West Vancouver’s Nikola Girke and sailing partner Luke Ramsay placed second and were the top North American finishers in the Nacra 17 class at the U.S. National Championships held Aug. 22-26 in Oakcliff, N.Y.
The Nacra 17 performance catamaran was introduced last year and will be included in the sailing regatta at the 2016 Olympic Games. Girke is attempting to make her fourth Olympic Games, having competed in a two-person 470 sailboat in 2004 and in RSX windsurfing in 2008 and 2012. Windsurfing was discontinued after the 2012 Olympics, forcing Girke to again go looking for a new challenge.
Vancouver’s Ramsay competed in his first Games in 2012, finishing 25th in the 470 class with sailing partner Mike Leigh.
