Racing & learning at US Sailing Junior Women's Championship

US Sailing Junior Women's Championship © US Sailing / Lexi Pline

After two days of clinic and two days of racing, winners were crowned at the US Sailing Junior Women's Championship in Marina del Rey, California. The Junior Women's Championship combines the Leiter Trophy Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship and the Ida Lewis Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship into one regatta, gathering girls ages 12-18 for a weekend of racing and learning.

The Ida Lewis Trophy was held in c420s. Dominating the fleet was the team of Sophia Devling and Piper Blackband of Balboa Yacht Club/Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, finishing with a total of eight points. Emily Doble and Taylor Bartell of California Yacht Club/Balboa Yacht Club finished second with 12 points, and Zoey Ziskind and Hope Cambell of Santa Barbara Yacht Club took third with 17 points.

The ILCA 6 fleet sailed for the Leiter Trophy. 14-year-old Talia Hamlin of San Francisco Yacht Club took first place with nine points, while her San Francisco teammate Hailey Thompson took second with 16 points. Alders Kulynych-Irvin of Key Biscayne Yacht Club/Severn Sailing Association placed third with a total of 23 points.

Nine official event coaches hired by US Sailing - Ali Blecher, Ali Blumenthal, Morgan Collins, Renee Corpuz-Lahne, Carmen Cowles, Emma Cowles, Paris Henken, Cori Radtke, Nevin Snow, and Caroline Young - lent their skills to the event, which does not allow private coaching. In typical California fashion, morning fog gave way to sun, bringing moderate breeze from 5-12 knots each day. Race committee was able to run seven races on Saturday and Sunday.

The Singlehanded Championship was started by Tom Clagett in 1980 and sailed for a trophy named in memory of Tom's wife, Nancy. In 1986, it became the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship. The U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship was started in 1995 when it became apparent that a second championship in a doublehanded boat was needed to complement the singlehanded event. The event is made possible by the support of the Clagett Trust.

US Sailing would like to thank National Sponsor Gill Marine and host club California Yacht Club for their support of this event. Mark your calendars for next year's Junior Women's Championship, to be held at the US Sailing Headquarters at Roger Williams University in July. Fleets and exact dates to be announced.

Full results available here.