North Cape YC hosting Chubb U.S. Junior Championships this week

by US Sailing 9 Aug 2018 05:19 NZST 8-10 August 2018

The North Cape Yacht Club and the greater La Salle, Michigan community, located south of Detroit, have welcomed the 93 youth sailors to their spectacular venue situated on the west end of Lake Erie for the 2018 Chubb U.S. Junior Sailing Championships.

US Sailing's oldest championship will feature three days of racing for the historic Sears Cup, Bemis Trophy and Smythe Trophy this Wednesday, August 8 through Friday, August 10.

These highly-skilled young sailors representing their home yacht club or local sailing organization are eager to test themselves against their peers from around the country in single-, double-, and triplehanded competition.

First sailed in 1921, sailors compete regionally to earn an opportunity to race at this championship in one of three fleets. Competing sailors range in age between 13 and 18. Each Area is eligible to send at least one sailor/team to compete in each of the fleets for the 2018 event:

• U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship for the Smythe Trophy to be sailed in the Laser Radial.
  
• U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship for the Bemis Trophy to be sailed in the Club 420.
  
• U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup to be sailed in the Lightning.
  
• List of Competitors

The top three eligible athletes in the singlehanded fleet will receive early acceptance to the 2019 U.S. Youth Championships.

Sailors took part in onshore and on-water clinics with a collection of top coaches from around the country on Tuesday, August 7 to hone their skills and acclimate themselves to the racing conditions and the boats. Included in this year's line-up of coaches is 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias.

The following coaches are on site working with the sailors throughout the championship:

• Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, Laser Radial
  
• Amanda Clark – 2012 and 2008 Olympian, Women's 470
  
• Richard Feeny – Head Coach, US Sailing Junior and Youth National Championships
  
• Alana O'Reilly Marks – 2006 Quantum ICSA Women's Sailor of the Year
  
• Scott Ikle – Head Coach, Hobart and William Smith
  
• Cappy Capper – US Sailing Master Trainer

"This Championship is very unique in that there is representation from every part of the country, across three sailing disciplines," said John Pearce, Youth Director of US Sailing. "These sailors have earned the right to represent their region and the opportunity to learn from a world-class team of coaches. Our team of US Sailing-provided fleet coaches is another aspect of this event that sets it apart from most youth regattas."

Sailors will be racing in the open waters of Lake Erie, approximately due east of North Cape Yacht Club.