Lake Michigan SuRF Newsletter - LMSRF

ROBLE AND SHEA NAMED US SAILING SAILOR OF THE WEEK
from US Sailing e-newsletter
The last two weeks of September were a whirlwind for Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea. These two standout
match racers travelled from coast to coast to crew for Genny Tulloch in San Francisco at the U.S. Women’s Match
Racing Championship, and Taylor Canfield in Marblehead, Mass. at the U.S. Match Racing Championship. Their
steadfast commitment paid off, as they helped lead their teams to victories in each event. Interestingly, Roble and
Shea had never crewed for Tulloch or Canfield. In addition, they performed different roles for each skipper. “With
Tulloch, I was on the bow of the J/22 focusing on course strategy,” explained Roble. “With Canfield, I trimmed main
and ran the pit on the Sonar and focused on boat on boat tactics. It was really important to make sure I was doing
my job only and not stepping on any toes inside the boat.”
“For both events, we were lucky to have solid conditions, great venues and boats, and highly competent race
management,” said Shea. “We are grateful that US Sailing hosted such high quality events.”
Roble and Shea are no strangers to match racing. Shea crewed for Roble at the US Olympic Trials for Women’s
Match Racing in the Elliott 6m last May and October. Roble learned to match race and sail keelboats as a skipper. “I
am trying to make a transition into crewing, so that I can learn new aspects of the boat and racing,” she said. “These
events were perfect as I was able to be on the boat in different positions and I learned so
much every single day.”
Stephanie Roble & Maggie Shea.
Photo courtesy US Sailing.
Shea has always been drawn to match racing. “It’s always been my favorite discipline in
sailing because it is so fast paced and the level of intensity is constantly high,” said Shea.
“Match racing is spectator friendly, because you have one winner and one loser for
every quick match. I have also had a chance to sail in so many different keelboats and
against fantastic competition while match racing.”
Roble also appreciates the art of match racing. “Most of all I enjoy the need for precise
tactics and strategy on all parts of the course and how these calls must be made from
the information the crew feeds,” said Roble. “I also really enjoy the short courses
because it requires sharp boat handling and constantly thinking on your toes.”
Roble also enjoys the idea of competing more in open events. “I know that women can
compete on the same level as the guys, so I want to prove that by sailing as many open regattas as possible with
female crew.”
“I would like to help increase the opportunities for our youth sailors to match race and the level of participation of
women,” added Shea. “I hope our participation in both these events encourages other female sailors in the states to
compete in both in the future.”
2012 Red Flannels Regatta
by Bill Faude
To say the Lightning Red Flannels Regatta has a grand tradition at Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club
would be an understatement. The sailors compete for a beautiful silver traveling award called The
Chicago Daily News - Marshall Field Trophy. While The Red Flannels and Chicago Corinthian Yacht
Club are still going strong, it’s been a while since either of these august Chicago brands has
independently existed. In the more than 60 years that it has been continuously contested, the
Flannels has enjoyed larger fleets. And it has enjoyed more uniformly lovely weather, but it may not
have provided as much challenge and perhaps ever have offered more fun than it did this year. Chicago Daily News –
Marshall Field Trophy
Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation 14 November 2012 Newsletter