Greenwich Academy sophomore Helena Borcherding claims bronze medal, top Junior Boat honors at US National Sailing Championships, US Sailing Junior Olympics

By David Fierro on February 4, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

**Contributed photo:** Helena Borcherding, left and Genevieve Schmidt display their awards after winning the bronze medal at the I-420 US Sailing National Championships at Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami, Fla.

It was pretty smooth sailing for Greenwich Academy student Helena Borcherding and her crew, Genevieve Schmidt, at the I-420 US National Sailing Championships, recently.

Borcherding, a Greenwich Academy sophomore and Schmidt, a student at Jensen Beach High School in Florida, earned the bronze medal at the National Sailing Championships, held at Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami, Fla., Dec. 27-30.

**Contributed photo:** From left to right, Genevieve Schmidt and Helena Borcherding, a Greenwich Academy student, display their bronze medals after excelling at the I-420 US National Sailing Championships in Florida, recently.

Representing Greenwich’s Belle Haven Club at the prestigious event, Borcherding and Schmidt sailed their 420 boat to three first-place finishes out of the nine races that were scored. They also posted two fifth-place finishes on their way to their overall third-place finish with 37 points after nine races at the US National Sailing Championships.

Twenty boats competed in the I-420 Series of the Regatta. Richard Sykes and Violet Martin, representing Riverside Yacht Club captured the gold medal with 16 points after nine races were scored. The duo won three races and had two second-place finishes on their way to winning the I-420 Series. Borcherding and Schmidt also earned Top Junior Boat honors at the regatta.

**Contributed photo:** Helena Borcherding of Greenwich Academy sails to a third-place finish at the 420 US National Sailing Championships recently in Florida.

Borcherding and Schmidt also finished fourth and won top Junior Boat Honors at the US Sailing Junior Olympics 420 Championships, which was held Dec. 2-3 at Jensen Beach, Fla.

Five races were scored at the US Sailing Junior Olympics C420 Championships and Borcherding and Schmidt had one second-place finish and one third-place showing.