Bigger and better 2019 Junior Olympic Regatta in Pensacola
by Talbot Wilson 1 May 2019 06:04 PDT
28-30 June 2019
The Nacra 15 catamaran is one of exciting performance development classes being offered a start at the Pensacola Yacht Club's Junior Olympic sailing Festival June 28-30 © Nacra 15 Class
Youth sailors from all across the country are invited to the Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) starting June 28 for the 2019 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival presented by BBVA Compass. Sailing is scheduled for June 29-30 with registration, clinics and practice Friday June 28. Registration is now open through Regatta Network.
PYC has accepted the US Sailing invitation for the club to host the 2020 US Sailing Youth National Championship next June. So, the 2019 JO in Pensacola will be bigger and better than ever. The 2019 event will offer practice on the 2020 Youth National Championship courses.
PYC will now offer racing in three Olympic performance development classes... the 29ers, Nacra15 and the Techno 293 windsurfer in addition to the traditional Opti Class (and green fleet), the 420 and the Laser classes. Five boats or more will constitute a class for the newcomers.
PYC fleet Captain Hal Smith, JO Chairman James Simkins and Sailing Director Cesar Travado have decided to open this summer's JO to all the 2020 Youth Championship classes and invite members of those classes working their way toward an invitation to come catch the magic of Pensacola and Pensacola Bay.
"This is every young sailor's chance to get experience at the 2020 championship venue. Since we are hosting the top youth sailors in America for the 2020 US Sailing Youth National Championship," said Fleet Captain Hal Smith, "we decided to open our 2019 Junior Olympic regatta to the additional classes that will compete next summer for the national championship."
The 2019 JO's in Pensacola will be held just a week after the US Sailing Youth Championship scheduled for this June 21-24 at Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club, Beach Haven, NJ. The 2020 Youth Nationals in Pensacola regatta will be a qualifier for the Youth Worlds scheduled for December in Brazil.
JO Chairman James Simkins commented on the expansion of the event. "We are excited to be able to expand the 2019 Junior Olympics with the help of our new presenting sponsor BBVA Compass. They were a supporting sponsor in 2018 and supported the USODA nationals we hosted then. This additional support will help PYC to continue our tradition of regatta excellence both on and off the water."