PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 25, 2013) – Nine teams will be racing on
Chesapeake Bay this weekend in Navy 44 sloops for the 2013 U.S. Offshore
Sailing Championship, hosted by Naval Academy Sailing Squadron in
Annapolis, Md. Defending two-time champion (2011, 2009) Bruce Kuryla,
2011 runner-up Steve Travis, and a team comprised of U.S. Naval Academy
sailors are among the squads racing for the Lloyd Phoenix Trophy
beginning this Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29. This year, the championship will be racing in a new, expanded format
from previous years.
The new format focuses on navigational and other
offshore racing skills as well as boat handling. Previously, there was
one distance race. This has changed to include a medium and a long
distance race (weather permitting) with a variety of possible courses,
as well as at least three buoy races. The distance races will be around
inflatable buoys and government marks, and will be approximately 15 to
30 miles. All competitors must be classified under the ISAF Sailor
Classification Code; Groups 1 and 3 competitors may compete; however
teams are limited to up to three in Group 3 competitors.
Kuryla (Milford, Conn.), representing the New York Yacht Club and
Milford Yacht Club, returns his entire crew from the 2011 championship
and four of his crew from the 2009 event. Travis (Mercer Island, Wash.),
representing the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle, returns four of his
crew from the 2011 team. The 2011 championship came down to the wire, as
Kuryla edged Travis by a boat length in the final distance race to win
the championship.
Each team consists of a crew of eight, including one skipper and six
crew members, plus one U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman provided from the
varsity offshore racing team. A minimum of five of each competitors’
team, including the designated skipper, must have raced together in at
least five regattas in AMERICAP/ORR, IMS, IRC, MORC, PHRF, Offshore One
Design, Offshore Level Class Racing or Portsmouth Numbers rating systems
in the past 18 months. Each team’s skipper must have been the regular
helmsman for the five qualifying regattas and must start and sail all
windward legs in this regatta. Teams were selected based on US Sailing
Area and resume.
The Lloyd Phoenix Trophy will be engraved with the winning skipper's
Area and name, and will remain at the National Sailing Hall of Fame at
the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. US Sailing medals will be
provided to the skippers and crews of the top three teams. First place
prizes will be awarded for each race. (from www.ussailing.org)
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