Championship Final Recap
NORFOLK, Va. (June 20, 2021) – Sailors flocked to Norfolk, Virginia, over the weekend to test their skills against top flite singlehanded sailors from around the world. The Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Lower Chesapeake Laser Fleet 12, Big Blue Sailing Academy and Old Dominion University set the stage for the 2021 ILCA US National Championship and U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships, a US Sailing National Championship.
With 227 competitors on the starting line, athletes were eager to prove themselves against a large and talented fleet.
In the ILCA 7, Robert Hallawell (Jensen Beach, Fla.) triumphed with 36 points, earning the top medal including the U.S. Singlehanded Men’s Championship for the George O’Day Trophy, while Benn Smith (Bermuda) was awarded second, followed by Humberto Porrata (North Palm Beach, Fla.) in third.
“It was a really challenging weekend, the heat for one thing, and being able to keep the body going,” said Hall The winds were tricky, and the current was a huge challenge. I was trying to stay conservative on the racecourse and stay in the hunt and let other people to make mistakes was what worked for me. I was trying to stay focused the whole time. I tried not to get too down when I lost boats and keep my head in the game.”
In the ILCA 6, Chapman Petersen maintained his lead from Day 2 and was crowned ILCA US National Champion, followed by Robby Meek and Benjamin Smith. For the women competing in the U.S. Singlehanded Women’s Championship for the Helen Hanley Trophy, it was Hallie Schiffman finishing 5th overall and taking the title. She was followed by Katharine Doble (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) in second, and Lillian Myers (Sarasota, Fla.) in third.
“I think trying to keep consistent scores, it was pretty shifty, I was trying to look for pressure, get a good start and keep my head clear,” said Schiffman of her success.
In the ILCA 4, Matheo Capasso earned the top spot on the podium with 48 points. Second place was awarded to Jacob Zils, and third went to Conor Kellett.
Sailors eligible for the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships in the men’s ILCA 7 and women’s ILCA 6 events must have turned 17 in the calendar year of 2021. All competitors that are U.S. citizens shall be members of US Sailing, and all non-citizen shall either be members of US Sailing or members of their World Sailing recognized MNA. Males in ILCA 7 and females in ILCA 6 that meet the requirements are eligible.
For complete results and standings and more information about the 2021 ILCA US National Championships and the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships, please visit the links below.
Quick Links:
- Final Results & Standings
- Follow US Sailing on Instagram
- ILCA Nationals event website
- U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship event website
- Day 1 Photos / Day 2 Photos / Day 3 Photos
Recap contributions by Tyler Colvin and Ellinor Walters.
Mitch Brindley is the the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships Chair.
Ben Schill Photography
https://www.schillphotography.com/
@benschillphotography
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, 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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Big Blue Sailing Academy
Big Blue Sailing Academy is run by Mitch Brindley, Head Coach of the Old Dominion University Sailing Team, with support from Assistant Coaches Morgan Collins and Tyler Colvin. Big Blue Sailing Academy provides elite level ILCA coaching in the Hampton Roads area, as well as an accessible avenue for local youth to get on the water and learn to sail. Brindley, Collins and Colvin have run the 2017 USODA National Championships, the 2018 College Sailing National Championships, the 2019 C420 Mid-Atlantic Championships, the 2020 ILCA Atlantic Coast Championships, and are set to host the 2021 Junior Women’s Championship Mid-Atlantic Clinic on June 29-July 1 and the 2021 USODA Fleet Race Championships on July 24-29.
Event Contacts:
Tyler Colvin, Regatta Co-Chair
Big Blue Sailing Academy/ODU Sailing
tcolvin@odu.edu
US Sailing Contact:
Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications
jakefish@ussailing.org
Championship Preview
NORFOLK, Va. (June 18, 2021) – Big Blue Sailing Academy at Old Dominion University, in collaboration with Norfolk Yacht and Country Club and the Lower Chesapeake Laser Fleet 12, are set to host the 2021 ILCA US National Championship on June 18-20. The U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship for the O’Day, Hanley and Barrett Trophies will be run in conjunction with ILCA Nationals this week.
The U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship is a US Sailing National Championship. The 2021 ILCA US National Championships are supported by Xylem Tree Experts, Rite in the Rain Notebooks, US Sailing and West Marine.
The event, with 227 registered competitors, is one of the largest US ILCA Nationals in recent history. The ILCA 4 with 53 boats, the ILCA 6 with 122 boats and the ILCA 7 with 52 boats, have representation from around the United States, as well as 11 other countries. 2019 ILCA 6 North American Champion, Chapman Petersen, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is competing, as well as 2019 ILCA 7 North American 3rd place finisher, Benn Smith, of Bermuda. On the women’s side, US Sailing Olympic Development Program (ODP) athletes Lillian Myers and Hallie Schiffman are top contenders in the ILCA 6.
North American Executive Class Secretary Scott Williamson commented, “227 entries is a big turnout, with 175 of those in the ILCA 6 and 4 fleets. These numbers show a bright future for the class on [sic] its 50th year!”
Racing will take place by Middle Ground Lighthouse, off of Craney Island, in Hampton Roads Harbor, beginning at 10:30 am ET on Friday, June 18. The PRO for the event is Chip Till and the Chief Judge is Sandy Grosvenor. There are 12 races planned for the event. In the ILCA 6, there will be two days of qualifying, followed by one day of Championship fleet racing. Conditions are predicted to be 9-12 knots S on Friday, 15-25 knots SW on Saturday and 10-15 knots SW on Sunday.
Big Blue Sailing Academy is run by Mitch Brindley, Head Coach of the Old Dominion University Sailing Team, with support from Assistant Coaches Morgan Collins and Tyler Colvin. Big Blue Sailing Academy provides elite level ILCA coaching in the Hampton Roads area, as well as an accessible avenue for local youth to get on the water and learn to sail. Brindley, Collins and Colvin have run the 2017 USODA National Championships, the 2018 College Sailing National Championships, the 2019 C420 Mid-Atlantic Championships, the 2020 ILCA Atlantic Coast Championships, and are set to host the 2021 Junior Women’s Championship Mid-Atlantic Clinic on June 29-July 1 and the 2021 USODA Fleet Race Championships on July 24-29.
“We are thrilled to be running this event here at Old Dominion University,” said Morgan Collins, Event Co-Chair. “The venue will be unique and challenging with flat and open water conditions. We are also excited to see a large group of sailors again and hope to kickoff a great summer of sailing here in the U.S.”
Sailors eligible for the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships in the men’s ILCA 7 and women’s ILCA 6 events must have turned 17 in the calendar year of 2021. All competitors that are U.S. citizens shall be members of US Sailing, and all non-citizen shall either be members of US Sailing or members of their World Sailing recognized MNA. Males in ILCA 7 and females in ILCA 6 that meet the requirements are eligible.
Prizes will be awarded to competitors meeting the eligibility rules for the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship:
- George D. O’Day Trophy to the overall highest placing eligible male in the ILCA 7 for the U.S. Singlehanded Men’s Championship.
- Helen Willis Hanley Trophy to the overall highest placing eligible female in the ILCA 6 for the U.S. Singlehanded Women’s Championship.
- US Sailing medals will be awarded to the top three positions in each fleet.
For complete results and standings and more information about the 2021 ILCA US National Championships and the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championships, please visit the links below.
Quick Links:
- Results & Standings
- Follow US Sailing on Instagram for updates
- ILCA Nationals event website
- U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship event website
-Preview by Tyler Colvin.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, 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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
Event Contacts:
Tyler Colvin, Regatta Co-Chair
Big Blue Sailing Academy/ODU Sailing
tcolvin@odu.edu
US Sailing Contact:
Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications
jakefish@ussailing.org