Sailing

The United States team narrowly avoided the British team capsizing in the winner-takes-all final.

U.S. SailGP Places Second in Spain Sail Grand Prix

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

SPAIN— The last day of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cadiz had a dramatic finish with Australia returning to the top of the SailGP Season Championship with their third win of the season after defeating the United States and Great Britain in the winner-takes-all final.

The weekend was full of dramatic turns that included strong winds that made maneuvering tricky. Spain was completely taken out of the race after their Victoria F50 was severely damaged when they capsized during practice. Britain capsized in the finals, losing out to the United States Australia.

This weekend, United States won 9 points coming in second place on the podium and an overall second place seat in the championship, Japan dropped to third, and Britain dropped to fourth place after the accident on Sunday. This is the United States’ fourth podium race of the season, after taking evasive action to avoid colliding with the British team’s capsize at the start of the race.

“Today was definitely on the edge. You’re really in avoidance mode,” said CEO and Driver Jimmy Spithill in an Oct. 10 press release referring to the 20plus knot winds and sea state. “As we all came off the start line [in the final race] and saw Ben do a huge nosedive, we bowed out to avoid them, which caused us to crash. It triggered our emergency stop systems, effectively shutting the boat down. While we restarted the systems, Tom [Slingsby, Australia SailGP Team] was already far down the line.”

The win takes the United States one step closer to the Grand Final in San Francisco, which will see the top three teams in the Championship race for $1 million.

U.S. Champs Set Sail For North Carolina

By: KATHERINE CLEMENTS

NORTH CAROLINA— The U.S. Youth Champs has been the U.S. sailing’s pinnacle youth regatta for 40 years.

The team features the nation’s top youth competitors who compete in high-performance sailing competitions.

After the cancelation of the 2020 completion, due to the pandemic, the 2021 edition was held Oct 9-11 in Arapahoe, NC.

The event took place at Camp Sea Gull and Seafarer, founded by the YMCA. 156 sailors, 19-years-old and younger, contested the regatta in the 29er, International 420, ILCA 7 (Standard), ILCA 6 (Radial), and Nacra 15.

Chapman Peterson, the 2019 Youth Sailing Champion in the Laser Radial, returned to defend his Youth Championship title.

“We haven’t had a national event in many months, so I expect to see some brand-new names at the top of the Radial fleet. It’s always exciting to see who has been putting in work since the last event,” said Peterson to Scuttlebutt Sailing News.

In addition, the event hosted six coaches who support the regatta’s mission to facilitate education and development opportunities.

Those coaches included: - Richard Feeny, Youth Champs Head Coach, U.S. Sailing - Mitch Brindley, Head Coach, Old Dominion University

- Robbie Daniel, Head Coach, Red Gear Racing - Dane Wilson, US Sailing Team athlete, 49er Class - Ward Cromwell, Head Coach, College of Charleston - John Pearce, Sports Development Director, U.S. Sailing The regatta is usually held in the Spring. Still, due to the pandemic, the event was postponed early on in 2021, providing the sailors with more time to practice before the October competition.

ON THE HORIZON

By: KATHERINE CLEMENTS

Choc Regatta Nov. 6-7

ƒThe Sunkist Series involves one-design racing for Inside Classes on four Saturdays and PHRF and one-design racing for Outside Classes on four Sundays spanning four months, from Nov- Feb. In addition, the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Regatta is a fundraising event that uses the November Sunkist Series races to provide an opportunity to compete for additional awards and contribute to CHOC.

The regatta will be guided by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), which includes the rules of the classes competing, except that the Southern California PHRF MIR Rule will not apply.

These events are open to members in good standing of clubs or organizations in connection with the Southern California Yachting Association or any national authority associated with the sport of sailboat racing. Fees include $10 for the Sunkist Series Inside Classes entry fee, $25 for the Sunkist Series Outside Classes entry fee, $25 for the CHOC Inside Classes entry fee, and $50 for the CHOC Outside Classes entry fee.

Competitors may enter online at https://www.balboayachtclub.com/, in the “On the Water” section, or by submitting a completed entry form and the entry fee at the Balboa Yacht Club Sailing Office. Only one entry is needed for the entire Sunkist Series.

The entire race notice can be found at https://balboayachtclub.com/ getmedia/fa96b7d2-69f4-4fb1-84ce6cd39755ff02/2021_2022SunkistNOR. aspx.

Shallow Water Series #4 South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club

Nov. 6

ƒThe South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club will be hosting the Shallow Water Series #4 in Marina del Rey on Nov. 6, 2021. The event will be open to dinghies and center boarders. Registration can be found at https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=21908

2021 California

Dreamin’ Series Nov 13-

ƒThe Long Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach will be hosting the California Dreamin’ Series on Nov. 13, 2021. The event is a multi-venue match racing series held at three of California’s premier yacht clubs. The first stop was the St. Francis Yacht Club from Aug. 28-29, The second stop was at the San Diego Yacht Club on Oct. 910, and the final stop is at the Long Beach Yacht Club on Nov 13-14. Registration is now available online via the Regatta Network or at https://www.regattanetwork.com/ clubmgmt/applet_registration_form. php?regatta_id=22366.

2021 Double Handed/ Short Handed Race

Nov 20

ƒThe Santa Barbara Yacht Club Santa Barbara, one of the oldest yacht clubs on the west coast, will host the 2021 Double Handed/ Short Handed Race on Nov. 20, 2021. Santa Barbara Yacht Club has served racing sailors since 1872. Its current location overlooks the mountains, beaches, and harbor of Santa Barbara. The club supports a wide range of one design, dinghy, and rating rule classes for all ages. The members welcome all regatta participants to enjoy SBYC, the city, and the excellent sailing conditions of Santa Barbara. Registration for the event can be found at https://www.regattanetwork.com/ clubmgmt/applet_registration_form. php?regatta_id=23368. Peter Holz and his crew bounced back in the finals to win 2-0 against returning champ Pearson Potts.

Chicago Team Takes 2021 U.S. Match Racing Championships

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

LONG BEACH— Peter Holz and his crew from the Chicago Yacht Club took the top honors at the 2021 U.S. Match Racing Championship the weekend of Oct. 1.

There were three days of racing that had Holz facing off against Pearson Potts from the New York Yacht Club for a 2-0 final matchup and Chris Poole from Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club coming in third place after winning against Jeffery Peterson from Balboa Yacht Club in the petit final. Holz raced with Ellis Tonissi from Beverly Yacht Club, Jonathan Hammond from Seawanhaka Yacht Club, I.G. Schottlaender from Noroton Yacht Club, John Colburn from Windy City Racing LLC, and Graham Post from Macatawa Bay Yacht Club. Ten teams were competing for the overall title.

The Long Beach Yacht Club race committee had to set courses in the afternoon on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 for the first stages of racing after light winds in the morning made it a bit difficult.

“It [was] the lightest Long Beach sailing I’ve ever seen,” said Poole in an Oct 4 press release from U.S. Sailing. “Other than Congressional Cup this year, this is the first time I’ve sailed here this time of year. Now that we’re experiencing normal September conditions, it’s tricky getting up to speed. But I think everyone is on the same page learning how to sail these boats in 3-5 knots.”

The committee had to suspend the final match of the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon after they lost the wind. However, the match was picked back up again on Sunday morning Holz against Janel Zarkowsky from Scuttlebutt Sailing Club.

Holz pulled out on top and went into the semi-finals, which saw returning champion Potts against Petersen and then Poole against Holz for the second match.

Holz lost two matches to Poole and then turned around to win two matches and make it into the finals against Potts. “Interestingly enough, something similar [to what happened in the semifinal] happened in the final,” said Chief Umpire Randy Smith in the Oct. 4 press release. “Instead, it was at the leeward end. Holz was on the right, and Potts was the tacking boat, so he was at risk. He ended up turning a little bit, and there was contact, so Potts got a penalty.”

Holz and his team went 2-0 in the final and took home the title.

For a complete list of the standings, see https://www.ussailing.org/competition/ championships/2021-u-s-match-racing-championship/.