e-USSAILING - Weekly Electronic Newsletter from US SAILING

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN SAILING
February 28, 2007

Nick Scandone is the top-ranked 2.4mR sailor
on the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team

US SAILING NAMES 2007
US DISABLED SAILING TEAM

US SAILING has announced the members of the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team (USDST). 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 sailors in the classes selected for the Paralympic Games, based on athletes’ performances at a series of qualifying regattas. The three classes selected for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Qingdao, China are: 2.4 Metre (Open Singlehanded), SKUD-18 (Open Doublehanded) and Sonar (Open Triplehanded). The members of the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team are:

2.4 Metre
1. Nick Scandone
2. John Ruf
3. Roger Cleworth

SKUD-18
1. Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett
2. Karen Mitchell and J.P. Creignou
3. Mark Lewis and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker

Sonar
1. Rick Doerr/Bill Donohue/Tim Angle
2. Bert Foster/Jim Thweatt/David Burdette
3. David Schroeder/Keith Burhans/John Pucillo

> Read the full story at http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/07usdst.htm.

US Disabled Sailing Team Sponsors:

US SAILOR Of The Week
Greg Griffin

Greg Griffin

When Greg Griffin of Jacksonville, FL, realized that his personal car would be much cleaner and in better shape if he drove a different car to all his sailing events, he decided to buy a van that he'd only use for his regatta-trips. Now, nearly a year later, Greg has put 19,000 miles on his new van, the equivalent of driving from his hometown in Florida to the opposite part of the country, Seattle, WA, six times - roundtrip. Like so many sailors out there, Greg got into sailing at a young age through his family. He started off crewing for his dad in PHRF, but after going out sailing with friends on a Thistle when he was 15, he managed to 'convert' his dad to that class. Over the years, Greg has sailed many different one-design classes, but his mainstay has always been the Thistle. "The Thistle class is like one big family to me," says Greg. Interestingly, Greg sees his own brother Scott, who lives a few states away in Greenville, SC, more frequently at Thistle regattas than at family functions. Greg's most recent drive in his 'new' van wasn't too far: he's now in St. Petersburg competing in the Thistle Midwinters East Championship where he was in eighth place at press time, just behind his brother Scott who was in fifth.

US SAILING MAKES TWO CHANGES TO OFFSHORE SPECIAL REGULATIONS

US SAILING has announced two changes to the 2006-2007 ISAF Special Regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Equipment and Preparation, including US SAILING Prescriptions. The changes, which apply to races held in U.S. waters who invoke them, were approved by US SAILING’s Board of Directors after careful review and study by the organization’s Safety at Sea Committee. US SAILING will submit the changes to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for incorporation in the international regulations.
> The regulations affected are 3.08.2(a) and 3.03.1(c). For details, please visit http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/specregs.htm.

US SAILING AND RIBCRAFT BECOME PARTNERS - LAUNCH NEW PROGRAM

US SAILING and RIBCRAFT, a leading manufacturer of professional grade rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), announced a new partnership earlier this week naming RIBCRAFT an Official Sponsor of US SAILING and the US Sailing Team, and Official Coach Boat of US SAILING. The three-year agreement runs through 2009 and includes the creation of a US SAILING RIBCRAFT RIB available to US SAILING members and member sailing organizations. The partnership includes the development of a 15-foot US SAILING RIBCRAFT RIB that comes equipped with a 40HP engine, configured to meet the requirements of sailing organizations and their on-the-water activities. In addition, RIBCRAFT will provide the US Sailing Team with professional-grade RIBs for use in training and competition at home and abroad.
> Read the full story by going to http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/ribcraft.htm. For information about the US SAILING RIBCRAFT RIB, please visit www.ribcraftusa.com/ussailing or call RIBCRAFT at 1-866-RIBS-USA.

MARCH PREVIEW - GETTING READY FOR SPRING SAILING SEASON

With March here, that means spring is around the corner. In the northern part of the country, yacht clubs are getting ready to stock their refrigerators while sailors are dusting off their gear. Here's a quick overview of US SAILING events happening all over the country this month:
- Educating sailors through the US SAILING Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series: http://www.ussailing.org/speakerseries (5 events in March).
- Helping sailors be prepared through Sanctioned US SAILING Safety at Sea Seminars: http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Seminars/index.asp (3 seminars in March).
- Leveling the playing field through Basic and Advanced Race Management Seminars: http://www.ussailing.org/racemgt/Race_Officer_Prog/seminars.asp (11 in March).
- Brainstorming at US SAILING's Spring Meeting: http://www.ussailing.org/events/meet07sp/springl_2007.htm (March 15-18, Newport, RI).
- Certifying the best through Instructor Courses, from small boat and keelboat to powerboat: http://www.ussailing.org/training/calendar (8 in March).
- Providing the competition at the U.S. Youth Multihull Championship: http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/multihull (March 29-April 1, Long Beach, CA).
> For an easy overview of all sailing events scheduled for the month of March, visit http://www.ussailing.org/Calendar. Don't see your event there? You can add it by following the simple instructions.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR U.S. JUNIOR WOMEN'S SINGLEHANDED CHAMPIONSHIP

Registration is now open for the 2007 U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy. The event will be held at Pleon Yacht Club (in Marblehead, MA) and will be preceded by a clinic. Sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats and raced in Laser Radials, this Championship is an open event for women sailors between 13 and 18 years old, no pre-qualification is required. Charters will be awarded based on date of application and distance. Sailors will also be able to apply for a Junior Road to Rolex clinic which will take place immediately following the Championship. Hosted by Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, this clinic, held in Sonars, will serve as an introduction for young female sailors to keelboat racing.
> Registration for the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship closes June 1st. For more information on the Championship and the Junior Road to egister at http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjrw/single.

APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED FOR U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP OF CHAMPIONS

Every year, US SAILING brings together the country's top current one-design sailors for a face-off at the U.S. Championship of Champions. Applications are now accepted for the 2007 Championship, which will be held October 17-20 at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, CA, and raced in Snipes. US SAILING selects twenty competitors from nominations made by one-design class associations. Eligible competitors are all National, North American and World One-Design Champions who are the current title holder (after July 31, 2006), who normally sail in the U.S., are members of US SAILING, and are members of a club, class or association affiliated with US SAILING.
> For more information and to apply online, please visit the event website at http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/CofC.

LEARN FROM ONE OF THE BEST: BEN AINSLIE'S LASER CAMPAIGN MANUAL

Through this manual and included CD, Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) gives his advice on how to win in the Laser. Beautifully illustrated with color photo sequences of Ainslie in action, plus a CD with footage of him demonstrating every maneuver from starting, tacking upwind to downwind technique. 96 pages. Paperback.
> Visit http://store.ussailing.org now to order your copy of Ben Ainslie's Laser Campaign Manual. $25.50 for US SAILING members, $29.95 for non-members.

HIGH STAKES AND RENEWED RIVALRIES AT ACURA MIAMI GRAND PRIX

The stakes will be high when the 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix, sanctioned by US SAILING, starts on March 8. For many of the programs, it signals a resumption of their Key West battles. In addition to renewed rivalries and Miami class championships, the Acura Grand Prix Awards will double the race course drama. The Farr 40 class will also have their National Championship at stake. The Acura Grand Prix Awards will be presented to the boats with the lowest combined cumulative points for Acura Key West and the Acura Miami Grand Prix. Given the stature of both events and the competitiveness of these four grand prix groups, the Farr 40, Mumm 30, Melges 32 and IRC winners will be special champions.
> Visit the event website at http://www.premiere-racing.com for event details and entries.

YACHT CLUB MANAGERS/CLUB OFFICERS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN SURVEY

In order to increase our understanding of yacht club operations, US SAILING has put together a quick survey. The survey is intended for the yacht club manager or club officer who can tell us more about sailing/racing trends, membership, youth programs, and other club operations. This study will take no more than 10 minutes and your participation is greatly appreciated. The first 75 that complete the survey will receive a gift certificate from Landfall Navigation.
> If you're a yacht club manager or club officer, please contact Brian Welsh at US SAILING (BrianWelsh@ussailing.org) for details on how to participate in the survey.

ABOUT THE US SAILOR OF THE WEEK FEATURE

Do you know a passionate sailor who is always on the water, taking every rules quiz or searching for that perfect cruising lunch spot? Or do you know someone who is newly converted to the sport and soaking up information like a sponge? 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 150 words of background info. To view all past featured US SAILORS of the Week, please visit http://www.ussailing.org/News/sailoroftheweek.

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