New US SAILING Member Benefit: Accident Insurance
US SAILING members are now automatically insured against accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing while participating in a sailing activity recognized by the US SAILING,  including regattas, fundraisers, banquets and meetings as well as traveling to and from US SAILING activities Find out more about this exciting new benefit included in your membership. 
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Youth World Qualifier & Youth Multihull Championship End On Exciting Note at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
For the young sailors competing in the US SAILING ISAF Youth World Qualifier and U.S. Youth Multihull Championship over the long holiday weekend, it was three days filled with exciting races and a lot at stake: a chance to represent the USA at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Denmark and, for the multihull sailors, a national championship title as well as a chance to compete in the SL-16 World Championship in France.
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USA Wraps Up Qualification for 2008 Olympic Games
After ten days of competitive racing at the Neil Pryde RS:X World Championship in Takapuna, New Zealand, Nancy Rios (Miami, FL) has qualified the USA for the 2008 Olympic Games in the Women's RS:X event. Going into the World Championship, the USA was looking to secure one of seven country berths available for this summer's Games. Rios was the highest finishing U.S. windsurfer in the World Championship. She won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last October, earning the right to represent the USA at the '08 Olympic Games. The USA is now qualified in all 11 events for the 2008 Olympic Games, and will field a full team of 18 sailors.
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Tying A Knot
 All the basics of tying a knot is covered in this full-color, clearly-illustrated booklet featuring the top 10 knots everyone should know, plus coiling and throwing a rope, and whipping (stopping the end unraveling). Designed to withstand the rigors of on-board use, this booklet is splash proof, ringbound and printed on durable laminated card. Color sequences of drawings show how to tie the knot, step-by-step. The use, good and bad points of each knot is highlighted. $10.50 for US SAILING members, $12.95 for non-members.
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US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Update
Sail Melbourne wrapped up in Australia over the weekend and USA 470 Women sailors Erin Maxwel/Isabelle Kinsolving walked away with an impressive gold medal victory. The event also served as a training ground for the 470 Worlds which kick off later on this week in Melbourne with several USA athletes on the starting line, including Olympic Team members Stu McNay/Graham Biehl and Amanda Clark/Sarah Mergenthaler, along with several members of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. Olympic Team member Zach Railey, who finished fifth at Sail Melbourne in a very competitive Finn fleet, is also sticking around in Melbourne to compete in the Finn Gold Cup, taking place right now.

Racing Starts Monday at US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR
For Olympic and Paralympic classes that don't have a World Championship taking place overseas around this time, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR is the place to be. Racing starts on the waters of Biscayne Bay on Monday, Jan. 28, and finishes up on Saturday, Feb. 2, with medal races for the Olympic classes. The list of entries promises exciting races in all fleets (in Olympic classes: Laser, Laser Radial, Star and Yngling, as well as in all Paralympic classes: 2.4mR, SKUD-18, and Sonar). Several countries are using the regatta to select the members of their Olympic and/or Paralympic Teams. 
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In the Midst of Racing at Acura Key West 2008
After a slow start at Acura Key West when racing had to be cancelled due to strong winds on Monday, the regatta is now in full swing with both familiar faces and hot newcomers on the leaderboards after Tuesday's racing. The action promises to heat up over the next few days until racing concludes on Friday. The event is sanctioned by US SAILING. 
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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? Perhaps 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. Please note that the sailor has to be a current US SAILING member.