FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (October 14, 2009) - Twenty of the country's top one-design sailors will vie for the Jack Brown Trophy at US SAILING’s 2009 Championship of Champions this week. The best of the best will convene at the Carlyle Sailing Association outside of St. Louis, Mo. for three days of racing. The regatta, sponsored nationally by Rolex Watch, U.S.A. and Sail Proud, and locally by North Sails, is known as one of the toughest one-design competitions in the United States. The championship will be raced in Lightnings on Carlyle Lake, October 15-17.
All of the competitors have qualified for this event by winning a National and/or North American Championship in a one-design class. This year’s roster of champions is stacked once again. Special guest competitor, Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.), leads the long list of contenders into action. Cayard’s impressive resume includes a win at the Whitbread Round the World Race (now known as the Volvo Ocean Race) in 1998. He was the first American skipper to accomplish this feat. He took another shot at the Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06 when he skippered the Disney entry, Pirates of the Caribbean, to a second place finish. Cayard is a seven-time sailing world champion, a five-time America’s Cup veteran and two-time Olympian. He was a recipient of US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 1998. Cayard is joined by crew Austin Sperry (Gulfport, Miss.) and Kristine Wake (Sheboygan, Wis.).
The 2007 US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Jeff Linton (Tampa, Fla.), will be on hand with crew Amy Smith Linton (Tampa, Fla.) and Todd Wake (Sheboygan, Wis.). Linton has had another banner sailing season. He captured his fifth consecutive Classic Moth Midwinter Championship this year. As a tactician/main trim, he finished first at the Farr 30 North American Championships. He finished second at the 2007 US SAILING Championship of Champions in Snipes and was the 2008 Lightning North American Champion and 2007 Lightning World Champion.
Allan Terhune (Arnold, Md.) returns to the Championship of Champions for a third time. The former 2003 winner is a two-time Lightning North American Champion in 2008 and 2003. He qualified by winning the 2009 Flying Scot North Americans. Terhune was a finalist for the 2008 US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award. He will be joined by crew Catherine Terhune (Arnold, Md.) and Dave Perkowski (Crownsville, Md.).
Greg Fisher (Annapolis, Md.) sails into Carlyle as one of the most versatile racers on the roster. The former collegiate All-American is a North American or National Champion in classes including the Lightning, Thistle, J/22, Flying Scot, Highlander, and Johnson 18. He qualified by winning the 2008 Thistle National Championship. He also captured the 2008 J/22 World Championship. Fisher will be accompanied by Missouri natives Dan and Tobi Moriarty (St. Louis, Mo.).
2009 Snipe National Champion, Augie Diaz (Miami, Fla.), returns to the Championship of Champions where he finished third in the 2007 event - sailed in Snipes. Diaz’s domination in the Snipe class has been well documented. He won the Snipe Nationals and North Americans in 2008. Barr Batzer (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Michele Sumpton (San Francisco, Calif.) will crew for Diaz.
The competitors have a wide range of sailing backgrounds, from 71-year-old Y-Flyer International Champion, Paul White (Indianapolis, Ind.) to 14-year-old Optimist North American Champion, Chris Williford (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).
A complete roster, standings, daily reports, and photos from US SAILING's 2009 Championship of Champions are available on the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/CofC.htm.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Since Rolex Watch U.S.A. first presented timepieces to America's Cup defenders in 1958, the company has consistently recognized and encouraged excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing, including US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, offshore, one-design and women's events.
About SailProud
SailProud is a lifestyle apparel company focused on a dedication to transitional performance and stylish, nautical design. The brand is now focused on growing to become a passionate community of sailors, yachters, and maritime enthusiasts worldwide. Every garment created by the company has been ruthlessly engineered and tested to be simply the best apparel for having a great day on the water, on shore, or anywhere else your day might take you. Besides manufacturing some of the softest and most comfortable shirts on the planet, SP apparel truly works - onmoisture wicking, odor prevention, temperature management, and more. At SailProud we pride ourselves on a relentless focus on quality, performance, and comfort - all while remaining passionate about growing the sport and giving back to worthy causes.