Sunfish Sailors In The News

Paul Foerster wins the 2008 Sunfish World Championship

Paul Foerster wins the 2008 Sunfish World Championship

72 Sailors from 12 different countries including Former World Champions Paul-Jon Patin (USA), Donnie Martinborough (Bahamas/3X World Champ), and Malcolm Smith (Bermuda/3X World Champ) recently competed at this year's Sunfish World Championships.

  • Andrea Aldana (Guatemala) - Top Woman
  • Alexander Zimmerman (Peru) - Top Junior
  • Malcolm Smith (Bermuda) - Top Master

Visit the Sunfish Worlds Blog for additional information.

2009 Sunfish Worlds Website is now up and running! Tentatively, the dates are set for October 16-24, 2009.



Colombia's Julian Ramirez wins 1st Sunfish Junior International Championship!

Colombia's Julian Ramirez wins 1st Sunfish Junior International Championship

Final Results | Photos | Slideshow | Race Reports



SUNFISH SOUTH AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Andrey Quintero Captures South American Title - Final Results

Manta, Ecuador-  Andrey Quintero of Colombia won his first Sunfish South American title. In route to the victory, Quintero topped 24 competitors from 6 countries. Over the 9 race series Quintero won 6 races. The races were often contested in extreme conditions with winds averaging 20 to 25 knots and waves an average of 2 meters.

Bermuda's multiple World Champion Malcolm Smith was second. Local favorite Gabriel Moran finished third. The top 5 was rounded out by 2008 Sunfish World Championship runner up Marx Chirinos of Venezuela, and Willo Cappeletti of Peru.

Be sure to visit the Manta Yacht Club championship website and the South American Championship Event Blog for additional photos and information. Also visit the event photo album for pictures.

Practicing in Ecuador



Hank Saurage wins Midwinter US Nationals (March 13-15, 2008):

Congratulations to Hank Saurage on winning the 2008 Sunfish Midwinter US Nationals Championship at St. Andrews Bay YC.



Aruba Sunfish Class News:

Aruban Championship consists of 4 specific racing days spread over the year and each at a different location. More information at www.sunfishclubaruba.org.

  • Apr. 20 - Aruban Championship 1/4 - Aruba Water Sports (Hyatt) | Results
  • May 18 - Aruban Championship 2/4 - Surf side | Results
  • Oct. 19 - Aruban Championship 3/4 - Rodger's Beach
  • Dec. 7 - Aruban Championship 4/4 - Surf side


Bahamas Sunfish Class News:

The Bahamas Sailing Association has released its 2008 Calendar. See some of the notable regatta dates below:

  • Apr. 26-27 - Homer Lowe Regatta at Marsh Harbor, Abaco | Sunfish Results
  • June 22 - Bahamas Sunfish National Championship | Results
  • Nov. 2 - Terry McCoy Memorial Regatta | Results

Congratulations to Donnie Martinborough for winning the Bahamas Sunfish National Championship

Nassau Yacht Club will be hosting the 2009 Sunfish Worlds from October 16-24, 2009.

Check out Dunk's Photo Gallery for some great regatta photos



Peru Sunfish Class News:

The first half of the Peru's Nationals are starting on October 11-12, and October 18-19 with seven races planned. For the second half of the Nationals, they will be at Lima on November 9th, and November 15-16 with another seven races planned. The defending National Champion is Alex Zimmermann, winning the past two years in a row. This years championship is expecting over 25 boats. For additional information, please visit the Sunfish Peru website.

Congratulations to Alexander Zimmerman for winning Peru's 2008 National Championship! Defending Champion for the past two years, Alex Zimmerman, finished in second overall. ISCA Advisory Council Representative Guillermo Cappelleti finished in third place overall. See complete results below.



Italy Sunfish Class News:

Italy completed its National Tests for 2008. More information at the Italy NSCA website www.classesunfish.it. Results

It's been challenging to understand how their National Circuit works without a translator, but I believe a congratulations is in order for Luigi De Luca for winning the National Championship. Italy will be hosting the 2010 Sunish Worlds, dates will be released when they are finalized.

  • Mar. 29-30 - 1st National Test - Orbetello | Results
  • May 24-25 - 2nd National Test - Bracciano | Results
  • June 27-29 - 3rd National Test - Manfredonia | Results


Tom Whitehurst wins International Masters (March 8-10, 2008):

Congratulations to Tom Whitehurst ('76 US Olympic 470 Class Representative) on winning the 2008 Sunfish International Masters Championship at Pensacola YC. Tom also won the 2007 International Masters.



Sunfish Sailors In The News - David Loring (March 5, 2008):

David Loring, two-time Sunfish World Champion (1995, 2006) and former Laser North American Champion/US Sailing Team Member, has just launched a new website www.sunfishracing.com featuring a new DVD video “Back to Basics for Sunfish World Championship Speed”. Be sure to check out the trailer below. There are two trailers below. Be sure to also check out his website to view photos of the DVD (Cover, Label, Wrap), as well as some promotional video shots from Charleston Harbor.



www.sunfishracing.com discussion of competition level of the Sunfish Class



Sunfish Sailors In The News - Oscar Johansson (March 1, 2008):

Congratulations to Oscar Johansson (Canada), the 1999 Pan American Games Sunfish Class Gold Medalist and 2000 Sunfish Worlds runner-up, for claiming the Silver Medal at the Tornado World Championships earning his team qualification to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Read more about it here. Check out their campaign website, Sail For Gold.



Sunfish Sailors In The News - Raul Aguayo (February 24, 2008):

Congratulations to Raul Aguayo (Dominican Republic) on his recent qualification to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to compete in the Laser Class. Raul most recently won the Laser Midwinters East at Clearwater, FL. For those whom have not yet met Raul, he has competed in the Sunfish Class for many years. Most recently was a competitor at the 2004 Sunfish North Americans at Canandaigua and 2004 Worlds at Hyannis (Photo from that regatta). Raul was also the 2003 Panam Games Bronze Medalist in the Sunfish Class. Find the latest updates on Raul's travels at his Team Aguayo Blogspot. Check out his YouTube Promotional Video.

Raul Aguayo - 2004 Sunfish Worlds Competitor



Sunfish Sailors In The News - James Liebl (February 23, 2008):

Congratulations to James Liebl, longtime Sunfish sailor/competitor (6th at 2007 Sunfish North Americans), on becoming the Laser Radial Apprentice Master World Champion for 2008, check out the press release here and full results here.


Sunfish Sailors In The News - Debbie Capozzi (February 14, 2008):

Congratulations to Sunfish Class member Debbie Capozzi (NY Region), on being a member of the winning team at the US Olympic Yngling Class Trials. Read all about it at their campaign website, Team 7 Sailing.



Sunfish Sailors In The News - Paul Foerster (February 8, 2008):

Paul Foerster, a three-time Olympian and US Sunfish Class Representative and Bronze Medalist at the 2007 Pan Am Games, has accepted his bid to compete at this year's Sunfish World Championships at Buffalo Canoe Club.



Sunfish Sailors In The News - Jeff Linton (January 16, 2008):

Congratulations to 5-time Sunfish North American Champion Jeff Linton on being named US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. Read more at US Sailing or ISAF. Photo is from the 2004 Sunfish Worlds Championships at Hyannis Yacht Club, Jeff Linton finished as the runner-up in that regatta. Jeff was also the 2003 US Sunfish Class Representative at the Panam Games.

Jeff Linton - 2004 Sunfish Worlds Runner-up



Sunfish Sailors In The News - John Dane III (October 14, 2007):

Congratulations to Sunfish Class member John Dane III, of Pass Christian Yacht Club (Gulf Coast Region) on winning the US Olympic Star Class Trials. Read more here, Results here. He is married to Leslie Weatherly, a four time Sunfish Woman’s North American Champion. Some may remember John at Midwinters at Fort Walton Yacht Club in Florida, where he raced the first day with his board in backwards. His son, loudly, pointed out the error on a downwind leg. Check out their campaign website, Dane-Sperry2008.

Sunfish Sailors In The News - Johnny Lovell (October 14, 2007):

Former class member, Johnny Lovell of Southern Yacht in New Orleans, LA won the Tornado Class at the US Olympic Trials. This is Johnny’s fourth Olympics. Last time, he brought home the Silver.Check out their campaign website, T-Squared Racing