ISAF Worlds, Day 8: American Men’s and Women’s 470’s To Compete In Medal Races

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Pictured: Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, Women’s 470.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2014

Santander, Spain – Continuing what has been a strong year of results for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 470 athletes, the United States will be represented in both the men’s and women’s 470 medal races on Saturday at the ISAF Sailing World Championships. In addition to live updates and photos coming off the racecourse via the team’s Twitter social media, sailing fans will also be able to watch live TV coverage online through ISAF’s Youtube channel and ESPN3 (hosted by Gary Jobson). Another key accomplishment secured on Day 8 was the qualification of the USA for the men’s and women’s 470 events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With strong showings in both fleets at the Worlds, the Americans are now assured of a berth in Rio in these classes, although individual US Olympic Sailing team athletes have yet to be selected.

Saturday Medal Race Schedule:

470 Women Medal Race:
– Race Start: 2:10PM (Santander Time), 8:10AM EST, 5:10AM PST
470 Men Medal Race:
– Race Start:  3:10PM (Santander Time), 9:10AM EST, 6:10AM PST

Live Updates: www.twitter.com/USSailingTeam
Live Tracking & Race Replay: http://bit.ly/1m7H4xI
Live TV Feed, ESPN3 with Gary Jobson: http://es.pn/YYV2rr 
Live TV Feed, ISAF on Youtube: www.youtube.com/isafchannel

The women’s 470 team of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Deigo, Calif.) endured some misfortune on the final day of gold fleet action, but still enters the medal race in top-5 position and with a shot at the podium. Beginning Day 8 in 3rd overall, Haeger and Provancha were having a good first race of the day until a capsize in heavy winds resulted in a leg injury for Haeger, and a DNF (Did Not Finish) score. After being treated, Haeger and Provancha competed in the final race, finishing 14th. Haeger and Provancha are now in 5th overall, and sit 13 points behind 2012 Olympic silver medalists Mills and Clark (Great Britain), who are in bronze medal position. 2012 Olympic gold medalists Aleh and Powrie (New Zealand) are in second, and will attempt to overtake Vadlau and Ogar (Austria) for what could be their second consecutive World Championship title. Haeger is expected to make a full recovery, and will compete in tomorrow’s medal race.

Men’s 470 sailors Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I) and David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) had a scoreline of 21,16,7 in the final gold fleet races on Day 8. Now in 6th overall, the veteran athletes will attempt to secure a career-best finish at the worlds by passing Matsunaga and Yoshida of Japan in the medal race. McNay and Hughes’ best result to date came in 2013, when they finished 6th overall at the 470 World Championships in La Rochelle, France. After racing against each other for several years with other partners in the 470 class, McNay and Hughes’ pairing (starting in 2012) continues to yield impressive international results. A second consecutive top-10 finish at the Worlds cements their position among the elite in this deep Olympic class.

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Pictured: Stu McNay and Dave Hughes, Men’s 470.

In the Finn class, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) continues to steadily chip away at the leaderboard and has now advanced from the high 20’s on day 1 to his typical position in the top-10. Now in 9th overall, Paine said that a brand-new boat and mast, and improved boat speed, have helped him achieve what so far has been an impressive recovery. “This new gear has been exactly what I needed,” said Paine. “Even at times when I’m not feeling fast, now I’m at least average. It really helps.” Also assisting Paine this week has been the presence of his coach, US Olympic silver Medalist (Finn, Barcelona 1992) Brian Ledbetter (Seattle, Wash.).  “Brian is so energetic that it helps me get amped for each race. But beyond getting me in the zone, he is incredibly professional and a huge asset on the water.”

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Pictured: Caleb Paine, Finn.

Full Results: http://bit.ly/1s3FKhN

Notable US Results, Overall: 

470 Women (54 boats):

  • 5th, Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

470 Men (73 boats):

  • 6th, Stuart McNay and David Hughes, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Laser Men (147 boats): Final

  • 7th, Charlie Buckingham, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
  • 15th, Chris Barnard, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Finn (78 boats):

  • 9th, Caleb Paine, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Laser Radial Women (120 boats): Final

  • 14th, Erika Reineke, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

49er Men (40 boats raced on Day 4, 80 total boats):

  • 22nd, Brad Funk and Trevor Burd, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

49erFX Women

  • 31st, Paris Henken and Helena Scutt, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Nacra 17 (67 boats):

  • 36th, Sarah Newberry and John Casey, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

RS:X Women: 

  • 40th, Farrah Hall, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

RS:X Men:

  • 73rd, Carson Crain, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Santander 2014 Media Guide:

Event Website: http://www.santander2014.com

US Sailing Team Live Updates: www.Twitter.com/USSailingTeam

US Sailing Team Daily Reports: www.ussailing.org/olympics

Social Media (Facebook): www.Facebook.com.USSailingTeam

Social Media (Instagram): www.Instagram.com.USSailingTeam

Photos (Daily): www.usst.photoshelter.com

The Medalist Newsletter: September Issue

The Medalist is out! We are in championship season, and the biggest Olympic sailing event of the year is taking place at the ISAF World Championships in Santander, Spain. The Medalist, September Issue: http://bit.ly/1qHG82Q Subscribe: http://eepurl.com/EZH6D

Screenshot 2014-09-11 17.29.08

Featured In This Issue:
– SANTANDER WORLDS: The Biggest Event Before Rio 2016
– VIEW FROM RIO, by Charlie McKee
– SNAPSHOTS: Images from Training and Racing
– QUOTABLES: Social Media Roundup
– DISABLED SAILING WORLDS, by Betsy Alison
– RISING TIDE, Episode 3: “A Technical Direction.”
– THE GOLDEN SPINNAKER REGATTA & GALA: Support your team! Event details inside.
– FAN & MEDIA GUIDE

About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 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 Top-Sider. 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 Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. 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 Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.

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 Top-Sider. 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