FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2016
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – For the second consecutive day, conditions at the Rio 2016 Olympic sailing event were defined by high, steady breeze with large swells on the ocean racing areas, and flat water with unpredictable weather on the Guanabara Bay courses. Team USA athletes experienced a wide range of results and emotions, spanning from disappointment to elation to relief.
The team was paced by a doggedly effective performance from the Women’s 470 duo of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.), and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), who fought through a serious pre-race breakdown in the first contest, and unfavorable early positions in both races.
“The 470’s had a course change this morning and went from [the interior] “Ponte” course to “Niteroi” [on the ocean]. You definitely plan to be [on the scheduled course], but the Olympics is all about adapting and being flexible,” said Provancha, a Youth World Champion. “We did our best in 25-knot massive-wave sailing. It was a very full-on day, and it was awesome. It was what 470’s are supposed to be raced in.”
“In the first race our halyard lock failed with 15 seconds [left until] the start,” said Provancha. “We were unable to start with the fleet, and were pretty far behind. We managed a 10th, and that was pretty awesome.” Provancha explained that due to the failure, the head (top) of their mainsail was stuck about 1.5 feet down from its optimal position at the top of the mast, effectively “reefing” (reducing the size) of the main sail. “I think that was probably the best sailing the two of us have ever done, honestly,” said Provancha.
In the second race, this time with their mainsail restored to its proper position, Haeger and Provancha again found themselves buried deep in the pack at the first mark after choosing an unfavorable course on the first leg. The Americans maintained their composure, steadily climbed through the fleet, and finished in 2nd. After four races, Haeger and Provancha sit in 6th overall, only six points from the lead.
Pictured: Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), Women’s 470.
Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.) once again showed flashes of elite speed on Thursday, finishing 6th in Race 7, before two mid-fleet scores placed her in 12th overall. Lepert will have an opportunity to fight for a medal race berth on Friday in the final day of full-fleet RS:X racing. “We had completely crazy conditions today,” said Lepert. “I was racing on [the Escola] “Naval” course, next to the city, and the wind [direction] felt like a lottery. Some big changes in position were going on.”
Echoing the reports of other sailors racing on Guanabara Bay courses today, weather unpredictability was a constant factor, said Lepert. “There was definitely no playbook today. In the past few days there were patterns, but today there were none, and it made it exciting because you never knew what was going to happen.”
When asked about her strategy to finish strong, Lepert said that she wanted to leave Rio with nothing left in the tank. “It will depend on what kind of wind we have, but for me, [the strategy] is to give it my all, make every last race count, make every last beat count, and to make sure it’s a really memorable experience.” In the Men’s RS:X fleet, Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.) finished with scores of 22, 26, 28 and stands in 30th overall.
Pictured: Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.), Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.), Men’s 470.
In the Men’s 470 fleet, Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.), Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) have had difficultly establishing positive momentum in the early stages of their event. The veteran pair, who have won several unofficial coaches regattas in Rio against the world’s best, scored 8, 13 in two races on the physically taxing Niteroi course on Thursday. McNay and Hughes were forced to execute penalty turns in both races, hampering what had looked to be two strong performances.
Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) crossed the finish line today in his two races in 14th and 2nd positions, which would have put him in 4th place overall. However, a protest against Paine in Race 6 resulted in a disqualification for the American, which dropped him from 4th to 15th overall.
Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Louisa Chafee (Warwick, R.I.) experienced equipment problems that forced their retirement in two of the days’ four races. “Bora’s trapeze harness kept snapping where it attached to the mast,” said Chafee. “It’s not something you can quickly fix and go right back into the racing. You’re done for the race.” Despite the setback, Gulari and Chafee mentally regrouped, and submitted a 12th in Race 4, and an impressive 4th in Race 6. The American Nacra 17 team now sits in 16th overall.
Sailing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will continue on Friday, August 12, which will see a return to action for the Laser Radial and Laser fleets, and Americans Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) and Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.).
Pictured: The Nacra 17 Fleet on Day 4 of sailing at Rio 2016.
U.S. Sailing Team Results: Day 4 (Thursday, August 11)
Women’s 470 (Top 10):
- NZL – ALEH Jo / POWRIE Polly: 6
- JPN – KONDO YOSHIDA Ai / YOSHIOKA Miho: 8
- GBR – MILLS Hannah / CLARK Saskia: 11
- FRA – LECOINTRE Camille / DEFRANCE Helene: 11
- SLO – MRAK Tina / MACAROL Veronika: 11
- USA – HAEGER Annie / PROVANCHA Briana: 12
- NED – ZEGERS Afrodite / VAN VEEN Anneloes: 18
- AUT – VADLAU Lara / OGAR Jolanta: 20
- BRA – OLIVEIRA Fernanda / BARBACHAN Ana Luiza: 20
- ESP – CORNUDELLA RAVETLLAT Barbara / LOPEZ RAVETLLAT Sara: 31
Women’s Laser Radial: (No Racing on Thursday, August 11)
- IRL – MURPHY Annalise: 19
- DEN – RINDOM Anne-Marie: 20
- NED – BOUWMEESTER Marit: 21
- CHN – XU Lijia: 27
- FIN – TENKANEN Tuula: 30.8
- LTU – SCHEIDT Gintare: 34
- USA – RAILEY Paige: 35
- SWE – OLSSON Josefin: 40
- CRO – MIHELIC Tina: 42
- BEL- VAN ACKER Evi: 47
Men’s 470: (Top 10)
- CRO – FANTELA Sime / MARENIC Igor: 4
- AUS – BELCHER Mathew / RYAN Will: 7
- GRE – MANTIS Panagiotis / KAGIALIS Pavlos: 9
- SWE – DAHLBERG Anton / BERGSTROM Fredrik: 14
- FRA – BOUVET Sofian / MION Jeremie: 14
- GBR – PATIENCE Luke / GRUBE Chris: 16
- AUT – SCHMID Matthias / REICHSTAEDTER Florian: 18
- SUI – BRAUCHLI Yannick / HAUSSER Romuald: 22
- KOR – KIM Changju / KIM Jihoon: 25
- USA – MCNAY Stuart / HUGHES Dave: 25
Women’s RS:X:
12. USA – LEPERT, Marion: 92.9 points
Men’s Finn:
15. USA – PAINE Caleb: 55
Men’s Laser: (No Racing on Thursday, August 11)
15. USA – BUCKINGHAM, Charlie: 37 points
Mixed Nacra 17:
16. USA – GULARI Bora / CHAFEE Louisa: 23
Men’s RS:X:
30. USA – PASCUAL, Pedro: 211 points
Note: Full results can be found at the Rio 2016 homepage.
Viewing Guide
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will feature unprecedented coverage of sailing for fans in the United States. Between NBC’s world-class television and online programming, US Sailing’s multi-channel coverage, and comprehensive daily email reports sent directly to fans, anyone hoping to follow the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team will have a better view than during any previous Olympics.
For more details on how to follow the action, check out the US Sailing Team’s viewing guide.
Quick Links:
U.S. Olympic Sailing Team:
- Team Homepage
- Team News Archive
- Photos: Team Gallery
- Video: US Sailing Team YouTube Channel
- The Rio Report (Daily News Update)
- Rio 2016 Daily Reports:
- August 7: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Team USA Ready to Race
- August 8: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Strong Early Winds Bring Solid Results For Team USA
- August 9: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Team USA Battles The Conditions
- August 10: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Team USA Displays Speed In Complex Weather
- August 11: Rio 2016: Team USA Rides Through Highs and Lows
Social Media:
- Facebook: US Sailing Team
- Twitter: @USSailingTeam
- Instagram: @USSailingTeam
Rio 2016:
- Olympic Sailing Competition Homepage (World Sailing)
- Latest Results (Sailing)
- List of Competitors (Sailing)
- Live Tracking (Sailing)
- Competition Status (Sailing)
- Live Blog (Sailing)
- Online Notice Board (Sailing)
About The U.S. Olympic Sailing Team
The Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team is comprised of fifteen sailors hailing from eight U.S. States and territories including California, Washington, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, Florida, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each athlete qualified for the team based on the results of US Sailing’s Rio 2016 Athlete Selection Series. The Games of the XXXI Olympiad will take place from August 5-21, 2016, and the sailing events will be based at Marina da Gloria on Rio de Janeiro’s harbor front. The largest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games will feature approximately 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries competing in 306 medal events. The sailing events will feature approximately 380 athletes competing in ten classes. Learn more about the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program at www.ussailing.org/olympics
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
– end –
Contact: Will Ricketson, Press Officer (Sailing)
Email: willricketson@ussailing.org
Phone: +1 978 697 2384 (Brazil + USA)
Phone: +21 992 458 664 (Brazil Only)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2016
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Rio 2016 Olympic sailing
Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.)
Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.), Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.)
Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.).
U.S. Sailing Team Results: Day 2 (Tuesday, August 9)
Men’s Finn: (Top 10)
- SLO – ZBOGAR Vasilij: 4 points
- TUR – KAYNAR Alican: 7 points
- ARG – OLEZZA BAZAN Facundo: 10 points
- BRA – ZARIF Jorge: 10 points
- CRO – KLJAKOVIC GASPIC Ivan: 14 points
- DEN – HOGH-CHRISTENSEN Jonas: 15 points
- ITA – POGGI Giorgio: 15 points
- USA – PAINE Caleb: 17 points
- EST – KARPAK Deniss: 19 points
- GBR – SCOTT Giles: 20 points
Women’s Laser Radial: (Top 10)
- CHN- XU, Lijia, 7 points
- IRL – MURPHY, Annalise: 12 points
- DEN – RINDOM, Anne-Marie: 13 points
- NED – BOUWMEESTER, Marit: 14 points
- BEL – VAN ACKER, Evi: 16 points
- LTU – SCHEIDT, Ginter: 18 points
- FIN – TENKANEN, Tuula: 22 points
- CRO – MIHELIC, Tina: 25 points
- HUN – ERDI, Maria: 26 points
- USA – RAILEY, Paige: 27 points
Women’s RS:X: (Top 10)
- ITA – TARTAGLINI, Flavia: 12 points
- FRA – PICON, Charline: 13 points
- RUS – ELFUTINA, Stefaniya: 18 points
- NED – DE GEUS, Lilian: 20 points
- ISR – DAVIDOVICH, Maayan: 24 points
- ESP – ALABAU NEIRA, Marina: 31 points
- FIN – PETAJA-SIREN, Tuuli: 31 points
- CHN – CHEN, Peina: 39 points
- USA – LEPERT, Marion: 45 points (unofficial)
- BRA – FRETS, Patricia: 47 points (unofficial)
Men’s Laser:
16. USA – BUCKINGHAM, Charlie: 37 points
Men’s RS:X:
30. USA – PASCUAL, Pedro: 136 points
Note: Full results can be found at the Rio 2016 homepage.
Viewing Guide
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will feature unprecedented coverage of sailing for fans in the United States. Between NBC’s world-class television and online programming, US Sailing’s multi-channel coverage, and comprehensive daily email reports sent directly to fans, anyone hoping to follow the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team will have a better view than during any previous Olympics.
For more details on how to follow the action, check out the US Sailing Team’s viewing guide.
Quick Links:
U.S. Olympic Sailing Team:
- Team Homepage
- Team News Archive
- Photos: Team Gallery
- Video: US Sailing Team YouTube Channel
- The Rio Report (Daily News Update)
- Rio 2016 Daily Reports:
- August 7: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Team USA Ready to Race
- August 8: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Strong Early Winds Bring Solid Results For Team USA
- August 9: Rio 2016 (Sailing): Team USA Battles The Conditions
- August 10:
Social Media:
- Facebook: US Sailing Team
- Twitter: @USSailingTeam
- Instagram: @USSailingTeam
Rio 2016:
- Olympic Sailing Competition Homepage (World Sailing)
- Latest Results (Sailing)
- List of Competitors (Sailing)
- Live Tracking (Sailing)
- Competition Status (Sailing)
- Live Blog (Sailing)
- Online Notice Board (Sailing)
About The U.S. Olympic Sailing Team
The Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team is comprised of fifteen sailors hailing from eight U.S. States and territories including California, Washington, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, Florida, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each athlete qualified for the team based on the results of US Sailing’s Rio 2016 Athlete Selection Series. The Games of the XXXI Olympiad will take place from August 5-21, 2016, and the sailing events will be based at Marina da Gloria on Rio de Janeiro’s harbor front. The largest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games will feature approximately 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries competing in 306 medal events. The sailing events will feature approximately 380 athletes competing in ten classes. Learn more about the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program at www.ussailing.org/olympics
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
– end –
Contact: Will Ricketson, Press Officer (Sailing)
Email: willricketson@ussailing.org
Phone: +1 978 697 2384 (Brazil + USA)
Phone: +21 992 458 664 (Brazil Only)