The competition this week in Miami consists of fleet racing for all seven classes on Monday through Friday and Medal Races on Saturday, January 25 featuring the week’s top teams. Medal Races will be broadcast live on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel. Numerous sailors here have their sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition, only six months away. This event is the final opportunity for North American nations to qualify for the 2020 Games across the 470, RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn fleets.

Olympic qualification is paramount in the 23-boat Laser Radial fleet. Aruba’s Philipine van Aanholt, St. Lucia’s Stephanie Devaux-Lovell, Mexico’s Elena Oetling and Sofia Ximena Palacios, Puerto Rico’s Sylvette Perez Figueroa and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Arrindell are all aiming for Tokyo 2020.

Oetling got off to a strong start by finishing third in Race 1 and 12th in Race 2 and she is in fifth place overall. Devaux-Lovell is in seventh place after posting a 6-15 scoreline on Monday.

“It’s such a small fleet, you can really see who is out there and I may have struggled with that today,” said Devaux-Lovell. “I’m going to take that forward and tomorrow I’m going to just sail my own race. Usually I’m strong in these conditions. It was quite shifty with pressure differences. Sometimes you have to get your head out of the boat and see what’s going on and sail to the breeze.”

Leading the Laser Radial fleet is Viktorija Andrulyte, of Lithuania, who placed first and second today. The top American is Erika Reineke who is in fourth place (4-3). In the Laser fleet, two race wins for Joaquin Blanco (ESP) puts him atop the fleet, with Andrew Lewis (TTO) and Stefano Peschiera (PER) close behind.

Bermuda’s Rockal Evans is going up against Mexican representatives Juan Perez Soltero and Alejandro Perez Ontiveros for the North American Tokyo 2020 Finn spot. “Today was a tricky day on the racecourse,” said Evans. “We got a clear start in the first race, got a good lane, and just played the shifts upwind and downwind, so I’m happy with my results. The breeze picked up a bit in the second race and they put up the free pumping flag. We had another good start and two good downwind legs for another good result.”

Along with racecourse and shifting conditions, Evans is also tracking his primary competition this week. “It’s a lot about the racecourse, but also the other countries, like Mexico, who are also going for the North American spot, so it’s a lot about keeping my eyes on them, plus playing the racecourse and getting boats in between us. It’s a lot of work.”

The American selection process also continues this week in the Finn. After one event, Luke Muller has an 8-point advantage over Rio 2016 bronze medalist Caleb Paine. Muller earned the bronze medal last year in Miami.

Following wins in Race 1 and Race 2, Paine takes an early lead in the Finn. Two Americans are in the top four, as Muller is in fourth place (5-3). “I’m just focused on my own sailing this week,” said Paine. “I’m working on fleet management and trying to minimize splitting away.

“We are also emphasizing downwinds, but it was a bit of a struggle today trying to get the right feel for the downwind. But all around it’s been much better, just a few minor mistakes that can be easily corrected.”

RELATED: To Tokyo 2020, The Final Push Steps Off in Miami

The race for Olympic qualification for the 470 Men in North America is between Canada and Mexico, who each have three teams competing. Leading the way between these two countries are Hector and Jeronimo Guzman, of Mexico, who stand in 20th place overall after two races (14-25). “We are trying our best not to be too aggressive this week,” said Guzman. “We want to sail as smart as possible and be faster than the other countries we are competing against for the Olympic spot. We need to focus on having good races so we can be at our best.”

Fronting the 30-boat Men’s 470 fleet overall is Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström, of Sweden (3-2). The top American team is Stuart McNay and David Hughes, currently lying fourth overall (1-11).

French duo Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz already have a strong advantage in the 470 Women’s fleet, with two race wins putting them ahead of nearest competitors Elena Berta and Bianca Caruso (ITA) and Frederike Loewe and Anna Markfort (GER).

In the RS:X Men’s fleet, two wins out of three for Pedro Pascual (USA) sets him ahead of David Mier Y Teran (MEX) and Ignacio Berenguer (MEX).

Mexican athletes are also performing well in the RS:X Women’s fleet, with Mariana Aguilar and Demita Vega de Lille standing first and third respectively. Megumi Komine, of Japan, is second.

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The Hempel World Cup Series rolls into Miami, in the sunshine state of Florida, USA from 19 – 25 January 2020 for the second installment of the 2020 Series with 205 from 50 nations scheduled to race across seven fleets. The stakes are high for North American competitors because the event is the final opportunity for nations to qualify to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition across the 470 and RS:X fleets, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn. Racing commences on Monday 20 January and will conclude with seven Medal Races on Saturday 25 January, which will be broadcast live on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel.

The Laser will be the largest fleet in Miami with 49 registered sailors. A single North American spot remains available to sailors and competitors from Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago will be on the start line.

Canada will have 12 Laser representatives all capable of qualifying the nation in Miami. Mexico will have four and Antigua two. The higher number of sailors, the better the chance but arguably the favorite to book his nations spot in Tokyo 2020 will be Trinidad and Tobago’s Andrew Lewis.

Lewis, a two-time Olympian after racing at London 2012 and Rio 2016, secured his first ever Hempel World Cup Series medal in Genoa, Italy, last season in a tough fleet. Robert Davis, of Canada, will also strongly fancy his chances of qualifying after beating Lewis by 2 points to sixth place at the 2019 Pan Games, but with a high number of nations on the starting line, the competition will be tense.

Peru’s Stefano Peschiera qualified his nation at the 2018 Hempel Sailing World Championships and with a good run of results behind him, he will be a firm favorite for gold, but expect Davis, Lewis and Mexico’s Yanic Gentry to also fight for the podium.

The qualification battle will be on in the 23-boat Laser Radial fleet. Aruba’s Philipine van Aanholt, St. Lucia’s Stephanie Devaux-Lovell, Mexico’s Elena Oetling and Sofia Ximena Palacios, Puerto Rico’s Sylvette Perez Figueroa and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Arrindell are all targeting Tokyo 2020.

The sailors tested themselves against each other at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. Mexico’s Oetling finished ahead of her rivals, but the experience in these situations belongs to Aruba’s van Aanholt. A London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympian, the Aruban knows what it takes to get to the Olympic start line. A good number of leading Laser Radial sailors will be in the Miami fleet including 2019 bronze medallist and current world-ranked No. 4 Vasileia Karachaliou (GRE), 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Champion Viktorija Andrulyte (LTU) and Uruguay’s Dolores Moreira Fraschini.

The highest caliber of competition will be in the 470 fleets where 30 male and 18 female teams will race. Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS), Jordi Xammar and Nico Rodriguez (ESP) and Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström (SWE) have fought for major titles over the last 12 months and regularly share the podium.

At the Enoshima triple-header in August and September, where the trio sailed at the 470 World Championships, Ready Steady Tokyo and Hempel World Cup Series Enoshima, the Australians took three golds. The Spaniards took two silver medals and a bronze and the Swedes secured a silver, bronze and a fourth place.

They will continue their fight in Miami as they aim to put a marker down ahead of Tokyo 2020. The race for Olympic qualification in North American will be between Canada and Mexico, which have three teams respectively. In the Women’s 470, Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz, of France, have emerged as Tokyo 2020 medal favorites after they secured the 2019 Hempel World Cup Series title, gold at Ready Steady Tokyo and the 2019 European Championship. They will spearhead the Women’s 470 fleet with further contenders including Afrodite Zegers and Lobke Berkhout (NED), defending Miami champions Frederike Loewe and Anna Markfort (GER) and Silvia Mas and Patricia Cantero (ESP).

The only nation in the running for the North American Tokyo 2020 spot in the Women’s 470 is the United States. The event also serves as an American-team qualifier with Nikole Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss, Carmen and Emma Cowles as well as Atlantic and Nora Brugman evenly-matched.

Bermuda’s Rockal Evans will face off against Mexican representatives Juan Perez Soltero and Alejandro Perez Ontiveros for the North American Tokyo 2020 Finn spot. The fleet of 15 will also see the American selection process continue. After one event, Luke Muller has an eight-point advantage over Rio 2016 bronze medalist Caleb Paine.

In the Men’s RS:X, two nations are aiming to qualify for Tokyo 2020—Dominican Republic and Mexico. The odds are stacked in Mexico’s favor, with five-time Olympian David Mier Y Teran and youthful Ignacio Berenguer leading the charge. The Dominican Republic’s Samuel Perez Hults is relatively inexperienced in comparison to the pair, with his best result a 24th at the 2019 Ready Steady Tokyo. In total, 12 sailors will race in the Men’s RS:X fleet and the event will also act as an American qualifier for Tokyo 2020.

Nikola Girke (CAN) will make her competitive RS:X return in the 10-boat Women’s fleet. The Canadian represented her nation in the 470 at Athens 2004, the RS:X at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and the Nacra 17 at Rio 2016. Canada is the only North American nation in the fleet who has not yet qualified so Girke will confirm the spot by completing the event.

Eds. Note: The 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami is partnering with the SORC Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race to host a doublehanded offshore event. The doublehanded class event is also new for the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race. Doublehanded offshore teams will start south of Port Everglades on Thursday, January 23 and race to Key West.

The post To Tokyo 2020, The Final Push Steps Off in Miami appeared first on Sailing World.

Representing the United States in Enoshima, Japan, are Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wisc.) and Maggie Shea (Wilmette, Ill.), who will appear in tomorrow’s 49erFX Medal Race, starting in 10th overall. The four remaining teams whose classes will have medal Races tomorrow have concluded the regatta as of completing the final races of their Qualifying Series.

US Sailing Team athletes in the Men’s and Women’s 470, Finn, Laser, and Laser Radial classes will have one more day of racing with the full fleets before the top ten boats move on to the Medal Races. Of the nine athletes in this group, two teams are starting tomorrow in positions to qualify for the medal race and two are in close contention.

Thanks to the short windward and leeward legs of the three-lapped Men’s 470 course, today delivered tight racing that ultimately favored the US Sailing Team. Men’s 470 Crew, Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.), attested to today’s many opportunities for significant gains and losses, “It was possible that we could have stepped away with a pair of threes or a pair of 15s today.” Hughes and his skipper Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) began the day in sixth place. Despite the tricky conditions, they managed to finish both races in the top-ten to move up to fourth overall. “We’re happy with where we ultimately ended up,” Hughes continued.

For McNay and Hughes, the value of this event extends beyond simply getting comfortable with the conditions of the Tokyo 2020 waters. “I would argue that racing in the Olympic fleet size is also incredibly valuable. For example, there’s a massive difference between the number of boats in a normal Gold Fleet at Worlds, which is maybe in the upper 30s and the 19 boats that will be on the Olympic starting line next year,” said Hughes. “That gives a very different flavor of racing in how the margins are played and the priorities shift throughout the racecourse. Having the 22 boats on our course at this event is extremely handy in preparing for that.”

Ready Steady Tokyo Sailing – U.S. Results

• Men’s 470 – Stu McNay (Providence, R.I.) & Dave Hughes (Miami, Fla.), 4th
• Women’s Laser Radial – Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 8th
• Women’s 49erFX – Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wisc.) & Maggie Shea (Wilmette, Ill.), 10th
• Men’s Laser – Chris Barnard (Newport Beach, Calif.), 11th
• Men’s Laser – Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), 12th
• Women’s 470 – Nikole Barnes (Miami, Fla.) & Lara Dallman-Weis (Shoreview, Minn.), 16th
• Men’s 49er – Andrew Mollerus (Larchmont, N.Y.) & Ian MacDiarmid (Delray Beach, Fla.), 16th
• Men’s Finn – Luke Muller (Fort Pierce, Fla.), 17th
• Women’s RS:X – Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.), 18th
• Mixed Nacra 17 – Riley Gibbs (Long Beach, Calif.) & Anna Weis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 19th
• Men’s RS:X – Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.), 20th
• Women’s Laser Radial – Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), 23rd

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The Facility for Advanced Sailing and Technology has opened at Treasure Island Sailing Center. FAST USA combines the resources of a three-way partnership between TISC, the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, and US Sailing, the sport’s national governing body. The partnership will enhance the community-based activities of TISC and create a flagship training base for the US Sailing Team of unprecedented scope and technological sophistication.

The new FAST USA facility is the realization of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation’s long held dream of a seamless pathway from beginner-level sailor to expert, known as the “Puddles to Podium” initiative. It is a dream shared by the foundation’s partners, TISC and US Sailing.

“We have watched the successes that other sports have had in creating a national training center and permanent home for their top athletes, coaches and trainers,” said Peter Stoneberg, Chairman of the FAST USA Committee. “For the first time in the history of American sailing, FAST USA at TISC will provide this home for the sport. New and Olympic sailors alike will be surrounded by world-class technology companies, universities and life science facilities. When added to the outstanding sail training conditions in San Francisco Bay, we will be mining Olympic gold on Treasure Island.”

The FAST USA concept caps a 20-year effort from TISC to bring novice and Olympic sailors together in the same Bay Area training facility. The program will create a legacy of opportunity, mentorship, and excellence in sailing. TISC and the St. Francis Sailing Foundation have worked together on existing community sailing programs including the highly successful Set Sail Learn program for San Francisco public school fourth graders.

“We are thrilled about this new partnership and what it means for the kids in our community. Whether they join the Youth Racing Team, train to be a coach or teacher, or intern at a technology lab, there will be opportunities for them to become leaders in the sport of sailing,” said Carisa Harris, President of TISC.

“US Sailing’s commitment to FAST USA at TISC is comprehensive and unwavering,” said Jack Gierhart, CEO of US Sailing. “A revolutionary new facility of this kind at a well-established community sailing center will change the face of sailing on the West Coast. FAST USA will offer greatly expanded opportunities to experience and enjoy sailing in one of the world’s best sailing venues. We are proud to be a part of it.”

To highlight the launch of FAST USA, US Sailing has designated Treasure Island Sailing Center as one of the primary national training centers for the US Sailing Team. Forming the centerpiece of the new Olympic-level facility will be an extensive container-based structure that previously served as an America’s Cup team base and was donated to US Sailing in 2017. US Sailing selected TISC as the new home for this cutting-edge facility as well as several top national team coaches and staff.

“We are grateful to our partners at the St. Francis Sailing Foundation and TISC for working with us to make this concept a game-changing reality for US Sailing Team athletes,” said Malcolm Page, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Chief of U.S. Olympic Sailing. “FAST USA will not only help us change the culture of our team and make us more competitive but give us a technical edge that no other national sailing team has.”

San Francisco Bay is known to competitive sailors worldwide for superb, year-round sailing conditions and areas optimal for both training and racing. The Bay offers a “menu” of varied conditions of wind and waves to suit the needs of students, athletes and coaches.

With technology playing an increasingly critical role in high-end athletics, FAST USA places America’s top sailing talent at the hub of U.S high-tech research and development. The Bay Area offers proximity to outstanding institutions of higher education and an ethos of innovation. The US Sailing Team’s technical staff will have access to an unprecedented breadth of technical solutions that will propel American sailors to medal-winning results.

“With the creation of FAST USA at TISC, we can offer high-level training opportunities for both Bay Area sailors and Olympic hopefuls that currently do not exist,” said Bill Kreysler, President of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation. “This facility will bridge existing gaps between youth, high school, collegiate and high-performance sailing. FAST USA will be the first facility of its kind in the nation, and we are thrilled to have US Sailing putting the wind at our back here in San Francisco. The seamless pathway we envision is a perfect fit for US Sailing’s joint goals of expanding sailing access on the west coast and winning Olympic medals.”

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US Sailing announced the selection of two-time Olympic Champion and seven-time World Champion Malcolm Page as the Chief of Olympic Sailing, succeeding Josh Adams as head of the national team and overall U.S. Olympic sailing effort.

“Malcolm’s experience and expertise make him an ideal choice to lead our team, and build on the progress that was made during the Rio 2016 quadrennium,” said Bruce Burton, President of US Sailing. “Malcolm has demonstrated an ability to win at the highest level, has been part of a winning system and can bring athletes and coaches together. Our team is on the rise, and with his leadership we will continue that ascent by building scale within our program, both in terms of numbers and in abilities.”

Page is widely considered the most successful Olympic-class sailor in Australian history. He was honored with a place on the Australian Institute of Sport’s “Best of the Best” list in 2011, and in October 2016 was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

“I’m very excited to get back into the performance side of the sport, which is where I cut my teeth, and where my passion has always been,” said Page. “I am looking forward to working with an ambitious group of American athletes and helping them realize their dreams. The US Sailing Team has an extraordinary history in Olympic sailing, with more medals won than any other nation. I know I can play a part in getting the United States back to the top.”

Page most recently served as Head of Media for World Sailing, and prior to that worked as a Communications Consultant at the Australian telecommunications company Telstra. Page also brings extensive experience in athlete management to his new role, as he was the Chef de Mission for the Australian Team at the Pacific Games, served for seven years on the World Sailing Athletes’ Commission and was Captain of the Australian Sailing Team from 2005-2012.

Page takes the reigns of a U.S. Olympic sailing program that has undergone significant changes in recent years, with increased resources directed towards both the national team and at reinvigorating US Sailing’s youth development effort. Guided by the Project Pipeline strategic initiative, US Sailing’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) was founded in 2015 and has already jumpstarted the performance sailing careers of hundreds of motivated American youth athletes. On the national team level, the US Sailing Team reached the podium in Rio 2016 with Caleb Paine’s bronze medal in the Finn Class, and qualified for six medal races in ten classes.

“The U.S. does not lack for sailing talent, and I have no doubt that we can and will compete with the best,” said Page. “Our challenge lies in finding enough resources and managing them well. I hate losing, and I want to give American athletes the chance to represent their country to the best of their abilities, as I was able to do in my own racing career.”

Page will assume his new role on January 1st, 2017.

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