Youth teams hailing from Hawaii to Maine will convene for the Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas August 11-13.
The Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup is US Sailing’s National Championship for three-person, triplehanded youth teams (occasionally four-person boats are used) and serves as a pathway into keelboat racing for youth sailors. First sailed in 1921, the Sears Cup is US Sailing’s oldest national championship trophy and the original youth sailing national championship.
Past winners of the championship include Youth Match Racing World Champion David Wood, 2023 12 Metre World Champion Porter Kavle (aboard Challenger XII), 2012 Olympian Joe Morris, two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year John Kostecki, and dozen of other notable America sailors.
Teams qualify for the Championship via their Area’s Qualifier. Each of the 11 Areas recognized by US Sailing holds an Area Qualifier regatta to determine the team or teams that will represent their region at the National Championship. Registration for this National Championship is limited to teams that have qualified via their Area Qualifier regatta.
Unlike previous years, in 2023 the Championship will double in size, allowing each Area to send two teams to the National Championship. Teams will sail with crews of four people (including the skipper) and rotate through Lakewood Yacht Club’s fleet of RS21s.
“Lakewood Yacht Club is honored to host the 2023 Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship,” said Marie Wise, Regatta Chair and Lakewood Yacht Club Fleet Captain. “For us, giving to youth sailing is about so much more than the racing. This is the next generation of leaders in the sport, and keelboat experience is the most important step. This is our vision for our fleet of RS21 keelboats.”
To keep competition and coaching equitable, no private coaching is allowed at the Chubb U.S. Triplehanded Championship. US Sailing provides fleet coaches, chosen from the deep US Sailing network of college coaches, pro sailors, and expert sailing coaches. To compete in US Sailing’s youth championships, sailors must have reached their 13th birthday but not their 19th in the calendar year.
US Sailing would like to thank title sponsor Chubb Insurance, national sponsor Gill Marine, and host club Lakewood Yacht Club for their support of the Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship.