 RESULTS The 8th Annual Sail Newport Advanced Racing Clinic in memory of Brooke Gonzalez was another great success. Perfect weather and sailing conditions made for a tired group of sailors at the end of each day. This year's clinic was limited to 32 420 teams and 19 Laser Radials from as far away as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many of the nation's top junior sailors were in attendance in preparation for the U.S. Sailing Youth Championship, June 26-July 1, in San Francisco, CA. The final results will certainly have some of our clinic participants, but most sailors' use this clinic as a way to jump start their season on the water.  On Thursday, June 19 things started with a rigging and tuning clinic lead by our great coaches. The conditions for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were very similar, with a building Newport seabreeze each day. The mornings would be on the lighter side, and the afternoons were moderate to big breeze. Boathandling, boatspeed, starts, short races, and numerous debriefs and lectures filled each day. Another fantastic Newport seabreeze filled in for Sunday's Sail Newport Clinic Regatta. Run by race committee expert Ken Legler, five great races on Trapezoid courses were sailed in winds that ranged between 10 and 20 knots. Congratulations to winners Brendan Kopp and Michael Costello (Fairfield, CT) in the 420 group, last year's winners of the Bemis Doublehanded Championship. Patrick Carolus of Ceiba, Puerto Rico won the very competitive Laser Radial fleet. At the conclusion of racing on Sunday awards were given to the top three 420 and Radial teams and each competitor and coach was given a clinic shirt. Laser Radial sailor Zach Runci (Duxbury, MA) was given the Brooke Gonzalez award. The coaches all agreed that Zach best exemplified Brooke's sailing spirit and exceptional attitude. Coach and current 470 World Champion Erin Maxwell, who grew up as a friend and competitor of Brooke on Long Island Sound, gave a great speech about Brooke and presented the award. Kaitlyn Baab (Saratoga, FL) was also recognized as a finalist for the award.  Laser Radial sailor Zach Runci (Duxbury, MA) was given the Brooke Gonzalez award. Special thanks to the Gonzalez Family, everyone who housed our great sailors, and the entire Sail Newport staff including Katie Barker and Kim Hapgood who organized all the housing, food, and took care of registrations. Finally, thanks to our great coaches Justin Assad, Jonathan Farrar, Elizabeth Kratzig, Justin Law, Ken Legler, Zack Leonard, Matt Lindblad, Erin Maxwell, Joey Mello, Bern Noack, Stan Schreyer, and Mark Zagol. We look forward to seeing all of you next year in June. |