LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Local Sailor in 29er World Championship in Netherlands


Neil Marcellini and Ian Brill sail in the Netherlands. Photo James Rockafellow

This summer, Acalanes High School student Neil Marcellini, from Richmond Yacht Club 29er Sailor, was selected to be on the USA 29er World Travel Team, with crew Ian Brill of Mission Bay Yacht Club.

They trained at Olympic Development Program (ODP) clinics in Long Beach, San Francisco, Newport and Colombia Gorge, competing in national and international regattas with great results: third at 29er Nationals in Newport, R.I. June 27-30; second at Colombia Gorge Skiff Regatta in Oregon July 15-17; placed in top 10 with two other USA teams in 29er Worlds Qualifiers in Medemblik, Netherlands; then raced in Gold fleet (top 50) to finish 36 of 228 international teams. They were top USA youth 29er team at the July 18-30 race.

They also placed second at the U.S. Sailing Youth Championships in Coronado Aug. 5-9. Neil and Ian were in first place for first two days, then sailed a very competitive battle to the end, finishing two points behind the first place team.

Neil will continue to race and train for 29er events, and will be on one of 16 teams chosen to train and race in the Red Bull Foiling Generation catamaran event in October in Newport, R.I.