ISAF Sailing World Champ - Buckingham finishes with career-best result

by US Sailing on 19 Sep 2014 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships - Santander - The arrival of Day seven at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships brought with it the first medal races of the event, and a new set of title holders in the Women's Laser Radial and Men's Laser classes. Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) finished the event in seventh overall, a career-best finish for the top-ranked US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Laser sailor. Also making moves on Thursday was the Women's 470 team of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha, (San Diego, Calif.) who jumped from sixth to third overall.

By finishing seventh, Buckingham recorded the best Laser World Championship result for an American athlete since the silver medal won by two-time Olympian Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.) in 2004. 'It was really windy and with a lot of chop, so super difficult conditions,' said Buckingham, who raced in front of a large crowd seated in purpose-built grandstands on the harbor front. Elaborating on the medal race itself, the two time College Sailor of the Year and four time All-American noted that the enclosed medal race course was difficult to interpret.

'I had a really good start, and did what I wanted to do, but I got a bit out of phase with some waves that were pushing people upwind. I lost some distance [on the first upwind leg].' Nevertheless, this result at the 2014 Worlds demonstrates that Buckingham will continue to be a contender in this class as Rio 2016 gets closer. 'Today wasn't my best race, but I'm happy with how my week went. I have a lot of work to do, but I've made a lot of progress in a year, and I'm happy with the path that my coach and I are on.'

For the women's 470 team of Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) it was moving day, and with three more consistent finishes the pair jumped from sixth to third overall. 'We had three keepers today, but that's not what we were the most stoked about,' said Provancha. 'We've been working hard for a year on becoming one of the best teams in heavy breeze, and today it felt like we've made progress.' US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 470 coach Dave Ullman noted with approval Haeger and Provancha's improved speed. 'I'm always proud of these girls,' said the three time 470 World Champion. 'They turned a potential mid-fleet result into a sixth today on the last race, which was impressive.'

On the men's side, 470 sailors Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) continue to be right in the hunt for the podium, despite relinquishing the overall lead. After enduring a tough first race (which was the last race of the qualifying series), McNay and Hughes turned the jets back on when gold fleet action got under way. A two, eight scoreline in the final two races today has them in fourth overall and only three points from third.

In the Finn, Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) continues to steadily work his way back upwards after a difficult start to his event. Paine is now in 11th overall after a six, twelve performance in heavy air, and hopes to break into the top 10 tomorrow. 'I just need to keep doing the same thing, which is to sail smart and fast,' said Paine.

Notable US Results, Overall:

470 Women (54 boats):
• Third, Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

470 Men (73 boats):
• Fourth, Stuart McNay and David Hughes, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Laser Men (147 boats): Final
• Seventh, Charlie Buckingham, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
• 15th, Chris Barnard, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Finn (78 boats):
• 11th, Caleb Paine, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Laser Radial Women (120 boats): Final
• 14th, Erika Reineke, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

49er Men (40 boats raced on Day four, 80 total boats):
• 22nd, Brad Funk and Trevor Burd, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

49erFX Women
• 35th, Paris Henken and Helena Scutt, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

Nacra 17 (67 boats):
• 37th, Sarah Newberry and John Casey, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

RS:X Women:
• 40th, Farrah Hall, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider

RS:X Men:
• 73rd, Carson Crain, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider