U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship Begins Monday in Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (July 6, 2012) – US Sailing’s 2012 US Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship is coming to the “Windy City” July 9-11 for three days of racing on Lake Michigan. Chicago Yacht Club welcomes a fleet of 50 sailors from around the country to race Laser Radials for the prestigious Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy.
Four top ten competitors from last year’s Championship have returned to race for the 2012 title. Madison Gates (Sarasota, Fla.) comes into the US Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship after a fifth place finish in 2011. This is the best finish among returning sailors. Other returning competitors include, Dana Rhode (Richmond Hill, Ga.) ninth, Hanne Weaver (Gig Harbor, Wash.) sixth, and Quinn Howes (South Orleans, Mass.) seventh. Weaver, Rhode and Gates competed at the 2012 US Laser National Championship this past May in Houston, Texas. Weaver finished ahead of Rhode and Gates placing 13th out of 44 boats. Weaver was the second best female competitor in the field.
Lindsey Baab (Saratoga, Calif.) returns from overseas to race in this event. Baab recently competed at the 2012 Laser Radial Youth World Championships in Brisbane, Australia, where she finished 13th overall, and was the top American. Maddie Widmeier (Pipersville, Penn.), coming off her victory at the US Women’s Doublehanded Championship, has also entered the field. All five sailors will compete in US Sailing’s 2012 US Youth Championships this August in Cascade Locks, Ore.
Four local sailors, representing the Chicago Yacht Club, will compete for the Championship, including sisters Samantha Foulston (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Elizabeth Foulston (Hinsdale, Ill.), Mary Claire Kiernan (Hinsdale, Ill.), and Rose Edwards (Chicago, Ill.).
The event is preceded by a two day clinic (July 7-8) for the participating racers, led by US Sailing’s Junior National Coach Brian Clancy and a staff of distinguished high school and collegiate coaches.
For results, recaps, photos and more details about the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship, please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/USJrWomensSinglehanded.htm. This Championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.
Stay connected with US Sailing through Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and results from Chicago.
The U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship is sponsored by Gill North America and Switlik Survival Products, and is supported by the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trust.
Championship Notes
• The U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship is an open event.
• Competitors are between the ages of 13 and 18 and must be US citizens.
• A total of ten races are scheduled. Three races must be completed to constitute a complete Championship. When fewer than six races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When six or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
• Racing begins each day at 11 a.m. (subject to change). Racing will take place on Lake Michigan, directly off the shore of Chicago Yacht Club Belmont Station (approx. 1.5 nautical miles offshore).
• US Sailing Championship medals will be awarded to competitors who finish first through fifth. The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Sportsmanship Prize will be awarded.
*Preview content provided by Conner Blouin, US Sailing Communications Assistant.
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 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 Singlehanded 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.