470 Europeans: USA Women in 6th, Men in 8th Overall

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Pictured: Stu McNay and Dave Hughes, Men’s 470, US Sailing Team Sperry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 9, 2016

Palma de Mallorca, Spain – Competitors at the 2016 470 Class European Championship (April 7-12) enjoyed near-perfect sailing conditions on day three of racing in Palma. Sunny skies, a light swell and 12-16 knots of breeze provided many of the world’s best competitors in the venerable two-person dinghy with an excellent test of skill.

In the Men’s division, reigning European and North American Champions Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) dropped a bit lower in the top-ten, with scores of 7,13,18. “It was not our best showing, and it did not play out as planned,” said McNay, a two-time Olympian. Hughes concurred, noting that sometimes in sailing, even familiar venues like Palma can offer up surprises. “The tactical situation out there was the opposite of what we expected, and there were other top teams who were similarly surprised. The last couple races today became come-from-behind efforts. In short, today was not the best, but it was not so bad that can’t play for [the podium] for the rest of the regatta.” McNay and Hughes now sit in 8th overall.

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Pictured: Haeger and Provancha, Women’s 470, US Sailing Team Sperry.

In the women’s 470 fleet, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) had a strong day, with an all-keeper scoreline of 8,5,2, good enough for 6th overall. “Today was a good day,” said Haeger, the 2015 US Sailing rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. “It was breezy and very shifty. Being in our Olympic selection series, it was difficult to maintain position while also keeping track of the other Americans.”

Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), who like the other American boat finished in the top-ten at the 2016 470 Worlds in February, have had a slower start to their regatta. The Southern California pair recorded a pair of 11’s on day three, but a protest and disqualification in Race 4, which stemmed from a close maneuver with Haeger and Provancha, dropped them to 31st overall.

The 470 Class European Championship will run from April 7-12 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. All athletes selected by US Sailing for the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).

Note: This year’s Europeans serves as the second and final U.S. Olympic Sailing Team selection event in the Men’s and Women’s 470 classes.

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Pictured: Bolger and Shevitz in foreground, Haeger and Provancha in background. 

Current USA Results:

Men’s 470:

Women’s 470:

Full Results

SEE ALSO: Current Standings, U.S. Olympic Sailing Team Selection Series

Previous Event Reports:

Quick Links:

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.

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