Strong Start for Johnson and Weaver in Sheboygan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614
Strong Start for Johnson and Weaver in Sheboygan
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (July 27, 2012) – Clay Johnson and Hanne Weaver took control of the leaderboard on day one of the US Singlehanded Championships, a US Sailing National Championship hosted by Sail Sheboygan this year. The men’s and women’s divisions completed five races Friday on Lake Michigan.
After a seventh place finish in race one, Johnson (Point Pleasant, N.J.) dominated the action by winning the next four races in the Laser fleet. He has a seven point lead over Erik Bowers (Excelsior, Minn.) and a nine point advantage over Nick Valente (Mount Pleasant, S.C.). Johnson, the 2011 Laser North American Champion, is a strong contender coming into this event with two ISAF Sailing World Cup silver medals to his credit. Johnson hopes to lay claim to his first O’Day Trophy in his fourth attempt at the US Singlehanded Championship.
Weaver (Gig Harbor, Wash.) was remarkably consistent throughout today. She won races two, four and five. Weaver collected second place finishes in races one and three. She leads Allie Blecher (Santa Monica, Calif.) by six points. Weaver had plenty of momentum coming into this regatta after a victory earlier this month at the US Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship, also raced on Lake Michigan. Blecher, the 2010 Women’s College Sailor of the Year, also had a stellar day with an impressive scoring line, 3-3-1-3-3. The women are racing the Byte CII provided by Zim Sailing.
The day started with question marks on Lake Michigan due to light rain and light wind. Approaching storms forced a short postponement after race one. Breezes ranged from 5 -6 knots in the late morning to 15-16 knots later in the day. As the wind built throughout the day, swells of 2 to 3 feet allowed some great down wind action. Racing is tentatively scheduled to resume on Saturday at 11:00 am CT.
Many past Olympians and US Sailing Team members have participated at this Championship, including Paul Foerster, Morgan Larson, Andrew Campbell, Anna Tunnicliffe, Sally Barkow, and Sarah Lihan. 
Championship Notes
• Competitors became eligible to race in the US Singlehanded Championship by their results though national semifinals or by select invitation.
• A maximum of 12 races are scheduled for the Championship.
• Racing is held on July 27-29. Racing is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm CT on Friday, 11:00 am CT on Saturday, and 9:00 am CT on Sunday (subject to change).
• The racing venue is a half mile S/SE of Sheboygan Lighthouse on Lake Michigan.
• US Sailing medals will be awarded to the top three in each division. The winning skipper of the men’s division will have his name engraved on the George O’Day Trophy. The winning skipper of the women’s division will have her name engraved on the Hellen Willis Hanley Trophy. The Peter J. Barrett Sportsmanship Trophy will also be awarded.
• Competitors will participate in a Rolex Clinic on Thursday, July 26.
• This event is a US Sailing National Championship.
• The first US Singlehanded Championship took place in 1962.
For results, standings, photos and more details about the 2012 U.S. Singlehanded Championship, please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USSinglehandedChampionship.htm.
The US Singlehanded Championships is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Zim Sailing, Gill North America, and Hobie Sunglasses. This Championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.
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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 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 Sperry Top-Sider preparation, US Sailing National 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/or contact Lance Jones at Gill NA, (678) 730-5581 / e-mail: lance@gillna.com
About Zim Sailing
Zim Sailing, headquartered in Warren, R.I. is the fastest growing manufacturer of one-design sailboats in North America. Currently, Zim manufactures and distributes the Optimist, Club 420, CFJ and the Byte CII. Zim’s customers include high schools, colleges, yacht clubs, community sailing centers and the passionate dinghy sailor. Zim boats have won several local, regional, National and North American championships since the company’s creation in 2008. Zim is dedicated to the success and growth of dinghy sailing. Zim’s experienced staff and support vehicles can be found at many regattas. For more information, please visit www.zimsailing.com or email info@zimsailing.com.
About Hobie Polarized
Hobie Polarized is a leading designer, developer, marketer and distributor of polarized eyewear. The brand’s innovative lens technology allows total glare reduction, 100% UV protection, enhances contrast and provides optimum visual acuity. The company’s products are sold worldwide and are used by watermen at all skill and lifestyle levels. The Hobie Polarized headquarters is located in Plainview, New York. For further information, please visit the company’s website at www.hobiepolarized.com.