SOLID WIN FOR JOHNSON/O’BRIEN AT U.S. JUNIOR WOMEN’S DOUBLEHANDED CHAMPIONSHIP

Milwaukee, Wis. (July 10, 2006) – After an impressive and consistent showing, Amanda Johnson (Berwyn, Pa.) and Ellie O'Brien (Westfield, N.J.) won US SAILING’s U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship today. The two young sailors, who sail out of New Jersey, showed up at the National Championship well-prepared, optimistic, and eager. Their experience and positive attitude paid off well: they took the lead on the first day of racing and never gave it up. Sailed in Club 420s, the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats and was hosted by Milwaukee Yacht Club, who stepped up to the plate earlier this year after Lake Pontchartrain Yacht Club in New Orleans needed more time to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

The regatta win was by no means easy for Johnson and O’Brien: they defeated 41 other teams, all of whom came into the regatta with impressive sailing resumes. After two days of clinics, led by 2004 Olympian Meg Gaillard, the competitors were ready to get to work. With five races completed on the first day of the Championship, Johnson/O’Brien took a quick lead with finishes of 2-2-3-1-4. The rest of the fleet was immediately at least 17 points behind. And that is how the regatta ended: with 32 points total, the winners finished 17 points ahead of the second place team of Ann Haeger (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Lindsey Kent (Thiensville, Wis.). Emily Lambert (Cumberland Foreside, ME) and Liv Gunnarsson (River Vale, N.J.) finished third overall with 57 points.

For their win, Johnson and O’Brien will be presented with the Ida Lewis Trophy at an awards dinner this evening “It was a great event for us,” said Johnson in a celebratory mood after coming off the water this afternoon. “We’ll be back next year.”

For complete results, daily reports, and photos from the event, please visit the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjrw/double.  

The U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for Ida Lewis Trophy is part of US SAILING’s National Championships 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 401-683-0800.

Demonstrating a continuing commitment to youth sailing, the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is once again sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats, manufacturer of the Club 420 boats used in the event. Vanguard Sailboats has been a dedicated sponsor of numerous U.S. National Championships for more than a decade, encouraging sailors in the U.S. to participate in and enjoy the sport, while also 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.  

Final results
1. Amanda Johnson (Berwyn, Pa.) and Ellie O'Brien (Westfield, N.J.): 2-2-3-1-4-6-2-[18]-7-5: 32 points
2. Ann Haeger (Lake Forest, lll.) and Lindsay Kent (Thiensville, Wis.): 13-8-4-8-1-3-8-1-3-[16]: 49 points
3. Emily Lambert (Cumberland Foreside, ME) and Liv Gunnarsson (River Vale, N.J.): 7-4-9-13-3-1-[43/OCS]-9-9-2: 57 points
4. Sarah Lihan and Caroline Wright (both from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.): 8-1-1-4-15-12-10-5-4-[43/DSQ]: 54 points
5. Caroline Patten (Bernardsville, N.J.) and Margaret Rew (Princeton, N.J.): 11-[23]-7-3-6-2-4-6-6-17: 62 points

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