U.S.Olympic Sailing - getting stronger — the hottest sailing news
by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 24 Oct 2011
Can the U.S. return to its number one sailing ranking?? Check out Rob Kothe’s piece on the U.S.’s strong Olympic sailing tradition and its proud future, in the form of the US SAILING Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG). Kothe talks with American Finn representative, Zach Railey, to get his thoughts on the organizational changes that will in time return the American Olympic squad to the top of the leaderboard.
'The change in U.S. selection criteria and better funding has meant that there is now a much bigger group of U.S. sailors competing on the international scene and that in time will yield results,' said Railey. 'The funding progress that US SAILING has made over the 10 years, I don’t think, has been equaled by any other sailing federation in the world. Ten years ago we used to get $2,500 for the entire year.' Get the full scoop, inside.
Also Olympic-related, get the full report from the Pan American Games, where Team USA is headed into this week’s medal races in fine form. 'We’re going to let it all hang out tomorrow,' said Jody Lutz, skipper of the super hot American Lightning team. 'It’s the first time in the Pan Am Games for us, and we have a chance to gold medal tomorrow. I guess I couldn’t ask for more than that.' More, inside.
In the Global Ocean Race, the double-handed fleet of Class 40 raceboats are separated into two distinct groups, with Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron (Campagne de France) and the father-and-son team of Ross and Campbell Field (BSL) enjoying a 600-mile lead over the four other boats that are further astern. Over the weekend, BSL took the lead from Campagne de France, who had been carrying the torch forward for an impressive 24 days.
Sound like a case of the rich getting richer? Currently, a high-pressure system is causing problems for the group of four, delivering strong headwinds that don’t bring out the Class 40’s best sailing attributes. 'You sail up the back of the wave and suddenly there is nothing and the boat comes crashing down with an almighty great big smack,' reported Phillippa Hutton-Squire, aboard Phesheya-Racing. 'The whole boat shakes while you grab something to hold onto, close your eyes and hope that everything will be OK. When this happens twice a minute, you start to get a little frustrated and start talking to the sea and the boat!'
Also in this issue, get the latest from the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Clipper Around the World Race, the Championship of Champions, and the mind-boggling news that Paul Larsen and his Sailrocket 2 team are now 'getting used' to sailing at speeds north of 50 knots. Enjoy.
May the four winds blow you safely home,
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