Two full days of racing complete at U.S. Youth Sailing Championships

U.S. Youth Sailing Championships © US Sailing

U.S. Youth Sailing Championships © US Sailing

The first two days of racing at the 2018 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships, hosted by Carolina Yacht Club, proved to be optimal testing grounds for the 145 sailors competing at this year's National Championships.

The conditions on Sunday and Monday off Wrightsville Beach varied in their own way as sailors from around the country battled the heat and humidity, and the strong winds and waves on Sunday. The seabreeze made for great sailing on Sunday with 13 to 18 knots and the top of the fleets took full advantage.

The heat and humidity was slightly less of a factor on Monday, but the wind conditions fluctuated considerably. Overcast in the morning with an offshore breeze died at the end of the first race of the day. The sea breeze filled in later in the day bringing 8 to 10 knots and great ocean conditions. Sailors made the necessary adjustments and will look ahead to Tuesday and Wednesday with likely new challenges with the weather and conditions.

Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser Radial

In the largest event of this National Championship, the Laser Radials are led by Asher Zittrer (Seabrook, Texas) who has a one point lead over Marcus Huttunen (San Diego, Calif.) through five races in a balanced fleet. Zittrer reached the podium last year at this event in Corpus Christi with a third place finish.

Top five – Standings (Provisional) – three races Sunday; three races Monday

1. Asher Zittrer, Lakewood Yacht Club / GCYSA, – 5 – 5 – 4 – (42) – 2 – 4; 20
2. Marcus Huttunen, GCYSA/MBYC, – 6 – 3 – 3 – 3 – (7) – 6; 21
3. Chase Carraway, Lauderdale Yacht Club/Carolina Yacht Club NC, – 1 – 1 – 1 – 23 – 3 – (38); 29
4. Ricky Welch, Long Beach Yacht Club/ GCYSA, – 3 – 4 – 13 – (20) – 1 – 10; 31
5. Connor Nelson, DIYC, – 7 – 8 – 7 – 9 – (23) – 1; 32

Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser Full Rig

Last year's champion in the Laser Radial fleet, Joseph Hou (Newport Beach, Calif.), has picked up where he left off and leads the Laser Full Rig fleet by 15 points through seven races. John Kirkpatrick (Portsmouth, R.I.) stands in second place, as he looks to improve from his third place finish last year.

Top five – Standings (Provisional) – three races Sunday; four races Monday

1. Joseph Hou, NHYC/ABYC, – 2 – 2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – (4);
2. John Kirkpatrick, Sail Newport, – 1 – 1 – 2 – (7) – 7 – 5 – 7; 23
3. Cameron Feves, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, – 5 – 5 – 5 – (9) – 3 – 3 – 2; 23
4. Caden Scheiblauer, Santa Barbara Yacht Club | GCYSA | SBYSF, – 4 – 4 – 3 – 4 – 2 – 7 – (9); 24
5. Pete McGriff, GCYSA/ FYC, – 3 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 5 – (9) – 5; 25

Doublehanded Dinghy – International 420

The team of Michelle Lahrkamp (Rye, N.Y.) and Gabriella DelBello (Bedford, N.Y.) have sailed consistently well through two days and six races to take a seven point lead over Lachlain McGranahan (Sewickley, Pa.) and Declan McGranahan (Sewickley, Pa.).

Top five – Standings (Provisional) – three races Sunday; three races Monday

1. Michelle Lahrkamp/Gabriella DelBello, American YC/LISOT, – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – (3) – 1; 8
2. Lachlain McGranahan/Declan McGranahan, VMG Racing, – 1 – 1 – 1 – (8) – 6 – 6; 15
3. Sarah Burn/Patricia Gerli, VMG Racing, BHYC & MYC, – 7 – 4 – (13) – 2 – 1 – 2; 16
4. Maddie Hawkins/Yumi Yoshiyasu, VMG/Outfit Sailing / Annapolis YC, – 9 – (13) – 5 – 4 – 8 – 5; 31
5. Adam Larson/Kenny Corsig, VMG/Outfit Sailing, – 3 – 3 – 3 – (15) – 14 – 10; 33

Doublehanded Skiff – 29er

In a strong fleet of 29ers, last year's third place finishing team Ripley Shelley (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Severin Gramm (Delray Beach, Fla.) have a five point lead over Taylor Hasson (Christiansted, VI) and Steven Hardee (Christiansted, VI). Last year's runner-ups David Eastwood (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Samuel Merson (Santa Fe, Calif.) are six points back and in third place.

Top five – Standings (Provisional) – four races Sunday; four races Monday

1. Ripley Shelley/Severin Gramm, 2NINER Skiff Squad, – 3 – 2 – 1 – 1 – (7) – 1 – 5 – 4; 17
2. Taylor Hasson/Steven Hardee, St Croix Yacht Club/Great Northern Skiff Squad, – 5 – 3 – 3 – 3 – (12) – 3 – 3 – 2; 22
3. David Eastwood/Samuel Merson, Santa Barbara Yacht Club/ Mission Bay Yacht Club, – 2 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 8 – 7 – 1 – (10); 23
4. Berta Puig/Bella Casaretto, 2NINER, – 4 – 5 – 9 – (10) – 1 – 2 – 2 – 1; 24
5. Charlie Hibben/Nicholas Hardy, Great North Skiff Squad, – (8) – 4 – 4 – 4 – 5 – 4 – 6 – 5; 32

Multihull – Nacra 15

The Texas team comprised of Nico Martin (Houston, Texas) and AnaClare Solé (Houston, Texas) have a slight edge over Ben Rosenberg (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Sidney Charbonnet (New Orleans, La.) in the closely contested multihull event.

Top three – Standings (Provisional) – four races Sunday; four races Monday

1. Nico Martin/AnaClare Solé, Seabrook Sailing Club/ Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, – (8) – 1 – 1 – 1 – 4 – 1 – 6 – 4; 18
2. Mia Nicolosi/Teddy Nicolosi, St Thomas Yacht Club, – 2 – 2 – 4 – (5) – 2 – 4 – 3 – 1; 18
3. Matthew Monts/Carlyn Blauvelt, South Carolina Yacht Club/Atlanta Yacht Club, – (6) – 3 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 3 – 1 – 2; 19

Windsurfing – Techno 293 Plus

Alexander Temko (Palm Harbor, Fla.), who placed fourth in 2017, has a one point edge over defending champion Manuel Nores (Miami, Fla.) and a five lead over Dominique Stater (Md.). Stater won both races on Monday.

Top three – Standings (Provisional) – three races Sunday; three races Monday

1. USA 96, Alexander Temko, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, – 1 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – (4); 8
2. USA Usa 7, Manuel nores, Miami yacht vlub, – 2 – 1 – 1 – (3) – 3 – 2; 9
3. USA 220, Dominique Stater, Miami Yacht Club, – 3 – 4 – 4 – (4) – 1 – 1; 13

This Championship will serve as the final tune-up regatta for the Youth Worlds Team prior to the 2018 Youth World Sailing Championships, hosted by Corpus Christi Yacht Club on July 14-21.