2019 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships: Preview

by US Sailing 20 Jun 2019 12:14 PDT 21-25 June 2019

The pinnacle youth sailing event in the United States is approaching with the start of the 2019 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships. Annually, this US Sailing National Championship welcomes the top competitive U.S. youth sailors under 20.

This year, the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club will host 83 youth sailors, competing across four classes. The event begins tomorrow, Friday, June 21 and will run through Tuesday, June 25.

In addition to creating an opportunity for the nation's top youth sailors to measure their skills against their peers, this regatta will also feature elite coaching from six US Sailing Fleet Coaches. Each coach will be assigned to a fleet and provide instruction to the competitors in the 29er, Laser, Laser Radial, and Nacra 15 classes.

"US Sailing is committed to providing world-class education and youth development opportunities to sailors at every level," said John Pearce, Youth Director of US Sailing. "This year's Youth Champs will offer a chance for the nation's top youth athletes to learn from some of the world's best sailors."

US Sailing Fleet Coaches

• Charles Higgins (i420) - Head Sailing Coach, Tulane University
• Sarah Newberry (Nacra 15) - US Sailing Team Athlete, Nacra 17
• Scott Ikle (Laser) - Head Sailing Coach, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• Brian Swingly (Laser Radial) - Head Sailing Coach, United States Coast Guard Academy
• Alana O'Reily Marks (Laser Radial) - Three-time collegiate All-American
• Richard Feeny (29er) - US Sailing Youth National Coach

US Sailing is also partnering with New York Yacht Club American Magic, Challenger for the 36th America's Cup, to deliver additional expert coaching. American Magic athletes, Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.), Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.) will join the six US Sailing Fleet Coaches on Friday and Saturday.

The American Magic athletes are looking forward to the opportunity to share their expertise with the next generation of the nation's top sailors. Helm/Tactician, Andrew Campbell, noted the style of coaching that has made the most impact on his development as a sailor, "Having partners in the process that ask the right questions to bring answers out from yourself are the keys of great coaches, and that certainly has made the biggest impact on my life."

The top finishing doublehanded team or singlehanded sailor, as well as the top female doublehanded team or singlehanded sailor, in each fleet at the 2019 Youth Champs will be considered eligible to receive International Travel Grants, made possible by the US Sailing Foundation. These top travel grants will be designated for athlete travel to an international competition (outside of North America) in 2020, subject to approval.

Since the first edition of the Youth Champs in 1973, the regatta has served as a transformative step for young sailors who aspire to reach the highest levels of sailing. Participants fill the rosters of successful college sailing programs and routinely achieve All-American status. Youth Champs is also part of the pathway for ambitious athletes who hope to earn a place on the US Sailing Team, and ultimately at the Olympic Games.

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