GULFPORT, Miss. (October 11, 2015) – The top 49er team in the country showed their diversity on the race course this weekend and captured one of US Sailing’s most intriguing championships. Brad Funk (Largo, Fla.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.) successfully acclimated to VX One to win the Championship of Champions, hosted by Gulfport Yacht Club.
US Sailing’s Championship of Champions is recognized as one of the
more unique adult racing events in the country. All helmsmen qualified for this event by winning a one-design class National, North American, or World Championship in the qualifying year (2014 – 2015). Twenty teams were tested in the VX One this year on the waters of Mississippi Sound.
Funk and Burd got off to an outstanding start on Friday by notching three consecutive bullets. However, Kenny Wolfe and Virginia Hannan of the MC Scow class were the most consistent team through Friday’s five races and took a six point lead into Saturday. They won the final two races Friday to take the lead. All five races were conducted in the afternoon in moderate to light breeze.
Despite back-to-back 10th (Friday) and 11th (Saturday) place finishes, Funk and Burd took command on Saturday en route to a 24-point lead through another six races in moderate to heavy winds.
On Sunday, the breeze was heavy in morning with chopping conditions. Wind speed reached 15 knots in the morning and dropped to 6-8 knots later in the day.
Funk and Burd placed third, sixth and second in Sunday’s three races to seal the win. Christopher Alexander (Ocean Springs, Miss.) and John F. Dane (Pass Christian, Miss.) of the VX One class won two of three races Sunday to finish second. Mike Holt (Soquel, Calif.) and Edward Conrads (Sausalito, Calif.) of the International 505 placed third overall.
“I was able to apply my skill sets from sailing the Laser, Vanguard 15, and the 49er, to this boat,” said Funk. “I sailed the VX One a couple times before as crew and I was able to give some intel to Trevor. We were able to get good starts and when we hit the pressure we were strong on the downwinds.
“There was a really relaxing and fun group of people here from different niches of sailing. I had heard about several of these talented sailors, but never raced against some of them. I think we all started to figure out the boat, and when we did, the racing got tighter and tighter.”
Funk and Burd will compete at the 49er World Championships in November for a chance to qualify Team USA for the 2016 Olympic Games in the 49er (Skiff) competition.
Three days of racing was preceded by a special VX One boat clinic and technical briefing on Thursday led by Brian Bennett, designer of the VX One.
The championship is named in honor of Jack Brown who was noted for his service as a judge, regatta organizer and member of US Sailing Committees.
Sailor list with representing classes and hometowns.
The 2015 Championship of Champions is a US Sailing National Championship, sponsored by Gill North America and Switlik Survival Products.
Top 5 – Final
1. Brad Funk/Trevor Burd, 1-1-1-2-[10]-[11]-2-5-4-2-7-3-6-2- ; 36
2. Christopher Alexander/John F Dane, 6-12-5-8-2-8-[14]-2-3-5-[15]-1-11-1- ; 64
3. Mike Holt/Edward Conrads, 12-3-2-[14]-[17]-6-1-3-8-1-14-2-7-6- ; 65
4. Chris Raab/Donovan Brennan, 8-4-8-6-9-[12]-[15]-4-7-4-5-5-3-4- ; 67
5. Kenny Wolfe/Virginia Hannan, 2-2-3-1-1-13-[16]-10-12-3-12-4-[15]-5- ; 68
Complete Final Standings
VX One Boat Description
The VX One is a fresh and exciting sport one-design for the international two to three person racing enthusiast. The design concept is born of a careful review of performance one-design demographics within this category worldwide. The VX offers sailors, from junior to advanced, a vehicle for perpetual enjoyment of performance sailing. Sailing World magazine named the VX One, Boat of the Year in 2012, for best new one-design and best overall sailboat.
Media & Coverage
For standings, photos, Twitter updates, and more information from the 2015 Championship of Champions, please visit the event website.
Rounding of race 6 on day two of the US Sailing Championship of Champions. #cofcsailing15 pic.twitter.com/3jxpx5AvyQ
— Gulfport Yacht Club (@GulfportYC) October 10, 2015
Prizes
- US Sailing medals are awarded to the top three competitors.
- The winning team was awarded the Jack Brown Trophy.
US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org
About US Sailing
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.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, US and Canada. Gill is a worldwide apparel and accessories brand serving the marine industry with over three decades of experience. Gill specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company develops and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear. Gill products are available through hundreds of independent dealers and select West Marine Stores. For further information, please contact: Gary Barker at 941-505-2111 or gary.barker@gillna.com.
About Switlik Survival Products
Established in 1920, Switlik Parachute Co. has been owned and operated by the Switlik family for four generations and is known worldwide as a manufacturer of the highest quality sewn and heat sealed inflatable safety and survival products for the aviation, marine, and military/government markets. Our capabilities include a wide variety of anti-exposure and anti-g suits, inflatable life rafts, inflatable life vests, inflation systems and other specialty textile-based military equipment all manufactured at our 85,000 sq. ft. facility located in Trenton, NJ USA. www.switlik.com