U.S. Team Racing Championship - Prevalence pays off

by US Sailing on 7 Oct 2013 At the U.S. Team Racing Championship, hosted by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, once the breeze filled in, it became yet another busy day on the water. Ladies and Gentlemen, the strongest team from start to finish prevailed to earn the prestigious George R. Hinman Trophy.

The new champion team consists of skippers Justin Law (Newport Beach, Calif.), Michael Menninger (San Francisco, Calif.) and Tyler Sinks (San Diego, Calif.), with crew Adrienne Patterson (Miami, Fla.), Marla Menninger (San Francisco, Calif.) and Lucy Wallace (Middletown, R.I.).

Ladies and Gentlemen defeated a team representing the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Tiller Towards Trouble, 3-2 in the final series this afternoon. The runner-up team consists of skippers Brian Bissell (Newport Beach, Calif.), Chris Barnard (Newport Beach, Calif.), Christopher Segerblom (Costa Mesa, Calif.), and crewmates Perry Emsiek (Corona del Mar, Calif.), Katia DaSilva (East Greenwich, R.I.), and Kayla McComb (Sunset Beach, Calif.).

Early this afternoon, the race committee completed the second round robin Gold stage to determine rankings for the top six teams. The top two teams would race for the championship in a first to three points series. Ladies and Gentlemen placed first with 31 points in 32 races and Tiller Towards Trouble was second with 28 points. Points were doubled in the two Gold round robin stages.

Ladies and Gentlemen won the first match but dropped the next two. They rallied to win the next two races to win the title. The final series capped an extraordinary three days of elite level team racing.

Ladies and Gentlemen boasts several former U.S. Team Racing Champions. Marla Menninger was a member of the 2012 and 2009 champion teams. Sinks and Wallace were members of the 2011 champions.

By afternoon, breeze settled in on the harbor at 8 to 10 knots from the West, for another stellar day of racing.

For results, standings, video highlights by Chris Love, photos, and more information from the 2013 U.S. Team Racing Championship, please visit the event website.