On Sunday, December 8, 2019, the Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships
in Auckland New Zealand wrapped, marking the end of the 2019 year for
the U.S. in these classes. The event seemed to be a turning point for
the US Sailing Team after each of the American representatives
demonstrated significant improvement throughout the event.
Stakes
have been high, as every competitor has targeted this World
Championships as the next milestone on the road to Tokyo. All countries
including the U.S., have established temporary residence in Auckland for
at least one and a half months, honing skills, setting goals, and
fine-tuning their game. Country qualification and early Olympic trials
rounds were raced for, as well as the lofty goal of competing in a World
Championships!
The
overall U.S. team performance has been notable – U.S. boats won breezy
races in these tricky high-speed classes, seven U.S. boats qualified for
Gold Fleet, and the U.S. posted its best results in four years in all
three fleets at the Worlds.
The
49er class sailors Nevin Snow (San Diego, Calif.) and Dane Wilson
(Ojai, Calif.), and Ian Barrows (Miami, Fla.) and Mitchell Kiss
(Holland, Mich.) fought brilliantly all week to try and capture a highly
sought-after country Olympic spot and finished 5th in the
race for the available four spots. The qualifying scheme is complicated
and finishing one place out of a guaranteed spot doesn’t mean hopes are
over. A few scenarios could still deliver the U.S. a slot at the Games.
“While
we would have liked to seal up a confirmed seat at the table, I am so
encouraged and pleased with our progress in the last two months,” said
Olympic Head Coach, Luther Carpenter (Cypress, Texas). “The leadership
from coach Mark Asquith has been top-notch, and the bond and effort
between team members has been one-hundred percent united.”
Moving
forward, Carpenter asserts that the 49er coaches and teams remain
focused and committed to developing the talent of these U.S. Men’s 49er
athletes, ”We know we have more work to be done, as we are already
evaluating and planning to continue the tour Down Under at the 2020
Worlds in February.
Focusing
on the positive takeaways from the week is easy for Carpenter after our
team demonstrated such significant improvement. “Our squad should feel
good about checking off more boxes at this World Championships,” he
continued. “Here, this group demonstrated the talent, conviction, and
depth that we have strived for in the last four years. Together, I have
no doubts that this team will rise to podium levels in the future.”
Beyond
the 49er sailors, U.S. competitors proved themselves as formidable
opponents in the 49erFX and Nacra fleets, as well. 49erFX teams of Paris
Henken (Coronado, Calif.) and Anna Tobias (Pittsburgh, Penn.), and
Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wisc.) and Maggie Shea (Wilmette, Ill.) both
wrapped the event with their best result at a 49erFX World
Championship, to date. Henken and Tobias finished in ninth overall.
Roble and Shea followed closely behind in 13th.
Throughout
the week, both teams exhibited resiliency in the face of adversity and
setbacks on the water. While Roble and Shea posted several double digits
scores during the opening series, they finished in the top ten in the
majority of the final series races. Just today, Henken and Tobias
demonstrated their ability to persevere after capsizing a mid-race while
in third. The duo rallied back well enough to still make the medal race
and take a confident fifth place in that race.
In
the Nacra fleet, the US Sailing Team likewise made visible
improvements. Athletes demonstrated their ability to win races in windy
conditions. US Sailing’s Olympic Coach and Performance Manager, Sally
Barkow (Nashotah, Wisc.) said that since the U.S. Nacra sailors arrived
in New Zealand, “They have excelled in boat handling around the course,
speed in strong breeze and highlighted some great downwind foiling
stability and speed.”
The
U.S. Nacra boats also demonstrated their ability to fight at the top of
the fleet. Riley Gibbs (Long Beach, Calif.) and Anna Weis (Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.) started off the regatta with several top three
finishes and continued to exhibit strength throughout the week.
On
a whole, these U.S. athletes are stronger than they were even just a
few months ago. Their hard work will continue in just a matter of weeks
when they will begin preparations for the 2020 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17
World Championships to be held in Geelong, Australia on February 10-15.
This event was also one of two that will determine athlete trials
for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team. The finishing positions of each
boat at this event and the 2020 World Championships will be combined.
The team with the lowest score in each qualified class will earn the
spot to represent Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Carpenter
says, “All of us here in New Zealand are excited by the progress we’ve
seen here in New Zealand. The Olympics are seven months away, and we
know that we have the time for at least three more cycles of similar
improvement. From staff, to coaches, to athletes, we all believe in each
other and have now witnessed and experienced the winning side of our
program. I like to reflect on this recent growth and say, winning is now
contagious within our team, and be more than just you, be part of
something great! But it’s not just about inspirational quotes – it’s
about rolling up the sleeves and doing the work, and right now, we love
to work.”
Follow the US Sailing Team on the road to Tokyo.
Learn more about the Olympic trials and country qualification.
U.S. Results at the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFx and Nacra 17 World Championships
- 9th - Paris Henken & Anna Tobias, 49erFX
- 13th - Steph Roble & Maggie Shea, 49erFX
- 13th - Nevin Snow & Dane Wilson, 49er
- 15th - Ian Barrows & Mitchell Kiss, 49er
- 14th - Riley Gibbs & Anna Weis, Nacra 17
- 23rd - Sarah Newberry & David Liebenberg, Nacra 17
- 24th - Ravi Parent & Caroline Atwood, Nacra 17
- 32nd - Andrew Mollerus & Ian MacDiarmid, 49er
- 41st - Judge Ryan & Hans Henken, 49er
- 43rd - Harry Melges IV & Finn Rowe, 49er
- 52nd - Kate Shaner & Kathleen Love, 49erFX
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