2025 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship

About This Event

The U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy is US Sailing’s National Championships for two-person doublehanded teams of young women 13 to 18 years of age. The Ida Lewis event includes a multi-day clinic followed by several days of championship racing. No private coaching is allowed, instead US Sailing Coaches are provided to lead world-class training and coach all competitors to enhance the experience, sailing skills, competitiveness, and sportsmanship of the group. This unique, all girls event provides junior sailors with a chance to build their skills in an all female environment and foster friendships for a lifetime.

2025 US Sailing Coaches: Stay tuned for the 2025 coaching staff!

Events and Class Equipment:

•  Doublehanded Skiff – 29er
• Doublehanded Dinghy – Club 420

Eligibility:

• Competitors must not reach their 19th birthday in the calendar year, and be eligible to compete per the Notice of Race.
• Entry for all classes is open (no application required). Sailors will be able to register during the registration period specified in the Notice of Race.

Housing:

• Sailors are responsible for securing their own housing for the event.
• All competitors must have a “Designated Adult” with them at the event acting as a chaperone. Your Designated Adult must be present at the onsite registration. This Designated Adult must be over 21 and cannot be a coach. 

• Club 420 Charters:
  • Zim Sailing: https://zimsailing.com/charter/
• 29er Charters:
  • US 29er Class: email us29erclass@gmail.com

Questions? Please email youthchampionships@ussailing.org

2024 Event Photos

Media

Championship History

“The value of Tom Clagett’s vision behind both the Ida Lewis and Leiter trophies is immeasurable.  For the past 28 and 43 years respectively, the opportunity for Junior Women Sailors to have the combination of clinics and competition to help them improve their sailing skills has been not only an exceedingly valuable experience, but for many a memorable and prominent step in their sailing and racing experiences.  For many, Ida and Leiter have been where young women have met, made life time friends, shared coaches and improved their sailing skills all while attending these clinics and regattas. This camaraderie amongst the girls has been a backbone to their sailing.”

– Judy and Stephanie Mclennan, Daughter and Granddaughter of Thomas Clagett and Nancy Leiter Clagett

The Singlehanded Championship was started by Tom Clagett in 1980 at the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport, RI and sailed for a trophy named in memory of Tom’s wife, Nancy, who died in April, 1977. In 1985, USYRU (now US Sailing) agreed to support the event on a trial basis. In 1986, it became the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy. The U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy championship was started in 1995 when it became apparent that a second championship in a doublehanded boat was needed to complement the singlehanded event. It became a US Sailing national championship in 1996. A separate sportsmanship prize was later added to both championships in 2001, following Tom’s death in June of that year and a family logo was created for the championships incorporating Tom’s and Nancy’s private yacht signals. Nancy’s signal was a green ladder on a yellow rectangle since “Leiter” is German for ladder. Tom and Nancy’s first boat was named “The Barefoot Girl” after Nancy’s preference not to wear shoes. Tom’s private signal became two white bare feet on a blue triangle. The Singlehanded class flag is Nancy’s signal flag, and the Doublehanded class flag is a representation of the Ida Lewis lighthouse.