US SAILING Launches New Elite Youth Development Sailing Team

Portsmouth, R.I. (January 3, 2007) – US SAILING, national governing body for the sport, today has announced the launch of a new US Elite Youth Development Sailing Team. Created to provide a national coaching, educational, administrative, and financial support structure for young athletes who have been identified as future Olympic prospects, this team will consist of the country’s top youth sailors in the Laser and Laser Radial. To help the athletes gain more sailing experience at the highest levels, members of the Team will travel to major international regattas worldwide and be supported by elite-level coaches.

US SAILING is currently accepting applications from sailors under 21 years old for the 2007 US Elite Youth Development Sailing Team. Team members will be selected by sailing resume and all applicants must be current members of US SAILING. Sailors interested in being considered for the team should e-mail their sailing resume to US SAILING’s High Performance Director Gary Bodie at Olympics@ussailing.org. The application deadline is February 1, 2007.

“We strive to support our athletes who will compete in the Olympic Games, not only in 2008, but also in 2012, 2016 and beyond,” said Dean Brenner, chairman of US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC). “We are focusing on elite youth development, and initially on singlehanded classes. Over time, our intention is to broaden this program to include other Olympic classes.”

The US Elite Youth Development Sailing Team is managed by US SAILING, national governing body of the sport. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING's mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing 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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