NATION’S BEST YOUTH SAILORS COMPETE IN US SAILING’S
CHUBB U.S. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Single-, Double- and Triplehanded National Championships Take Place This Month

Portsmouth, R.I. (August 4, 2006) – For many youth sailors from across the country, it all comes down to this: after months of training and competing in qualifying regattas, the best youth sailors in the country are getting a chance to win a National Championship title at US SAILING’s Chubb U.S. Junior Championships, made up of the U.S. Junior Single-, Double- and Triplehanded Championships.

This month, the 90 competitors will follow in the footsteps of thousands of other sailors who have competed in any of these three events since the oldest, the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship, was first held in 1930. The Chubb U.S. Junior Championships kick off this weekend with the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Mich., August 5-9. Meanwhile, the U.S. Junior Singlehanded and Doublehanded Championships for the Bemis and Smythe Trophies, will be held together at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in Kemah, TX, from August 8th through 13th.

Many familiar faces will be competing in the Chubb U.S. Junior Championships. One of them is Cam Cullman (Rye, N.Y.), winner of last year’s U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship. The 17-year-old sailor elected to compete in the event, sailed in the Laser Full Rig, even though he qualified for the US Laser Radial Youth World Team to compete in the Laser Radial Youth World Championship, held simultaneously in California. Cullman is still getting an excellent opportunity to prepare for the Championship: he’s currently competing in the Laser Radial World Championship (for all ages).

Past champions are also returning in the triplehanded event: Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.), who led his team to the title in 2004, is returning after not qualifying for the event last year. Evan Aras (Annapolis, Md.), who was on the last year’s winning team of the triplehanded event, has made the move to the singlehanded Laser. In the doublehanded event, the title will be up for grabs, as previous winners aren’t returning.

The sponsors of the events, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies and Vanguard Sailboats, have played a major role in helping these young sailors achieve their goals of competing in these National Championships. Throughout the year, Chubb has provided racing clinics at the regional qualifying levels, giving these aspiring national champions access to some of the best coaches nationwide. Vanguard Sailboats has long been a major supporter of youth sailing in the U.S., in addition to supplying the boats for the single- and doublehanded events. Over the years, Vanguard’s wide range of support has helped enhance the sport on many levels, from guiding a new sailor into their first Opti, to taking experienced sailors to world championships and beyond.

About the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship
A total of ten teams will compete in the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship, sailed in Ultimate 20s at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Mich. US SAILING’s oldest trophy, the Sears Cup, will be presented to the winner of this event. Visit the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/triple for a list of competitors and history of the event. Daily results, updates, and pictures will be posted on the event website as they become available.

About the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship
The winner of the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship, sailed in Laser Full Rigs, will receive US SAILING’s Smythe Trophy. Visit the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/single for a list of competitors and history of the event. Daily results, updates, and pictures will be posted on the event website as they become available.

About the U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship
The winning team of the U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship will be awarded US SAILING’s Bemis Trophy. Visit the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjr/double for a list of competitors and history of the event. Daily results, updates, and pictures will be posted on the event website as they become available.

US SAILING’s Chubb U.S. Junior Championships are part of US SAILING’s National Championship series. For more information about the National Championship series, visit www.ussailing.org/championships or contact US SAILING’s championships manager Liz Walker at 401-683-0800.

About Chubb
Member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers through 8,000 independent agents and brokers worldwide. Since its founding in the seaport district of New York City in 1882, Chubb has been a leading insurer of marine-related operations. Chubb provides insurance and loss control services to marina operators, charterers, ship repairers, stevedores, terminal operators, wharfingers and vessel builders. It also insures yacht owners. Chubb’s global network includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. More information on Chubb can be obtained at www.chubb.com.  

About Vanguard Sailboats
Demonstrating a continuing commitment to youth sailing, the U.S. Junior Singlehanded and Doublehanded Championships are once again sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats, manufacturer of the Laser and Club 420 boats used in the events. Vanguard Sailboats has been a dedicated sponsor of numerous U.S. National Championships for more than a decade. Vanguard supports and sponsors sailing at many levels, encouraging sailors in the U.S. to participate in and enjoy the sport, and ensuring great competition among sailors. Visit their website at www.teamvanguard.com.  

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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