The 2009 British Nationals is in the books, and talented American Opti sailors are a big part of the story

The 2009 British Nationals is over, and it is hard to believe a week has come and gone here in Scotland.  As the almost 400 sailors dragged their battle-worn boats up the slipway one last time there could be no question this was one heck of an event!

We had races cancelled due to no wind, sun that rivaled my Florida hometown, rain that soaked us to the bone and finally the biggest breeze of the week switched on just in time for the final three races.

What a day to decide the British National Championships!

15-20 knots ripping down the channel, torrential rain at times and temperatures that reminded us of the downright cold conditions of 2009 USODA Team Trials greeted the sailors as they prepped their boats.  Most of Team USA chose drysuits, and it was a good call.  The Americans were first to the site and first to rig, not just because Coach Bryan said so but also because it was clear they were ready to get on with it!

The GBR sailors were loaded for bear and Team IRL was ready to rumble as they looked up at the scores and saw two Americans at the top of Senior and Junior Fleet.  And our sailors?  If you listened closely you would probably have heard "...bring it on."  New friends off the water but fierce competitors once the warning flag was hoisted, this international fleet was simply impressive to watch as the sailors found a way to handle the pressure of representing their respective nations.

So after the toughest day of racing for the event, the results are in.  GBR, fueled by outstanding heavy air speed, came from behind and finished  1-2 in Senior Fleet.  Team USA's light air speedster Roger Dorr fought hard and held on for 3rd overall, top overseas Senior competitor and best first day scoreline, while Team USA's Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick finished 8th overall and 1st Senior girl and 1st overseas Senior girl .  Nathaniel Johansson had the heartbreak of losing a 1st to a Black Flag OCS today but wrapped the regatta with two 3rds to finish 9th.  Rounding out Team USA's strong close were American aces Ravi Parent in 21st, Jack Toland in 23rd and Jack Budill in 33rd.

In the Junior Gold Fleet American Jack Johansson came that close to victory but in the end had to settle for 2nd to IRL.  Adele Whitmyer finished 6th overall, 1st Junior girl and 1st overseas Junior girl.  Ian MacDiarmid stepped up to post the best American score line in the Junior Gold Championship round to finish 8th overall, and fellow Floridian Ben Kern proved to be a force to be reckoned with, ending with a strong 11th overall.   Rounding out five Americans in the top twelve was Haddon Hughes, who earned a 2nd in Junior girls as well.  US National White Fleet Champion Parker Hughes had a challenging last day and ran out of drops, but still finished a solid 30th overall.

Results Summary

1st Senior Fleet: Callum Airlie (GBR)

1st Junior Fleet: Cian Byrne (IRL)

1st Overseas, Best first day score line, 3rd Overall Senior: Roger Dorr (USA)

1st Girls Senior, 1st Overseas Girls Senior, 8th overall: Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick (USA)

1st Girls Junior, 1st Overseas Girls Junior, 6th overall: Adele Whitmyer (USA)

Full Overall American Results

Juniors overall (145 boats):

2nd Jack Johansson

6th  Adele Whitmyer

8th  Ian MacDiarmid  

11th Ben Kern

12th Haddon Hughes

30th Parker Hughes

Seniors overall (109 total boats):

3rd Roger Dorr

8th Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick

9th Nathaniel Johansson

21st Ravi Parent

23rd Jack Toland

33rd Jack Budill

And so it ends with a fabulous photo finish with GBR, IRL and the USA each taking home their fair share of silverware. Bravo to every participant, volunteer and parent who made this event fantastic... and let me say no one does an awards ceremony like our UK cousins.  

The rain continues to fall in Largs as Team USA dodges raindrops on the way to what is possibly the world's only waterfront bowling alley for one more night together.  Each member has become a better sailor after their week with Coach Bryan Paine and guest coach/US Laser rockstar Luke Lawrence and have some new memories they will never forget.

As for me, it's bye for now - I'm off to the Highlands for some haggis!

A personal note from your Team USA scribe

As the sun sets over Arran and we get ready for the final day of championship racing here at Largs, I'd like to say it's been great fun being your faithful scribe this past week.  My grandfather was born just just to the east in Glasgow and we have family on Islay, in Fort William and outside Edinburgh so in a way this week has been like coming home.  While my 10 year old son Ian sails for Team USA, his Campbell Clan roots are deep.  

We are so proud of the terrific performance of our American sailors.  Each of you represented your country with commitment, passion and honor.  To Jack B, Jack T, Megan, Roger, Ravi, Nathaniel, Ben, Adele, Ian, Haddon and of course Jack and Parker, it has been super to spend the week with all of you - you're amazing sailors with bright futures, well done!   And Bryan and Luke, your leadership brought out the best in these sailors.  Kudos!  

To our UK hosts, thank you once again for a fabulous week in Scotland.  The conditions kept us on our toes, the competition has been tremendous and the hospitality always warm.

Looking at the score sheets, Friday's racing is sure to be to be a classic dogfight in both Senior and Junior Fleets.  Stay tuned and get ready to be on the edge of your seats for one more day of world class racing from some of the finest junior sailors around!

Thanks for sticking with us all week.  

Best, Blake

Americans top both Senior & Junior Fleets going into the final day of British Nationals

Americans Roger Dorr and Jack Johansson turned on the jets today to stand atop the leader boards of both the Senior and Junior Fleets.

Dorr finished a strong 2nd and Johansson nailed a 1st in the only race of the day.  In Senior Fleet, Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick moved into the top ten and stands at the top of the girls championship chase.  All of Team USA in in the top 31, with good drops to come.  In the Junior Fleet every American is in the championship Gold division, and Team USA's Ben Kern came from behind to make it an American 1-2 in today's race and move up to 5th overall.  Adele Whitmyer scored 5th to end the day in 3rd overall, and Ian MacDiarmid faded from 1st place after a tough kinetics flag to finish 10th, but moved up to 8th overall to make it 4 Americans in the top ten. 

Coach Paine has called for an 8:15 rigged/ready time, so it's bunky time.  Please send all your positive thoughts our way here in Largs as some of America's best junior sailors put aside the butterflies and get ready to do battle for all the marbles tomorrow for the British Optimist Championship!

Team USA's Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick scores her best result of the week to lead overall girls championship position going into final day of racing

Team USA continues momentum in Senior race 9 - Roger Dorr 2nd & Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick 5th at gate

Junior Gold Fleet series begins with Americans on the move - Ian MacDiarmid 2nd & Jack Johansson 3rd at gate

Team USA pushes past halfway mark of British Nationals – Dorr leads Seniors while 4 Americans fill the top ten in the Juniors

Downpours.  Sun.  Big consistent blasts of wind.  Light shifty summer breeze.  We had it all today in Largs for the fourth day of championship sailing as Team USA strengthened its position at the top of the Senior Fleet while an American remains a close 2nd in the Juniors.

Team USA's laid back dude Roger Dorr started the day tied for first, but by the end of racing today had put 10 points on second place GBR star Callum Airlie.  Dorr's secret weapon?  His super cool Amsterdam woollie hat.  While GBR sailors fill 7 of the top ten slots and with Spain in 5th, Team USA's hardest working guy Nathaniel Johansson ground back into the top ten again.  Team USA's USNT Top Gun Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick is just 2 places back in 12th, and Team USA's Ravi Parent absorbed a DSQ today that dropped him back to 21 - when another drop hits the board he will jump back up quickly.  Team USA's Jack Budill continues to impress with his steady improvement over the week and wrapped today's racing with a 12th, and Team USA's hard charging Seattle star Jack Toland will be addressing a "what the heck NYF?" score in the morning.  

Now that more than 6 races have been completed the Junior Fleet will be split into Gold and Silver divisions tomorrow - and every American will be solidly in the hunt at the top of Gold when racing begins again.   Jack Johansson, now up to 2nd, is stalking the IRL leader Peter McCann and Team USA's Adele Whitmyer is solidly in 4th after efficiently recovering from a "oops... I just capsized!" moment sailing downhill today.  Team USA's South Florida "twins" Ian MacDiarmid and Ben Kern continue to lurk in the top ten and reminded the leaders they are a dangerous duo by scoring a breakaway 1-2 in race 7A.  Team USA's Texas toughies Haddon Hughes and brother Parker easily qualified for Gold Fleet and have the clear talent to break back into the top ten in the final two days.

Team Dinner and bowling went late tonight so I'll have to sign off for now.  More pics will be coming, and check Mac's shots at his Picasa site (see link in a previous post), they are fabulous.

Standing by in the UK wondering why I ate haggis for lunch…