US Youth Championships - Nation’s top young sailors to compete

by Jake Fish on 7 Jul 2015 From the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover, to the ICSA College Sailing National Championships, the state of Rhode Island has featured an impressive line-up of sailing’s top racing events in 2015. Over 160 of the top young sailors in the country will embark on the Ocean State for the 2015 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships, the pinnacle event for youth sailors under 20 in the U.S.

Sailors representing five classes will race on Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay beginning Tuesday, July 7 through Friday, July 10. Many of this week’s winners will qualify for the US Sailing Team Sperry Youth World Team and compete at the 2015 ISAF Youth World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia from December 27 to January 3.

Like all US Sailing Youth National Championship events, there is much more to this championship than racing. This regatta is run by a team of top judges, coaches and race officers that provide high quality racing and support. Since the genesis of this championship in 1973, this event has served as a motivational force for young sailors to enjoy sailing for a lifetime, while making strong friendships along the way. U.S. Youth Championship graduates have become the stalwarts of successful college sailing programs and routinely fill out the ranks of All-Americans. Many former and current US Sailing Team Sperry and Development Team members have competed at this championship. The event continues to align with the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program and youth high performance sailing.

The 2015 edition of the U.S. Youth Sailing Championships will be hosted by Roger Williams University at the newly constructed Richard L. Bready Mount Hope Bay Sailing and Education Center, and supported by the Bristol Yacht Club.

Events

• Doublehanded Dinghy – International 420
• Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser Radial
• Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser Standard
• Skiff – 29er
• Multihull – Formula 16

Racing Schedule

• First race warning on Tuesday – 12:00 pm
• First race warning on Wednesday and Thursday – 10:30 am
• First race warning on Friday – 10:00 am

Coaches

• Leandro Spina – US Sailing Youth Development Director
• John Vandemoer – Stanford Head Coach
• Richard Feeny – US Sailing Junior National Coach
• Phillip Muller – Community Sailing of Colorado Program and Development Director
• Ward Cromwell – College of Charleston Head Coach
• Elizabeth Kratzig – Elite Youth Sailing Coach
• Willie McBride – 29er High Performance Program Director and Head Coach

Prizes

• The Manton D. Scott Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the winning I 420 team.
• The Robert L. Johnstone III Trophy will be awarded to the winning Laser Standard competitor.
• The Robert and Ann Conner Trophy will be awarded to the winning Laser Radial competitor.
• The Arthur D. Stevens Trophy will be awarded to the winning Multihull team.
• The David M. Perry Perpetual Sportsmanship Trophy will be awarded, as well as sportsmanship keepers, in each discipline.