Megan Ploch and Crew Earn Win at International Women’s Keelboat Championship

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VALLE DE BRAVO, Estado de Mexico, Mexico (August 18, 2017) – For the first time in event history, the revitalized International Women’s Keelboat Championship, a US Sailing Championship, was held outside the United States. Club de Vela La Peña A.C. in Valle de Bravo, Mexico hosted the 2017 edition of this historic event and provided the competitors with a unique experience.

In a climactic conclusion Friday afternoon in J/70s on Lake Avándaro, the team representing the American Yacht Club (Rye, N.Y.), led by skipper Megan Ploch (Pelham, N.Y.), edged the competition in a closely contested Championship Round. They began the day in third place. With the win, they earned the right to compete at the 2018 Sailing Championship League World qualifier.

The team featured crew members Alix Hahn (Norwalk, Conn.), Carolyn Russell (Greenwich, Conn.) and Erin Sprague (Greenwich, Conn.). This trio won the 2016 International Women’s Keelboat Championship with helm Clemmie Everett in last year’s event, hosted by American Yacht Club.

Placing second was a local team representing Club de Vela La Peña A.C skippered by Camila Flores (Mexico City, Mexico) with teammates Casilda Flores (Mexico City, Mexico), Ana Clare Sole (Houston, Texas) and Manuela Legorreta (Mexico City, Mexico). Flores was in first place entering the Championships Round. Flores was in first place entering the Championships Round, and although they sailed well in each of the six races today, they were unable to stay atop the leader board.

Emily Maxwell (New York, N.Y.), Elizabeth Dudley (Boston, Mass.), Avery Field (New York, N.Y.) and Katy Nastro (Huntington, N.Y.) finished third. The racing was so tight in race six that any of four teams could have finished second through fourth. Flores had 17 points, and Maxwell was tied at 19 with Giselle Camet (San Diego, Calif.), so it was anyone’s race to take. In the end, Maxwell just edged out Camet on the final run to secure the Bronze medal.

Final Standings – Championship Round (Top 6)
1. Megan Ploch (USA) – 15 points
2. Camila Flores (MEX) – 19 points
3. Emily Maxwell (USA) – 23 points
4. Giselle Camet (USA) – 24 points
5. Eliane Fierro (MEX) – 28 points
6. Liz Barker (USA) – 38 points
Complete Final Standings

To ensure fast and competitive racing, the round robin format for the championship featured team rotations after every five races. Each team raced an equal number of races against the other teams. Races were approximately 15 minutes in duration. The racing featured quick rotations and on-the-water umpiring, in addition to a quality viewing experience for spectators.

This year’s Championship consisted of 10 teams overall, including seven from the United States, two from Mexico and one from Canada. The two Mexican teams excelled in the Qualifying Rounds, placing first and second overall. The top four teams from the Qualifying Rounds automatically advanced to the Championship Round on Friday. Thursday’s racing wrapped up with the Repechage Round featuring the bottom six teams sailing for the last two spots. Advancing teams carried a “virtual” race result that reflected their ranking going into the Championship round. The Championship Round consisted of six races, each team sailing each J/70 sailboat once. Competitors List

The top six teams entering the Championship Round:

1. Camila Flores (MEX) – 1 points
2. Eliane Fierro (MEX) – 2 points
3. Megan Ploch (USA) – 3 points
4. Giselle Camet (USA) – 4 points
5. Emily Maxwell (USA) – 5 points
6. Liz Barker (USA) – 6 points

The lake sailing venue framed by mountainous land formations offered new and exciting challenges to the competitors. Conditions this week were spectacular with a SW breeze and 5 to 14 knots of breeze daily. Each day the threat of an afternoon thunderstorms was a reality, as evidenced by Thursday’s last race of the Repechage Round being cancelled due to thunder and lightning. The hospitality and friendship shown by the local hosts was truly outstanding, as was expressed by the competitors and race organizers.

For more information about the 2017 International Women’s Keelboat Championship, including results and standings, real-time updates from the race course on Twitter (#womenskeelboat), news and coverage, photos, videos and more, please visit the event website.

Videos, Interviews and Social Media Highlights:

International Women's Keelboat Championship 2017

 

The 2017 International Women’s Keelboat Championship is a US Sailing Championship sponsored by Gill North America.

US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, Communications Manager, communications@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. 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.