SHOREACRES, Texas (October 2, 2011) – A team comprised of Collegiate All-Americans making their first appearance at the 2011 U.S. Team Racing Championship came away with the prestigious George R. Hinman Trophy on Sunday. Minor Threat went 9-1 in today’s six team Championship Stage, a Double Round Robin. Minor Threat collected two wins today over 2009 Champions, New York Yacht Club Team Extreme, who went 8-2 and finished second. Larchmont Yacht Club finished third. This US SAILING National Championship event was hosted by the Houston Yacht Club in Vanguard 15s on Galveston Bay.
Each member of Minor Threat has been an ICSA (Intercollegiate Sailing Association) All-American at least once. All three skippers are three-time ICSA All-Americans. Members of Minor Threat include skippers Cy Thompson (St. Thomas, USVI), Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), Tyler Sinks (San Diego, Calif.) and crew Kelly Stannard (Salem, Conn.), Lucy Wallace (Middletown, R.I.) and Alex Taylor (Boston, Mass.). Buckingham garnered College Sailor of the Year honors for 2011.
Buckingham, who had sailed in this Championship in high school and twice in college, had this to say about how the team came together: “We’ve always respected each others’ attitude and abilities on the water, so we decided to sail together.”
He was also impressed with the level of competition this year. “This year’s talent is the most stacked I’ve ever seen, top to bottom. This was evident by how close the races were throughout.”
Buckingham also explained why his team faired so well this week, especially in matches against NYYC Team Extreme. “We eliminated the first round mistakes and got much better starts. We were very confident getting off the line. It was critical that we cover them (NYYC Team Extreme) or they’ll take off on us. We couldn’t afford to give them an inch after we got an early lead.” Minor Threat’s only loss today came against the Larchmont Yacht Club.
All six oUSTRC 2011 D3f Team Extreme’s returned to action from the 2009 Championship team and last year’s squad that finished third. Zachary Brown (New Haven, Conn.), Emmet Smith (New Haven, Conn.), Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI), Marla Menninger (New York, N.Y.), Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.), and Michael Hession (Chicago, Ill.) make up NYYC Team Extreme. The all Yale team is comprised of former 2008 Olympians, McNay (470) and Barrows (Laser).
Conditions on upper Galveston Bay were fair with wind gusts at 10 to 12 knots. The top six teams raced each other twice. Teams competing in the Championship Round consisted of NYYC Team Extreme (1st Round: 12-2), Minor Threat (1st Round: 10-4), Team Trouble (1st Round: 10-4), Spinnaker - BUSA (1st Round: 9-5), Larchmont Yacht Club (1st Round: 9-5) and Seattle Slideshow (1st Round: 8-6).