Chafee Qualifies for Medal Regatta in Nacra 17 Event

The U.S. Olympic Sailing Teams had a successful day on the water, including Louisa Chafee (Brown '13) and Team USA qualifying for a medal race in the Nacra 17.

Chafee and partner Bora Gulari submitted a strong day of racing on Sunday. The pair rallied in the final three preliminary races of the Nacra 17 event to earn a place in the medal race. Coming into the day the duo ranked 12th overall with the top 10 teams advancing to the medal regatta. Thanks to a strong performance, including a third-place finish in their final preliminary race, Chafee and Gulari finished ninth in the overall standings and will race for a medal on Tuesday.

This is the first career Team USA appearance for both Chafee and Gulari, and the first Olympic Games in which the high-speed, gender-mixed catamaran has been used. “Throughout the day of racing, we actually didn’t want to know what [the points] were looking like,” said Chafee. “We knew that if we just went out there relaxed and had fun, good things would happen.”

Stu McNay (Yale ’05) competed in the men’s 470 dinghy event. McNay and partner David Hughes posted a seventh-place finish and a sixth-place finish in two preliminary races today. Team USA currently ranks sixth with 42 total points. The pair will be back in action tomorrow with three more preliminary races.

“At this stage, every point is critical for keeping us in the hunt,” said McNay. “We’re just trying to fight like animals out there to pass as many boats as possible.” Three races are scheduled for both the Men’s and Women’s 470 classes on Monday prior to a reserve day on Tuesday, and Wednesday’s 470 medal races.

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