NWICSA News


LaserPerformance College Sailing Singlehanded National Championships Set to Begin in Michigan


HOLLAND, MICH. (October 31, 2018) – The LaserPerformance Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded National Championships, hosted by Grand Valley State University and Hope College at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club and Macatawa Bay Junior Association in Holland, Michigan are set to begin Friday, November 2nd with registration, boat assignment and a competitors meeting. Racing will take place Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th.
 
The championships include the top 18 men and 18 women singlehanded sailors in the nation. At least one male and female sailor has qualified from each of the seven collegiate sailing conferences to compete in this prestigious event. The regatta will take place out of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club and Macatawa Bay Junior Association in Holland, Mich. The sailors will compete on the west end of Lake Macatawa or on Lake Michigan south of the Holland Channel, weather dependent.

LaserPerformance is providing a fleet of full rig Lasers for the men’s event and a fleet of Laser Radials for the women’s event with sails. Marlow Ropes, the Official Rope Sponsor of College Sailing, and a supporting sponsor of the regatta are also providing mainsheets.
 
The men will be competing for the Glen S. Foster Trophy, awarded to the first place finisher. The trophy is given in appreciation of Glen S. Foster for his interest in collegiate sailing and devotion to singlehanded competition, particularly in the Finn class. The second place finisher in the men’s event will receive the George Griswold Trophy, given in honor of George Griswold for more than three decades of service to intercollegiate sailing as long time Graduate Secretary of MCSA, former ICSA Secretary, ICSA Eligibility Chairman, and member of the ICSA Hall of Fame.

The women will be competing for the Janet Lutz Trophy, awarded to the first place finisher, in honor of the former Athletic Director at Pembroke College who played a major role in the early growth of New England women’s sailing.
 
Competitors will report at 1 p.m. on Friday for registration and boat assignment followed by a Competitors Briefing at 5 p.m. at the Macatawa Bay Junior Association. The first warning for racing is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. A regatta dinner will be held Saturday evening for the competitors, coaches and guests at 6 p.m. Racing will continue Sunday with a 10 a.m. first warning and no race will start after 3 p.m. on Sunday.
 
To learn more about the events, results and to follow social media updates, visit the event website: https://2018singlehanded.collegesailing.org/

Contact: Jennifer Mitchell |Toile à Voile for ICSA | media@collegesailing.org | 970-216-7072 m.
 
The ICSA sponsors and partners through the 2017-2018 season are: LaserPerformance (www.laserperformance.com), title sponsor of “LaserPerformance Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded National Championship”, title sponsor of “LaserPerformance College Sailing Team Race National Championship” and Official Boat Supplier of the ICSA Spring National Championships. Sperry (www.sperry.com), title sponsor of the “Sperry College Sailing Women’s National Championship”. Gill North American (gillna.com), title sponsor of “The Gill College Sailing National Championship”. Quantum Sail Design Group (www.quantumsails.com), official sponsor of the “Quantum Women’s College Sailor of the Year”. Marlow Ropes (www.marlowropes.com), presenting sponsor of the “Marlow Ropes College Sailor of the Year Award” and “Official Rope of College Sailing”. US Sailing (www.ussailing.org), “The Robert H. Hobbs Sportsman of the Year Sponsored by US Sailing”.

The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada. Visit www.collegesailing.org to learn more.