US SAILING’s ROLEX INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S KEELBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP SETS SAIL TO HOUSTON YACHT CLUB IN 2007

Houston, TX (July 5, 2006) –Organizers of US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship have announced that Houston Yacht Club (HYC), in La Porte, Texas, will host the next regatta from November 12-17, 2007. Held biennially as part of US SAILING’s adult championship schedule, the event provides women sailors of all ability levels with high-quality racing and an opportunity to compete against top national and international sailors, while providing skills development and mentoring to young women through the Rolex Next Step program.

Ginny Garrett (Houston), past commodore of the HYC, will serve as chair of the local organizing committee, while Liz Merrifield Filter will step into the role as chair of US SAILING’s Women’s International Keelboat Committee, which oversees the Rolex IWKC. Founded in 1985 by US SAILING and considered one of the world’s pinnacle events for women sailors, the Rolex IWKC utilizes the International J/22 class keelboat, suitable for four-person teams.

“Moving the prestigious Rolex IWKC around the U.S. is an important idea especially since it is a US SAILING championship,” said Liz Merrifield Filter, a five-time Rolex IWKC competitor and current member of the US Sailing Team in the Yngling class. “As a local Annapolitan, I saw what the event brought to our fleet and to the women in our area. Women who had never considered participating got involved; we had first-time sailors, first-time skippers and even had a couple of women buying their own boat for the first time. Rotating the Rolex IWKC brings that level of excitement around the country while maintaining a very special international event.”

Filter added that the regatta format has been shortened in response to suggestions from past competitors. “The 11-race format will continue, but we plan to race on three days. Racing will be preceded by two days for registration, measurement and a practice race,” said Filter. “As always, evening social events will culminate with the traditional Rolex gala and awards presentation where a Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the winning boat’s skipper.”

HYC was one of the first yacht clubs in the world to adopt the International J/22 class keelboat. Over 20 J/22s typically race in the popular local regattas such as the Leukemia Cup and Lands End NOOD Regatta, as well as on the Southwest Circuit where large fleets compete near San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans, throughout the summer.

Local preparation is well under way in the Houston area, with HYC members stepping up to volunteer for the long list of related committees. “HYC has long been a pioneer in women's sailing,” said Garrett. “We hold two annual women skipper regattas ever year, one requiring all-women crew, and in the past we have hosted the U. S. Women’s Sailing Championship for the Adams Cup. We have also conducted an annual sailing camp for women for the last 25 years, as well as numerous clinics. We are very excited to be hosting the Rolex IWKC and believe it will be a crown jewel in the Club's history of supporting women's racing."

For past competitors the change marks a new challenge in the regatta’s 20-plus year history. “I think it is going to be a good change of scenery for the event,” said Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), the defending Rolex IWKC champion who is currently training with her team of Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe for a berth at the 2008 Olympic Games. “Having sailed and coached there, I know what a great facility the yacht club has and how good the conditions can be. So overall, it should provide a fantastic challenge for everyone! We look forward to 2007.”

Leading the Race Committee will be Jim Tichenor (Houston), who will serve as Principal Race Officer. The Notice of Race will be available in November 2006 online at www.ussailing.org/riwkc.  

While the regatta typically attracts between 30 and 50 teams representing eight to 12 countries, with foreign teams consistently finishing in the top 10, it does not require qualification for entry, only that each team become a member of its country’s national governing authority for sailing. Previous competitors have included Olympic medalists, America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veterans, world champions and Rolex Yachtswomen of the Year, in addition to women of all ages with varying levels of racing experience.

For more information about the 2007 Rolex IWKC, contact Ginny Garrett by email at rolex07@houstonyachtclub.com or at (281) 471-6131.

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. The Annapolis Yacht Club, in Annapolis, Md., hosted the event from 2001 through 2005. Before that, the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, R.I. hosted the event between 1985 and 1999. 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 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.

The Rolex IWKC joins other prestigious Rolex-sponsored events including the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, the Rolex Big Boat Series and the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.

About the Houston Yacht Club
The Houston Yacht Club has one of the most active racing programs in the United States, hosting regular events from weekly club series to North American and World Championships. Members are active in race management with two US SAILING certified national race officers, five regional race officers and four judges calling HYC home. A two-time winner of the US SAILING award for Excellence in Race Management, the Houston Yacht Club continues its 100-year-old tradition of organizing regattas and promoting Houston as a nationally recognized yacht racing and recreational boating center. The oldest yacht club in Texas, HYC celebrated its centennial in 1997.

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.

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