FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (May 12, 2010) – If you are a young sailor in search of great competition, elite coaching instruction and a good time on the water, US SAILING has the right event for you. Another exciting season of youth racing is right around the corner at the many US SAILING coordinated regattas from two tremendously popular circuits. The USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival (JO) and the US SAILING 2010 National Championships series collectively organize a combined 30 regattas around the country for youth sailors from June through December 2010. 2010 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals
In its 14th season, this program is a nationwide series of regattas for youth, ages 8 to 21. There are 26 regattas slated for 2010 in the continental United States and Hawaii and over 4,500 sailors are expected to participate. The action begins with two events this June in Chicago and Merritt Island, Fla., and the series culminates with the 34th annual Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta on Dec. 27-30, the largest junior sailing event in the country. The Orange Bowl is hosted by the US Sailing Center, Coral Reef Yacht Club and Key Biscayne Yacht Club in Miami, Fla. Last year over 700 junior sailors from 17 countries, including six European nations, five South American countries, as well as 23 U.S. states and territories participated. The regatta includes four days of competition on Biscayne Bay.
This youth development program, sponsored by West Marine, Gill North America, Active.com and Hobie Performance Sunglasses, is a nationwide series of regattas hosted by yacht clubs and sailing organizations. They are designed to promote the enjoyment of sailing, develop the skills of young sailors, and to provide a pathway for hopeful Olympic competitors.During the course of the 2010 JO season, young sailors will race Optimists, Lasers, Radials, Sunfish, El Toros, Club 420s, CFJs, 29ers, windsurfers, Hobie Cats and more in 26 events held in 16 states. Since the inception of the program in 1997, more than 43,000 sailors have participated in 258 events offering various levels of competition, skill building and fun activities designed to encourage a life-long involvement in the sport of sailing.
Additionally, US SAILING’s JO program has inspired hundreds of young sailors to reach for their Olympic dreams. The medal ceremony at the end of each JO event is similar to that of the Olympic Games format, as class winners step up to the podium to collect gold, silver, and bronze Junior Olympic medals. Special fun prizes and sportsmanship awards are presented at many JO events.
US SAILING’s 2010 National Championships
US SAILING has been coordinating championship regattas for junior sailors since 1921. These championships are hosted by local yacht clubs and sailing organizations around the country, and they offer a wide variety of opportunities to participate. Each championship is steeped in its own unique tradition. A long, distinguished line of the best sailors in the world sailed through the ranks of the Junior Championships. A pair of two-time US SAILING Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year recipients, Anna Tunnicliffe, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member, and BMW ORACLE Racing Team Tactician John Kostecki, both participated in US SAILING Youth National Championship events as young promising sailors.
During the 2010 season, young sailors will race Club 420s, Lasers, Laser Radials, Lightnings, and 29ers. These prestigious events provide junior sailors with an opportunity to test their skill at the national level. Each championship has three days of racing under the watchful eyes of coaches, which are provided by US SAILING. Sponsors include LaserPerformance, Gill North America, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, and Sperry Top-Sider. The summer schedule gets underway with the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship from June 25-30 at the Hingham Yacht Club (Mass.). Racing will be conducted in Club 420s. Weeks later the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship gets underway in Miami, Fla. on July 18 – 23 at the Coral Reef Yacht Club. This championship is raced in Laser Radials. US SAILING’s Junior National Coach Frank Ustach will be running sailing instruction clinics on-site prior to the start of racing at each of these events.U.S. Youth Sailing Championship is the pinnacle of youth sailing competition in the United States. This year’s championship takes place Aug. 2-4 in San Pedro, Calif. at the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club. The country’s top single- and doublehanded youth sailors, both girls and boys, ranging from 13 to 18 years of age will race in four divisions, in the Club 420, Laser, Laser Radial, and 29er.
US SAILING’s Chubb U.S. Junior Championships is a nationwide elimination series that concludes the summer series in San Diego, Calif. on Aug. 16-19. The three boats for this year’s championship are the Club 420, Laser, and Lightning. This event is run by organizers from the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs. This unique regatta is among the oldest of the US SAILING championships. Each team represents their home sailing organization. Semifinal eliminations are held within the 11 US SAILING Areas. Many of these elimination events are preceded by Chubb Clinics, designed to prepare sailors for racing at this level. The top teams from each Area semifinal will advance to compete for the Sears, Bemis or Smythe Trophies.
There are also opportunities for junior sailors to compete at the adult level. The U.S. Singlehanded Championships are open to male and female sailors 16 and older. Sailors qualify through eliminations, both at the Area level but also via specific regattas including the Interscholastic Singlehanded Championships and the ICSA / LaserPerformance Men’s and Women’s National Singlehanded Championships. Qualifying events for this prestigious championship run through June. Additionally, this year’s winners of the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship, the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship, and the top Laser and female Radial sailor at the U.S. Youth Championship will also qualify for the 2011 U.S. Singlehanded Championships which will be held at the Columbia River Gorge near Portland, Ore.
Competition is just a part of the experience associated with this great series. US SAILING’s Gill College Sailing Seminars, provide a forum for young sailors to learn about opportunities in college sailing In conjunction with the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), US SAILING will hold a seminar for young sailors competing at the U.S. Youth Sailing Championships and Chubb U.S. Junior Championships on Aug. 2 and August 15 respectively. Visit US SAILING’s 2010 Junior Olympic Sailing Festival site for more information about the program or contact US SAILING Inshore Director, Lee Parks at 401-683-0800 or via e-mail at leeparks@ussailing.org.
For a complete schedule of US SAILING’s 2010 Junior Olympic Sailing Festival events visit the 2010 JO Calendar.
For more information on US SAILING’s 2010 United States Championships please visit:
http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth.htm or contact US SAILING’s Championships Director, Liz Walker at 401-683-800 or via e-mail at lizwalker@ussaling.org.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.