Grand Prize Winner Announced for US Sailing’s Greatest American Sailor Sweepstakes
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
401.683.0800 x614
jakefish@ussailing.org
Grand Prize Winner Announced for US Sailing’s Greatest American Sailor Sweepstakes
PORTSMOUTH, RI (August 29, 2012) – US Sailing has announced the Grand Prize winner of the Greatest American Sailor Sweepstakes, a feature of US Sailing’s Membership Matters campaign. Gary Weisman of San Diego, Calif. was randomly selected as the lucky winner following the conclusion of the Greatest American Sailor Tournament. Weisman entered the sweepstakes by voting in the online tournament. 
The Grand Prize includes the ultimate America’s Cup experience in San Francisco, an invitation to US Sailing’s 2012 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year ceremony, and a Rolex® Submariner watch.
The America’s Cup experience includes an invitation for one to be a guest racer aboard an AC 45 catamaran at the World Series event in San Francisco last week. The Grand Prize also features a hospitality package for two at the Louis Vuitton Cup, an America’s Cup Challenge Series at San Francisco in 2013. The package includes admittance for two to the America’s Cup Club, provides insider access and unparalled views of the race course from the official venue, VIP experiences, gourmet dining, exclusive access to the America’s Cup trophy and much more. Weisman will also receive an invitation for one to US Sailing’s 2012 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year ceremony in February.
Due to a schedule conflict, Weisman was granted permission to give his America’s Cup guest racer experience to a friend. Jon Andron, a member of US Sailing from of Lafayette, Calif., joined the Artemis Red Racing Team on San Francisco Bay for two match races last Wednesday, August 15. Andron was US Sailing’s Sailor of the Week. Check out these great photos from this special experience.
US Sailing and a panel of sailing journalists determined a list of 64 American sailing living legends and built a tournament-style bracket, similar to the NCAA’s March Madness format. Fans who registered to vote received a chance to win the Grand Prize and weekly prizes. The six week tournament and sweepstakes took place from June 4 to July 15. National Sailing Hall of Famer and America’s Cup icon Dennis Conner of San Diego won the Greatest American Sailor Tournament.
Weisman is the President of North Sails and a member of US Sailing. “I am completely flabbergasted to have won the contest,” said Weisman. “I got into the voting in the later rounds when Lowell North and Dennis Conner were emerging as front runners. Dennis is a very deserving winner for his myriad accomplishments.”
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.