Luke Lawrence, Finn Silver Cup winner, makes his first SSL Finals

Once again this year, there will be a very young US team at the Nassau Yacht Club, eager to be part of the record 2014 SSL Finals fleets. On his debut outing in the Star, Luke Lawrence will be flanked by Joshua Revkin, who competed in the 2013 SSL Finals, thanks to a brilliant season that ended with the Best Junior Crew title at the San Diego Worlds.

The Finals will be a unique opportunity to set himself new benchmarks, thanks to the presence of so many sailing greats. Robert Scheidt, Torben Grael, Freddy Loof, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Luke Patience, Xavier Rohart, Diego Negri, Giles Scott and Jorge Zarif will be just some of the toughest rivals he’ll be up against.

After taking 2 years off the Finn, Lawrence started off his year with a win in the Finn Medal Race at the ISAF World Cup in Miami (6th) and as the top American in a venue that is likely to be one of the trials for the USOT. In the course of 2014, Lawrence won the Celebrity Pro-am Nantucket, the J-24 US Nationals and then a J-24 World title, both on tactics. As a result of these finishes, his name has been thrown into the hat for the US Rolex Yachtsman for 2014, at just 24 years old.

Lawrence: “Growing up in Florida, with water as my main source of entertainment, my life of sailing began in the Hobie 18 at just 10 months old. It wasn’t until I was age 12 that I took my own helm in the Laser. The passion was there but the love didn’t come until the Finn at 19. The new technical avenue that intrigued me naturally made me drool on a Star until Augie Diaz took me out. Hooked I was and, needless to say, I am more than honoured to get the opportunity to race so many diverse champions in Nassau. Though It will not be easy as I have 12 kg to lose by then. The work is always worth it when you get to go against these guys in the most beautiful boats I’ve ever sailed.”