Chubb U.S. Junior Championships on the horizon

by Jake Fish on 6 Aug 2014 A talented collection of the top young sailors in the country have arrived in Northern Michigan and are eager to test themselves this week in single-, double-, and triplehanded competition on the waters of West Grand Traverse Bay. The Chubb U.S. Junior Championships is US Sailing’s most historic junior regatta.

Racing at this US Sailing National Championship, hosted by Grand Traverse Yacht Club (GTYC) and Traverse Bay Community Sailing (TBCS), gets underway Wednesday, August 6 and concludes Friday, August 8.

First sailed in 1921, the championship is recognized as one of the preeminent youth sailing events in the United States. Almost 900 sailors compete regionally to win a place at this championship in one of three fleets. Competing sailors range in age between 13 and 18. Each Area is eligible to send at least one sailor / team to compete in each of the fleets. Racing will take place in the Interlake, Club 420, and Byte CII. The equally matched Club 420 and Byte CII are supplied by Zim Sailing, one of the sponsors of the championship.

There are 2015 U.S. Youth Championship implications on the line this week. The top two single- and doublehanded teams not already qualified and finishing in the top 30% of competitors will receive early acceptance to the 2015 U.S. Youth Championships in a doublehanded boat of their choice. Teams must apply for the 2015 U.S. Youth Championship to be eligible.

There is much more to this championship than racing. A one-day racing clinic led by US Sailing’s Junior National Coach Richard Feeny will be held prior to the start of the championship on Tuesday, August 5. Feeny will be joined by an impressive roster of coaches from around the country, including Cappy Capper (University of Minnesota Head Coach), Matt Lindblad (MIT Co-Head Coach), Mike Kalin (MIT Co-Head Coach), and John Pearce (George Washington University Head Coach). Instruction will cover charter boat assignment, rigging and handling of the boats, starts, and practice races.

A College Sailing Night, sponsored by Gill, is scheduled for Thursday, August 7. This is a special opportunity for these young sailors to learn the ins-and-outs of college sailing and what it takes to race at the next level.

Racing Course and Venue
• The first warning signal is 10:00 am CT, Wednesday through Friday.
• The sailing area for the Singlehanded and Doublehanded disciplines will be off GTYC in the Southern part of West Grand Traverse Bay.
• The sailing area for the Triplehanded discipline will be off the Elmwood Township Marina in the Northern portion of the foot of West Grand Traverse Bay.
• The Singlehanded and Doublehanded disciplines will sail a trapezoid course.
• The Triplehanded discipline will sail a windward/leeward course.
• Spectator boats may be available via sign-up at GTYC. Only flagged spectator boats will be permitted near the race course. There are no private support boats permitted.

Scoring
• Three races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
• When fewer than six races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.
• When six or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
• Ten races are scheduled for the Singlehanded and Doublehanded disciplines.
• Eleven races are scheduled for the Triplehanded discipline.

Prizes
• US Sailing Championship medals will be awarded to competitors who finish first through third.
• Singlehanded — The Smythe Trophy is the perpetual trophy presented to the winner.
• Doublehanded — The F. Gregg Bemis Trophy is the perpetual trophy presented to the winning team.
• Triplehanded — The Sears Cup is the perpetual trophy presented to the winning team. The Judges Trophy will be awarded to the second place team.
• Sportsmanship Awards — Faye Bennet Sportsmanship Award (Singlehanded), Bemis Sportsmanship Award (Doublehanded), Cox Sportsmanship Award (Triplehanded).
• The Seamanship Trophy will be awarded to the Triplehanded Team that receives the greatest number of points for neatness and general ship-shape condition of their boats as per USJRSC Condition Event website