US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Miami OCR
Breaks Registration Records

Gary Jobson to Produce Exclusive Nightly Video Reports

Miami, Fla. (January 18, 2007) – Registration has exploded for US SAILING’s 2007 Rolex Miami OCR. A record number of elite sailors from around the world – 850 athletes from 48 countries as of press time – have registered, resulting in the largest turnout in the 18-year history of the regatta. Seventy-one percent of the athletes who have registered will travel from abroad, proving the event’s significance as one of the world's top competitions for sailors training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Racing will be held January 22-27 on the waters of Biscayne Bay.

For the first time at the event, America's Cup Hall of Fame inductee, author and sailing broadcaster Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.) will provide a front row seat for spectators around the world with exclusive daily video reports. NBC will stream the reports as daily web casts on www.NBCSports.com, which will be linked from www.RolexMiamiOCR.org. Jobson's production will culminate with a wrap-up special on the last day of the regatta.

An elite sailor himself, Jobson won the America's Cup in 1977 as a tactician for media mogul Ted Turner and holds countless one-design and big-boat championship titles. He has been a sailing commentator for ESPN for over two decades, and in 1988 won an Emmy Award for his coverage of yachting at the Olympic Games in South Korea.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to host the biggest names in sailing from around the world – and be watched around the world, thanks to Gary Jobson’s reports,” said Katie Kelly, who is US SAILING's Olympic Director and co-chair of the event along with US SAILING's Head Coach Gary Bodie.

“The huge number of sailors – especially from overseas - coming this year proves this event is more important than ever. We will see intense competition,” said Bodie. 

Registration Is Still Open
Competitors can still register on-line, but they will be subject to late fees. Online registration is available at www.RolexMiamiOCR.org. On-site registration will not be available this year.

Online Information and Resources Updated Daily
For complete and up-to-the-minute regatta news, information and resources, including a press kit, Notice of Race, entry list, on-line registration, schedule, hosts and area information, please visit www.RolexMiamiOCR.org

About US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Miami OCR
As the only International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade-One ranking event in the U.S. for competition in all 14 Olympic and Paralympic classes, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR attracts elite sailors from around the world. The event, with five days of fleet racing from Monday, January 22 through Friday, January 26, and one day of medal racing (for Olympic classes only) on Saturday, January 27, celebrates its 18^th year in 2007 as one of the world's top competitions for sailors training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Saturday's medal races follow the new Olympic format lining up the top 10 teams in each class on the starting line on the final day of racing.

Established in 1990 by US SAILING, the Rolex Miami OCR annually draws Olympic and Paralympic medalists and hopefuls from around the world. The regatta is especially important as a ranking regatta for American sailors hoping to qualify for the US Sailing Team and the US Disabled Sailing Team, which distinguish the top three sailors in each Olympic or Paralympic class.

The competition will be raced in all events selected for the next Olympic Games: 49er, 470 (Men & Women), Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, Neil Pryde RS:X (Men & Women), Star, Tornado, and Yngling. In addition, racing will be held for all the classes selected for the 2008 Paralympic Games: 2.4mR, SKUD-18, and Sonar.

In addition to title sponsor Rolex Watch U.S.A., the 2007 Rolex Miami OCR is also sponsored by all the partners that support the US Sailing Team: Nautica, Vanguard Sailboats, Zodiac, Gill, Harken, Sperry Top-Sider, Nikon, New England Ropes, Extrasport, and McLube. Rolex is also a sponsor of the US Sailing Team. The City of Miami has partnered with regatta organizers this year to help with the expansion of the sailing venues.

About Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc.
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 supporting the US Sailing Team, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, and offshore, one-design and women's events. In 2007, Rolex will sponsor over 20 prestigious yachting events globally, including Block Island Race Week and the US-IRC Rolex National Championship, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Big Boat Series, Rolex Capri Sailing Week, Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, Rolex Fastnet Race, and the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship.

About US SAILING
The Rolex Miami OCR is organized 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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