WHisbone winners

US Sailing's Team Racing Championship goes to Cape Cod team

On a thrilling final day of the U.S. Team Racing Championship, team Cape Cod WHishbone narrowly defeated team Somerville Silver Panda, winning the US Sailing George R. Hinman Trophy and qualifying for the 2005 Team Racing World Championship. Both teams are well known in the world of team racing: both have previously won the National Championship (WHishbone in ’03 and Silver Panda in ’02) and WHishbone is the reigning World Champion. The competition was intense at this year’s Championship, with 16 of the country’s top teams (96 sailors in total) competing in new Vanguard 15’s provided by Vanguard Sailboats. The event, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Chubb, was held at Bayview Yacht Club.

On the last day of the Championship, Cape Cod WHishbone and Somerville Silver Panda ended up in a tie-break, each with a total of 19 points. Since Cape Cod WHishbone had defeated Somerville Silver Panda the last time they raced against each other in the event, the title was awarded to Cape Cod WHishbone and its team-members, Mark Ivey (Newport, RI), Olympian Tim Wadlow (Osterville, Mass.), Karen Renzulli (Needham, Mass.), Matt Lindblad (Newport, RI), Erin Largay (Branford, Ct.), and Tim Fallon (Somerville, Mass.). For them, the hunt is now on to defend their World Championship title at the 2005 Worlds, which will be held in Newport, RI, in September.

At the U.S. Team Racing Championship, the US Sailing Hinman Committee awarded the 2004 Gay Lynn Award to Steven Wolff (Fairfield, Ct.) of New York Yacht Club for his tremendous contributions to the growth of team racing. The great growth and success of team racing over the last decade would not have been possible without the effective and visionary leadership that Wolff continues to demonstrate.