Sunfish North American Continental Championship Event Website

Mattituck, NY, USA - One month ago, Bill Brangiforte withdrew from the World Championship because of tendanitis in his left elbow. Unsure he could compete in the North American Championship, he decided to come anyway and see how things went. He took a race by race approach and monitored his elbow closely.

This approach proved to be the magic formula for Bill. In the final race of the regatta, Bill had a clutch performance in the breezy conditions that threatened his elbow the most. He finished second overall in the race, to clinch the North American Championship. Bill narrowly beat his long time friend Mark May, who finished the regatta second, 5 points behind. Recently crowned Youth World and Junior North American Champion Jose Guitierrez rounded out the top 3.

Overall Results
Photo Album #1
Photo Album #2

The cumulative results for the first two days of racing can be found here.

The full results for the first day of racing can be found here.

Mattituck, NY, USA - Today was the first day of the 2010 Open North American Championship. The fleet left the beach at 11:30 AM and sailed two races in a 5-8 kt west southwest breeze. After the second race, strong rain and threatening thunderstorms forced the sailors to shore. After a brief delay the fleet sailed two more races in a 10-12 kt southeasterly breeze. The fleet returned to shore at around 6:15 PM where they were treated to another fantastic dinner courtesy of the volunteers at Mattituck Yacht Club.

The top 10 after 4 races are:
1 Derek Jackson (USA) 6-3-3-1 13
2 Jose Guitierrez (VEN) 10-1-1-3 15
3 Nick Valente (USA) 9-5-5-7 26
4 Kamilla Sabogal (ECU) 1-7-11-9 28
5 Bill Brangiforte (USA) 3-4-12-10 29
6 Mark May (USA) 2-16-7-5 30
7 Malcolm Smith (BER) 12-17-2-2 33
8 Chris Williams (USA) 8-10-18-6 42
9 Dan Hesse (USA) 5-9-19-20 53
10 Gary Prieto (USA) 15-8-17-14 54

The full results will be posted tomorrow morning.

Racing continues tomorrow with four races scheduled.

Mattituck, NY, USA - The second day of racing at the 2010 Midget and Junior North American Championship provided extremely challenging conditions for the youth of the Sunfish Class. The gusty and shifty west-northwest breeze between 10-20 knots would have been physically demanding to any fleet. However, the young Sunfish sailors persisted, and weathered the difficult conditions in a manner that would have rivaled and impressed the most experienced sailor.

Jose Guitierrez of Venezuela found the windy conditions to his liking with results of 2-1-1-2. His consistent performance in the breeze was enough to break the day 1 tie he shared with Kamilla Sabogal of Ecuador. However, Kamila’s equally impressive performance to win the tie breaker for second place. Gary Prieto of the United States finished third overall.

In only her second year sailing a Sunfish, twelve year old Olivia Gugliemini of Brant Beach YC, NJ (USA) continued her rapid ascent into the ranks for the class  to take home the Midget North American Championship. Olivia along with fellow midgets Ben Smith and Britt Kaukeinen should be commended for demonstrating a high level of skill and weathering the difficult winds during the regatta.

One of the little-known fascets of the Sunfish is that the class rules allow for doubles sailing. Along the North Fork of Long Island, this is a common practice for youth instruction. The approach allows children to get in the boat at a younger age and to sail with their friends.

During the North American Midget and Junior Championship, there were 15 boats racing doublehanded. In the junior doubles division, Heather Anderson and Sydney Mandelbaum earned top honors, while Dan Sullivan and Ken Preston won the midget doubles division. The smiles seen on the faces of all the doubledhanded competitors, both on and off the water, spoke volumes about the merits of sailing a two person Sunfish.

Tomorrow is the first day of racing at the Open North American Championship. Don’t be surprised if many of the young sailors that competed week in the Junior and Midget Championship give the more experienced older sailors a run for their money.

Overall Results
Division Results

Mattituck, NY, USA - The first day of the 2010 Midget and Junior North American provided the competitors with electric conditions.

At around noon forty boats headed out for the day’s first race in a 10-12 knot breeze. The 2009 Junior North American Championship runner up, Kamilla Sabogal of Ecuador, took top honors. She was pushed by Gary Prieto (USA) and Alec Manson (USA) in second and third.

A second race was started.  However, while the competitors were on the second weather leg, a pending thunderstorm chased the fleet to shore.  From the beach, spectators and competitors witnessed a wild and violent rain, lighting and wind.  When the storm passed, it briefly took the wind with it.  However, the southwest sea breeze filled back in.

After a two hour delay, the fleet headed back out.  In the first race, Kamilla Sabogal continued were she left off in race one.  After a perfect start at the pin, she immediately crossed the entire fleet on port and lead the fleet around the entire course in a building southwest breeze.  Behind Kamilla, racently crowned Sunfish Youth World Champion, Jose Guitierrez of Venezuela, and Gary Prieto battled for second and third places.

In the third race Nick Valente (USA), Gary Prieto and Jose Guitierrez started near the pin and dragged out to the left for a few minutes.  When they tacked, they crossed the entire fleet.  Nick Valente had a lead over Gary and Jose at the first mark.  The three sailors battled downwind but by the leeward mark, Jose had built a five boat length lead.  He continued to lead the other two boats for the remainder of the race.

At the end of the first day, Kamilla Sabogal and Jose Guitierrez are tied with 7 points.  Gary Prieto’s consistent day leaves him trailing them by a single point.  Nick Valente (11 points) and Alec Manson (19 points) round out the top 5 Juniors.

Olivia Gugliemini of Brant Beach Yacht Club in NJ (USA) dominated the first day of racing in the Midget division.  She leads Britt Kaukeinen (Rochester, NY USA) and Ben Smith (Bermuda) in second and third respectively.

Tomorrow the racing will continue.  The forecast is for a 8-12 knot northwest breeze.

Full Results

Mattituck, NY, USA - Sunfish sailors will begin converging on the North Fork of Long Island today in anticipation of the 2010 Sunfish North American Championship. Over the next six days, the event will be contested on the waters of the Great Peconic Bay off the shores of the Mattituck Yacht Club.

From Tuesday until Thursday, the youth of the Sunfish Class will decide the North American Junior and Midget Championships.  These events promise to be highly contested as many of top young Sunfish sailors in the world just completed the Youth World Championship at nearby Sayville Yacht Club.  Tuesday will be measurement and a practice race.  The first official races will be Wednesday.

On Friday and through the weekend, the open North American Championship will take place.  Among others, it is expected that former World Champions Paul-Jon Patin (USA) and Malcolm Smith (BER) will be fighting for top honors.

Notice of Race
Mattituck YC website

This is a list of RSVPed or registered competitors for the 2010 Sunfish North American Championship.  The official list of registrants participating in the regatta will be posted after the event starts.

Ryan Anderson
Andrew Bates
Alec Berstein
Simon Bertocci
Guido Bertocci
Bobby Boger
Bill Brangiforte
Brandon Buonaiuto
John Cato
Richard Cato
Ken Charles
Dayton Colie
Tony Collins
John Condon
Ted Cremer
David Davies
Mary Desmond
Craig Durso
Rob Eberle
Brent Evens
Macklin Fluehr
Mike Fortner
Liza Genovese
Dan Glashausser
Olivia Gugliemini
Bart Hale
Fritz Hanselman
Holly Hanselman
Gerry Hesse
Luke Hickling
George Jackson
Derek Jackson
Tom Katterheinrich
Doug Kaukeinen
Britt Kaukeinen
Elena Khutoretsky
Marguerite Koehler
Jim Koehler
Todd Kutkiewicz
Judy Lazo
Geoffrey Loffredo
Susan Mallows
Victor Manning
Pat Manning
Vito Mannino
Steve Manson
Alec Manson
Mark May
Jack McCarthy
Brian McGinnis
Kevin McKeon
Ryan Messina
Constance Miller
Kenny Mockridge
Lee Montes
Dave Nielsen
Paul Odegaard
Lee Parks
P.J. Patin
Ann Patin
John Powers
Steve Powers
Rebecca Rothman
Kmilla Sabogal
Betsy Schmidt
Angela Smith
Clare Smith
Malcolm Smith
Joseph Strumolo
Joe Sullivan
Joe Sullivan
Nick Valente
Conrad Volle
Peter Wells
Chris Williams
Eric Woodman
Courtney Young

Mattituck Yacht Club will be hosting the Sunfish North American Championships from July 20-25.  Start planning a summer vacation to the beautiful North Fork of Long Island!  All the information you need is found the regatta’s Notice of Race.

Notice of Race
Mattituck YC website

The Sunfish North American Championship is at Mattituck YC from July 20 -25, 2010.  John Condon is the very amiable host for the regatta.  The summer is a busy tourist season on eastern Long Island.  If you are planning to attend, John recommends booking accomodations ASAP.

There are many small motels and B&Bs on the North Fork between Riverhead and Greenport.  The towns of Riverhead and Greenport are approximately 15 minutes on either side of Mattituck YC.  Here is a link for motels, hotels and B&B’s on the North Fork.

John blocked 15 rooms at the Best Western of Riverhead 631-369-2200 (Sunfish North Americans-Mattituck YC).  Riverhead has the large hotels including the Best Western, Holiday Inn express and Hilton Garden Inn.  There are other Motels in Jamesport including the Country Inn, Bayview Inn and Motel on the Bay.  John was unable to get blocked rooms at these hotels.

The rental agents are Town & country 631- 298-0600, Prudential - 631-727-2000, Community Rentals-631-298-9300.

There will be plenty of room for camping at the club, and room to expand to nearby locations including John’s front yard if necessary.  The club is currently working on coordinating housing with members.  Please notify John if you want to camp or desire local housing with members.

Please contact John if you have any questions on housing.

John Condon
condon77173 <at> hotmail.com