August 13, 2008

Providing leadership for the sport of sailing for 111 years

Olympic Regatta Day 5: USA Wins Six Races

 

470 sailors Amanda Clark and Sarah Mergenthaler finished fourth in their first race of the day.		Tim Wadlow and Chris Rast won all three races of the day today in the 49er.

Qingdao, China (August 13) - Tim Wadlow (Beverly, MA) and Chris Rast (San Diego, CA) built a picket fence with scores of 1, 1, 1 in today's 49er races. The pair entered the day in 13th overall and had finished no better than fifth in the first six races, but they rebounded to sweep the day. Rast is competing in his third Olympics and ranked today as his "best ever!" He said, "It feels great to get back on track." After a tough start to the regatta, they benefitted from yesterday's day off, taking the time to talk to mentors like Star coach Hans Wallen (SWE) and Rules Advisor Dave Perry (Southport, CT). Wadlow explained, "We needed a day to chill out, reflect and come back with a new attitude. Now we're just going to take every race as it comes and give it our best shot." The first two 49er races were officially reported as with two to three knot breezes, but Rast said it felt more like four. Rast and Wadlow said they owed a little bit of today's success to the wind gods, so maybe that's why it felt like four knots to them and no one else. Wadlow and Rast have now moved up to fifth place overall in the 19-boat fleet.

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Latest Results

 

49er 1. AUS 2. DEN 3. ITA 5. USA	470 Men 1. AUS 2. FRA 3. GBR 17. USA	470 Women 1. NED 2. AUS 3. ESP 14. USA	Finn 1. GBR 2. USA 3. FRA	Laser 1. ITA 2. POR 3. ARG 8. USA	Laser Radial 1. USA 2. CRO 3. LTU
RS:X Men (layday) 1. ISR 2. HKG 3. NZL 24. USA	RS:X Women (layday) 1. CHN 2. ESP 3. AUS 26. USA	Yngling 1. GBR 2. NED 3. USA	Star Racing starts August 15	Tornado Racing starts August 15	View complete results

What Defines and Olympic Sailor?
Notes from Team Psychologist Dr. Jerry May

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Latest Blog Update by Team Leader Dean Brenner
As Real As It Gets

There's no denying it. We're neck deep in the Olympic Games, and every one of our athletes is at the place they have wanted to be for at least the last four years. In some cases this is where they have wanted to be for their entire lives. And no matter what else is going on around you, when you finally achieve something you have wanted for a very long time, the feelings can be intense. Add in some intense competition and intense expectations and cook it up with some intense heat and humidity, and you have a stress bouillabaisse with a sharp aftertaste. Kids, don't try this at home without adult supervision.

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U.S. Olympic Sailing Resources:

 

Meet the Team		Blog by Team Leader Dean Brenner
International Sailing Federation		NBC Olympics
Sailing World's Olympic Coverage		Support the Team

Television network NBC is broadcasting the Olympic Regatta live on its website, www.NBCOlympics.com. The races are also available 'on demand' for free. Go to www.nbcolympics.com/sailing/resultsandschedules/index.html and click 'Rewind."

Renowned sailing commentator Gary Jobson is providing live commentary during several races, including all Medal Races. His live commentary started today with reports from the 470 race course. Tomorrow (1 a.m. Eastern tonight), Jobson will do live commentary on the 49er races. His live commentary can also be watched in the 'on demand' feed.

 

Donnie Brennan

US SAILOR of the Week -- Donnie Brennan Donnie Brennan had just wrapped up his boat work at the Olympic Games in Athens four years ago and was about to go sightseeing on his way to the airport. He had been brought to the Olympics as boatwright for Tornado team Johnny Lovell and Charlie Ogletree and his work was done. So he thought. Czech Europe sailor Lenka Smidova ran over to Donnie in tears. He explains, "She had just taken delivery of her new Europe and the centerboard trunk was split. She was pretty upset." Donnie banged out a repair in three hours and was able to still catch his flight home. He said, "I had been in Athens for twelve days and had wanted to go tour the city before I left, but knowing she got a silver medal made it worth it." Knowing Johnny and Charlie also got a silver medal makes one wonder if Donnie may have a magic touch... Read more about Donnie

 

Qingdao 2008 US Sailing Team Fleece Pullover Show your US Sailing Team spirit with an official US Sailing Team fleece. This black, zip-neck fleece pullover is available in women's and men's sizes small through XXL. The sporty design features red piping over shoulder and down the sides with and red and blue embroidery (front shown, Olympic rings on the back below collar). US SAILING members  $45.00, non-members, $50.00 Read more		UPCOMING US SAILING EVENTS August 15 - 17 U.S. Team Racing Championship Erie, PA September 10 - 14 U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship Rochester, NY September 16 - 20 U.S. Men's Sailing Championship San Francisco,  CA September 18 - 21 U.S. Women's Sailing Championship Oklahoma City, OK US SAILING COURSES August 14-17: W. Des Moines, IA Small Boat Instructor Level 1 View All Small Boat Courses August 22-24: Newport Beach, CA Cruising Powerboat Instructor View All Powerboat Courses September 19-21: Baltimore, MD Basic Keelboat Instructor View All Keelboat Courses September 22-25: Seattle, WA Coastal Passage Making Instructor View All Keelboat Courses CALENDAR View all upcoming events and submit your own ARCHIVED NEWS Chubb U.S. Junior Sailing Champions Go Into History Books Olympic Sailing Preview: What to Expect in Qingdao Twenty-three Top American Sailors Slated to Compete in U.S. Singlehanded Championship Register Now As A Sailor Athlete Is Your Sailing Organization Properly Dressed? Last Week's Sailors of the Week -Sherri Campbell and Jerelyn Biehl
Foerster Sails to Top of Podium at U.S. Singlehanded Championship Four years ago this month, Paul Foerster (Heath, Texas) won Olympic gold in Athens, Greece. On August 10th, Foerster won the U.S. Singlehanded Championship at Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, N.Y. Stepping onto the top level of a podium is nothing new for Foerster, who has now won his fifth U.S. National Sailing Championship title, gold at the Pan-Am Games last year and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games.  Read more
Arielle Delisser Wins U.S. Jr. Women's Singlehanded Championship After three days of racing on Lake Michigan with conditions ranging from light winds on Wednesday to strong seas on Thursday, Arielle Delisser and Marissa Lihan, both of Coral Reef Yacht Club were tied with 37 points going into Friday's final race. Thursday's leader Sky Adams of Santa Barbara Yacht Club, was also still in the hunt with 40 points, but in the end it was Arielle Delisser of Miami, Fla. who prevailed, claiming the title of 2008 U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Champion. Read more
Seventeen Squads Will Face Off in U.S. Team Racing Championship  The U.S. Team Racing Championship for US SAILING's George R. Hinman Trophy, hosted by the Erie Yacht Club (PA) will take place from August 15th through 17th on Lake Erie. The event - sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Nautica, LaserPerformance and Dry Creek Vineyard - will be sailed in Vanguard 15s with a three-boat / six-sailor team format. The U.S. Team Racing Championship attracts the best team racers in the country, with competitors selected based on their team resumes. This year's event will determine the United States' representatives to the Team Racing World Championships, to be held in Australia early next year. Read more
Discounts at Sail America Sailboat Shows for US SAILING Members Hard to believe, but Boat Show Season is just around the corner! With your US SAILING membership you can receive two-for-one discounts at Sail America Sailboat Shows. Read more
Attention Current National, North American, and World One-Design Champions The final day to apply for the 2008 US SAILING Championship of Champions is August 14. Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and LaserPerformance, the 2008 Championship of Champions will be held September 24-27 at Sayville Yacht Club, NY and sailed in Sunfish. US SAILING will select twenty eligible competitors who claimed their class championship between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008 to race in the event. Read more
Free US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Hat Offer The US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics athletes are going for gold in Qingdao! Show your support with official US Sailing Team apparel from the US Sailing Authentic Collection. For a limited time, we'll be giving away a free limited edition 2008 US Sailing Team Hat with every purchase of $25 or more. Shop now
US SAILING's Latest Video Podcast Presented by AlphaGraphics Join host Amy Quigley to view footage from US SAILING's entry in the 100th Chicago to Mackinac Race, highlights from the Chubb Junior Championships and the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship. Also, learn about resources for breaking Olympic sailing news coverage and see clips from the US Olympic Sailing Team's Send-Off party at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, CA. View podcast

This Olympic Daily Update is brought to you by US SAILING, national governing body for the sport. The athletes of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team are selected, trained, and managed by US SAILING. The top three athletes in each Olympic and Paralympic class are part of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics.

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