Pictured: Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), 470, US Sailing Team Sperry. Photo © Matias Capizzano/470 Class
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2016
Portsmouth, R.I. – Full-fleet racing at the 470 Class World Championship (Feb. 22-27) in San Isidro, Argentina has come to and end on Day 5, and Saturday’s medal races are all that remain. In the women’s 470, both US Sailing Team Sperry (national team) boats earned medal race berths, and tomorrow’s racing could have important implications for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team Selection Series. In the men’s fleet, European and North American Champions Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.) missed the medal race by just nine points after an up-and-down regatta.
Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.) hung on to their position as the top U.S. boat, but dropped in the standings from 3rd to 6th overall. “Today wasn’t the day we were hoping for,” said Shevitz. “We had great speed around the course, but had a hard time staying in phase with the shifts. We also dealt with a few minor breakdowns in our first race.” Regardless of tomorrow’s result, this is already a career-best performance for the southern California pair. “This is our first time qualifying for the top ten at a World Championship, and that is a huge accomplishment for our team,” said Shevitz.
US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), had the slightly better day of the two U.S. boats, and are in 8th overall, five points back of Bolger and Shevitz. Provancha noted that although the Olympic selection standings are currently tight, it did not dominate their game plan for the day. “We were just doing our thing, while keeping [the other U.S. boat] in mind of course, but it was extremely difficult sailing overall,” said Provancha, a Youth World Champion crew. “We had a massive comeback the first race, and did about everything wrong you could imagine. Still, we picked ourselves up, and just started passing boats one at a time.”
In the Men’s fleet, Stu McNay and David Hughes entered the day in 10th overall, but scores of 10, 25 allowed two boats to edge past them in the overall standings. Since the medal race is reserved for the top ten competitors only, McNay and Hughes will end their Worlds in 12th overall. No other men’s 470 team is currently vying for U.S. Olympic Team selection, although McNay and Hughes are widely seen as medal prospects for Rio.
The second and final 470 U.S. Olympic Team selection event will be the 2016 470 European Championships (April 5-12) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The combined scores of the Worlds and Europeans will determine who will represent the United States in Rio 2016 in these two classes.
All athletes named to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). For more information on the 2016 470 World Championships, visit the event website.
USA Results: 470 World Championship, Day 5
Women’s 470:
- 6th overall, 63 points, Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
- 8th overall, 68 points, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.)
Note: Saturday’s medal race will count for double points.
Men’s 470 (Final):
- 12th overall, Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.)
Previous Event Reports:
- 470 Worlds: USA Women’s Teams Shine, Men Enter Top 10
- Preview: 470 World Championship & U.S. Olympic Team Selection
See Also: Full U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker (All Classes)
Pictured: Women’s 470 racing on Day 5, with Bolger & Shevitz visible in the background. © Matias Capizzano/470 Class
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.