Exciting times ahead for next generation of elite sailors & Olympic hopefuls!
Did you know that US youth sailors scored five medals in total from 9 events at the recent Youth World Championships, winning the 2018 Nations Cup? Wow! To say we are thrilled is certainly an understatement and we are proud to share this news with friends of the Foundation and its supporters.
The US team scored a total of 28 points over 5 days, miles ahead of the Kiwi team who took second with 59 points, and the Italians who took third with 62 points. Held in Corpus Christi, Texas July 14-21, the competition medal haul by the US team was an incredible achievement and testament to the smart and hard work our athletes, coaches and staff are making in the quest to develop the best sailors anywhere.
“I know I have said before, USA has infinite opportunity,” commented an ecstatic Malcom Page, Chief of U.S. Olympic Sailing. “This result is a great example of the potential and what is needed to be again successful at the Olympic level – a unified country working towards one goal. LA28 is only 10 years away and these athletes will be in their prime by then. Team USA rocks!”
The Foundation congratulates all athletes including US gold medal winners Joseph Hermus and Walter Henry in the 420 Men’s Class, with 15 pts – a whopping 14 pts ahead of silver medalists. Carmen Cowles and Emma Cowles took gold in the 420 Women’s Class with 11 pts – 13 pts ahead of silver medalists. Charlotte Rose in the Women’s Laser Radial took gold with 10 pts, ahead of silver medalist by 10 pts, while in the 29er Women’s, Berta Puig & Isabella Casaretta took with 55 pts, 10 pts ahead of bronze medalists.
“The trend for youth sailing in the USA is very positive,” said JJ Fetter, Foundation advisor and two-time Women’s 470 Olympic Medalist. “The recent record-breaking success of USA’s Youth World Team builds on the 2017 team’s performance of 2 x Gold and 1 x Silver, and a key factor in the success has been the development of strong regional training programs with high quality coaching programs. For example, the clinics that Pamela Healy is organizing with funding from the St Francis Sailing Foundation is helping to create opportunities for passionate and talented youth from our region to build their skills and aspire to represent their country at future Youth Worlds someday soon.”
Photo Credit: Sailing Energy
The timing of these great results couldn’t be better with the recent launch in San Francisco of FAST USA – the Facility for Advanced Sailing and Technology. Our elite youth sailors will be able to enjoy the support of this flagship training base to further improve their game on all levels as they look to future podium finishes.