Americans Medal at Yngling Worlds US Sailing’s 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Barkow and her crew, Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe, won the bronze medal at the Yngling Women’s World Championship, held June 30 – July 8 in La Rochelle, France. Heading into the regatta as the defending world champions, Barkow and crew defeated 34 teams to win the bronze medal on Saturday, finishing behind teams from Spain and Germany. Two other US Women’s Sailing Team boats, skippered by Hannah Swett and Carol Cronin, secured solid positions, finishing fifth and seventh place respectively. In the 42-boat Open Division, American John Ingalls and his crew, James Randall and Mikael Komar, took first place. For the complete regatta results, click here . Cup Racers Reconvene in St. Moritz This year’s St. Moritz Match Race (August 15-20) will include members from six America’s Cup teams, as well as other match racing hotshots. Big name sailors headed to this alpine stop on the World Match Racing Tour include Alinghi’s Jochen Schumann, Ed Baird, and Peter Holmberg, Luna Rossa’s Philippe Presti, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia’s Flavio Favini, Areva Challenge’s Sebastien Col, and Team Shosholoza’s Ian Ainslie. Also in attendance will be two-time St. Moritz Match Race champion Mark Mendelblatt (United States) and top-ranked match racer Peter Gilbour (Australia). For more information about this event, click here . Champions Needed for Championship of Champions Each year, US Sailing selects twenty class champions to compete in its Championship of Champions. This year’s event takes place in October at Grand Maumelle Sailing Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, and will be sailed in Y Flyers. To qualify, applicants must be current national, North American, or international one-design champions who normally sail in the United States, are members of US Sailing, and are members of a club, class, or association affiliated with US Sailing. To apply for the 2006 Championship of Champions, click here . Soggy Ceremony Planned for Laser 4.7 Worlds Organizers of the upcoming Laser 4.7 Worlds-scheduled for December 27, 2007-January 4, 2008 in Hermanus, South Africa-have asked representatives from each competing yacht club to bring a bottle of water from their home port. At the event’s opening ceremony, the representatives will pour their water into a large vessel which will be blessed with an interdenominational prayer and then poured into the waters of Hermanus Yacht Club. According to organizers, the “Mixing of the Waters” represents the mixing of cultures at the event. The ritual also ensures that every competitor gets the chance to sail on a little bit of their home turf. For more information about the regatta, click here .
