e-USSAILING - Weekly Electronic Newsletter from US SAILING

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN SAILING
April 26, 2006

Reigning 2.4mR World Champion Nick Scandone is the top 2.4mR sailor on the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team

US SAILING has announced the members of the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team in two classes, the singlehanded 2.4mR and the triplehanded Sonar. Created in 1998 to develop and prepare the Team representing the U.S. at the Paralympic Games, the US Disabled Sailing Team annually recognizes the top three competitors in the classes selected for the Paralympic Games. For the 2008 Paralympic Games, three classes have been selected: 2.4 Metre (Open Singlehanded), SKUD-18 (Open Doublehanded), and Sonar (Open Triplehanded). The qualifying event for the SKUD-18 class will be held in August, 2006, and qualified athletes will be named to the Team upon completion of that event. The members of the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team are:

The 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team is coached by Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). Sponsors of the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team are Rolex Watch U.S.A., Vanguard Sailboats, Nautica, Gill, Zodiac of North America, Vineyard Vines, Sperry Top-Sider, Nikon, Harken, Extrasport, New England Ropes, and Team McLube.
> To find out more about the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team and the ranking system, please visit http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/paralympic.

US SAILING has launched a new Race Optimization Package making it easier for owners and designers of offshore race boats to find the optimal boat configuration for any particular race. The new service, which uses the velocity prediction program of the Offshore Racing Rule, allows an owner to run “virtual” races with a fleet consisting of the owner’s boat, experimental variations of it, as well as competitors’ boats. Racing the fleet through a variety of wind conditions enables the owner to find which boat fares best against the handicaps for any weather pattern.
> To find out more about the offshore Race Optimization Package, please visit http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/optimizationpackage.htm.

Who is the most passionate sailor you know? Who is always on the water, taking every rules quiz or searching for that perfect cruising lunch spot? Who do you know who has dreams about a well executed jibe-set or a maintenance-free roller furler. Or do you know someone who is newly converted to the sport and soaking up information like a sponge? How about a junior sailor whom you have to command to "please step away from the dinghy." Do you know someone who gives as much time and energy to building a fleet or running races as they do to working at the office? We want to know about them!
> E-mail e-USSAILING's editors at eussailing@ussailing.org with a photo of that sailor and 100 words of background info. Check out past featured US SAILORS of the Week at http://www.ussailing.org/News/Sailor_of_the_Week/index.asp.

US SAILING and Nikon, Official Supplier of the US Sailing Team, have renewed their partnership, bringing increased support to the members of the US Sailing Team and its coaches, as well as to US SAILING, which manages the Team. The new agreement runs through 2008, providing extra support to the athletes eyeing a spot on the team that will represent the U.S. in China during the summer of 2008. Through this valuable partnership, the US Sailing Team will be provided with high-tech binoculars and digital cameras, as well as additional support. This is the first time the partnership has been increased since Nikon first became a sponsor of the US Sailing Team in 2000.
> Read more about this valuable partnership between US SAILING and Nikon by going to http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2006/nikon.htm.

US SAILING Authentic Collection would like to congratulate the members of the 2006 US Sailing Team and the US Disabled Sailing Team! Now you can look great while showing your support for these new team-members with the US SAILING Authentic Collection Spring 2006 collection, which ranges from caps to technical t-shirts. Order your US Sailing Team gear today at http://www.ussailinggear.com and show your support of these athletes!

The Selection Committee for the U.S. Youth Championship has determined the list of sailors accepted to compete in the upcoming U.S. Youth Championship (held June 22-29 at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, MI). The Committee carefully considered a record number of applications to select the country's top youth sailors. Sailors who have been selected are requested to make their travel arrangements before registering for the event. Sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats and Nautica, the U.S. Youth Championship is the premier youth sailing event in the country.
> Visit the event website at http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/youthchamp to view the list of selections and wait list, as well as more information on the event.

You can easily become an expert of the racing rules by taking advantage of this Racing Rules Special from the US SAILING Store: Dave Perry's 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes and the Rules in Brief quick reference card. The new edition of Dave Perry's 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes includes a new advanced rules quiz section plus advice on how to be successful in the protest room. The Rules in Brief quick card is an excellent quick reference, providing simplified right-of-way rules on a waterproof card.
> $12.00 for US SAILING members, $19.95 for non-members. For more information and to purchase these handy resources, please visit http://store.ussailing.org.
> Last week's e-USSAILING issue contained an incorrect price for the Electronic Yachtmaster DVD. The correct price is $35.00 for US SAILING members, $40.00 for non-members.

Eight U.S. teams are in Hyères, France, to compete in French Olympic Sailing Week, which ends this Friday. At press time, U.S. Yngling sailors Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Deb Capozzi, fresh from their recent win at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Spain, have taken the lead in the 26-boat fleet. In the Laser Radial class, Paige Railey seems to have recovered from a black flag in the first race of the regatta and is now tied in points for the lead of the 80-boat fleet, with USA's Anna Tunnicliffe not too far behind tied in points for third place. Other U.S. sailors competing in the event are: 470 Men - Anderson-Mitterling/Hughes and McNay/Biehl; 470 Women - Clark/Mergenthaler; Laser - Funk; RS:X Women - Hall.
> For the latest results from French Olympic Sailing Week, please visit the event website at http://sof.ffvoile.net.

We regret to announce that former New York Yacht Club Commodore Bob Stone passed away on April 18th. He was one of the first supporters of our 2008 Olympic Medalist Donor Program, a superb sailor, and a personal friend. He will be greatly missed.
Charlie Leighton
US SAILING Executive Director

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