USODA Atlantic Coast Championship Wrap-Up

The team enjoyed a great weekend at Seawanhaka Corinthian YC. We had two days of practice on Thursday and Friday with some of the team and then two days of beautiful sailing over the weekend. Saturday we got 4 races in 6-10 knots and another 3 on Sunday in about the same wind. When the breeze got light it was really tough in the leftover chop and a couple of the races had some tough to predict persistent shifts along with the ever present current on Long Island Sound. Altogether the kids handled the conditions well and were able to post some solid scores, though consistency was hard to come by. For several of our sailors this was their first USODA event so that was a big shock relative to the summer local regattas.

We had 41 sailors which is definitely the biggest group we have supported to date, but with 5 coaches on the water, the ratio worked out well. I have to thank all our outstanding coaches ( Scott Norman, Leigh Kempton, Will Brown, and Randy Hartranft) for joining me this weekend. They all do great work with the kids and are able to help every kid from the back to the front of the fleet.

Some standout performances by the team in the 233 boat Championship Fleet include 3 sailors in the Top 10, 4 in the Top 12, 5 in the Top 25, 15 in the Top 50, and 27 in the Top 100.

Congrats to JC Hermus for finishing 2nd Overall to continue his incredible run of results after 1st at New England Champs and NJ State Champs. Sam Bruce was within a couple points of the lead going into the last coupe races and finished up winning the tie breaker for 6th place (2nd Blue Fleet) with Thomas Rice who finished the regatta 7th. Maddie Hawkins sailed a consistent regatta finishing 12th Overall, 2nd Girl, and 5th Blue Fleet. Stan Picard continues to climb the standings each event, finishing up 23rd and Top 10 in Blue Fleet.

As always thanks to all the families for all your help with the logistics of getting these kids on the water.

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Overall Results

Team Results:

JC Hermus 2nd OVerall, 2nd Red Fleet, Sam Bruce 6th Overall, 2nd Blue Fleet, Thomas Rice 7th Overall, 5th Red Fleet, Maddie Hawkins, 12th Overall, 2nd Girl, 5th Blue Fleet, Stan Picard 23rd Overall, 9th Blue, Emily Haig 31st, Gray Benson 32nd, Walter Henry 34th, Daven Subbiah, 35th, Michelle Lahrkamp 36th, Ian Jezak 38th, Jordan Bruce 40th, Clayton Johnson 44th, Mark Bourdin 48th, Brendan Lord 49th, Bella Casaretto 55th, Alex Mazzeo 59th, Austin Ando 60th, Jagan Subbiah 62nd, Chase Carraway 63rd, Michael Pinto 64th, Madeleine Rice 66th, Jack Farrell 74th, Nick Chisari 92nd, Caroline Benson 93rd, Brendan Little 99th, Liam Randall 100th, Harrison Bailey 102nd, Colleen Obrien 117th, Dana Haig 119th, Torrey Chisari 129th, Michaela Obrien 131st, Lauren Krim 145th, Vanessa Lahrkamp 150th, John McCarthy 176th, Justin Smith 177th, Nati Arad 186th, Zachary York 189th, Patrick York 209th, Thomas Mazzeo 222nd, Adra Ivancich 228th.

2nd Coach added for Holiday Clinic in Jensen Beach

With growing demand I have added a second coach, Scott Norman, to the Holiday Clinic at the US Sailing Center Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL. We will sail December 20-23. There are several openings left. Contact for info.

Kicking off the fall with multiple practice locations

It was a big weekend for the team, being the first time with practices running in two locations at the same time. 16 kids sailed at the Dinghy Shop on Long Island and 13 more practiced at Island Heights YC in NJ. We have come a long way from 12 kids and 1 coach two years ago in Bellport. Thanks to all the sailors sailors and parents for working hard and believing in the program. Thanks to my family for putting up with all the travel. Thanks to all the coaches that have helped with the kids.

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West Coast Champs Practice Days

We will be training October 8-10 at Cabrillo Beach YC in preparation for the USODA Spring Teams Qualifier, and have some open spots for any sailors whose teams won’t be in California until later in the week. Can do one, two, or all three days. Contact for availability and pricing.

NJ State Optimist Championship

Clayton Johnson (far left) and JC Hermus (3rd from left) coming off the start at the NJ State Optimist Championship.

Clayton Johnson (far left) and JC Hermus (3rd from left) coming off the start at the NJ State Optimist Championship.

26 SailStrong Sailors took part in the NJ State Optimist Championship August 19-20 at Brant Beach YC. Saturday the RC got off 4 races in very shifty and light conditions. Sunday they were able to get off three more in steadier but still light air. Our sailors did very well in the 111 boat Gold Fleet and 25 boat Silver Fleet.

JC Hermus won his second straight USODA event, though this one was much closer than New England Champs. Going into to the last race JC trailed two other boats by one and two points, and lead another by only one. He won the last race and came away with a one point win.

Sarah Burn, 8th, and Thomas Hall, 10th, also cracked the Top 10 in the competitive fleet with sailors from all over the country. The team as a whole sailed very well in addition to the three in the Top 10, with 8 in the Top 20, 11 in the Top 30, and 18 in the Top Half. 

Link to Overall Results

Team Results

Gold Fleet – 111 Boats: JC Hermus 1st Overall & 1st Red Fleet, Sarah Burn 8th Overall & 3rd Blue, Thomas Hall 10th Overall & 1st White, Sam Bruce 12th, Maddie Hawkins 13th, Stan Picard 14th, Kathryn Hall 16th, Clayton Johnson 17th,  Jordan Bruce 24th, Brendan Little 26th, Eloise Burn 30th, Daven Subbiah 33rd, Brendan Lord 34th, Michael Pinto 37th, Liam Randall 39th, Jack Farrell 41st, Jagan Subbiah 45th, Nich Chisari 53rd, Fritz Sellig 64th, Colleen Obrien 68th, Cordelia Burn 69th, Torrey Chisari 70th, Justin Smith 87th, Michaela Obrien 88th, John McCarthy 96th

Silver Fleet – 25 Boats: Adra Ivancich 13th

Holiday Optimist Clinic

We will be hosting our 3rd annual Holiday Opti Clinic December 20-24. This year we are moving it from Miami to the US Sailing Center Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL. Partial attendance is ok and additional dates prior to the 20th are available as well. Please contact for price and additional details.

Link

CORK Optimist Regatta

Two of our sailors left straight from New England Champs in Maine to make it to Kingston, Ontario for racing the following day at the CORK Optimist Regatta. Gray Benson sailed a great regatta to finish 3rd, just 3 points out of 2nd Place. Clayton Johnson sailed well too, finishing 13th of the 99 boats sailing. Way to go boys!

New England Championships Recap

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August 5th through 8th we were in Portland, ME for the USODA New England Championship hosted by SailMaine. The conditions were great with 9 races over three days in light to medium wind, thought the water was a little chilly. The team sailed a great regatta and took home awards in the Overall, Red, Blue, White, and Girls Fleets.

JC Hermus lead the group, winning the regatta in convincing fashion with 8 bullets in 9 races  and dropping a 5th place. We also had 1st through 3rd in the Girls: Kathryn Hall 1st, Sarah Burn 2nd, and Michelle Lahrkamp 3rd. As a group we had 16 sailors make the Top 100 of the close to 300 boats sailing. We also had a solid group of younger and less experienced sailors make great steps in improving their sailing. Great job by everyone!

Team Results:

JC Hermus 1st Overall, 1st Red Fleet
Kathryn Hall 12th, 1st Girl, 8th Red
Jordan Bruce 17th, 6th Blue
Sarah Burn 19th, 2nd Girl, 7th Blue
Thomas Rice 20th, 8th Blue
Michelle Lahrkamp 22nd, 3rd Girl, 9th Blue
Sam Bruce 27th
Maddie Hawkins 28th, 6th Girl
Thomas Hall 42nd, 3rd White
Gray Benson 51st
Walter Henry 56th
Stan Picard 57th
Clayton Johnson 65th
Eloise Burn 75th
Michael Pinto 78th
Madeleine Rice 79th
Brendan Lord 99th
Brendan Little 106th
Nick Chisari 119th
Liam Randall 153rd
Cordelia Burn 156th
Torrey Chisari 168th
Colleen Obrien 190th
Maddie Kaller 216th
Michaela Obrien 228th
Vanessa Lahrkamp 230th
Adra Ivancich 285th