US SAILING’ S ROLEX INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S KEELBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP: Junior Women Sailors Invited
to Participate in Rolex Next Step Program

Annapolis, Md. (April 27, 2005) – Junior women sailors interested in gaining international sailing experience are invited to participate in the 2005 Rolex Next Step Program. The three-day learning experience takes place September 16-18 and is held in conjunction with US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC), September 17-23 at the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC). This year’s program features Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Jody Swanson as well as hands-on learning experience in small keelboats.

The Rolex Next Step Program was established in 1997 to expose juniors to advanced women’s sailing in a mentoring atmosphere. Since its creation, the Rolex Next Step Program has served as an inspiration for hundreds of young women from across the U.S. and abroad.

Junior women sailors, 13 to 17 years old, can apply online at http://race.annapolisyc.org/2005rolex.  Entries should include a letter of recommendation from a sailing coach or instructor as well as an essay about how the junior sailor’s desire to be part of the Next Step program. The deadline for entries is July 15, 2005.

Detailed Weekend Schedule
This year's program begins on Friday, September 16 with a welcome party and workshop at J Port Annapolis, featuring asymmetrical spinnaker sailing with Rolex IWKC competitors aboard J/80s provided by J Port Sailing Club and J World Annapolis.

Saturday, September 17 features a “dinghy to keelboat” clinic with America's Cup campaign veteran Tucker Thompson and US SAILING Instructor Trainer Nan Leute Walker, office manager of Severn Sailing Association. A barbecue and informal conversation with elite-level women sailors at AYC will follow.

On Sunday morning, September 18, there will be a breakfast for the Next Step juniors with a talk by 2004 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Jody Swanson and U.S. Olympian Liz Filter. That afternoon, former US SAILING president Jim Muldoon will host the juniors aboard his well-known offshore racer, Donnybrook, for lunch and to observe the Rolex IWKC practice race. Participants will be presented with certificates of achievement from Rolex.

The Notice of Race for the Rolex IWKC is available online at www.ussailing.org/riwkc. For more information about the 2005 Rolex IWKC, register for email alerts at www.ussailing.org/riwkc and www.annapolisyc.org/2005rolex.

About the Rolex IWKC: Inaugurated in 1985 at the instigation of the US SAILING’s Women’s Championship Committee, the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship quickly became the premier women’s sailing event in the U.S. and worldwide. Held biennially, the event provides women keelboat and offshore sailors high-quality racing and an opportunity to compete with top national and international sailors. Betsy Alison of Newport, R.I. won the first event and from 1991 through 1997 had an unbroken winning streak competing against teams from a dozen or more nations. Rolex Watch U.S.A. has sponsored the regatta since its inception. The event is part of US SAILING’s Adult National Championships series.

About US SAILING: The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, R.I., 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, visit www.ussailing.org.

(end)