFX.

Men’s RS:X (Men’s Board):

 48 boards

• 23rd overall, Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 25th (Canada*), Zachary Plavisc
• 27th overall, Carson Crain (Houston, Texas), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 32nd (Aruba*) Mack van den Eerenbeemt

* USA, CAN, ARU looking to win final North American qualifying berth for Rio 2016 in Men’s RS:X.

Previous Reports

• 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

• Homepage: Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella
• Results

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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.