> US SAILING Media > Latest News > 2009 > Catamaran Racing in the Forefront at 2009 U.S. Multihull Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
CLEARWATER, Fla. (October 16, 2009) – US SAILING’s 2009 U.S. Multihull Championship (USMC) features 20 elite multihull teams racing on the Gulf of Mexico (south of Clearwater Pass) in F16 Vipers supplied by Australian High Performance Catamarans. The Hobie Alter Cup will be awarded to the winning team. The event is hosted by the Clearwater Yacht Club and Clearwater Community Sailing Center.
The 2009 USMC includes a rematch of the top three skippers from last year’s event in Gulfport, Fla. Defending champion, Nigel Pitt (Hartwell, Ga.) returns to the fray after last year’s win in F18 Capricorns. Pitt also finished second in 2006. He will be joined with new crew, Emilee Pitt.
“Having over a dozen national titles in six different classes will not come close to the joy of sailing with my eleven year old daughter Emilee in this year’s event,” said Pitt.
The 2007 U.S. Multihull Champions, John Casey (Longwood, Fla.), and crew, John Williams (Long Beach, Calif.), are back after finishing second overall in 2008, just two points behind Pitt. John Tomko (Canyon Lake, TX) finished just three points off the lead a year ago. Tomko was third in 2007, fifth in 2006, and fourth in 2005. US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member and 2006 US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.), will crew for Tomko this year.
First held in 1987, the U.S. Multihull Championship is sailed annually in a different multihull class at a different venue around the country. The U.S. Multihull Championship, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., is part of US SAILING’s National Championship series.
For complete results, photos, and daily reports from the event, please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USMHChampionship.htm.
For more on Australian High Performance Catamarans visit their website at http://www.ahpc.com.au.
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.