RACING Olympic games, singlehanded racing was not widespread. In 1960, George D. O’Day brought home the gold medal in Naples, Italy, sailing a 5.5 Metre. Two years later, friends of O’Day dedicated a trophy in his name for a national single championship. Although the USSC has been an open competition since it began, a woman has never won it. “The US Singlehanded Committee decided to introduce a Women’s Championship to be raced in Laser Radial,” began Martine Rawlings Zurinskas, US Singlehanded Championship chair. “This is in keeping with the increasing trend of female singlehanded sailors and the Olympic efforts by the U.S. in the Laser Radial division. “Additionally, the committee changed the previous Open Championship to a Men’s Championship to be raced in Lasers, giving the event two distinct classes.” The selection process was also revamped and expanded. “Previously, about 20 sailors were selected from 11 area eliminations, college and high school championships, military representatives and resumes,” Zurinskas continued. “Now competitors are also selected from the top singlehanded championships—Laser, Sunfish, Finn, etc. The field truly represents the nation’s elite sailors.” National sponsors for the 2010 championship, held July 30-Aug. 1, included Rolex Watch U.S.A., Hobie Polarized, and LaserPerformance, which supplied 20 Laser hulls and spars for the regatta. “They have allocated 10 for each division, offering them to those who have to travel the farthest,” said Regatta Chairman John Matthews of PYC. Other sponsors included PYC, the PYC chapter of Florida Commodores Association, Hunter Riddle of Schurr Sails, and Commodore John Matthews. Twelve men and 12 women competed, sailing eight and seven races respectively during the three-day event. Competition was fierce. After four races on day one, Fred Strammer and Sean Kelly were tied for first in the Men’s Division. Leonie Schuurmans had three bullets and a 12thplace finish to end up six points behind leader Sarah Stubbs in the Women’s Division. On day two, Strammer and Kelly were still tied after two more races. Schuurmans had another bullet and was just three points behind women’s leader Stubbs after a thunderstorm required abandonment of their second race. Fred Strammer, 21, of Nokomis, FL, Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association, finished 4-4 in the final two races for 23 points overall and the championship title. Sean Kelly, St. Francis YC, CA, placed 7-7 for 31 points, breaking a tie for second place with John Wallace, St. Petersburg YC. Leonie Schuurmans, 16, Houston YC, finished 2-3 on the last day to claim the championship title by one point over Sarah Stubbs, American YC, NY. Annie Rossi, San Francisco YC, took third place. For PYC, management, staff, and member volunteers numbering 70, hosting this prestigious, historic event was an opportunity to welcome many first-time visitors to “the South’s finest yacht club.” For complete results, visit www.USSAILING.org.
Upcoming Regattas Many races have been canceled because of the Gulf oil spill. 64
September 2010
SOUTHWINDS
Check with the organizers.
90th Annual Lipton Cup, Bay St. Louis, MS, Sept. 3-6 The Bay Waveland Yacht Club in Bay St. Louis, MS, will host the 90th Annual Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Sept. 3-6. The regatta is an inter-club competition between the 33 member clubs of the Gulf Yachting Association. Competitors sail the 19-foot one-design, the Flying Scot, in five races held over three days. The winning club hosts the 91st Lipton Cup in 2011. www.bwyc.org.
20th Annual Juana Good Time Regatta, Navarre Beach, Florida Panhandle, Sept. 10-12 Always held on the first weekend after Labor Day, this regatta is held at, and sponsored by, Juana’s Pagodas—a thatch-roofed volleyball beach bar just south of the Navarre Beach Bridge on the Florida Panhandle. Racing on Santa Rosa Sound, the regatta usually has about 50 boats participating including cruising catamarans, beach cats and windsurfers. They are looking for trimarans to enter to make their own class this year. Many boaters travel from as far as Louisiana and Mississippi to attend. For more information, go to www.juanaspagodas.com, and click on Regatta—or any of the regatta links.
Northern Gulf Coast Race Calendar See local club Web sites for club races. LEGEND BSC Birmingham SC, Birmingham, AL BucYC Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL BWYC Bay Waveland YC, Bay St. Louis, MS CSA Corinthian SA, New Orleans, LA FWYC Fort Walton YC, Fort Walton Beach, FL FYC Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL GYA Gulf Yachting Association GYC Gulfport YC, Gulfport, MS JYC Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS LBYC Long Beach YC, Long Beach, MS LFYC Lake Forest Yacht Club, Daphne, AL LPWSA Lake Pontchartrain Women’s SA, New Orleans, LA MYC Mobile YC, Mobile, AL NOYC New Orleans YC, New Orleans, LA NYCP Navy YC of Pensacola, Pensacola, FL OSYC Ocean Springs YC, Ocean Springs, MS PYC Pensacola YC, Pensacola, FL PBYC Pensacola Beach YC, Pensacola Beach, FL PCYC Pass Christian YC, Pass Christian, MS PontYC Pontchartrain YC, New Orleans, LA PtYC Point YC. Josephine, AL SRYC Singing River YC, Pascagoula, MS SYC Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA StABYC St. Andrew’s Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL TYC Lake Tammany Yacht Club, Slidell, LA SEPTEMBER 4-6 Lipton Regatta. BWYC 11-12 Back to School Regatta. PontYC www.southwindsmagazine.com