Clearwater Worlds: Nacra 17’s Complete Four Wild Races, Skiffs Battle Waves

by

Pictured: Michael Easton (Bedford, Mass.) and Katie Pettibone (Port Huron, Mich.), Nacra 17.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2016

Clearwater, Fla. – The Gulf of Mexico can be an unforgiving playing field, a point that has been firmly reinforced by weather conditions over the first two days of the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships. Day Two saw big breeze and even bigger waves return to Clearwater, and challenge US Sailing Team Sperry athletes and international competitors alike.

SEE ALSO: Team Tracker – Current Standings of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Sailing Teams Selection Series

In addition to being the first Olympic-class World Championship held in the United States since 2010, the event serves as the second and final U.S. Olympic Team selection event in these three classes.

Nacra 17 (Mixed Two-Person Multihull)

Michael Easton (Bedford, Mass.) and Katie Pettibone (Port Huron, Mich.) are the top American team after Day Two, and their highlight was a strong 7th place finish in the first race of the day. “Mike and I enjoy the big breeze,” said Pettibone, a veteran of three America’s Cup campaigns and two Volvo/Whitbread ocean races. “We’re generally happy with how we sailed, and definitely have room for improvement in these conditions. We like our [upward] trend.”

Easton noted that they tried to keep things simple, and manage risk as they dealt with the physical conditions. “Really, the plan was just to sheet in and sail fast. When [the compass numbers] were down, we tacked. When they were up, we gybed. We also wanted to make sure Katie, who got hurt racing last year, didn’t re-injure herself. It was exhausting, and we pushed hard, but that’s what Olympic sailing is about.”

Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.) showed flashes of top-level speed today, but had difficulty putting together complete races, said Chafee. “These were tough conditions for a new team, and they were not something we’ve had a chance to practice in before.” Chafee also noted that it was still earlyn on in the event. “It’s only day two of the regatta, and we’re four races in. We’re hoping for plenty more, and opportunities to move up.”

See Also: Nacra 17 Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

49erFX (Women’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff)

USSailingTeam_20160210_IMG_1359_Credit_Will_Ricketson_USSailing

Pictured: Team Henken/Scutt, 49erFX.

The two divisions of 49erFX athletes were sent out twice today, with the morning races cancelled after conditions were deemed to be too extreme. The second attempt at racing, made mid-afternoon, saw more manageable wind speeds but a roiling sea state that challenged the best skiff sailors in the world. One race was completed in each division, but two out of the three American boats ended up with broken masts, a fate shared by several other international teams.

In the Blue Division, the US Sailing Team Sperry’s Paris Henken (Coronado, Calif.) and Helena Scutt (Kirkland, Wash.) escaped back to shore with their rig intact, despite suffering a capsize during the race. “Before the race began, it seemed fine out there,” said Scutt. “It was around 12-14 knots of wind, but during the race it got windier. It wasn’t the wind speeds that were hard, it was the waves. The bottom line is that we knew it was going to be a crazy race for everyone, and we tried to survive.” Henken and Scutt finished 14th overall.

In the Yellow Division, both American boats suffered broken upper mast sections. The US Sailing Team Sperry’s Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and Elizabeth Barry (Riverside, Conn.) crashed partway through the race, and were unable to finish. “We felt like the race wasn’t even that crazy, but we got a bit unlucky with the mast. People flipped all around us but somehow they kept their rigs.” Barry noted that in the 49erFX class it was crucial to have spare masts, and they’ll be ready to go tomorrow.

For Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.), the breakdown came on the last leg. After righting the boat, the two veteran Olympic-class sailors were able to nurse the boat over the finish line in 14th place, and avoided the eight points that would have been added to their score had they not finished.

See Also: 49erFX Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

49er (Men’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff)

No races were completed on Day Two in the Men’s 49er, with the Race committee deeming the weather conditions to be too extreme. See the Day One report for a recap of how the top American teams are doing.

See Also: 49er Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

Racing will continue on Day Three of the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida, with medal races being held on Sunday, February 14, 2016.

USA Results: 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championship

Full Results

49er (Men’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff):
 54 boats

One race completed.

  • 13th (tied) overall, Brad Funk (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 41st (tied) overall, Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.) and Joe Morris (Annapolis, Md.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 41st (tied) overall, Andrew and Matthew Mollerus (Rye, N.Y.)
  • 43rd (tied) overall, David Liebenberg (Livermore, Calif.) and Dan Morris (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • 45th (tied) overall, Fred Strammer (Nakomis, Fla.) and Mike Kuschner (Gloucester Point, Va.)
  • 45th (tied) overall, Judge Ryan (San Diego, Calif.) and Hans Henken (Coronado, Calif.)
  • 47th (tied) overall, Jonny Goldsberry & Chad Freitas
  • 54th (tied) overall, Wade Waddell and Ian MacDiarmid
  • 54th (tied) overall, Michael Sabourin and Andrew Person
  • 54th (tied) overall, Matthew Graham and Alexander Hume
  • 54th (tied) overall, David Ames & P.J. Buhler
  • 54th (tied) overall, Even Sjostedt and Garret Brown

See Also: 49er Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

49erFX (Women’s Two-Person High Performance Skiff): 43 boats

One race completed.

  • 27th (tied) overall, Paris Henken (Coronado, Calif.) and Helena Scutt (Kirkland, Wash.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 27th (tied) overall, Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.)
  • 36th (tied) overall, Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and Elizabeth Barry (Riverside, Conn.), US Sailing Team Sperry

See Also: 49erFX Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

Nacra 17 (Mixed Two-Person Multihull): 33 boats

One race completed.

  • 20th overall, Michael Easton (Bedford, Mass.) and Katie Pettibone (Port Huron, Mich.)
  • 28th overall, Sarah Newberry (Miami, Fla.) and Matthew Whitehead (Panama City, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 29th overall, Mark Mendelblatt and Carolina Mendelblatt (Miami, Fla.)
  • 32nd overall, Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.), US Sailing Team Sperry
  • 36th (tied) overall, Steph Hudson (Winnetka, Ill.) and Dalton Tebo (Sarasota, Fla.)
  • 38th (tied) overall, Jeremy Wilmot and Mayumi Roller
  • 40th (tied) overall, Sandra Tartaglino and Charles MacBain

See Also: Nacra 17 Class U.S. Olympic Team Selection Tracker

Previous Event Reports:

Event Information:

Follow the Team USA Selection Series

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

– end –

Press Contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 (978) 697-2384.