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Lauderdale Yacht Club

1725 S.E. 12th Street

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

954-524-5500, Fax 954-524-5843

LYC Regatta Announcements & Scoring:

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LYC's Sarah Lihan WINS US Junior Women Championships

2006 U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship, Claire Dennis, (Saratoga, CA), Anne Haeger (Lake Forest, IL) and champion, Sarah Lihan (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).

LIHAN DOMINATES LEITER

Houston Yacht Club (July 27, 2006) - Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is practically breathing a sigh of relief today: after years of practice and racing in numerous regattas, the 17-year-old has finally won the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship on her fourth attempt.

This year, she clearly dominated the fleet of 56 boats, winning five out of seven races. But her win may not have been as easy as it sounds, as she was up against sailors like Ann Haeger (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Claire Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.), who finished second and third respectively and both of whom had competed in the event before.

The event was a qualifier for the 2007 US Youth World Team, which represents the USA at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Kingston, Ontario in 2007. Unfortunately, Lihan, who will turn 18 next month, will be too old to compete in that event next year. Instead, Ann Haeger will go to Canada next year. "At least I got my name on the trophy," said a happy Lihan about getting her name engraved on US Sailing's Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy for winning the U.S.

Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship. -- Marlieke de Lange Eaton, http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjrw/single

"I am so proud of all the competitors who sailed in these tough races! It is my pleasure to witness their coming of age in a new boat or gracefully graduating into the college ranks. However, Sarah Lihan tore the front page right off the books today. In Race 6, the second weather mark rounding, she had almost a 2 minute lead on Annie Haeger. The best boat-to-boat racing was between the 3rd and 11th place boats as they dueled it out, surfing waves and flying down. I had to leave the water after the start of race 7, but I heard that number 28 was approaching the finish line in her usual, heavy air fashion, with a big lead. My hat is well off to Miss Lihan for winning this regatta in fine fashion and true sportsmanship. Good luck at Yale!" (from USSailing.org)

Morgan and Peter Commette at the 2006 Snipe Nationals, Erie, PA