Area F Junior Championship qualifier schedule!

[Yolanda Cortes Mares]

Calling all Junior sailors age 13-18!

Here is the US Sailing Area F’s Chubb Junior Championship qualifier schedule for 2016:

Smythe single-handed qualifier (on BYOB Laser Radials):  April 9-10, 2016 at Austin Yacht Club during TSA’s Roadrunner Regatta and Texas Jr. Laser Championship

Deadline for Registration:  April 2 at midnight

Event website:  TBA

Bemis double-handed qualifier (on BYOB C420’s - some borrowed boats will be available):  May 14-15, 2016 at Grapevine Sailing Club during TSA’s Silly String Regatta and TSA Girl’s Championship

Deadline for Registration:  May 7 at midnight

Event website:  TBA

Sears quadruple-handed qualifier (on borrowed Lightnings):  May 8, 2016 at Houston Yacht Club

Deadline for Registration:  May 1 at midnight

Event website: TBA

The Event website on Regatta Network and the NOR will be available soon!  I will send you another email when the NOR’s are available.

I encourage all Junior sailors age 13 to 18 to compete in all three qualifier events, or in as many as possible.  (Please note:  competitors must have reached their 13th birthday, but not their 19th birthday in 2016 to be able to race in these qualifiers.)  Each team represents the helmsman’s club.  So, this is a race between clubs!  To be clear, all the members of a team do not have to belong to the same club.  But, each competitor must regularly compete in the same Regional Sailing Association (i.e., TSA), must be a member of a sailing club or yacht club that is also a member of the Regional Sailing Association (i.e., TSA) and the club must be a member of US Sailing, and the competitor must also be a member of US Sailing.  Please read the NORs for all the requirements and check the US Sailing website at www.ussailing.org for further information.  If you have any questions about whether or not you may qualify, please contact me.

These are ladder events.  The top two winners (“teams”) from this Smythe qualifier, the top two teams from this Bemis qualifier, and the top team from this Sears qualifier will be selected to move on to the National Championship finals in San Diego, California on August 11-15, 2016.  Each US Sailing Area will send their top teams to the finals where each team will compete for the prestigious Sears Cup, Bemis Trophy, and Smythe Trophy.  Those competing at the finals for the Sears Cup will be racing on Lightnings, those competing at the finals for the Bemis Trophy will be racing on C420’s, and those competing at the finals for the Smythe Trophy will be racing on Laser Radials.  There will be great competition at the finals, and a clinic, where the top junior sailors will get an opportunity to display their skills to get on the Olympic pathway!  More information about the National Championship finals can be found on the US Sailing website.

These qualifiers are the local US Sailing Area F Junior Championship qualifiers for 2016.  There are 12 US Sailing Areas.  Area F is the Area that includes 8 States:  Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Wyoming, western part of Montana, and western/southwestern part of Nebraska.  

A minimum of 5 teams must be registered by the registration deadline, and on the start line, for Area F to be able to have a singlehanded qualifier and a double handed qualifier.  A minimum of 3 teams must be registered by the registration deadline, and on the start line, for Area F to be able to have a quadruple handed qualifier.  So, please spread the word, register early, and get your teams ready for these Area F qualifiers!  

New this year, all coaches must be Level 3 certified and must provide proof of their current Level 3 certification.  If you are a coach and need more information about this requirement, please contact me.

Thank you in advance for forwarding this email to any interested sailors or parents you might know and for promoting these events at your club.  Please post these events at your club and on your websites.  Of course, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have!  

Best wishes,

Yolanda Cortes Mares

US Sailing Area F Junior Championship Committee Representative

[Yolanda Cortes Mares]

Hello!

Rush Creek Yacht Club has graciously agreed to host our Smythe qualifier this year during Dinghyfest! This will also be an ILCA-NA District 15 regatta!  Unfortunately, Austin Yacht Club was not able to host our Smythe qualifier this year during their TSA regatta.  So, please note the revised schedule and forward this email to anyone who might be interested! 

REVISED SCHEDULE:

Smythe single-handed qualifier (on BYOB Laser Radials):  April 30-May 1, 2016 at Rush Creek Yacht Club during Dinghyfest, also an ILCA-NA District 15 regatta!

Deadline for Registration:  April 23 at midnight

Event website:  TBA

Bemis double-handed qualifier (on BYOB C420’s - some borrowed boats will be available):  May 14-15, 2016 at Grapevine Sailing Club during TSA’s Silly String Regatta and TSA Girl’s Championship

Deadline for Registration:  May 7 at midnight

Event website:  TBA

Sears quadruple-handed qualifier (on borrowed Lightnings):  May 8, 2016 at Houston Yacht Club

Deadline for Registration:  May 1 at midnight

Event website: TBA

The Event website on Regatta Network and the NOR will be available very soon!  Please continue to check Regatta Network regularly!

Competitors must have reached their 13th birthday, but not their 19th birthday in 2016 to be able to race in these qualifiers.  Each team represents the helmsman’s club.  So, this is a race between clubs and clubs can have more than one team! To be clear, all the members of a team do not have to belong to the same club.  But, each competitor on a team (helm and crew) must regularly compete in the same Regional Sailing Association (i.e., TSA), must be a member of a sailing club or yacht club that is also a member of the Regional Sailing Association (i.e., TSA) and the club must be a member of US Sailing, and the competitor must also be a member of US Sailing.  Please read the NORs for all the requirements and check the US Sailing website at www.ussailing.org for more information about Junior Championships and their qualifiers.  If you have any questions about whether or not you may qualify, please contact me. 

Also, these are ladder events!  The top two winners (“teams”) from this Smythe qualifier, the top two teams from this Bemis qualifier, and the top team from this Sears qualifier will be selected to move on to the National Championship finals in San Diego, California on August 11-15, 2016.  Each US Sailing Area will send their top teams to the finals where each team will compete for the prestigious Sears Cup, Bemis Trophy, and Smythe Trophy.  Those competing at the finals for the Sears Cup will be racing on Lightnings, those competing at the finals for the Bemis Trophy will be racing on C420’s, and those competing at the finals for the Smythe Trophy will be racing on Laser Radials.  There will be great competition at the finals, and a clinic, where the top junior sailors will get an opportunity to display their skills to get on the Olympic pathway!  

REMINDER:  New this year, all coaches at the qualifiers must be Level 3 certified and must provide proof of their current Level 3 certification at the on-site check-in.  If you are a coach and need more information about this requirement, please contact me.

A minimum of 5 teams must be registered by the registration deadline, and on the start line, for Area F to be able to have a singlehanded qualifier and a double handed qualifier.  A minimum of 3 teams must be registered by the registration deadline, and on the start line, for Area F to be able to have a triple/quadruple handed qualifier.  So, please spread the word, register early, and get your teams ready for these Area F qualifiers!  There are 12 US Sailing Areas.  Area F includes 8 States:  Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Wyoming, western part of Missouri, and western/southwestern part of Nebraska.  These are the only US Sailing Area F Junior Championship qualifiers for 2016!  

Here’s a little history about the growth in participation at the Area F Jr. Championship qualifiers over the last 5 years:  

2011: Smythe 4 boats

Bemis 7 boats

Sears  0 boats

2012: Smythe 6 boats

Bemis 6 boats

Sears  4 boats

2013: Smythe 9 boats

Bemis 8 boats

Sears 3 boats

2014: Smythe 20 boats

Bemis 7 boats

Sears 3 boats

2015: Smythe 21 boats

Bemis 10 boats

Sears 4 boats

The amount of competitors has more than tripled!  Please continue to post these qualifiers at your club, social media, and on your website.  Thank you in advance for forwarding this email to any interested sailors or parents you might know and for continuing to promote these Junior Championship qualifiers. 

[Yolanda Cortes Mares]

Hello!

Registration for the Area F Smythe (singlehanded) and Bemis (double handed) qualifiers is now online!  Please note the links below that you can cut and paste onto your browser:

Smythe single-handed qualifier (on BYOB Laser Radials):  April 30-May 1, 2016 at Rush Creek Yacht Club during Dinghyfest, also an ILCA-NA District 15 regatta!

Deadline for Registration:  April 27 at midnight

Event website:  www.regattanetwork.com/event/12531

Note:  Competitors must also register in the Dinghyfest!

Bemis double-handed qualifier (on BYOB C420’s - some borrowed boats will be available):  May 14-15, 2016 at Grapevine Sailing Club during TSA’s Silly String Regatta and TSA Girl’s Championship

Deadline for Registration:  May 9 at midnight

Event website:  www.regattanetwork.com/event/12534

Note:  Competitors must also register in the TSA Silly String Regatta!

The event website on RegattaNetwork for the Sears triple-handed qualifier will be up this weekend.  I’ll send another email when that is available.  Please forward this email to any interested sailors, note the deadlines for registration, and contact me with any questions you may have!