Team Tracker: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Selection Series

Team Tracker: Men’s 470

Pictured: Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry, after winning Sailing World Cup Miami 2016.

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy)

Rio 2016 Olympic Athlete Selection Series, Current Standings (Uncontested):

Updates:

April 12:

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Pictured: Stu McNay and David Hughes, Men’s 470, US Sailing Team Sperry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 12, 2016

McNay & Hughes, 470
Stu McNay (left) & David Hughes (right).

Palma de Mallorca, Spain – Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) have earned selection to the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team based on the results of the US Sailing Olympic Athlete Selection Series in the Men’s 470, the two-person dinghy. The veteran pair have sailed as team since late 2012, although their experience in Olympic-class sailing stretches back much further. In just over three years, McNay and Hughes have compiled an impressive list of podium finishes at many of the world’s toughest dinghy regattas, and are widely seen as medal contenders for Rio 2016. This will be the third career Olympic Games appearance for McNay, and the first for Hughes as an athlete.

McNay has experienced some major milestones in his life since embarking on a campaign for Rio 2016, including becoming both a husband and father. Nevertheless, earning a ticket to the Games never gets old. “Every time is incredibly special,” said McNay, who like Hughes is a two-time US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year finalist. “I always feel honored to be a part of Team USA.”

 

While McNay and Hughes have been testing themselves against the best in the 470 class for over a decade, only after joining forces have they have achieved their run of career-best results. “One of the main differences this time around is that we’ve medaled at many of the major events [leading up to the Olympics],” said McNay, who has been a member of the US Sailing Team Sperry (national team) for the past three Olympic cycles. “I can confidently say that we are a strong contender for Rio.”

Notable international results for the pair over the past three years have included gold-medal performances at events such as the 2015 470 European Championship (Aarhus, Denmark), the 2015 470 North American Championship, the 2015 Sailing World Cup Weymouth (Weymouth, U.K.) and both the 2013 and 2016 editions of Sailing World Cup Miami (Miami, U.S.A.), North America’s premier Olympic-classes regatta. To these impressive wins, McNay and Hughes have added a number of podium and near-podium results since starting their push for Rio. They have been coached since 2013 by Barcelona 1992 silver medalist Morgan Reeser (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), who has guided multiple 470 teams to Olympic medals since 2004. The combined level of experience brought to bear by all three individuals is formidable.

A proposed teaming with McNay was an opportunity that Hughes, who served as a Team USA sailing coach in London 2012, jumped at without reservation. “After the last Olympics, Stu and I partnered up, and we knew we had a good team. We had a good vibe together. It’s just been a wonderful journey.”

Sailing World Cup Miami presented by Sunbrella Day 6

With both athletes bringing Games experience to the table, their campaign for Rio 2016 has been infused with veteran confidence, prioritization and forethought. “We’ve seen the [show] many times now,” said McNay, who explained that the big stage at the Olympics would not be daunting to either sailor. “We’ll be able to use past experiences to help our performance.”

Both athletes have long been focused on making all possible preparations prior to Rio, and Olympic Team selection does not alter that effort. “There’s no change to the plan, really,” said Hughes of their next steps. “We are still balancing our practice and our racing time, and making sure that the ratio is as tweaked as possible going into the Olympics. We are focusing on training down in Rio. We believe that’s the best way to step forward into the Olympics Games, and be ready for the venue.”

Despite all the work left to be done, Hughes noted that earning a place as an athlete on Team USA for the first time was a profound moment for him. “It’s a lifelong dream to become a U.S. Olympian,” said Hughes. “To be sure, that’s something only a few can really feel.”

Notable Race Results: Stu McNay & David Hughes

  • Gold – 470 European Open Championship (Aarhus, Denmark), 2015
  • Gold – 470 North American Championship (Miami, U.S.A.), 2015
  • Gold – Sailing World Cup Miami (Miami, U.S.A.), 2013
  • Gold – Sailing World Cup Miami (Miami, U.S.A.), 2015
  • Gold – Sailing World Cup Weymouth (Weymouth U.K.), 2015
  • Gold – 470 U.S. National Championship (Miami, U.S.A.), 2013
  • Gold – 470 U.S. National Championship (Miami, U.S.A.), 2015
  • Silver – Copa Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2014
  • Silver – Trofeo Princesa Sofia (Palma, Spain), 2016
  • Silver – 470 South American Championship (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2014
  • Bronze – Sailing World Cup Final (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.), 2014
  • Bronze – Sailing World Cup Final (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.), 2015
  • Bronze – 470 European Open Championship (Palma, Spain), 2016
  • Bronze – Sailing World Cup Miami (Miami, U.S.A.), 2014
  • Bronze – Copa Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2015
  • 5th – 470 World Championship (Santander, Spain), 2014
  • 6th – 470 World Championship (La Rochelle, France), 2013
  • Finalists: US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year – McNay (2014, 2015) Hughes (2005, 2015)

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Pictured: Stu McNay and Dave Hughes, Men’s 470, US Sailing Team Sperry, shortly after the medal race in Palma.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 12, 2016

Palma de Mallorca, Spain – The 2016 470 Class European Championship (April 7-12) have concluded in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and for the second consecutive year, the US Sailing Team Sperry’s Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.) secured a spot on the podium at this prestigious international event. With the conclusion of the Europeans, which served as the second and final U.S. Olympic Team selection event, McNay and Hughes also confirmed their place on Team USA for Rio 2016.

“We are stoked to walk away with a medal at a major championship,” said Hughes, who won the 2015 edition of the 470 Europeans with McNay. The final day of racing featured a tactically difficult medal race characterized by light wind, which saw several lead changes.

Heading into the race in 3rd overall and close on points to the silver medal spot, McNay and Hughes’ position in the double-points medal race ranged from second at the first mark, to 6th at the second-to-last mark. A final position of 4th place left them tied on points with the reigning World Champions, Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic of Croatia. The American pair won the tiebreaker, and with it the bronze medals of the Open 470 European Championship.

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“Our campaign for the Olympics is in a great spot,” said McNay, who will become one of a select few three-time Olympians in August. “The wounds that we had this week were self-inflicted, and we are confident we can improve. To take home our fifth medal of 2016 feels good, and we always enjoy gaining more experience at playing this game.”

SEE ALSO: McNay and Hughes (Men’s 470) Earn Selection to Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team

So far in 2016, McNay and Hughes have picked up medals at Sailing World Cup Miami (gold), Palma’s Trofeo Princesa Sofia (silver), 470 North Americans (gold), 470 U.S. Nationals (gold) and now 470 Europeans (bronze). The top-performing US Sailing Team Sperry men’s pair may be having a nice run of success of late, but there is little opportunity to rest on one’s laurels at the highest levels of the sport.

“I’m glad we finished out the regatta,” said Barcelona 1992 silver medalist Morgan Reeser (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), who has coached McNay and Hughes since 2013. “Stu and Dave are still just scratching their potential. Whenever they reach that potential, they consistently win races.” McNay and Hughes won three of the event’s twelve races, tying the top Australian team for the most “bullets.”

Picking up gold at the 2016 Men’s 470 Europeans were the multiple World Champions Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan of Australia, with Sofian Bouvet and Jeremie Mion of France taking home silver.

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Pictured: Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, Women’s 470, cross close behind 2016 European Champions Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar of Austria during the medal race.

In the women’s 470 fleet, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) finished in the same position they held prior to the medal race, which was just shy of the podium in 4th place. Haeger and Provancha nearly repeated their bronze medal performance of the 2015 Europeans, and also earned Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team selection in the process.

“I think we handled the pressure well at this event,” said Provancha. “To finish strong here even though it was an Olympic selection event is a big confidence booster as we get closer to Rio. The fleet is at its highest level yet, and the racing is quite difficult.”

Winning the Women’s 470 Europeans were Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar of Austria, with Aphrodite Kyranakou and Anneloes Van Even (The Netherlands) and Fernanda Oliveira and Ana Barbachan (Brazil) rounding out the podium.

The 470 Class European Championship ran from April 7-12 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. All athletes selected by US Sailing for the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).

Final USA Results:

Men’s 470: 69 boats

Women’s 470: 57 boats

Full Results

Note: This year’s Europeans served as the second and final U.S. Olympic Sailing Team selection event in the Men’s and Women’s 470 classes.

Previous Event Reports:

Quick Links:

February 26:

470 Worlds: In the Men’s fleet, Stu McNay and David Hughes entered the day in 10th overall, but scores of 10, 25 allowed two boats to edge past them in the overall standings. Since the medal race is reserved for the top ten competitors only, McNay and Hughes will end their Worlds in 12th overall. No other men’s 470 team is currently vying for U.S. Olympic Team selection, although McNay and Hughes are widely seen as medal prospects for Rio.

The second and final 470 U.S. Olympic Team selection event will be the 2016 470 European Championships (April 5-12) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The combined scores of the Worlds and Europeans will determine who will represent the United States in Rio 2016 in these two classes.

February 2:

The first event for U.S. Olympic Team 470 athlete selection will be the 470 World Championships, San Isidro, Argentina, February 20-27, 2016. The second and final event will be the 470 Europeans, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, April 5-12.

Names to Watch:

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  • Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry: McNay is a two-time Olympian in the 470 class. Teaming up with Hughes in 2013, the pair immediately performed a high level due to significant previous experience in the 470 with other partners. Highlight performances for the pair to date include two top-ten performances at the 470 Worlds, and gold medals at the 2015 470 Europeans, 2015 470 North Americans, 2015 Sailing World Cup Weymouth, and Sailing World Cup Miami in both 2013 and 2016.

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