OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (October 5, 2017) – US Sailing’s Championship of Champions is recognized as one of the more unique adult racing events in the country. All sailors have qualified for this event by winning a one-design class National, North American, or World Championship in the qualifying years (2016 – 2017). These champions will be tested this Friday through Sunday, October 6-8, in the Sonar to see if they can hold their own against a strong fleet of class titlists.
Thirteen sailors have been selected to race for the Jack Brown Trophy while representing their respective classes at the 2017 Championship of Champions, raced at The WaterFront Center in Oyster Bay, N.Y. Racing will be preceded by a special Sonar boat clinic and local knowledge briefing on Thursday, October 5.
The competition will be challenging with many decorated sailors competing on the same course. Every year, US Sailing invites one special guest to join the competition. Invited helms have included winners of the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, Olympians, and other sailing greats. Steve Benjamin (Miami, Fla.) is this year’s Championship of Champions special guest. Benjamin was named US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year for his win at the 2015 Etchells North American Championship and runner-up performance at the Etchells World Championship. Benjamin may have bested his 2015 results in 2017 following his win at the Etchells World Championship last week in San Francisco.
Benjamin is not the only World Champion competing this week. The 2016 J/22 World Champion, Mike Marshall (Jamestown, R.I.), has also joined the fleet and his team will try their hand at Sonar sailing this week.
Here is the competitors list and qualifying class championship:
Event Coverage & Social Media
- For results and standings, real-time Twitter updates, photos, and more information from the 2017 Championship of Champions, please visit the event website.
- Facebook Live: We will be live streaming the racing periodically throughout the championship. Follow US Sailing on Facebook for live streaming updates and alerts.
- For breaking news and race results, follow Twitter hashtag – #CofCSonar – and participate in the conversation throughout the championship on all social media platforms.
This Championship, inaugurated in 1976, is held in a different location and in a different class each year. Classes in which the event has been held run the gamut from conventional to cutting edge and have included Stars, Y-Flyers, Snipes, Hobie Cats, J-24s, Sunfish, Lightnings and Etchells, to name just a few. The championship trophy is named in honor of Jack Brown who was noted for his service as a judge, regatta organizer and member of US Sailing Committees.
Racing will take place on West Harbor. The Sonars will be provided and racing will be a round robin format.
The 2017 Championship of Champions is a US Sailing National Championship, sponsored by Gill North America.
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 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 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.