HYC youth sailors bring home bronze at the 2024 Optimist Team Cup
Five youth sailors from Hampton Yacht Club brought bronze home to the Chesapeake after racing in the 2024 Opti Team Cup, held in Berlin. It is a dream of many athletes to be holding a medal while their national anthem is being played in the background...it is even sweeter when you are experiencing that at only 12 years old.
It has been quite a journey since five Hampton Yacht Club (HYC) youth sailors were at the USODA Nationals in Sandusky, OH, this past July to obtain a berth to Berlin. Every year I am amazed at what the HYC team and coaching staff have accomplished, and I keep wondering, what will they do next?
Thirteen of the best Opti team race teams from around the world qualified to get into the 2024 Optimist Team Cup hosted by Potsdamer Yacht Club on Lake Wannsee in the southwest corner of Berlin. When the team initially qualified for the Team Cup, I started looking at the expenses and immediately sought out the Hampton Yacht Club Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association for their support. CBYRA approved a grant application, and the HYC Foundation went to work organizing an Opti Team Cup Challenge that raised well over the amount needed to help cover the cost of coaching fees, coach flights, meals, rib charter, Opti charters, and all of the little things that come into play when sailing at this level a world away. The sailors and parents are incredibly thankful and humbled by the immediate and continued support from the membership of HYC that made this dream a reality. Special thanks is owed to Gary Bahena for coming up with the plan.
Paton leads team to Berlin
Coach Juan Manuel “Paton” Briones found amazing success at HYC in the past coaching James Allgeier to an Optimist National Championship in 2021, the same summer HYC won the 100th Anniversary of the Sears Cup. Paton along with HYC seasonal coach Juan Pablo Carranza prepared the HYC team that won the inaugural USODA Atlantic Coast Championship Team Race in Larchmont last spring. That result prompted an extensive push to train Finley Webster, Andrew Allgeier, Brandt Adams, Tucker Johnson, and Wesley Johnson and their HYC teammates in preparation for the Nationals this past summer in Sandusky. At Nationals, 13 team members qualified berths for Team Trials, finished second overall in both Fleet and Team Race, and Tucker Johnson won White Fleet. What they have been able to accomplish is astounding. Paton would next lead the team to Berlin.
The team had two days to practice once they landed in Europe, mainly sparring against the other US team, LISOT Black, and the German Worlds team. The event started on Friday with one race loss followed by a string of success quickly elevating them to the top of the event. Croatia, Sweden, and Germany all were very tough but both USA teams came out Friday sailing well. HYC went the first day only losing one race.
Every team made adjustments going into Round Two on Saturday, and with each race came a new challenge. At this level some races were going our way, and some resulted in losses that would seed the team into the final four. Finley, Andrew, Wesley, Tucker, and Brandt all raised up to secure the berth to the Petit Final against the Swedish Worlds Team on Sunday. The Croatian and Sweden Malmstrom teams would compete for the Finals.
Bring bronze home to the Chesapeake
HYC would ultimately claim the Petit Final series against Sweden Worlds to win the bronze medal at the event. As sailing director, I am so proud of this team, grateful to CBYRA, the Hampton Yacht Club Foundation, and the HYC membership that helped promote this incredible experience for our youth sailors. They were extremely proud to represent HYC, the Chesapeake Bay, and Team USA!
By Max Plarr
