LYC Juniors Finish Spring Circuit with International Success

Spring 2011

LYC’s top junior sailors had an active spring, competing in regattas from San Francisco to Holland, Chile to Italy.  Apart from the travel circuit, five LYC teams were selected to compete at the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, to be held in August in Newport. 

 

   Opti sailor Elizabeth Hansen (middle) with her teammates at the

   International Easter Regatta in Holland.

 

Four of the 36 teams selected to compete in Club 420s at the 2011 U.S. Youth Champs are from LYC, the most of any club in the country: Harry Koeppel and Nick Gallagher, Claudia Taselaar and Alex Liggins, Reinier Eenkema van Dijk with teammate Spencer McDonough and Casey Klingler with teammate Julia Rew.  Additionally, brothers Andrew and Matthew Mollerus were the only 29er team from the northeast selected.  The Youth Champs is the nation’s most prestigious junior regatta.  Event website.

Matt Kaplan qualified earlier in the year to compete at the IODA South American Championship in Algarrobo, Chile.  Matt finished 95th out of 162 sailors at the mid April regatta.  Results.

Chrissie Klingler competed in the world famous Lake Garda Optimist Meeting in Italy, qualifying for gold fleet and finishing as the top American girl, placing 118th out of 855 sailors.  Results.

At the International Easter Regatta in Braaseemermeer, Holland, Elizabeth Hansen qualified for gold fleet and finished as the top American girl, placing 33rd out of 222 sailors.  Event website.

By virtue of their 2010 regatta finishes, several LYC Optimist sailors qualified for the USODA National Team Trials, a regatta to determine who would attend several key international events over the coming year.  The regatta, held at San Francisco Yacht Club May 4-7, featured cold water and big wind.  Of the 172 sailors participating, Ty Ingram finished 39th, Matt Kaplan finished 65th, Elizabeth Hansen finished 79th, Chrissie Klingler finished 97th and Will Gallagher finished 127th.  Results.  Kaplan and Hansen qualified for the U.S. National Team, and will attend training sessions throughout the year.  Hansen accepted an international team invitation and will be representing the U.S. at the IODA Asian Championships in Singapore in July.  Ingram qualified to compete at the 2011 Opti North American Championship at the end of June in Los Angeles.