Racing NewsFlorida Team Wins Sears CupOn Wednesday, Fred Strammer won his second Sears Cup in three years by pulling off a dramatic, come-from-behind victory at the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship at Bayview YC in Detroit, Mich.Going into the last race, Strammer’s Team Florida Ocean Racing (FOR) trailed Team Mission Bay by four points. In order to unseat the leaders, Strammer and crew (Katrina Salk/Zeke Horowitz) engaged them in an aggressive, first beat tacking duel. “Both teams had bad starts the last race,” said Strammer. “We began a tacking duel to put boats between us and Mission Bay.” Team Mission Bay (Scott Hoffman/Evan Hoffman/Eric Alamillo) finished the race three boats behind Team FOR and won the Judges Trophy for second place. Bayview’s Blake Griffin, Kevin Ginnebaugh, and Nick Ridenour finished third.For complete results from the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship, click here. US Sailing Team Rehearses for BeijingLater this month, 34 top-ranked members of the U.S. Sailing Team are heading to Qingdau, China to test out the 2008 Olympic venue. The Good Luck Beijing – 2006 Qingdao International Regatta, an ISAF Grade 2 event which has attracted 466 sailors from 41 countries, should serve as critical practice for the American team. According to US Sailing Olympic Committee chairman Dean Brenner, “It’s also a great opportunity for our best athletes to gauge themselves against the best Olympic competition in the world.”To follow the event, which starts on August 18, click here . Paralympic Hopeful Karen Mitchell Wins U.S. Independence CupAt the Chicago Yacht Club earlier this week, Karen Mitchell won her fourth consecutive U.S. Independence Cup/ North American Challenge Cup. Mitchell and crew Michael Grimm were tied with Mike Jaffe and crew Dan Daniher after five races. On the final day, Tim Flynn and crew Paul Choquette won the first race to tie Jaffe, but Mitchell and Grimm won the second race to cinch the title. Mitchell is campaigning to represent the United States at the 2008 Paralympic Games. Later this month, she and other Paralympic hopefuls will race the brand-new Skud 18s in Newport, R.I. at the Clagett Memorial Regatta, a qualifier for the 2006 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team.For more about the U.S. Independence Cup/ North American Challenge Cup, click here .Yugtranzit Clinches IMS Offshore World ChampionshipWith two races remaining in the IMS Offshore World Championship, Russia’s Sergey Shevtsov has secured victory by establishing a 30-point lead over second place, held by Peer Moberg or Norway.The Russian team, sailing the Grand Soleil 42 R Yugtranzit, has won three of the seven races in the event, which is taking place in Neustadt, Germany, as part of Rolex Baltic Week.The Star class, which is holding its European Championships at the regatta, did not sail again today.For more information about Rolex Baltic Week, click here .
