Star Europeans 2011 - The Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland

News

Light and shifty conditions for Italian victory at Star European Championships - September 09 2011

Another first place in the penultimate race for Italians Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini sealed their series-long domination and overall victory at the Star European Championship at Dun Laoghaire on Friday. Light and shifty conditions followed by a sea breeze completed the regatta that delivered a full range of conditions for the 27-boat fleet from 18 nations.

Negri and Voltolini kept their form for a fourth race win and typically enjoyed a comfortable lead at the finish of race seven. For the crews chasing the runner-up podium positions, the breeze proved as challenging as it has been all week, this time dying to a near calm on the final run before filling gently on the left hand-side side of the course catching the unwary, notably Guillaume Florent and Pascal Rambeau who had been vying with the Italian leaders for first place.

A wait followed for the eighth and final race of the week but only after a long wait for the sea breeze to build and settle. This took the fleet away from the now familiar area off Dun Laoghaire’s West Pier and southwards towards this historic Dalkey Island side of Dublin Bay. After starting in ideal conditions of 18 knots, halfway through the race the breeze died completely to be followed by a 90-degree wind-shift that saw 2008 World Champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki emerge with a substantial lead on the water and, having led from the outset were confirmed as second overall runners-up. Negri and Voltolini had already retired as their position was no better than their already discarded eighth in race six and were busy packing their boat as the final ended.

Irish hopes of a podium result on home waters were denied to London 2012 Olympic contenders Peter O’Leary and David Burrows who placed fourth in the last race but a ninth earlier in the day left them fourth overall as Canada’s Richard Clarke and Tyler Bjorn took third place.

Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

(Final overall after eight races):

1st ITA Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini
2nd POL Mateusz Kusznierewicz & Dominik Zycki
3rd CAN Richard Clarke & Tyler Bjorn
4th IRL Peter O'Leary & David Burrow
5th NOR Eivind Melleby & Petter Morland Pedersen
6th POR Afonso Domingos & Frederico Melo

Full results at: http://www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011/

Light and shifty conditions for Italian victory at Star European Championships - September 09 2011

Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

(Final overall after eight races):

Full results at: http://www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011/

Italian domination as leaderboard closes ranks at the Star European Championships - September 08 2011

The weather gods finally allowed a full day of racing at the Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) at Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) on Dublin Bay as a moderate westerly breeze allowed Principal Race Officer David Lovegrove and his team to deliver three races. It is hoped to have two races tomorrow ahead of the forecast for heavier winds.

With their form unchanged since Sunday, Italians Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini extended their overall lead in the 26-boat fleet, counting one win plus a third place while discarding their eighth place in race six.

Polish 2008 World champion and past Finn Olympic Gold medallist Mateusz Kusznierewicz with Dominik Zycki also showed good pace, with a fifth place and a win yesterday while discarding a ninth in the hunt for the overall lead. Canada’s Richard Clarke with Tyler Bjorn also moved up a place to third overnight as the final two races are slated for Friday – weather permitting.

In local interest, a slip in form for Peter O’Leary and David Burrows saw the Cork/Dublin pair drop to fifth place while Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks failed to find their form today.

Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

(Provisional overall standings after six races):

1st ITA Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini
2nd POL Mateusz Kusznierewicz Dominik Zycki
3rd CAN Richard Clarke & Tyler Bjorn
4th FRA Guillaume Florent & Pascal Rambeau
5th IRL Peter O'Leary & David Burrows
6th POR Afonso Domingos & Frederico Melo

No change in leaderboard as weather permits one race at Star European Championships - September 07 2011

Race three of the Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) at Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) was successfully started on Dublin Bay this morning as gales finally abated for the 26-boat fleet gathered at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Double Olympic Gold medallist Iain Percy (GBR) has been forced out of the event due to an ankle injury.

The 2006 European champion Diego Negri (ITA) with Enrico Voltolini remain as overalls leaders after their second win of the series while local interest hinges on Peter O’Leary and David Burrows in third overall after their second third place of weather-hit event.

However, the plan to sail three races to catch-up on the programme was scuppered by the weather once again. Although the strong winds had eased to less than 20 knots, barely half an hour after starting shortly before mid-day, a 30-plus knot squall swept across the fleet that was already dealing with a short, choppy seaway. Three boats suffered mast damage and retired while there were two reports of separate man-overboard incidents that were successfully recovered.

Thursday’s forecast offers better hope of completing a minimum number of races for a championship as well as a single discard with light to moderate winds expected leading to an early morning start to racing.

Enjoy a star-studded evening with the Star European sailors this Friday, 9th September - September 06 2011

Attention Members & Friends of the Royal St. George Yacht Club!

Dinner with the Stars

Enjoy the tail end of the Star Europeans by coming to the Club this Friday night to meet and chat with international sailing stars such as Olympic gold medal winners Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson. There are still a few tickets available for the Friday's Prize Giving Dinner but you need to book soon. Contact Sonja on 01 280 1811 Ext. 7 or email members@rsgyc.ie.

After Dinner Entertainment sponsored by Medical Optics introducing ‘The Nuts’

Even if you are not dining with the sailors, come down afterwards - at approx. 9pm or after dinner in the Boathouse Bistro - and enjoy the relaxed post-regatta atmosphere while dancing the night away to music from ‘The Nuts’. This rock band is made up sailors and golfers including Club Member Garry Treacy (bassist), Andrew O’Hanlon (rhythm guitar & son of legendary past commodore Dr. Rory O’Hanlon), lead singer Declan Coleman (ex-‘Cadillacs’ & Blainroe golfer), Gerry Clerkin (lead guitarist extraordinaire), John Dawson (electric drummer and sailor) and Paul Lynch (keyboard supremo). Singer Hugh Cunniam (ex-‘Indication’) from the RIYC may even make a guest appearance. Re-live your youth to the music of the sixties plus a smattering of newer numbers for the younger brigade. All ages welcome!!

Strong gale conditions rule the waves and the Star European Championship - September 06 2011

High winds once again dicated the racing schedule at the Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) at Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) on the third day of the series that has had two races out of the original programme completed.

The overnight offshore gale eased slightly during the morning and a two-hour postponement by principal race officer David Lovegrove offered some hope of racing for the 27 crews waiting at the nearby Royal St. George YC. However, gale force gusts continued and the programme was abandoned for the day leaving the sailors free to take the 20-minute train ride into the historic Dublin city-centre offering the famous Book of Kells at Trinity College, the Jameson Irish Whiskey centre and other attractions.

Wednesday's forecast does appear more hopeful though the unsettled frontal conditions are set to continue towards the weekend and racing is certain to be testing for the fleet and race management team alike. However, if winds do ease during the day, three races will be sailed to get the championship back on schedule.

Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

(Overall standings after two races):

1st ITA Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini
2nd FRA Guillaume Florent & Pascal Rambeau
3rd IRL Peter O'Leary & David Burrows
4th FRA Xavier Rohart Pierre & Alexis Ponsot
5th CAN Richard Clarke & Tyler Bjorn
6th POR Afonso Domingos & Frederico Melo

Weather window allows racing to commence at Star European Championship on Dublin Bay - September 05 2011

After gales delayed the start of the Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) at Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) on Sunday, a lull allowed two races to be sailed today (Monday 5th September) that saw Italians Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini deliver two consistent results of a race win and a second place in the 27-boat fleet from 17 nations.

The Italians leaders were the 2006 European champions and overcame challenging post-frontal weather conditions that delivered 20-degree wind-shifts at times on an otherwise smooth race course off Seapoint on the south shore of Dublin Bay.

France’s Guillaume Florent and Pascal Rambeau also had a consistent day with a second and third while the home fleet delivered a strong showing as Olympic veterans and contenders for London 2012 Peter O’Leary and David Burrows placed third and sixth to lie third overall on countback, ahead of France’s Xavier Rohart Pierre and Alexis Ponsot at this early stage in the regatta.

A return to stormy conditions is expected for Tuesday with 40 knots forecast for the morning.

Provisional overall standings after two races:

Wet and wild conditions delay start to Star European Championship on Dublin - September 04 2011

Winds gusting above gale force have delayed the start to racing in Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) where 27 boats have gathered from 17 nations. The forecast conditions had already altered the schedule with two races instead of one intended to be sailed. However, as winds freshened to 25 knots, Principal Race Officer David Lovegrove opted to send the fleet ashore ahead of the gale that was followed by torrential rain and squalls. This decision was met with the approval of the competitors.

Fresh to strong conditions are expected to continue for the early part of the week and further disruption to the programme cannot be ruled out. However, more moderate conditions should arrive by Wednesday and a spare day of next Saturday is included in the event schedule.

Twitter updates will also be available during racing: http://www.twitter.com/rsgyc

SI Amendments - September 03 2011

SI AMENDMENTS JUST PUBLISHED!

VIEW HERE: http://www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011/index.php/racing/category/racing_home/

Fleet gathers for Star European Championship on Dublin Bay - September 01 2011

All 32 boats for the Star European Championship (2nd-10th September) have arrived in Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) and are busy training on Dublin Bay prior to Sunday’s first race. Current world champions and double Olympic Gold medallists Iain Percy (GBR) with Andrew Simpson top the entry list while defending title-holders Johannes Polgar (GER) with Markus Koy are also competing.

Percy will be seeking to improve on his second place at the recent London Olympic 2012 test-event at Weymouth while the championship will also be an indicator of form before the ISAF Sailing World Championships at Perth in December.

“This fleet is certainly an example of quality rather than quantity,” commented Martin Byrne, Commodore of the Royal St. George YC, organising host club. “Looking at the entry-list, a large number of boats could form a typical world top ten and are capable of winning this championship. We expect Dublin Bay will live up to its reputation as a great racing area and deliver good conditions for the seven races.”

Five Star world champions or Olympic medallists are included in the line-up while several more are also former champions in other Olympic classes. Polgar and Koy won last year’s championship in Viareggio (Italy) in a record turn-out for the Star class. Second-placed runner-up Andrew Campbell (USA) from 2010 is also in Dun Laoghaire, this time with Ian Coleman and are up against 2009 world champion George Szabo (USA) with Mark Strube in the lead-up to selection for next year’s Olympics.

Tornado class Gold medallist Fernando Echavarri (ESP) with Fernando Rodriguez Rivero will be competing along with double world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Xavier Rohart (FRA) and Pierre Alexis Ponsot. Former Finn Gold medallist and 2008 world champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Dominik Zycki are also certain contenders next week.

The fleet also includes two Irish crews: Beijing 2008 helm Peter O’Leary along with veteran Olympian David Burrows will be in the hunt for a top three place on home waters while Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks will be competing from their home club for the first Star class event in Ireland.

Updates and results will be posted daily at: http://www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011/

Twitter updates will also be available during racing: http://www.twitter.com/rsgyc

Ends - 1st September 2011

For media enquiries, please contact: Sonja Lee – members@rsgyc.ie or Tel. + 353 1 280 1 811

Event Update - August 23 2011

For the attention of all Competitors:

Preparations are well advanced at the Royal St. George Yacht Club for the Star European Championship 2011 and we are looking forward to welcoming you next week. For your information and to assist your arrival, there are a number of items we would like to draw your attention to:

Arrival
Your point of contact on arrival into Dun Laoghaire will be Ronan Adams, Sailing Manager (e-mail: sailingmanager@rsgyc.ie OR tel: +353 868900576), who is responsible for the shoreside logistics. Please telephone Ronan upon your arrival into Dun Laoghaire and he will welcome you at the yacht club and direct you to the boat assembly area. Boats will be assembled before rigging, measurement, launching etc on the Carlisle Pier which is situated to the right side of the entrance to the Club.

If you are arriving outside normal hours and wish to make any special arrangements, we would be grateful if you could please let us know in advance by contacting Ronan.

Location of the Royal St. George Yacht Club
The club is located adjacent to the Stenaline Ferry Terminal in Dun Laoghaire. For competitors arriving into Dublin Port please follow signs for the Car Ferry in Dun Laoghaire. If you are arriving into Rosslare please take the Dublin Road and you will be signposted to Dun Laoghaire as you drive nearer to Dublin. If you or your crew are flying into Dublin Airport we would recommend the Aircoach (blue bus) to Dalkey/Killiney which will bring you directly to Dun Laoghaire – please liaise with Airport Information upon arrival and they will direct you to its passenger collection point.

Car Parking
You will likely have free parking where you are staying for the duration of the event. We would recommend competitors leave their cars at their hotel if staying within a short distance of the yacht club. There is car parking adjacent to the yacht club and marina. Unfortunately this is not free of charge and costs €8 per day. We have negotiated a special competitors’ rate of €20 per vehicle in a secure car park near the Club for the duration of the event. Those wishing avail of this rate should enquire at the Race Office.

Berthing
All Stars will be berthed together in an area adjacent to the Club. Boats will be rafted alongside pontoons so please ensure that you bring adequate fendering. Competitors can walk to boats directly from the Club.

Spectators
We hope to arrange for a spectator boat which will be available to bring families and friends out to see the racing. Information will be available from the Race Office.

Live On-The-Water Updates
Live updates from the water will be posted directly to twitter - http://www.twitter.com/rsgyc - throughout the event.

Reminder
May we remind you that the following documents will be required by all competitors at Registration:

• Boat Weight Certificate
• Measurement Certificate

Coach Boats
We would be grateful if you could let us know as soon as possible if you intend to have a coach boat. Please contact Ronan Adams (e-mail: sailingmanager@rsgyc.ie OR tel: +353 868900576) if you do.

Dining
Aprés sail food will be provided after racing each day. All après sail food is included in the price of your entrance fee but will be available to purchase by your friends and family. Our Aprés Sail food is priced from €7 daily.

You are also welcome and encouraged to bring family and friends to the following events:

Saturday 3rd - Opening Ceremony and Briefing
All sailors, coaches, family and friends are welcome to the Opening Ceremony in the Formal Bar of the Royal St. George Yacht Club at 6pm followed by the Briefing at 7pm. After the Briefing, dinner will also be available in the Club’s Dining Room for €20 for two courses. Tickets can be purchased from the Race Office.

Tuesday 6th - Fleet Party/Mid Week Prize Giving
For your Fleet Party we have arranged musical entertainment and a Big BBQ Buffet after sailing. For sailors, this is included in your entrance fee but, as always, family and friends are most welcome to attend. Tickets can be purchased from the Race Office for €10.

Friday 9th - Championship Dinner & Prize Giving
Celebrate the end of a wonderful week’s racing with a delicious three course meal in the Club Dining Room during which the Overall Prizes will be presented. As always, this dinner is included in your entrance fee but family and friends are most welcome to attend. The Prize Giving and Dinner will begin at 7pm in the Formal Bar. Please advise the Race Office about whether or not you will be attending. We also ask that you please purchase dinner tickets for family and friends in advance from the Race Office. The cost of this dinner is €22 per person.

We look forward to meeting you and hope that you enjoy your stay with us. If I can be of any further assistance prior to your arrival please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

PAUL V. MAGUIRE
EVENT CHAIRMAN
STAR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2011
ROYAL ST. GEORGE YACHT CLUB, DUN LAOGHAIRE, CO. DUBLIN, IRELAND
TEL +353 (0) 86 2444880
WEBSITE http://www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011

Important Notices for Competitors - August 21 2011

1. The Stena Line Ferry arrives in and departs from the harbour between 12 noon and 13.00 hours each day. All boats should take care to in no way at all obstruct the Ferry, which has right of way at all times. The Harbour Company has powers to prosecute offenders.

2. There may also be the Irish Lights vessel and trawlers manoeuvring in and around the harbour. These should also be avoided.

3. There is a general speed limit of 4 knots within the harbour which will be enforced by the Harbour Company. RIB’s should adhere to this limit.

4. There are submerged rocks close to the two piers. Great care should be taken to avoid sailing too close to the piers.

5. Fishing takes place off the end of the West Pier. Boats should sail well clear to avoid damage to fishing gear, boats and crew.

6. Parking in the area of the boat trailers on the Carlisle Pier is permitted only for those vehicles used to tow the trailers and storing gear. All other vehicles must park in the dedicated pay parking spaces.

7. For security purposes the gates of the trailer area will normally be locked during sailing and from 22.30 to 08.00 at night. Particular access may be gained by contacting the Boathouse.

8. Pedestrian access from the Club to the Carlisle Pier and the berthing pontoons will be available at all times via the bridge at the forecourt.

9. Competitors are strongly advised to lock away all belongings when not in use. The Club can take no responsibility for loss or damage.

10. RIB drivers are requested to avoid obstructing berthing spaces both on the pontoons and at the Club Harbour and to immediately respond to instructions from members of the Organising Authority. RIBs must be berthed in the designated areas when not at sea.

Star Profile - Vasyl Gureyev and Volodymyr Korotkov - August 10 2011

Volodymyr Korotkov and Vasyl Gureyev

Vasyl Gureyev and Volodymyr Korotkov sail for the Ukraine.

The Ukraine’s Minister of Industrial Policy has been sailing forever and has been racing Stars for many years. He is also a Farr 40 skipper. Korotkov has also been sailing Stars for a long time and stays in shape by running. He crews for Gureyev on the Farr 40 too.

Star Profile - George Szabo and Rick Peters - August 10 2011

George Szabo and Rick Peters both sail for the USA.

Szabo/Peters won the Star Worlds with an average score of six points for the five races in their scoreline. They followed the same strategy for every race. After sailing a conservative first beat of the final race of the series, they found themselves so far ahead of their competition that all they had to do was make sure that they could hold themselves and the boat together to finish the race.

Szabo loves light air and swells. Keep an eye on this team, especially if Guanabara Bay dishes up conditions that are similar to those in Southern California.

Szabo and Peters sailed their first Star World Championship together in 1994 and remember the Brazilians throwing a great party in San Diego. Szabo and Peters, who are members of a good-sized US contingent are thinking about how to reciprocate with an American party in Brazil.

Star Profile - Andrew Campbell and Brad Nichol - August 10 2011

Andrew Campbell and Brad Nichol sail for the USA.

Andrew Campbell represents some of the best raw talent in the Star Class. Campbell was the USA’s Laser representative at the 2008 Olympics and has made a remarkable transition into the Star, without owning a boat. He has sailed a Folli and a Lillia and is sailing a P-Star for this regatta and homes that it will arrive in Miami for the Bacardi Cup. The San Diegan surprised everyone with his performance in a P Star in the 2009 Bacardi Cup, sailing with Michael Nichol and has continued to post impressive results whether he is sailing with one of the Nichol brothers or with one of the all time great Star crews, Magnus Liljedahl. Campbell and Liljedahl finished 5th at the 2009 Star World Championship in Varberg, Sweden, Campbell’s first Star World Championship.

Star Profile - Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy - August 10 2011

Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy are both German Sailors.

Jojo sailed Tornadoes for over a decade and represented Germany in the Tornado at the 2008 Olympics in Qingdao. His Olympic Tornado sailing came to a climatic close during the Medal Race in Qingdao when one of his rudders sheered off after colliding with a log in the middle of the racecourse. Polgar is an avid multihull sailor and enjoys sailing F18’s.

Jojo stunned everyone, including himself, when he and Tim Kroeger among the early leaders at the 2009 Star World Championship in Varberg, Sweden. He and Markus Koy started the Taca Royal Thames Regatta in a similar fashion where they finished seventh. They had a difficult South American Championship. Keep an eye out for them in light air, Polgar’s multihull experience gives him an advantage in playing the angles.

Star Profile - Alexander Schlonski and Matthias Bohn - August 10 2011

Matthias Bohn and Alexander Schlonski

Alexander Schlonski and Matthias Bohn are both German sailors.

Alexander Schlonski spent years in the Laser and transitioned to the Star in 2008. He teamed up with expert Star crew, Frithjof Kleen, Vice President of PICA, and the pair won the Expert Olympic Regatta in Garda, Italy in April 2008 and found themselves in the medal round of Olympic Classes regattas and in the top 10 of traditional Star regattas. One of Germany’s outstanding young Star teams, the pair placed fourth on count back at the 2009 Star World Championship in Varberg.

Alexander Schlonski

Born: 1980
Height/Weight: 187 cm / 83 kg
Education: Student Sports
Languages: English, French
Interests: all types of sports
Career Path:

1987: Optimist
1995: Laser
2000: National team
2003: "Sportfördergruppe der Bundeswehr"
2008: Olympic Star

Career Highlights:

6. World Championships Laser 2008
3 x German Champion, Laser Class
4. World Championships Star 2009

Matthias Bohn

Born: 1974
Hight/Weight: 198 cm / 110 kg
Education: Sports Journalist
Languages: English
Interests: sports
Music: 80s
Career Path:

Opti - OK-Jolle - Finn - Star

Career Highlights:

Multiple titles German Nationals

Star Profile - Xavier Rohart and Pascal Rambeau - August 10 2011

Xavier Rohart and Pascal Rambeau

Xavier Rohart (born 1 July 1968) and Pascal Rambeau (born 14 April 1972) are both French sailors. They won a bronze medal in the Star class at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Major Star regatta after major Star regatta France’s Xavier Rohart and Pascal Rambeau are always contenders. What are their secrets to success?

At the suggestion of French sailing coach Daniel Dahon, the two started sailing the Star boat together. Teamed up for barely two weeks in the Star, the duo won the 2003 ISAF Sailing World Championship in the Star class in Cadiz, Spain. They repeated their performance in 2005 and won the Star Worlds in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a class that is known to have one hundred boats or more on a starting line at a major championship, Xavier and Pascal have not finished below sixth at any Grade 1 events since the 2004 Olympics in which they won the bronze medal. In searching for the secret to their success, I was surprised to find that it all goes back to the basics. Years of high level sailing experience; personalities that work well together; great coaching and top of the line, yet stock equipment.

Daniel Dahon is Xavier’s longtime friend and coach. Daniel has been coaching Xavier since 1984 when he was sailing a Finn. He was also Pascal’s Soling and Star coach intermittently since 1993. Xavier and Pascal met for the first time at the Barcelona Olympics where Xavier represented France in the Finn and Pascal was the training partner for the French FD team. They were both on the French team in 1996 and 2000. As coach, Daniel’s job has been to make sure that the two accomplished sailors work well together as a team and to assist them with tactics. Another French sailing coach works with them on sail shape and tuning the rig. Daniel has been like family to each of them for a good portion of their sailing careers. The two Star sailors live about a 1,000 kilometers away from one another and spend all the time that they can with family and working out. In fact, Pascal does his cardio and weight training with a professional rugby team.

There are advantages that come with being members of the French sailing team. Xavier and Pascal have very flexible jobs. Pascal works as a sports and fitness teacher in a local school about 25% of the time. Xavier has an even lighter work schedule. The two are in excellent physical condition and are nearly exactly the same weight. When asked about the ideal weight combination, they both feel that before the change in the Class’ weight rules, it used to be beneficial to have a heavy skipper. Since then, equal weight distribution works well. Some of the small fit skippers that have recently joined the class, such as 2006 Star World Champion Hamish Pepper and runner up, Robert Scheidt have succeeded by hiking hard and sailing with heavy crews.

The French pair is sailing a Lillia Star and they are using Quantum sails. Their equipment comes right off of the production line. Like many others in the class, when they ask for a Quantum Z4, they get it right off the shelf.
Both attribute their secret to success to focusing on the basics. It’s about the people, not about the boat. They work hard at staying physically fit. They sail numerous regattas throughout the year. They enjoy training in Miami during the winter because the level of competition is very high and they get to test their skills against some great American sailors whom they would not see at other venues.