THREE NATIONAL SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK: U.S. MEN’S, U.S. MATCH RACING, AND U.S. OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Portsmouth, RI (September 15, 2004) – The country’s airways and waterways will soon be filled with sailors traveling to one of three U.S. National Sailing Championships scheduled to take place at different sailing organizations across the country next week. The U.S. Men’s Championship will be sailed in Long Beach Island, NJ (Sept. 20-25); the U.S. Match Racing Championship will be held in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Sept. 21-25; and the U.S. Offshore Championship will be raced in Long Beach, Calif. (Sept. 23-26). Demonstrating a strong commitment to the sport of sailing, Rolex Watch U.S.A. sponsors all three Championships, as well as all ten of US SAILING’s Adult Championships. The U.S. Men’s and U.S. Match Racing Championships are also sponsored by Chubb and Dry Creek Vineyard.

About the U.S. Men’s Championship –
Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Chubb, and Dry Creek Vineyard
Winning the U.S. Men’s Championship and US SAILING’s Mallory Trophy is no easy feat. Winning it two consecutive years is even more difficult, but that’s not holding back Zach Fanberg (New Orleans, La.) from trying to accomplish this. After winning the event last year, Fanberg is returning this year with crew Christopher (Kippy) Chamberlain and Dave Blouin representing Bay-Waveland Yacht Club of Mississippi. They will have to beat eight other teams who have already proven to be strong competitors by having qualified for this Championship, hosted by the Long Beach Island Yacht Racing Association in Long Beach Island, NJ.

For a complete list of competitors and more information on the U.S. Men’s Championship, please visit the event’s website at www.ussailing.org/mallory.

About the U.S. Match Racing Championship –
Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Chubb, and Dry Creek Vineyard
Despite recent “visits” from several hurricanes, St. Petersburg Yacht Club in Florida will host the U.S. Match Racing Championship, Sept. 21-25. The event is sailed on Sonars and the winning boat will be presented with US SAILING’s Prince of Wales Bowl. For more information about the event, please visit the event’s website at www.ussailing.org/championships/pow.

About the U.S. Offshore Championship –
Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A.
The ten skippers selected to compete in the U.S. Offshore Championship will get to race in Long Beach Yacht Club’s Catalina 37s on Sept. 23-26. Nine areas send one skipper who has been selected by sailing resume. The U.S. Naval Academy sends a team which rounds out the field. Three skippers from last year’s event are returning to compete for US SAILING’s Lloyd Phoenix Trophy: last year’s runner-up Warren Hudson (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), Bruce Kuryla (Milford, Ct.), and Jim Hightower (Temple, TX).

For a complete list of competitors or for more information on the U.S. Offshore Championship, please visit www.ussailing.org/championships/offshore.

All three Championships are part of US SAILING’s National Championship Series. For more information about US SAILING’s National Championships, visit www.ussailing.org/championships or contact US SAILING’s championships manager Liz Walker at championships@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 Olympic Games preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, and offshore, one-design and women’s events. In 2004, Rolex returns for its eighth year of sponsoring US SAILING's adult sailing competitions. The 10-event series provides unparalleled competition in identically matched boats where winning is a matter of teamwork and strategy, not design and equipment. Since 1997, Rolex’s sponsorship has provided grants to host clubs for the purpose of improving competition and subsidizing clinics.

About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization’s mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including the US Sailing Teams and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

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