Pictured: Bradley Johnson, Sonar, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2014
Halifax, Nova Scotia – Racing began on Tuesday at the IFDS World Championship, Paralympic sailing’s premier annual event, and competitors were treated to sunshine and plentiful breeze. Hosted by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, North America’s oldest sailing club, this event serves as the first nation qualifier for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The first day of racing was a strong one for the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, with American boats in the top ten in each of the three Paralympic classes competing in Halifax.
In the Sonar, Paralympians and Sonar Disabled Class World Champions Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.) and Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.), sailing with Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), sit in 3rd overall after a solid opening scoreline of 4,6. Racing close to the shoreline of Halifax harbor on a course that featured an extremely shifty offshore breeze, Doerr and his team fought hard to stay consistent. Highlighting the day was a 6th place finish in race 2, a race in which Doerr, Angle and Freund worked their way back to a keeper score after rounding mark 1 deep in 16th place. “We were down, but never got upset,” Said Angle. “You can’t do that this early in the regatta. We focused big-time and went for it. I’ve never been so happy about a 6th in my life!” While the other US team of Andrew Fisher (Greenwich, Ct.), Mike Hersey (Hyannis, Mass.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.) scored a black flag penalty in race 1, they shined in race 2, finishing 3rd. Fisher’s team sits in 12th overall.
In the SKUD-18 fleet, the two US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider boats are next to each other in the overall standings, with Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.) in 6th, and Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, Maine) in 7th. “We felt alright, especially downwind,” said Porteous. “We made some tactical mistakes, but there was definitely a lot to build on.” Tiernan noted that his team’s second experience together at the IFDS Worlds is already a big improvement from the 2013 event in Kinsale, Ireland. “Our new boat is great, and we’re starting to figure it out. We are definitely better prepared for Worlds this year, with faster equipment, great coaching and great support from the US Sailing Team.”
The 2.4mR class boasts the largest fleet at the event, with 49 boats. The top American performer on Day 1 was Paralympic bronze medalist and 2.4mR open world champion John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.), who collected scores of 9,11 for 8th overall. Ted Green (Newport, R.I.), competing at his first IFDS Worlds, is not far behind in 10th overall. Commenting on how he’s been able to become competitive so quickly after jumping into the class last year, Green noted that teamwork was key. “It’s been good having [the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider’s] Danny Evans (Miami, Fla.) and Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Ct.) to train against this Summer,” said Green. “Fuzz (US Sailing Team Technical Director Grant Spanhake) also helped me test out my mast, which was awesome.”
Racing at the 2014 IFDS Worlds will take place in Halifax from Tuesday, August 19, to Sunday, August 24.
US Roster: 2014 IFDS World Championships
2.4mR Class:
- 8th, John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.)
- 10th, Ted Green (Newport, R.I.)
- 22nd, Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Ct.)
- 35th, Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.)
- 37th, Tim Ripley
- 43rd, Kevin Holmberg (Sarasota, Fla.)
SKUD-18 Class:
- 6th, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.)
- 7th, Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, Maine)
Sonar Class:
- 3rd, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine)
- 12th, Andrew Fisher (Greenwich, Ct.), Mike Hersey (Hyannis, Mass.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Pictured: Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.), SKUD-18, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Event website:
Results:
http://www.ifdsworlds2014.ca/view-results.html
Photos:
US Sailing Team photos from the IFDS World Championship are available here: http://bit.ly/1pW56do
For photo download password, email: willricketson@ussailing.org
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RSVP Today for the Golden Spinnaker Regatta and Gala, September 27th:
Come sail with the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider in Newport, Rhode Island at New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court! Enjoy cocktails, dinner and an auction for items such as a VIP trip to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and Olympic flags signed by the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. – See more at: https://www.ussailing.org/gsr2014
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