Champions Return to Defend Title at U.S. Match Racing Championship

Portsmouth, R.I. (September 20, 2005) – Last year’s U.S. Match Racing Champions - skipper Karl Ziegler (Norwalk, Conn.) and crew Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.) and Michael Welch (Burlington, Vt.) - are returning this year to defend their title at the US SAILING Championship. Crew Dean Brenner has already won the Championship a record four times and is looking to make this Championship his fifth. The teams have arrived at host club Newport Harbor Yacht Club in Newport Beach, Calif. today and, after a clinic on Wednesday, racing will begin this Thursday and run through this Saturday. The U.S. Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard.

Competitors qualified for the U.S. Match Racing Championships by winning a series of qualifying events at a local and regional level. The winning boat will be presented with US SAILING’s Prince of Wales Bowl, a trophy that was originally created in 1931. The U.S. Match Racing Championship is sailed in Governors Cup 21s.

For more information about the event, including a list of competitors, as well as photos a results as they become available, please visit the event’s website at www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmrc.  

This event is part of US SAILING’s National Championships. For more information on US SAILING’s National Championships, visit www.ussailing.org/Championships or contact the 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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