10 Questions for Betsy Alison: Who's Your New Four-Legged Teammate?
While the athletes of the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team (USDST) have long been named, a new member was recently added to the team. His name is Morrow II and, according to his owner US Disabled Sailing Team Coach Betsy Alison, he's quickly learning the ropes ? although not literally trimming the sails like the other sailors. Morrow is an assistance dog that will travel with the Team to events and training camps across the United States. Betsy, a five-time US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and two-time Yngling World Champion, has just finished a comprehensive training program with Morrow, a Lab/Golden Retriever mix. US SAILING caught up with Betsy to find out how her new four-legged teammate will play a key role on the USDST. 

1. What is Morrow trained to do and what will be his role on the USDST?
Morrow is a facility dog, highly trained to work and interact with a wide variety of people who have disabilities.  Although Morrow's primary "job" will be to support the physical and mental health of the sailors, he is capable of picking up and carrying items such as pocket tools, hammers, crutches, ductape, lifejackets, smaller sails and more.  I will also work with him to develop skills to assist in pulling manual wheelchairs up dock ramps and to assist in water rescues. 

2. What made you get a service dog?
Watching the sailors interact with pet dogs caused me to research getting a "team dog" as a stress reducer and psychological motivator for the sailors. Several sport psychologists agreed it was a good concept. U.S. Paralympian Paul Callahan (Sonar skipper in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney) put me in contact with the executive director of the Northeast of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), and we got the ball rolling.

3. What are the benefits to the USDST?
Sometimes the stresses of traveling, training and competing in multiple venues can intensify for athletes with disabilities, especially since many of the familiar constants of home (like family, children and pets) are left behind when they travel.  I believe that having a constant -- in this case, Morrow -- that is capable of giving unconditional love and attention to the sailors when we are traveling, competing and training is a very positive thing.  This is especially important when they do not feel well, are unreceptive after a poor performance on the water or are coping with high levels of stress.

4. How were you chosen?
CCI has a very comprehensive application process in which there are many evaluations and assessments of you, your facility, your work population and your needs.  This includes phone and face-to-face interviews, professional recommendations, and an in-person meeting where you work with a dog and are assessed by the CCI dog trainers.  The CCI then issues invitations to participate in Team Training. Not everyone who applies is accepted or given a working companion dog.

5. How were you matched with a service dog?
During CCI's 10-day Team Training in Long Island, we were in class from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. each day.  The trainers first paired us up with several different dogs that had the skill sets and dispositions that could work in our individual environments.  For example, I needed a dog that was comfortable and not fussed by crowded, chaotic docks (small spaces) where there might be 5 to 10 wheelchairs and other sailors milling about. The dog also had to be calm when faced with loud sound like air horns, shrill whistles and gun blasts. Swimming skills goes unsaid. Then, the instructors make a Pre-Placement where each student is paired with a specific dog to work for the rest of the 10-day session. 

6. What did the training entail?
Every day we had lectures including Dog Learning Theory, Correction, Motivation, Grooming, Dog Health Care, Advanced Training and Resistance. We had quizzes and reading assignments every night, and practical training sessions several times a day where we worked the dogs under the guidance of the dog trainers. These dogs are well-versed in over 40 specific commands.  We took the dogs home with us each night and cared for its needs.  We also went on field trips to places like: a diner, Lowes store, assisted living facility, Pet Smart, restaurant and mall. We were assessed on our handling skills of the dogs in public environments and around other people.

7. Do you now have full ownership of the dog?
CCI retains ownership of each dog until it retires at which time they hand title over to you.  They reserve the right to take the dog away if it is mishandled, becomes obese or if it becomes unpractical for you or your facility to utilize the dog for the intended purposes.

10. What's your favorite thing about Morrow?
Morrow is really smart and is genuinely eager to work. After graduation on Saturday, he went straight to work with our USDST sailors at a training camp for the SKUD-18s in Newport, R.I. He has quickly adjusted to riding in a coach boat and interacting with the sailors. He has an amazingly sweet disposition and incredibly well behaved!

Notice of Race Now Available for Olympic and Paralympic Trials - Sailing
The Notice of Race for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials - Sailing is now available online at www.ussailing.org  Six yacht clubs in Southern California and Newport, R.I. will host the Team Trials for the Olympic and Paralympic classes from October 3-14, 2007. Upon approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the athletes who win the Trials in each class will be named to the U.S. Olympic Team and U.S. Paralympic Team and compete in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in China. The Notice of Race includes class eligibility and qualification procedures, regulations and host clubs' contact and venue information. <<Read more>>

Breitling Regatta Begins Today
The Breitling Regatta kicked off today in Medemblik, The Netherlands, which USA's Geoff Ewenson predicts to be "the most challenging event so far this season."  He expects the racing in the 88-boat Finn fleet to be intense. "After a couple of days of qualifying, we will get split into gold and silver fleets. My first goal is to get into the gold fleet. With a light and funk forecast, this will not be simple," he wrote in his newsletter.  www.ewensonsailing.org

"We have had great wind," Fellow Finn sailor Zach Railey wrote. "Even though it has been a bit chilly, the sailing has been fantastic. It feels great to be back in the boat, and I feel refreshed and ready to go for this event." www.zachrailey.com

For complete results from the Breitling Regatta, please visit the event web site: www.breitlingregatta.org/2007

Unprecedented Donation to the Olympic Sailing Program
The Riverside Yacht Club in Riverside, Conn., kicked off a successful summer sailing season Sunday by making the largest ever donation by a yacht club to the US Olympic Sailing Program. The club raised $143,000 at its "Sail for the Gold" fundraiser held April 26. The event co-chairpersons Rear Commodore Walton Alder and his wife, Diane, presented the check to the chairman of the Olympic Sailing Program, Dean Brenner (Wallingford, CT), at a ceremony for the 119th commissioning of the club.

"We are incredibly grateful to the leadership and membership of Riverside Yacht Club for their overwhelmingly generous support," said Brenner. "This will have a measurable impact on our athletes in their preparation for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are hoping other clubs will step forward to help us continue the momentum started by Riverside." <<Read more>>