Please select your home edition
Edition
U-DECK 2023 - No.2 728x90 TOP

First stop on the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series: Fort Lauderdale

by US Sailing 15 Jan 2021 14:52 NZDT January 15-18, 2021
US Sailing Team © Will Ricketson

A new U.S. based Olympic-class racing series takes center stage this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the start of the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series. The Lauderdale Yacht Club will host the first-ever US Open Sailing Series regatta for four days of exciting racing beginning this Friday, January 15 through Monday, January 18.

Fort Lauderdale will feature three events this week, all representing the Laser Class. Over 130 men, women, and youth sailors have registered to compete in one of the three competing events, including the Laser (41), Laser Radial (71), and Laser 4.7 (21).

Ten countries, including the United States, will be represented by competing sailors this week in Fort Lauderdale. Sailors representing Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Argentina, Bermuda, Chile, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela will be in action this week.

Top Laser sailor athletes on the US Sailing Team will be racing this week. The women's Laser Radial fleet features two-time Olympian and Tokyo 2020 selected athlete Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.). The Florida native has been training in her hometown of Clearwater with coach, Steve Mitchell.

Railey has enjoyed training with fellow teammate Charlotte Rose (Houston, Texas), who will also be competing in the Laser Radial fleet this week. The two have been joined in their training by Olympic Development Program (ODP) Laser Radial sailors Lilly Myers, Christina Sakellaris, and Hallie Schiffman. Rose has been staying connected with her college sailing team at Jacksonville University while she continues training in Miami, Clearwater, and Fort Lauderdale.

The Laser fleet is headlined by 2016 Olympian and Tokyo 2020 selected athlete Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.). The 2019 Pan American Games Bronze Medalist had a busy latter half of 2020 with strong finishes in Europe at the Italian Olympic Class Championship (1st overall), Kieler Woche (4th overall), and the Laser European Championship (6th overall). Following his long trip through Europe, Buckingham taught a weekend Laser Clinics to youth sailors in Long Beach and enjoyed sharing his expertise and connecting with the next generation of sailors. Buckingham arrived in Fort Lauderdale last week and will also race at the US Open Sailing Series - Clearwater coming up in early February.

The youth movement is in full swing this week in Fort Lauderdale with a number of talented youth athletes, 16 representing US Sailing's ODP, testing themselves against a fleet that includes Olympians, World Champions, and a strong cast of experienced national and international sailors.

The list of international sailors racing this week features accomplished Olympic-class sailors with strong resumes. Guatemala's Juan Ignacio Maegli (GUA) will be racing in the Laser class. Maegli is a three-time Olympian (2016, 2012, 2008) and he won the ICSA (Intercollegiate Sailing Association) Coed Dinghy National Championship with the College of Charleston in 2013. He was named College Sailor of the Year that same year.

Argentina's Francisco Guaragna Rigonat (ARG) has returned to South Florida for racing and training this winter. Rigonat captured the Silver Medal at the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami in the Laser class last year.

Canada's Sarah Douglas won Gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru and is pushing forward towards her goal of competing at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Douglas has been training in Florida this winter and will be racing this week in Fort Lauderdale.

Follow the Racing:

  • Regatta News & Coverage: Visit the official 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series event website for news, results & standings, photos & videos, and regatta information.

  • Social Media: Follow US Sailing and the US Sailing Team on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for news and highlights from the racecourse.

  • Join the Conversation: Use hashtag - #USOpenSailing in your social media posts.

  • Entry List: Click here to find out who is racing this week in the three Laser events.

  • Racing Specifics: The racing area shall be in the Atlantic Ocean approximately one mile south of the Port Everglades Channel Entrance. The first warning signal for racing each day is 1100 hours (11am ET).
The Laser is one of the world's most popular adult racing class boats and typically rewards athleticism, steering and trimming techniques, and tactical excellence. The Laser Radial is outfitted with a smaller sail and shorter, more flexible mast than the Laser. The Laser Radial is the perfect racing class boat for small adults, women, and youth alike. The Laser 4.7 is a competitive youth class sailboat and a great entry level racer for younger and lighter sailors.

On Monday, January 11, US Sailing and host yacht clubs at sailing venues in Florida and California launched a new racing and training series of Olympic-class regattas in 2021 and beyond.

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class racing for U.S. athletes with a goal of attracting top-level international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide as a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it is essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.

Founded in 1938, Lauderdale Yacht Club (LYC) has always been a traditional private club run by its members with the focus on a family friendly environment. The club is committed to promoting and teaching the sport of sailing and seamanship to the youth of the club and community.

The LYC has been hosting Olympic-class regattas since 1982. They have hosted the annual Finn Midwinters and Women's Laser Radial North American Championships over the years. These events often served as a runway for athletes planning to race at World Cup Miami. In 2004, LYC hosted the Olympic Trials for the Finn Class and the Europe Dinghy Class. The LYC Olympic Class Regatta has been used as an Olympic Trials event for other countries. The club has also hosted numerous Pan American Games Trials used to select the United States representatives.

There have been numerous Olympic campaigns launched from LYC. Sailors with Olympic campaigns often request the opportunity to train at LYC, and these sailors give back to the junior sailing program at the club. This structure has helped the junior sailing program develop into one of the best in the world.

To learn more about the West Marine US Open Sailing Series and to follow all the action in 2021, visit the series website at usopen.ussailing.org.

Related Articles

US Sailing and Zhik announce strategic partnership
Zhik will provide cutting-edge gear designed to enhance athlete performance on the water US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear. Posted on 13 May
US Sailing Team set for the Paris 2024 Olympics
13 American athletes in nine classes will take to the Bay of Marseille Over the course of 12 days, 13 American athletes in nine classes will take to the Bay of Marseille for competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following a shortened runway of three years due to the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. Posted on 27 Jul 2024
Some thoughts on U.S. Olympic sailing
If you're a fan of US Sailing you're best advised to stop reading this editorial Caveat Emptor: If you're a fan of US Sailing, and specifically how the organization runs the U.S. Olympic sailing program, you're best advised to stop reading this editorial. Posted on 13 Mar 2023
Open letter from Paul Cayard
The Executive Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing writes from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing venue I am departing Japan today after absorbing the Olympic environment, observing our team in action and getting pointers from old friends who have been running teams in this game for decades. Posted on 5 Aug 2021
Fun is the key
We can create growth in sailing by helping people have more fun playing with sailboats The lessons of the past are still relevant today! This article excerpt was originally published in the July/August 1996 edition of the American Sailor. Posted on 29 Jul 2020
US teams at 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds
Event seemed to be a turning point for the US Sailing Team The Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Auckland New Zealand wrapped, marking the end of the 2019 year for the U.S. in these classes. Posted on 8 Dec 2019
Hempel Worlds: New Doublehanded Offshore event
Mixed two-person offshore keelboat event will be on the program at the Paris 2024 Olympics For the first time in Olympic history, a Mixed Two-Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the program at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition. Posted on 7 Dec 2019
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds day 3
Adaptability on race course translates to success for US Sailing Team Two crews in the top ten overall in two classes as Qualification round concludes - U.S. Results at the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFx and Nacra 17 World Championships Posted on 5 Dec 2019
Henken and Tobias lead FX fleet
Great opening day for USA 49erFX and Nacra teams at the Worlds U.S. Results at the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFx and Nacra 17 World Championships Posted on 4 Dec 2019
US Sailing Team takes on 49er/FX & Nacra 17 Worlds
The stakes will be high for U.S. competitors at this event The US Sailing Team athletes are ready to take on the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships. The event will be hosted from December 3-8 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, in Auckland, New Zealand. Posted on 2 Dec 2019
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design