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With one year out from Tokyo 2020, US Sailing and members of the US Sailing Team gathered recently to chat about their Olympic experiences – past, present and future. Briana Provancha, Olympian and current US Sailing Board member, moderated the session. Foundation grantees Stephanie Roble/Maggie Shea (49er FX), Paige Railey (Laser Radial), Luke Muller (Finn), Anna Weis/Riley Gibbs (Nacra 17), and Charlie Buckingham (Laser), talked about their Olympic journey. Following are excerpts from the discussion (part 2):

What is your pre-Olympic meal going to be?
Maggie & Steph – French toast and strawberries, carbohydrates, it’s a winning meal!
Charlie: I like to have a big hearty breakfast so for me its bacon, eggs, toast, and avocado.
Anna/Riley: Breakfast we’ll do whatever but we’re planning on having a late afternoon start so it’ll have to be sushi for both of us – or a rice bowl.
Luke: I pretty much eat the same thing before sailing – a cup of oatmeal, six eggs and a smoothie and I usually take the smoothie to go. Finn sailors tend to eat a lot so I kind of have three meals in one.

Talking about the mental side of sailing, what are your thoughts when you get to the starting line of the most important race of your life?
Paige: One of the biggest things I think for the new guys is probably more mental than skill. A lot of people get it in their head, “Oh wow, I’ve finally made it to the Olympics, I’ve been working my whole life just to get here”, and they have a lot of pressure and nerves. My biggest recommendation is the amount of time you spend training in the gym and in the boat you should be spending working on the mental game which means going through everything inside of your head. You need to confront your own demons, you need to confront your own fear, you need to put out a realistic goal that you want and go through every single emotion that you feel when you are on the starting line. It’s not just the starting line – imagine you are first in a race and you round the windward mark top 3 – how are you going to feel? How are you going to feel when you look over and there’s a press boat? It’s really important that you ask yourself what your weaknesses are and what you’re going to feel when the pressure is truly on. During this Covid time I have been spending the same time as I have physically training as I have mentally training.

What’s it like right at the start of any big event when you are doing your warm-up – what’s going on in your head?
Steph: Our whole approach is really process-oriented. We use that excitement to feel our focus towards that process. We go out and we have our pre-race check list and if we go through it and have time to burn we find another way to almost keep ourselves entertained until that starting line gun goes off then we have our next process that we focus on. Malcom Page gave us some really nice advice: “The boat, the sails and the equipment and the water and the wind don’t know it’s the Games so it’s just you that knows – you don’t have to go out there and do anything different. Your equipment is there for you to perform, you just have to perform your best and don’t do anything different than you would for any other race.”
Maggie: “We have certainly had important races where we felt anxious and I am sure the Olympics is amplified. We have worked really hard on intentionally focusing on the process instead of letting the clutter distract you. Let your teammate help you out a little bit if you are nervous, focus on perhaps what you need to eat before the race. We focus on the prompting questions to get our minds back on task at hand. I think we’ll keep doing more of the same – focus on process.”

What are your early Olympic memories and how did they impact your desire to be an Olympian?
Maggie: Watching the divers – I didn’t really know what they were doing or what they were being rated it on but I thought it looked so cool, what they were executing, I had a lot of appreciation and I thought they looked amazing.
Steph: I really enjoyed watching the gymnasts – I had a little gymnast time in my life so I really loved following them – I think there’s so much focus that goes into being a gymnast and I admire that.
Charlie – My whole family is really passionate about the Olympics. I was pretty young but I specifically remember watching the track and field in Atlanta and Michael Johnson with his golden spikes and being super inspired by that when I was younger. In Sydney 2000 I specifically remember watching the final Laser race on the Outdoor Life Network and seeing Robert Scheidt (Brazil). At that time I was just getting into sailing myself and I didn’t make any decisions then but thought it looked really cool – 16 years later I ended up racing against Robert in the Laser.
Paige: The first time I saw the Olympics was in ’96. My family was watching it on the big TV downstairs in the living room. It was the opening ceremony. I said, “This is so boring, I left the room”. I never had dreams of going to the Olympics, I was that person who just fell into it at 16. I learned about the Olympics in Greek mythology. And now I’ve been to three Olympic Games. I’m telling this story because for all of you people who think you are late bloomers – I’ve had 15-16 year olds reach out to me asking if it’s too late to head to the Games, I’m like, “Oh no,  it’s never too late to have dreams of the Games.”
Anna: When Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias spoke at the yacht club where I’m from. I got a picture taken with her and the gold medal – it was so heavy! That was a really cool moment and she’s been one of my biggest inspirations to go to the Olympics.
Riley: Going to Park City (2002) with my grandparents and family. I was also inspired by Molly Carapiet and Molly Vandemoer.
Luke: It’s funny that Farrah mentioned Mike Gebhardt as he was my neighbor growing up – he was always around us growing up, he was like an uncle around me and my younger brothers and older siblings – he sailed against and coached my older brother Phillip who participated in two Olympic trials. I was born and my mother took me to the ’96 Olympics in diapers – I don’t remember it but it’s definitely in my blood. When Mike won a gold medal I thought if it could happen in my back yard with the people I know and seeing that work ethic, I though maybe if worked hard enough I could get there. It’s definitely been a big part of my life.

Strategies for staying upbeat and staying positive during Covid uncertainty?
Paige: I always tell people that they way that you think is a choice. I can choose to be negative and upset or doubtful about the Olympics but instead I am choosing to try to see the positives during a tough time. Every single day I ask myself what I can do to get one step closer to my goal. I’m taking all this time as an opportunity – to get stronger and to grow which only means I am going to be better prepared for the Olympics. With everything comes a choice and I choose to walk down the positive route.
Riley: I guess as a team we went through phases individually as to who was motivated and who wasn’t motivated but now that we are back together as a physical team we can really work together on our missions. Reuniting has helped motivate us both. Having fun with it will definitely go a long way for us – how are we going to enjoy this and find happiness in this again.
Anna: Especially going into the next year, we didn’t have a lot of time because we just teamed up just a little over a year ago now and so we were expecting to be in the Games now and still pretty inexperienced so now we’re taking every day as an opportunity  – it’s almost like a gift we have been given. It’s finding that healthy balance between life and sailing is going to be super important for us, staying positive and motivated – Riley mentions motivation which I was learning about during quarantine – a better word is discipline as you can’t stay on a trap with motivation because motivation comes and goes. But having that discipline to just get out there everyday is what is really going to matter.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to a younger sailor?
Luke: If you really want to do this, know that it’s a really long road, it’s really hard, be prepared to work hard, seek out the best training group that you can – I was really lucky to be part of an amazing group of youth sailors in Fort Lauderdale and then afterwards sailing with some of the best people that have sailed the boats I sailed, seek information from every coach you can, be the person who always asks questions and review those notes, always be the hardest worker in the room, be disciplined but take care of yourself. Push until you can’t, take care of yourself a little bit, then push a little more. And really enjoy it. Recognize that you are extremely lucky to be involved in a sport that’s on the water in beautiful places with extremely bright and hardworking individuals. Keep at it, don’t stop.
Paige: My parents were really happy whenever I just finished a race! Have a lot of fun when you are a kid, don’t think Optis are the Olympic Games because you can be a really terrible Opti sailor and not make much of yourself then you can get into a boat in your teen years and make something of yourself. That was my experience. When you join the Olympic path you have to have a lot of fun as well – of course you have your diligence, hard work and training but every single day you have to wake up and ask what’s nice about sailing. I’m 33 now and started when I was 8 – and I’m still enjoying as much as possible.
Steph – Fall in love with the sport and being on the water – that’s a really important part of it, finding the fun and enjoying it every day.
Maggie: The results don’t really matter until they matter. In junior sailing and when you are still learning, they don’t matter. Regattas are important, accomplishments – you can cherish them, be proud of them but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to produce results in junior sailing. Commit yourself to learning how to learn and having a good mindset at a young age will set you up for challenges later in life whether it’s sailing or work.  If you are in last place right now, it’s totally fine, I’ve been there!

Stephanie Roble & Maggie Shea at the 2020 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Geelong, Australia. 15th February 2020. Photo: Drew Malcolm Photography.

With one year out from Tokyo 2020, US Sailing and members of the US Sailing Team gathered recently to chat about their Olympic experiences – past, present and future. Briana Provancha, Olympian and current US Sailing Board member, moderated the session. Foundation grantees Stephanie Roble/Maggie Shea (49er FX), Paige Railey (Laser Radial), Luke Muller (Finn), Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs (Nacra 17), and Charlie Buckingham (Laser), talked about their Olympic journey – following are excerpts from the discussion:

How excited are you that it’s now just one year to the Tokyo Olympics?
Luke Muller – I’m extremely excited and extremely grateful, I think with the worldwide situation and Covid 19 it was a long road and I didn’t know if it was going to end short or if it was going to continue on. It was a relief to know I was nominated to Team USA and the US Olympic Team and yeah, I’m overjoyed. I’m really grateful to be out sailing and working hard and striving to do well next year in Tokyo.

It takes a village to get to the Olympics – what do you think this means to your family and friends?
Luke: As athletes, it means the world to our village, the people who support us and that join in our sacrifices to make it happen – the birthdays not gone to, weddings not taken part in etc. My family in particular, everyone is deeply into sailing – my brother runs a 29er team, my sister is the director of the US Sailing Team, my little brother is a college sailor and 49’er sailor so it’s a family affair and I’m grateful for all their support over these years – it means a lot to us.

Many athletes refer to you as the resident Olympic expert – how do you enjoy yourself through the grind of an Olympic campaign?
Paige: I view sailing as a long sport with long goals. I set out when I was 15 to be a pro athlete – what I realized is that you’re not going to achieve all your goals in one cycle and if you want to do an Olympic campaign maybe it’ll be 10-15 years in the making. My parents always taught me that every time you get knocked down you have to get back up and there’s no question about it. Life’s also short so I try to enjoy the process as I go along. Each day I am working toward my goals is another day I am growing in experience in life. Each day I try to take advantage of it as much as I can and enjoy everything that comes with a goal which means losing and winning.

What does it mean to do this together and what moment are you most looking forward to sharing together in Tokyo?
Maggie: Steph and I first sailed the 29er together in 2005 – against Briana– she kicked our butt! Steph and I were rivals before that in the Laser Radial and had a lot of respect for each other as competitors. Since we have become really good friends and sailing with and against each other in so many boats in the last 15 years, it’s been quite a journey and a privilege and I feel lucky to be able to do it with one of my best friends. We’ve grown up a lot together as teammates, athletes, sailors, people…it’s been such a pleasure to do it with someone you really care about and love. I’m really looking forward to sharing the experience with Steph.
Steph:  I agree with Paige – it’s so much about the journey and the process and I’m lucky to do this with Maggie by my side who is someone I really enjoy going out on the water with everyday and competitive with – even during our quarantine workouts we were trying to kill each other…and it was successful – we had good workouts.

With 18,000 people (incidentally the largest Olympic Village in the history of the Games), what was the Village in Rio like?
Paige: I’ll never forget when I first walked in – there were all these good looking people walking around, and all these buff bodies, you’re surrounded by people who put all their dedication, everything into their sport – I was amazed because you see all these different types of bodies as well – the wrestlers, the gymnasts and the tall basketball guys. I thought in life that I was a pretty tall person until I went into the Village then I felt so short at 5’-8”!
Charlie: I think the other cool thing too is that all the country – at least in Rio – share buildings together, it was cool to build a sense of camaraderie with athletes from other sports. Our sailing team had a great relationship going into the Games but getting to know other American athletes and talking about their experiences was great as well. I think that’s a unique aspect of the Olympics.

How is Enoshima as a venue and what are its challenges?
Paige: It’s been blistering hot when we’ve been there. My coach is a big dude and I’m from Florida and you think I’d be able to handle the heat but I have to say it is incredibly hot in Japan. We are up for anything that can keep us cooler! Aside from that, the people in Japan are amazing, so helpful, they are by the rules, which is great. I love it, everything is incredibly organized to a tee. It’s clean – I enjoy it. All the venues I have been to for the Games have been different – this one is just a different culture and experience. It’s fun to go there and see how another country is going to run the Olympics.
Maggie: “We were recently training in Miami and trying to figure out the heat situation – we had record breaking heat one weekend and I thought, “I can’t do this.”
Steph: I think a big part of it is hydration – its not something that you just do on the water, it’s a fulltime job outside of sailing and making sure when you come off the water that you are rehydrating. We were learning about sweat rates and how much we were losing in a typical session and we were also experimenting a little with some ice vests and also with just having some ice packs down our life jackets between drills to help us cool down. When you wash down the boat at the end of the day the hose water on your face feels so good – it still feels hot but good.
Maggie: We learned a lot about the right combinations of electrolyes and what time of day you need them etc. At least the Pacific Ocean in Japan is a little cooler than Miami.

Riley – you and Anna just recently reunited in Long Beach – what does your training look like as you approach the Olympics?
Riley: We’ve had some time off lately from sailing the Nacra – we did go sailing today on the 17 – thought it was only right to go sailing on the day that would have been the (2020) Opening Ceremony. Independently we’ve been working out pretty aggressively in Florida – I’ve been sailing A-Cats, kiting and cycling every single day, independently we’re keeping track of it and improving day by day. It’s still a bit unknown as everything in life is right now so as far as preparation, we’re in control of what we can – knowing our equipment to a tee and what works for us. I recently taught Anna how to kite so got her ripping around on both tacks quite proficiently (both laugh) after the second day but as far as 17 sailing and keeping it fresh, because we joined up just last year together, our pathway to the trials was pretty intense and quite aggressive as far as our training regime. For us we’re just trying to keep it fun right now and get back in the boat, perhaps do some coastal sailing, maybe sail around Catalina one of these days.
Anna: We’ve been trying to incorporate a lot of different training as well like me learning how to kite foil and A-Cat sailing as well to supplement our Nacra training since now we have the time and resources to do so. I think that’s what we were missing all last year, we just went straight into racing after not being in the boat for three weeks I think it was. All we did last year was race so we’re trying to actually be training now.

Crossing the line after your first race in the Olympics – after all the hard work you put in what does that feel like?
Charlie: I was having a really good race and had to make a tough decision in the middle of the race and a couple of things didn’t go my way and I lost probably 15 boats and crossed the finish line thinking, “The first race of the Olympics has finished and now that opportunity has gone.” That was a really interesting feeling and it showed me that when you are on the water its important to practice with intention and purpose because that moment comes really quickly. The more you can prepare yourself to that moment in every day practice the more prepared you will be – being in the moment and taking every practice seriously to be ready for that moment.

Watch out for part 2…

Olympian & Resident Expert Paige Railey

Against a ton of odds, Treasure Island Sailing Center is approaching week 6 of its summer camp programming, a feat that was considered maybe impossible to pull off just a few months ago. Three camps of three weeks each will see some 150 kids ages 9-18 get out on the water this summer after all.

“TISC came up with a system after meetings with race team parents and guidance from the Public Health Department which helped us put protocols in place,” Laura DeFelice, Program Manager at TISC, said. “It was a lot of planning for sure and overwhelming but so worth it. The parent feedback has been so positive, the kids are happy and rejuvenated.”

Camp runs 9-4pm daily, with group start and end times staggered by 15 minutes to cater to social distancing. Kids do everything with their designated group and stay with the same instructor all day. They’re split into 4 different “pods” – Beginners sailing bug boats; the all-level Opti group which is split into two groups based on skill level; the homegrown TISC Race team sailing Opti’s and Feva’s; and the Teen Class sailing Club FJ’s including beginner to advanced level sailors.

The kids are generally taking to Covid protocols and the purchase of TISC “buffs” has helped wearing face coverings be cool, Laura noted. “We have to give the kids constant reminders about safety so that they can sail here, and our instructors have the biggest role in this. They are making sure protocols are followed, hands are being washed, and everyone is feeling safe and welcomed. I am super proud of our team.”

A typical day: Parents are not allowed to enter the TISC facility so they now just drop kids off at the facility entrance. On arrival temperatures are taken and when the kids enter the facility, they wash hands and go to their designated group tent. A chalk talk in the morning is followed by lunch at assigned group areas with their respective instructors. The afternoon is dedicated to sailing and/or playing on-the-water games, with the beach used for activities on high wind days.

“There is more waiting around because we have staggered times at the dock as only one group at a time can launch boats,” Laura explained. “Th kids wash down equipment at the end of the day and typically go home in their wetsuits and wash those at home, another change they’ve had to adapt to.”

The hard work is paying off but it’s a summer camp kids are bound to remember:

A few things I like about this summer and sailing Fevas is that I get to sail with my bro and I really get to know how to communicate with him and go faster than an Optimist.  – Opti Race Team Member

Sailing with a partner on a Feva is very instructional for both skipper and crew. Not only for you to improve skills used in solo sailing, but you also develop new skills like communication, teamwork, and listening. –Felix Ho Opti Race Team

I got to solo sail for the first time! – Amy Kane

What I like the most is that I learned how to roll tack and sailing in high wind! – Kevin Liang

What I like least is that we have to wear masks. – Carlos

US Sailing has announced the conclusion of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Athlete Trials in the Finn class, giving leading U.S. athlete Luke Muller, 24, a place on the 2020 US Olympic Sailing Team. Luke earned selection thanks to his performances at the 2019 Finn World Championship and 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami, where he placed 17th and 3rd, respectively. This will be his first Olympic Games appearance.

Currently based in Houston, TX, Luke’s been hunkering down and focusing 100% on improving with training partner Eric Anderson and is thrilled that the deal is sealed. He was leading other US Finn hopeful Caleb Paine by seven points after the first two trials events. The final selection event was to be held during the World Championships in October but when the EU decided to cease allowing Americans into that region due to COVID-19, the selection process was amended and thus ended early.

“I had a good lead and I was confident of my success following those first two events but knowing that it’s now the real deal, it feels really good and I am overjoyed,” Luke said. “Now I can focus on improving and getting as prepared as possible for the Games.”

It’s not an easy time in the universe to keep one’s head in the game for Tokyo but Luke is taking the status quo in stride.

“I’ve been really trying to remain optimistic and focus on the fact that I have that extra time to refine my craft,” he explained. “The result is not the only thing that matters – I really enjoy getting better at sailing Finns. Having extra time is an opportunity.”

Luke and Eric have figured out a physical distancing system to continue working during this time with coach Luther Carpenter who resides in Houston.

“Eric and I are living together while in Texas, and I really only interact with him,” Luke noted. “We’re lucky enough that Houston Yacht Club has a large space and we don’t need to come in contact with anyone in order to train here. We carry all our water and food instead of on the coach boat. Every two-weeks we pay $5 for curbside groceries so we don’t have to go inside.”

The pair have devised a system so that at the end of the day Luther gives them video through his car window – they exchange all their video and photo files that way. When they get home after training, they do a video conference and exchange notes. The system keeps them isolated so that they are able to remain safe and effective.

“We’re doing the best we can with the resources we have,” Luke said. “It would be time-costly to move somewhere else right now, so we plan to finish out this block of training before we leave.  Houston was relatively safe when we got here but as things worsened, we got more disciplined and took the virus more seriously. We want to avoid contributing to the spread and we want to stay healthy to maximize time on the water. It is not what we are used to, but it isn’t too inconvenient either. We are lucky to be on the water.”

With his selection to the Team, Luke would like to close out his fund-raising gap and raise his budget, noting that his supporters have been very understanding that the Games postponement has been hard for athletes.

“I have a very dedicated and supportive following which I’m really grateful for, including the Foundation,” he said. “With the announcement that I’m on the Olympic roster, I’m hoping that improves my support.”

Luke Muller / 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami

ABOUT LUKE
A member of the US Sailing Team for the last six years, Muller has progressed significantly since finishing college at Stanford University and shifting his focus to a full-time campaign in the Finn. In 2016, he served as training partner for Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.), who went on to win the Bronze Medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics in the Finn class.

Muller is a three-time World Cup medalist, two-time National Champion, and is currently ranked among the world’s top 20 Finn sailors. Some of his career highlights in the Finn include, 3rd place at both the 2019 and 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami, 9th at the 2017 Kiel Week Regatta, and 4th at the 2017 Sailing World Cup Miami.

Caleb Paine, Foundation grantee and Olympian (Bronze Medalist in the Finn, Rio 2016) has announced that he will end his campaign for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. For now, he plans to focus on his role as grinder on American Magic and the 36^th America’s Cup. His decision comes at a time when there is so much uncertainty in the world including the future of the 2020 Olympics rescheduled for 2021. With still an Olympic trial for the Finn in 2020 to be sailed, a potential timing conflict between that event and Paine’s commitment to American Magic spurred his decision.

“I knew that the Olympic trials were going to be scheduled during a time when I’d probably be in New Zealand for the America’s Cup,” Paine said. “In talking to Terry and the American Magic team, it would not be possible to be going back and forth to New Zealand, especially not now. It was also just a matter of timing with my career in sailing and other things I have set out to do. I just felt like now was the right time to start a new chapter in my journey of this sailing I am doing.”

While double duty had its challenges, Paine said working on both campaigns was all the easier with both the US Sailing Team and American Magic very supportive of his endeavors. “Whatever I decided to do, they were entirely on board with that. It was an easy situation in all reality,” Paine said.

Noting that the next Olympic Games will also mark the end of the Finn era, Paine is happy that the opportunity to represent the US in the Finn will go to another Olympic hopeful.

“I will say medaling at the last Olympics definitely made this decision a little easier than it probably would have been otherwise. It was awesome to have had the opportunity and now for someone else to have that opportunity.”

American Magic hopes to be back on the water in July and Paine’s waiting for the green light to get back to work. “I’m keeping as healthy and strong as possible so that when the opportunity comes, I can be ready to be back with the team,” Paine, clearly excited, noted.

The Foundation has played an important role in Paine’s development as a sailor and he’s looking forward to continuing his involvement with its community on some level.

“The Foundation gives individuals who have dreams and aspirations to be successful in events like the Olympics,” Paine said. “Without their support and encouragement, many of these athletes would not be able to do what they need to do or represent the US at the Olympics. Without the Foundation’s support, my Olympic dreams would not have been possible, and I owe a great debt to their kindness and support.”

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Finding her pace at the 2020 ILCA Women’s Laser Radial World Championships this past week, Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) emerged victorious over fellow US Sailing Team athletes, Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Charlotte Rose (Houston, Texas), to win a spot on Team USA for the Tokyo 2020 Games. After capping off the event with a strong top-ten finish, Railey finished 14th overall. Reineke and Rose finished the event in 26th and 36th, respectively.

The final day of the 2020 ILCA Women’s Laser Radial World Championships yet again delivered some shifty conditions on Port Phillip Bay. Athletes hit the water as scheduled and sailed one race in three to eight knots. When the shifty breeze never solidified enough for the remaining two races, the Race Committee made the decision to finish the day after one race, marking the end of the Championship and U.S. Laser Radial Olympic trials.

At this point, Railey, at age 32, is an Olympic veteran with two Games under her belt. Still, her road to Tokyo has been far from easy. “It has been a hell of a road to get here. These last two Worlds have been the most stressful trials I’ve ever competed in,” she said.

“I’ve been working really hard over the last five months after I pretty much started from rock bottom with my body because of health issues. I knew coming into this event that Australia was going to be windy and it turned out to also be really shifty. So, going into our trials sitting in second place and expecting conditions that I wasn’t necessarily 100% ready for was definitely stressful.” Full Report

Helping sailors reach their potential is what the Foundation is all about and its Annual Auction, just around the corner on March 3, is the fundraising mechanism to make this happen. Attendees can look forward to a variety of exclusive and unique opportunities that they’ll only find at the Auction. PREVIEW AUCTION BROCHURE and while you’re at it, be sure to buy your Auction ticket!

Meanwhile, enjoy a snapshot of silent and live items up for grabs, listed below:

Cool and Unusual:

• Cabaret in the Sky—an evening at the home of Bruce & Debby Smith who will fly in musicians from New York and Los Angeles for your exclusive entertainment. There will be food and libations commensurate with, and in honor of, all-time great sailor and StFYC Chairman of the Board, Paul Cayard. This special night is open to 30 people on September 20.
• Sail to a picturesque harbor on the French Riviera aboard the classic 61-foot yacht Athene, once the Flagship of the StFYC.

Getaways:

• Seven-night stay in Alexandria, Virginia, in a two-bedroom condo with a view of the Potomac, dinner at Landini’s and drinks at a private Cigar Bar and Lounge
• One week at Esperanza, a luxury private resort in Cabo San Lucas
• A weekend in harvest season at a well-appointed condo at the renowned Silverado Resort in Napa
• One jazzy week with eight friends in a fabulous New Orleans home

Sporting Events:

• SailGP chase boat ride for two during SailGP San Francisco in May
• Two courtside Warriors tickets & VIP passes for one game next season
• Two VIP tickets for the Kings/Lakers game in Sacramento, April 4
• Eight-person condo in Sun Valley during Ski Week 2021; includes lift tickets for four
• Four VIP passes to final three days of Track & Field Olympic Trials, including accommodation for four

Up your Sailing Game:

• On-water coaching sessions with Mike Martin or Nicole Breault
• Week-long Laser Clinic at the International Sailing Academy in Mexico

Things you Can’t Get Anywhere Else:

• Tour for four at the top of Salesforce Tower (not open to the public)
• Tugboat ride on SF Bay
• Champagne & caviar sunset sail for 12 aboard the classic yacht, Mayan

2019 Rolex Big Boat Series

We are so very proud of our sailors who swept US Sailing’s 2019 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. Awards were given to Foundation Advisory Board member Mike Martin – four-time 505 World Championship winner together with his crew Adam Lowry, and Foundation grantee Daniela Moroz – four-time World Kiteboard Champion and now two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. Honored for the best performances of 2019, these sailors inspire us with their athleticism and the spirit of excellence they bring to our sport. https://www.ussailing.org/news/2019rolexyyawards/

The Foundation also congratulates Paul Cayard, St FYC Chairman and Foundation Advisory Board member. Paul has been selected to join  The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF) 2020 induction class. In doing so, he becomes the first sailor to be recognized by the BASHOF, joining Bay Area sports-world greats such as Joe Montana, Jonny Moseley and Willie Mays.

Paul is a seven-time world champion and seven-time America’s Cup competitor. He has circumnavigated the world twice, becoming the first American to win the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1998 and placing second with the Disney syndicate Pirates of the Caribbean in the 2005–2006 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. A two-time Olympian (1984 and 2004) and one of the very few in the sport of sailing who have competed at the top level in these three diverse disciplines, Paul’s accolades also include induction to the US Sailing Hall of Fame (2011) and Rolex Yachtsman of the Year (1998). He also serves on the Board of US Olympic Sailing.

With less than two weeks to the Foundation’s Annual Auction Fundraiser, our primary mechanism for helping sailing athletes reach their full potential, we are thrilled to celebrate these successes. We hope to see you on March 3!

Paul Cayard with StFYC Nacra 15 stars

January 25, 2020 – Miami delivered surprising conditions for the final day of the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami. Contrary to the forecast, the Race Committee was able to fire off all of the Medal Races, allowing four American sailors including three St Francis Sailing Foundation grantees to secure Medal victories, three Gold and one Bronze. On the final day of the regatta, U.S. athletes in the 470, RS:X, and Finn classes also capped off the second of three events that make up the U.S. athlete Olympic trials.

Caleb Paine secured his Gold Medal in the Finn class. Today, his teammate Luke Muller (Fort Pierce, Fla.) secured the Bronze, despite taking a penalty turn in the exciting Finn Medal Race.

“I took more risk than some of the other boats on the upwinds, but I did what I thought was going to pay,” Muller said. “Then on the last downwind, because I was pushing so hard to pass as many boats as I could, I got a penalty. The points were such that if I pushed it and broke the [propulsion] rule, I would still be okay, but if they didn’t penalize me, I was closer to getting Silver. So, in my mind, it was a good risk.”

Muller will continue to lead the U.S. trials. Currently, he has a buffer of six finishing positions between him and Paine. The victor will be determined at the 2020 Finn Gold Cup.

Also bringing home a Gold Medal today is Laser Radial athlete Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Reineke went into today’s Medal Race leading the fleet by only two points. The race was an exciting tactical battle with Vaselia Karachaliou (GRE) for the Gold. Neck and neck through the final downwind leg, Reineke finally solidified a Gold Medal win after Karachaliou received a penalty from the jury.

“Off the start, I felt really good,” said Reineke. “I tacked and I was at the front of the race and then I messed up one shift and my competitors split from me. Vasileia played the first beat extremely well and I tried to keep my head in the game and not give up. On the last downwind I covered her and unfortunately, she got a flag, but that’s the sport. I had to beat her [Vasileia] in the race and the Italian [Talluri] was also very close so I just went out there trying to win.”

Reineke was ecstatic to win her first race of 2020. “It feels really good. I’m still trying to get my head around it, but it feels great. The nerves got to me during the race. I dropped my tiller extension, and I had bad mark roundings, but now it’s great. I couldn’t have done it without my coach, Steve [Mitchell], my team and support.”

In the Women’s 470 Medal Race, Carmen and Emma Cowles (Larchmont, N.Y.) finished in fifth place and first among the American teams. Atlantic and Nora Brugman (Winthrop, Mass.) also appeared in today’s Medal Race. The pair finished the final race in eighth, to end up ninth overall. The Women’s 470 trials will remain incredibly tight as they head into their 2020 World Championship. The Brugmans lead by one point over the Cowles and three over Nikole Barnes (Miami, Fla.) and Lara Dallman-Weiss (Shoreview, Minn.).

Pedro Pascual (West Palm Beach, Fla.) is the Men’ RS:X Gold Medalist.

The US Sailing Team will turn its focus to the upcoming World Championships in Australia and the 51^st Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Spain. Full report: https://www.ussailing.org/news/hwcsm20-usst/

January 25, 2020 – Today is final day of the Hempel World Cup Series Miami 2020 and the final opportunity for North American nations to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games across the 470, RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn. St Francis Foundation grantees have worked hard for success this week including Caleb Paine (Finn) and Erika Reineke. Today’s racing will determine who goes to Tokyo!

Watch ALL 7 Medal Races LIVE from Miami! Schedule (-5 UTC): 09:07 – 470 Women 09:45 – 470 Men 10:18 – Laser Radial 10:51 – Laser 11:24 – Finn 11:57 – RS:X Women 12:30 – RS:X Men.

Caleb Paine of the United States has won gold ahead of the Medal Race as he has an unassailable lead over Kyle Martin (CAN). Across the ten-race series, Paine has taken five race wins and four seconds. An 11^th in Race 9 today was his worst score of the week. Martin of Canada won Race 10 and now stands in second place. Luke Muller who is even on points with Martin is in third.

Leading the Laser Radial fleet is  Erika Reineke of the United States. She has a narrow two-point lead over Vasileia Karachaliou of Greece and a five-point edge over Matilda Talluri of Italy.

The only nation in the running for the North American Tokyo 2020 spot in the Women’s 470 is the USA. The event also acts as an American team qualifier with Nikola Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss, Carmen and Emma Cowles as well as Atlantic and Nora Brugman. The Brugmans and Cowles qualified for tomorrow’s Medal Race by finishing the fleet racing stage in eight and ninth, respectively. The Brugmans won today’s race and have a one-point edger over the Cowles.

Full report: https://miami.ussailing.org/day5-report/

Quick Links to Hempel World Cup Series Miami Coverage:

• Follow the Racing
• Results and Standings
• Live Tracking

WATCH
Daily highlights and live streamed Medal Races on Saturday 25 January will be available across the World Sailing YouTube Channel. Click here to subscribe.