CISA Alumni Bring Home Honors at 2013 College Sailing Nationals
The 2013 College Sailing National Championships recently wrapped up in St. Petersburg, Florida but not before our CISA Alumni walked away with a handful of awards.
A committee of coaches who represent the seven conferences in the ICSA selects the ICSA All-America Team. For selecting the All-Americans the committee evaluates a competitor based on their competitive record in inter-conference competition as well as conference and national championships. The committee analyzes how this record compares to fellow competitors, the quality of the competition the record was achieved in, the span of the record over the fall and spring seasons, results achieved with different crews, and how the record compares to previous All-American winners in past years. Tonight the 2,000th All-American was named.
For All-American crew selections, the committee uses criteria similar to skipper selection, but also considers: demonstrated leadership (may consider seniority), outstanding body mechanics and boat handling skills as well as proven ability to improve the results of the skipper(s) with whom he or she sails.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2014
37th CISA Advanced Racing Clinic – April 5-8
Long Beach, CA
With a week off from school, more than one hundred of America’s best young sailors from the East Coast to Hawaii will spend Saturday through Tuesday in another classroom: the California International Sailing Association’s 37th annual Advanced Racing Clinic, held at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.
CISA Clinic Director Andrew Campbell, 2008 US Olympian and now a member of the Oracle America’s Cup team commented, “I'm really excited to be directing the CISA Clinic again this year. We're reformatting a bit this year to expand our coaches' impact on the sailors through four full days of clinic. That will be in addition to our great tradition of high intensity fitness, great evening speakers and presentations, and awesome conditions off ABYC. I'm excited to have the support of the US Olympic Team with USST Development Director Leandro Spina as well as performance specialist Fuzz Spanhake joining us on the coaching staff fresh from Palma. It's going to be a great week. “
The annual CISA Advanced Racing Clinic has been at the forefront of top level clinics for top US aspiring sailors and has been seen as the kick-off for most high level racing. The sailors will have intensive on-the-water and classroom training in Lasers, Radials, 29er, I420, C420 and CFJs. Laser full rig sailor Richard Didham commented, “I have attended the CISA clinic for the past 4 years in a row now and every year, I leave the clinic as a stronger and smarter sailor than I had been before.” Didham has continued to climb in the results over the past few years and will be off to collegiate sailing ranks this fall. Traveling from Oklahoma, Radial sailor Kelly Cole is “..looking forward to the CISA clinic because I have never been. I can't wait to sail in a new location and make new friends. I am also looking forward to all the great coaches they have lined up and new skills I will learn.”
Several of the teams attending the ISAF Youth Worlds to be held in Tavira, Portugal this July will also be using CISA as their pre-training event including 29er skipper Quinn Wilson. Wilson commented that “CISA is always a great event to solidify our early season training. The clinic always attracts top competitors and the coaches tend to really put everybody through rigorous drills and competition settings that are hard to duplicate elsewhere. I personally love the challenge because it’s really intense. Great psych up for the rest of the season leading into the summer.”
Coordinating with the US Olympic Sailing Committee, the I-420 has been in the CISA fleet since 2004 offering the pathway to the Olympic 470. Campbell D’Eliscu, switching from the 29er to the I420 commented, “The CISA clinic is hands down the best clinic of the year. From the coaches to the hard hours on the water, the clinic allows you to take your sailing to the next level by getting out of your comfort zone."
Evening programs are scheduled after dinner and will include CISA Board member Pete Melvin who will be talking about his recent role in the America’s Cup and the new rules. Tom Burnham from Quantum Sails will be lead a panel discussion on managing a campaign and sailing program for top results with the USST Fuzz Spanhake as the final speaker, talking about sail dynamics and set ups.
The coaching staff will include 3 Olympians and current sailors training for Rio in 2016 as well as previous Olympic campaigners and coaches. The staff includes: Canadian Olympians Lisa Ross and David Wright, US Olympian Andrew Campbell, Mike Kalin, Robbie Dean, Cameron Biehl, Zack Brown, Sydney Bolger, Tom Burnham, Ryan Minth, Joey Mello, Steph Roble, Jay Kehoe, Jimmer Montgomery, Zack Maxam and Harry Legum of Annapolis Sailing Fitness to lead the daily workouts designed for sailors.
CISA, founded in 1971, supports amateur sailors by providing travel grants for regional, national and international competition and also funds local sailing programs and racing clinics. The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic is sponsored by Gill NA Sailing Gear, Ayres Hotels and Kaenon Polarized sunglasses as well as the use of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club facilities.
Unlike other nations, the U.S. has no federally supported assistance programs for its amateur sportsman or for the development of young talent. CISA, a 501 (c )3 organization, relies on contributions of corporations and individuals to provide support of amateur sailors. Because it is non-profit and tax-exempt, all contributions are tax deductible.
CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL SAILING ASSOCIATION
2812 Canon St
San Diego, CA 92106
619-222-0252
www.cisasailing.org
CISA Administration
Jerelyn Biehl
Locals Smith and Davidson Capture U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship
CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. (June 27, 2013) – Carolyn Smith (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Bayley Davidson (Costa Mesa, Calif.) cashed in on their fourth consecutive attempt to win the Ida Lewis Trophy at the 2013 U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship, hosted by the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. The duo tallied a 3-4-2-4 scoring line in Thursday's third and final day of racing to win the title by eight points over contenders Cassie Obel (Marina del Rey, Calif.) and Annika Garrett (Culver City, Calif.). Smith and Davidson were representing the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club this week.
Smith and Davidson placed second at least year's U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. They were the most consistent team this week. Smith and Davidson finished outside the top five just twice through 10 races. Making a hard charge today to place third was the team of Elena VandenBerg (Annapolis, Md.) and Lilla Salvesen (Edgewater, Md.). They won Race 9 and finished second in Race 10. Thursday's leaders Alie and Liza Toppa finished fourth (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
There were plenty of Black Flags and OCS calls throughout the three-day championship. “Starts are the most crucial part of the entire race," said Smith. "However, finding that happy medium between a competitive start and OCS is difficult."
“It’s our first big win,” exclaimed Davidson, who came up short in last year's championship by one point. “That haunted us,” Smith added.
Winning in their home port in their final U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship was even sweeter. Smith and Davidson will find themselves on opposing college sailing teams next year. Smith will be attending St. Mary's (Md.) and Davidson is headed for the College of Charleston.
Lucy Wilmot (Orinda, Calif.) and Maya Dornbrand-Lo (Berkeley, Calif.), representing San Francisco, Richmond and Encinal Yacht Clubs, received the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Sportsmanship Award by popular vote of their peers.
“Lucy is always cheerful and sees the bright side of things,” said fellow competitor Jessica McJones. “Maya has a great sense of humor, and they are always positive – even when black-flagged."
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED
CISA will provide coaches at the 2013 Orange Bowl Regatta for qualified fleets. All California sailors are welcome to attend the morning and afternoon meetings; however on the water coaching will be for the larger fleets only (C420, Radial & others TBA).
Sailor’s requesting a grant to attend the regatta may fill out the separate CISA grant request form and submit it by 1700hrs October 31, 2013 for consideration. Grants are not guaranteed. They will be provided on an as needed basis and will not exceed $250.
Each sailor must fill out their own application (please mom and dad let them do it!). In doublehanded boats please only put down the name of your skipper/crew. Teams may apply even if one team member is 1) out of high school or 2) not a California resident, however funding will only be granted to sailors from California who are currently in high school or younger.
The 2013 CISA Advanced Race Clinic begins Saturday, April 13 held at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. The Clinic will host 115 of the nation’s top youth talent and will be sailed in Laser, Radial, 29er, I420, Club 420, CFJ and this year sees the addition of multihulls. Clinic Director Andrew Campbell in his fourth year as Director commented, “I'm excited to work with one of the best coaching staffs around: Seven Olympians from the US, Bermuda, Canada and USVI and four US Olympic Team Coaches. We've got a few new faces as well as some CISA veterans. We're really going to focus on showing these young sailors how to train with each other and push each other so that they can become that next generation of champions. The sailors will come away with an experience of a lifetime meeting and working with world class coaches. I hope that they take away skills that will enable them to better pursue their goals and dreams after they go home from the CISA Clinic.”
The Clinic covers four days of intensive training focusing on boat handling, boat speed and tactics culminating in the CISA Championship Regatta to be held on Tuesday, April 16. Harry Legum, owner of Annapolis Sailing Fitness, will be on hand to lead them through daily workouts designed for sailors. Sponsors for the 2013 CISA Advanced Race Clinic provide valuable assistance to the sailors and CISA and include: Ayres Hotels, Kaenon Polarized, Gill, ABYC and Sperry.
