2012 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship to be raced on Lake Minnetonka
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (June 20, 2012) – Lake Minnetonka Sailing School (Deephaven, Minn.) is hosting the 2012 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship on June 27-29. Thirty-eight teams will race Club 420s in this US Sailing National Championship. This is the first time the Championship will be sailed in Minnesota.
Among the top contenders to win the Ida Lewis Trophy are skipper Allyson Donahue (Brigantine, N.J.) with crew Maddie Widmeier (Pipersville, Penn.), and skipper Holly Tullo (Staten Island, N.Y.) with crew Cally Tullo (Staten Island, N.Y.).
Donahue and Widmeier finished second overall at last year’s U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship in Mantoloking, N.J. They are the only sailors returning among last year’s top five finishers, and were the only all female pairing in the top 15 at the Club 420 Midwinter Championships this year in Jensen Beach, Fla., where they finished ninth.
Twin sisters Holly and Cally Tullo sailed separately at last year’s Championship. Holly landed in seventh, while Cally was eighth. Holly improved on that performance by finishing fourth at the U.S. Youth Championships last year in Newport, R.I. The sisters will join forces to make a run at this Championship. Other contenders in the fleet include Paris Henken (Coronado, Calif.), who won last year’s U.S. Youth Championship in the 29er class sailing with crew, Kaitlin Driscoll (San Diego, Calif.).
There are six participating teams representing the state of Minnesota, five of these teams train out of the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School. Headlining this group Lake Minnetonka Sailing School's team of sisters, Isabella and Madeleine Loosbrock of Deephaven, Minn. The pairing finished 10th in last year’s U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship.
A two-day clinic for the participating sailors will take place prior to the start of racing on June 25-26. Sponsored by the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Trust, these clinics will be led by US Sailing’s Junior National Coach, Brian Clancy, and a team of notable sailing coaches from all over the country.
For more details on the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, including competitors list, results, standings, recaps, photos, and more please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/USJrWomensDoublehanded.htm.
Stay connected with US Sailing through Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and results from Deephaven.
The 2012 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is sponsored by Gill North America, Maclaren, and Switlik Survival Products, and is supported by the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Trust.
Championship Notes
• The 2012 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is an open event, but is limited to the first 40 complete teams.
• All competitors are between the ages of 13 and 18 and must be US citizens.
• A total of 10 races are scheduled for this event. When fewer than six races are scored, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When six or more races are scored, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores, excluding her worst race score.
• Races are scheduled to start every day at 10:30 a.m. CT (subject to change).
• Racing will take place on the lower part of Lake Minnetonka in close proximity to Lighthouse Island.
• The winning skipper and crew of the event will be awarded the Ida Lewis Trophy (perpetual). The top three finishing teams will receive trophies. The top five finishing teams will receive US Sailing medals.
• Additionally, the C.Thomas Clagett Jr. Sportsmanship Award will be presented to a team following the results of a secret ballot.
*Preview content provided by Conner Blouin, US Sailing Marketing & Communications.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth 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 Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
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/or contact Lance Jones at Gill NA, (678) 730-5581 / e-mail: lance@gillna.com
About Maclaren
Maclaren is the pre-eminent lifestyle brand for parenting. For nearly 50 years Maclaren has stood for excellence, empowerment and innovation, and is best known for the creation of the first umbrella buggy which revolutionized baby transport. Like Maclaren, the sport of sailing encompasses a complete lifestyle with a rich heritage. In an effort to spread the positive impact of sailing, the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme promotes participation and retention in the sport of sailing on a global basis. Maclaren sponsors a variety of sailors and regattas around the world including training and community initiatives. To learn more, please visit www.maclarenbaby.com
About SWITLIK Survival Products
SWITLIK is proud to be a sponsor of the U.S. Youth and Junior Sailing Championships, the pinnacle of performance dinghy sailing for America’s young adults. These fine young sailors exhibit the same type of drive, performance and perseverance that goes into every SWITLIK product.
Established in 1920, SWITLIK has been family owned and operated for four generations. Known worldwide as a manufacturer of the highest quality personnel safety and survival products for the marine, aviation and military/government markets, SWITLIK products are designed and manufactured in the USA to meet the toughest performance standards. From the world's finest race marks to the most trusted survival equipment and technical protective clothing, SWITLIK products are defined by Quality, Performance and Innovation, every day, in all we do. SWITLIK - Simply the best for over 90 years. For more information, please visit www.SWITLIK.com.
About Clagett Trust
Support for the U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship is made possible in part by funds provided by the late C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. to perpetuate his unwavering dedication to Junior Women's Sailing. His support is in memory of his late wife, Nancy Leiter Clagett, a world class sailor, and of Ida Lewis, the heroic daughter of a lighthouse keeper. This support is intended to encourage young American women to enhance their sailing ability, with emphasis on sportsmanship, by providing the opportunity to compete in national-level competition with guidance from high-level coaching. Tom Clagett's family continues to assist in fulfilling his vision.