US Sailors head into Weymouth World Cup medal race with good lead

by US Sailing on 14 Jun 2015 After scoring an impressive five, four, two in the final series of full-fleet races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland, US Sailing Team Sperry athletes Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) and Dave Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) head into the medal race with a seven point lead on the reigning world champions from Australia, Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan, in the men's 470 class. McNay and Hughes hope to secure an overall victory against the world's best Olympic talent in a regatta they have led from the opening races on Wednesday.

You can watch the Medal Races live on Sail-World from 6am ET on Sunday morning.

Also competing in the medal round will be North American Champion Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) in the Men's Laser class. Buckingham heads into the final race on Sunday in fifth overall, but only five points from podium position and nine points from the lead. Medal races count for double points, so a medal is within Buckingham's reach.

In the Women's 470, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), currently sit in sixth overall. The pair, who are currently ranked sixth in the world, are not in contention for a medal tomorrow but will look to hone their skills in the challenging 10-boat medal race format.

Just barely missing out on the medal race in the Women's 470 were Haeger and Provancha's US Sailing Team Sperry teammates Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), who finished 11th overall.

Racing began at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland on Wednesday, June 10 and concludes on Sunday, June 14.

Notable US Standings: ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland 2015

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two-Person Dinghy):
• 1st overall, Stuart McNay (Providence, R.I.) and David Hughes (Miami, Fla.), US Sailing Team Sperry
Laser (Men’s One-Person Dinghy):
• 5th overall, Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
Women’s 470 (Women’s Two-Person Dinghy):
• 6th overall, Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry
• 11th overall, Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.), US Sailing Team Sperry