FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Marlieke de Lange Eaton for US SAILING, 401-683-0800
Dana Paxton, Media Pro Int’l for Rolex Watch U.S.A., 401-849-0220
US SAILING’s
Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship
Returns to Houston Yacht Club in 2009
La Porte, Texas (March 11, 2008) – Organizers of US SAILING’s Rolex
International Women’s Keelboat Championship – the first world
keelboat sailing
competition created for women – have announced the dates for the next
running of this biennial event. Houston Yacht Club (HYC) in La Porte, Texas
will once again host the regatta, scheduled for October 14-17, 2009. As part
of US SAILING’s Championship calendar, the event’s mission is to provide
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 through nationwide Road to Rolex clinics and
mentoring to young women through the Next Step to Rolex program and the
Junior Road to Rolex clinic. The current champion, Sally Barkow (Nashotah,
Wis.), recently received US SAILING’s highest honor as the 2007 Rolex
Yachtswoman of the Year based in part on her accomplishment of winning the
Rolex IWKC a third straight time.
Taking the helm of the local organizing committee is Marie Wise (Houston),
while Taran Teague (Annapolis, Md.) will step into the role as chair of US
SAILING’s International Women’s 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.
“There are so many ways in which this regatta brings out the best in our
sailing community, both locally and internationally,” said Wise, who
competed in the 2007 running. “There is such camaraderie between teams –
such friendliness – and at the same time some of the fiercest competition to
be had on the water. That is exactly why Houston Yacht Club is proud to be
host again in 2009. Our club brings a spirit of southern hospitality to the
top-level competition that this regatta is known for, and we are planning
for even more teams, more guests, more fun, and, of course, some awesome
racing. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Houston for another
extraordinary regatta.”
As local chair for the 2005 Rolex IWKC, Taran Teague brings a unique
perspective to her role as the national committee chair. A certified
national race officer, she served as the co-principal race officer at the
2007 event in Houston. Teague echoed Wise’s thoughts on the special
qualities evident at each running of the regatta.
“We all learned that when you are in Texas everything is big. As Ginny
Garrett, the 2007 HYC regatta chair, passes the helm to Marie for the 2009
regatta, we are confident that Houston YC will come through with Texas
hospitality, and do another horizon job in regatta and on-the-course race
management,” she said. “Already we have received inquiries from competitors,
both here and abroad, looking to add the Rolex IWKC to their sailing
resumes. It is an unforgettable experience for women sailors. I really
encourage anyone who has not taken part to explore the idea of forming a
team and competing in 2009.”
Competition and Camaraderie: There is perhaps no other regatta like the
Rolex IWKC in the world. Known for its tough one-design competition, the
regatta is equally loved by competitors for its shore side hospitality.
The specifics:
* A popular “11-races in four days” format. Racing is preceded by two days
for registration, measurement and a practice race – a great way for teams
that are new to J/22s to get some extra time against the fleet.
* The regatta typically attracts between 40 and 50 teams representing four
to 12 countries
* The regatta does not require qualification for entry, only that each team
becomes 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 US SAILING’s Rolex
Yachtswomen of the Year, in addition to women of all ages with varying
levels of racing experience.
* Every day after racing, HYC will host a casual dockside happy hour where
competitors can debrief, rehydrate and relax.
* Each evening, Texas inspired parties will take place with the eagerly
anticipated Crew Party and the traditional Rolex gala and awards
presentation where a Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the winning boat’s
skipper.
* Leading the Race Committee will be Jim Tichenor (Houston), a US
SAILING-certified national race officer from Houston Yacht Club who
will serve as Principal Race Officer.
* Additional details will be confirmed at the US SAILING Spring Meeting,
March 14-16, 2008, and announced soon after. Bids are now being accepted to
host the 2011 regatta and interested yacht clubs are encouraged to attend US
SAILING’s IWKC committee meeting at the US SAILING Spring Meeting.
* A Preliminary Notice of Race will be posted online in early 2009 at
www.ussailing.org/riwkc
and at the event website www.riwkc.com.
Adult and Youth Development
Furthering the event’s 22-year mission to provide opportunities for
improvement to women sailors of all ages, organizers will offer:
* A series of Road to Rolex skills clinics to be held around the country,
supported by a grant from Rolex. On-shore workshops combined with
on-the-water drills prepare sailors for the intense competition of
one-design sailing. Where there are enough boats to hold short,
windward/leeward races, the winner receives a credit toward her Rolex IWKC
registration fees.
* There are two opportunities for youth sailors:
1. Next Step to Rolex Program – An intensive two-day introduction to
keelboat racing taught by leading sailing coaches that takes place during
the Rolex IWKC.
2. Junior Road to Rolex Clinic – An optional weekend keelboat clinic offered
to participants of the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, held
July 7-13, 2008, in Sausalito, Calif.
For more information on any of these developmental programs or to subscribe
to the Rolex IWKC newsfeed, visit
www.ussailing.org/riwkc. For more information
about the 2009 Rolex IWKC, contact Marie Wise by email at
riwkc2009@gmail.com
or at (713) 419-5329.
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 Houston Yacht Club in LaPorte,
Texas hosted the event in 2007; the Annapolis Yacht Club, in Annapolis, Md.,
hosted the event from 2001 through 2005; and 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
Championships calendar.
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 elite athlete 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 110-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. Founded in 1897 and
headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides
leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers
training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports
a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore
rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of
competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and
the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please
visit www.ussailing.org.
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