ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami - US Sailing Team Day 1

by Will Ricketson on 27 Jan 2015 On Day 1 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, America's premier Olympic and Paralympic classes regatta, featured the full range of what sailing in Miami has to offer. Over 850 sailors enjoyed strong breeze for the duration of the day, in addition to a brief but powerful rainstorm.

Leading the way for the US Sailing Team Sperry was Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.), who is in first place in the Women's RS:X fleet after two windy and physical races. Lepert earned an impressive 4,1 scoreline in what many described as 'survival' conditions on Biscayne Bay for much of the day. The San Francisco Bay area native was fourth at the 2013 ISAF Youth World Championship, and since then has been working hard at translating her youth success to the Olympic level. 'I really felt at home today in the strong breeze, it felt just like home in San Francisco,' said Lepert. 'It was special to get my first World Cup race win. However, I know I need to take this event one day at a time, and keep myself focused.'

Olympian and defending ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami champion Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) persevered through the effects of a recent injury to notch an impressive 3,4 scoreline on day 1. 'I'm super happy with my performance today, because it's been such a tough road to get here,' said Railey. 'A couple of weeks ago I had trouble physically lifting any kind of weight. My body feels better, and we are definitely making strides forward.'

Also turning in a standout performance was 18-year-old 2014 ISAF Youth Worlds silver medalist Haddon Hughes (Houston, Texas.). In the first race of her debut World Cup regatta, Hughes rounded the first windward mark of Race 1 leading the Radial fleet. 'It was a great moment for me to round in first, a real chance for me to show what I can do,' said Hughes. 'After working with [US Sailing Team Sperry coach] Mark Littlejohn so much this year, I've learned a huge amount about speed.'

Littlejohn, a multiple Olympic medal-winning coach, expressed pride in his athletes after the opening races. 'Paige has worked hard on heavy weather sailing, and although we still have much to do, it's great to see the fixes happening on things we've been working on. Haddon had a very impressive start today. She's coming off of her Youth Worlds medal, and got ninth in her first race on this level. After that, she fixed what she didn't do well initially, and improved to third in race two. Very impressive.'

The men's laser fleet was hit hard by the rainstorm, with many competitors ending up capsized. The top US Sailing Team Sperry performer was 2013 Miami medalist Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.). 'We had a very strange wind direction today, which made it super tricky,' said Buckingham. 'Never raced in Miami when the breeze was like that, and it got really unstable.' Buckingham, who won the US Sailing Team Sperry's '2014 All-Fitness Award' for his standout conditioning efforts, added that 'I definitely enjoy racing in big breeze. Today was one of those days where you need to try to just survive with two decent scores.'

#4 team, opened the event with an up-and-down performance. 'We were a bit off our usual mental calibration, and were peppered with some boat issues that only big-breeze sailing could reveal,' said Hughes. '[We had] great moments in both races with single-digit mark roundings, though we simply didn't capitalize well.'

Notable US Results, Overall: Day 1

RS:X Women:

Marion Lepert, first overall

Laser Radial Women

(Results not confirmed as of time of posting)

Paige Railey 3,4 scoreline (unofficial)
Haddon Hughes 9,3 scoreline (unofficial)

Sonar (10 boats)

Rick Doerr, Brad Kendell and Hugh Freund, third overall

2.4mR (17 boats)

Daniel Evans, fifth overall

470 Women (30 boats):

Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, 10th overall

Laser Men (103 boats):

Charlie Buckingham, 10th overall
Chris Barnard, 21st overall
Derick Vranizan, 26th overall

470 Men (42 boats):

Stuart McNay and David Hughes, 16th overall

49er Men (54 boats)

David Liebenburg and Daniel Morris, 16th overall
Brad Funk and Trevor Burd, 19th overall