FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2014
Santander, Spain – The arrival of Day 7 at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships brought with it the first medal races of the event, and a new set of title holders in the Women’s Laser Radial and Men’s Laser classes. Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) finished the event in 7th overall, a career-best finish for the top-ranked US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Laser sailor. Also making moves on Thursday was the Women’s 470 team of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha, (San Diego, Calif.) who jumped from 6th to 3rd overall.
By finishing 7th, Buckingham recorded the best Laser World Championship result for an American athlete since the silver medal won by two-time Olympian Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.) in 2004. “It was really windy and with a lot of chop, so super difficult conditions,” said Buckingham, who raced in front of a large crowd seated in purpose-bult grandstands on the harbor front. Elaborating on the medal race itself, the 2-time College Sailor of the Year and 4-time All-American noted that the enclosed medal race course was difficult to interpret. “I had a really good start, and did what I wanted to do, but I got a bit out of phase with some waves that were pushing people upwind. I lost some distance [on the first upwind leg].” Nevertheless, this result at the 2014 Worlds demonstrates that Buckingham will continue to be a contender in this class as Rio 2016 gets closer. “Today wasn’t my best race, but I’m happy with how my week went. I have a lot of work to do, but I’ve made a lot of progress in a year, and I’m happy with the path that my coach and I are on.”
Pictured: Charlie Buckingham, Laser
For the women’s 470 team of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) it was moving day, and with three more consistent finishes the pair jumped from 6th to 3rd overall. “We had three keepers today, but that’s not what we were the most stoked about,” said Provancha. “We’ve been working hard for a year on becoming one of the best teams in heavy breeze, and today it felt like we’ve made progress.” US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 470 coach Dave Ullman noted with approval Haeger and Provancha’s improved speed. “I’m always proud of these girls,” said the 3-time 470 World Champion. “They turned a potential mid-fleet result into a 6th today on the last race, which was impressive.”
On the men’s side, 470 sailors Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) continue to be right in the hunt for the podium, despite relinquishing the overall lead. After enduring a tough first race (which was the last race of the qualifying series), McNay and Hughes turned the jets back on when gold fleet action got under way. A 2,8 scoreline in the final two races today has them in 4th overall and only 3 points from 3rd.
Pictured: Stu McNay and Dave Hughes, 470.
In the Finn, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) continues to steadily work his way back upwards after a difficult start to his event. Paine is now in 11th overall after a 6,12 performance in heavy air, and hopes to break into the top 10 tomorrow. ” I just need to keep doing the same thing, which is to sail smart and fast,” said Paine.
Full Results: http://bit.ly/1s3FKhN
Notable US Results, Overall:
470 Women (54 boats):
- 3rd, Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
470 Men (73 boats):
- 4th, Stuart McNay and David Hughes, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Laser Men (147 boats): Final
- 7th, Charlie Buckingham, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
- 15th, Chris Barnard, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Finn (78 boats):
- 11th, Caleb Paine, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Laser Radial Women (120 boats): Final
- 14th, Erika Reineke, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
49er Men (40 boats raced on Day 4, 80 total boats):
- 22nd, Brad Funk and Trevor Burd, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
49erFX Women
- 35th, Paris Henken and Helena Scutt, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Nacra 17 (67 boats):
- 37th, Sarah Newberry and John Casey, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
RS:X Women:
- 40th, Farrah Hall, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
RS:X Men:
- 73rd, Carson Crain, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
Santander 2014 Media Guide:
Event Website: http://www.santander2014.com
US Sailing Team Live Updates: www.Twitter.com/USSailingTeam
US Sailing Team Daily Reports: www.ussailing.org/olympics
Social Media (Facebook): www.Facebook.com.USSailingTeam
Social Media (Instagram): www.Instagram.com.USSailingTeam
Photos (Daily): www.usst.photoshelter.com
The Medalist Newsletter: September Issue
The Medalist is out! We are in championship season, and the biggest Olympic sailing event of the year is taking place at the ISAF World Championships in Santander, Spain. The Medalist, September Issue: http://bit.ly/1qHG82Q Subscribe: http://eepurl.com/EZH6D
Featured In This Issue:
– SANTANDER WORLDS: The Biggest Event Before Rio 2016
– VIEW FROM RIO, by Charlie McKee
– SNAPSHOTS: Images from Training and Racing
– QUOTABLES: Social Media Roundup
– DISABLED SAILING WORLDS, by Betsy Alison
– RISING TIDE, Episode 3: “A Technical Direction.”
– THE GOLDEN SPINNAKER REGATTA & GALA: Support your team! Event details inside.
– FAN & MEDIA GUIDE
About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 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 Top-Sider. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. 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 Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.
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 Top-Sider. 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