Eagan Takes Control of Leaderboard at 2011 Championship of Champions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614
DALLAS, Texas (October 21, 2011) – The 20 teams competing in the 2011 Championship of Champions, hosted by the Corinthian Sailing Club, experienced a full day of racing on White Rock Lake in Flying Scots on day two of this unique US SAILING National Championship. The fleet finished eight more races on Friday and 14 total for the Championship.
Skippers Andrew Eagan (Metairie, La.) and Mike Gillum (Loomis, Calif.) significantly distanced themselves from the field. Eagan and crew Marcus Eagan (Madisonville, La.) have an eight point lead over Gillum and crewmates Mardi and Alison Gillum (Loomis, Calif.) going into Saturday’s final day of racing.
Eagan, who qualified for this year’s Championship by winning the 2011 Flying Scot North American Championship, trailed skipper Chris Raab (Sunset Beach, Calif.), the defending 2010 Champion and 2010 Mercury National Champion, by two points through the first six races of the Championship conducted on Thursday. Crewing for Raab this week is Bill Draheim (Heath, Texas), a two-time Flying Scot National Champion. Raab dropped to third place today and trails Eagan by 25 points. The Gillums, who are representing the Day Sailer class this week, moved up a spot from third to second on Friday.
Eagan won the first race of the day to take the lead and Raab posted a 14th place finish, which is now a throwout. Team Eagan won three races on Friday and four wins overall. Gillum has kept it close with steady results throughout, including wins in races 12 and 13. Eagan’s throwouts so far are a 12th and an 10th, while Gillum’s throwouts through 14 races are a 13th and an 8th. Six more races are scheduled for Saturday.
It was another sunny day in Dallas, with light winds early at five knots out of the southeast. The wind built up to 8 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Racing started on time at 9:30 a.m. CT.
A complete roster, standings, daily reports and photos from US SAILING's 2011 Championship of Champions are available on the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/CofC.htm. For breaking news out of Dallas from White Rock Lake, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ussailing.
The Championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.
Championship Notes
• Selection Procedure
• Each applicant is evaluated on the following criteria:
• 40% Sailor Criteria – how many major events have they done in the past three years; number of races in national championship, number of attendants at national championship
• 20% Class Criteria – size, diversity, depth and activity of class nationally
• 40% Other – Sailor Athlete status, class membership in US SAILING, previous experience, demonstrated Corinthian spirit, etc.
• When fewer than 8 races have been completed, a competitor’s series score will be the total of that competitor’s race scores.
• When 8 to 13 races are completed, a competitor’s series score will be the total of that competitor’s race scores excluding the competitor’s worst score.
• When 14 or more races have been completed, a competitor’s series score will be the total of that competitor’s race scores excluding the competitor’s two worst scores.
• Four races are required to constitute the Regatta.
• Windward/leeward or Triangle
• Racing starts at 9:30 a.m. ct
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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. For more information, please visit us at www.rolex.com.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, Ga. is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, Central America, US and Canada. Gill is an apparel and accessories leader in the worldwide marine industry for over three decades and specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company tests, designs and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear. Available through hundreds of dealers nationally, Gill NA is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America, where it is the top selling yachting clothing brand. For more information on Gill NA, visit the company website at http://www.gillna.com/orcontactLanceJonesatGillNA, (678) 730-5581 / e-mail: lance@gillna.com.







