U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Sailing (ILCA 6 and ILCA 7) - Day 5
by US Sailing Team 22 Feb 00:38 UTC
15-24 February 2024
Miami delivered 10-15 knots for a second day of a cool North-Northwest breeze, and two more races hit the scoreboard for each fleet. Erika Reineke now leads in the ILCA 6 after some strategy play in the last race of the day, and Ford McCann continues to lead in the ILCA 7 for the fifth day in a row.
With the end of the regatta in sight, Reineke weaponized her consistency throughout the event and made a move on regatta leader, Charlotte Rose. Since all competitors drop their worst score now that eight races are complete, Rose began today with yesterday's 20th score removed from her score line. However, Reineke's worst score was only a fifth place, so she played the game of tactics and sailed aggressively to add another high point score to Rose's results.
Off the starting line in the day's final race, Reineke stayed on top of Rose and matched her movements as they went to the left side of the course together. A right shift came through the fleet and the two wound up deep in the pack without an opportunity to climb back.
After Race 12, each sailor will have two dropped scores; if Rose sails consistently for the rest of the regatta, the 20th and 19th will disappear from her net score. Reineke is now in first place with her 18th serving as her one drop.
Christina Sakellaris has consistently advanced up the leaderboard after starting the regatta in sixth overall and now sits in second after fourth and sixth place finishes today.
After another top three day, Ford McCann retains his hold on the ILCA 7 fleet, winning race nine and coming third in race 10. Leo Boucher had a consistent day, finishing with two seconds and stepping into second overall. Chapman Petersen triumphed in the final race of the day with a 38 second lead, moving up to third overall from fifth.
2023 Youth Worlds ILCA 6 representative Audrey Foley ended the day on a high note, catching a big left shift to win her first race of the regatta by over a minute.
Both fleets will get a reprieve from racing tomorrow with a lay day. Two races are scheduled for both Friday and Saturday, which will bring the scoresheet to 14 total with the second drop race coming into play after race 12 on Friday.
Top 5 in each class after day five:
- ILCA 6 - Erika Reineke (23), Christina Sakellaris (26), Charlotte Rose (32), Lilly Myers (44), Audrey Foley (49)
- ILCA 7 - Ford McCann (17), Leo Boucher (29), Chapman Petersen (32), Daniel Escudero (41), Marshall McCann (44)
Full results available here.