Bronze for USA at Weymouth and Portland International Regatta + Video

by Dana Paxton on 10 Aug 2011 Weymouth and Portland International Regatta’s first medal was taken by Sally Barkow, Alana O’Reilly and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham when they defeated Claire Leroy of France, 2-0, in the Women’s Match Racing petit-final.

After a disappointing semi-final match loss of 2-3 to Silja Lehtinen (FIN), Barkow and her Team 7 Match Race quickly switched gears and dismissed the French team in two quick matches in the petit-final round.

Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) surged up to third overall in Laser Radial from the fifth she had before yesterday’s rest day. Although Railey scored an OCS (on course side) at the start of race 8, it becomes her throwout result. The race 7 result of 6th is a definite keeper.

Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.) resumed their top ten spot in Men’s 470 with an impressive second and fifth which moves them into eightth overall. We are really happy with the day. It was a really important day for us to have a good one. We want to make the medal race and have a chance to medal. We went out there with all of our energy. It was a bit lighter than what we’ve had, but the biggest thing was it was really shifty. We had six knots in the lulls and up to fifteen knots in the puffs. We are super pumped for tomorrow. There’s going to be a little bit more breeze and we’re going to turn it on.'

Women’s 470: Erin Maxwell (Wilton, Con.) and Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar (New York/Fishers Island, N.Y.) had what they called 'not the best day' and now find themselves in tenth overall.

'It was super shifty with holes and puffs.' explained Farrar after racing. 'It makes it interesting. It’s nice to have a little bit of everything and it adds variety to the regatta.'

Laser: Impressed with his results in which the conditions were a challenge throughout the two races, Brad Funk (Plantation, Fla.) posted a solid 12th and 28th. By dropping the 28th as the series’ highest points score, Funk was able to maintain his 14th overall. 'I think the scores move me up and give me a shot at the medal race,' he said. 'I am pretty happy with the day. It was a lot of fun because the shifts were like playing a game of chess. Being able to hang with top three all day and stay with them made me feel really good. My goal is top ten this week and I’m close.'



RS:X: The U.S. Team members in the Women’s RS:X and Men’s RS:X completed their regatta. Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.) enjoyed her last day of sailing and finished in 24th overall, while Bob Willis (Chicago, Ill.) posted his best score of the week – an 11th in race 9 – to end the week in 23rd.

'We were sailing on the Nothe course and they tucked our windward mark about 30 yards from the beach. I wanted to get to the right side to take advantage of the pressure. I had the best start on the fleet, rounded the first mark in second or third. I slipped back a little bit. I just have to make a few notes and try to replicate it at the next regatta.'

Next up for Willis is his first Pan American Games, where he will compete in the Men’s RS:X, and then on to Perth to prepare for the 2011 ISAF World Championships, in December.

'It’s exciting for Bob to finish with an eleventh today. Looking in the other classes, we won a bronze and that shows we medal at every event we go to. Overall I’m happy with our results.'

On Perth: 'It’s exciting. It’s going to be hot and windy. We’re thinking it’s going to be windy. The true and most important event for us is the Worlds. It’s the team qualifier and where we want to peak. We look forward to working hard over the next six months.

On Wednesday, August 10, the Laser, Laser Radial, Men’s and Women’s 470, 49er, Finn and Star fleets resume racing.

U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics website
Weymouth and Portland International Regatta website