Southwestern Yacht Club
 For U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Sailing in the 49er

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St. Petersburg, Fla. (October 17, 2008) - US SAILING, national governing body for the sport of sailing, has awarded its prestigious trophy for excellence in race management, named the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy, to Southwestern Yacht Club of San Diego, Calif.

Presentation - John Strassman, Race Management Committee

Of the events considered, two were World Championships, two were North American Championships, two were National championships and one was an Olympic Trials regatta. The list also included two U S SAILING championships.

This year's recipient is being honored for its outstanding organization and execution of the 49’er Olympic Trials from October 3 to 14, 2007, in San Diego, California.  This regatta was actually a multi-year commitment by the yacht club culminating in this year’s winning event.  The host club committed to and held the pre-Trials the year before and the class National Championship immediately prior to the event.

The PRO traveled to the Rolex Miami OCR the spring before the pre-Trials to observe and learn the idiosyncrasies of the class.  He then recruited the PRO from the Rolex Miami OCR to help at the Trials.  The regatta was a 14 day marathon.  There were two days of measurement and check-in, a day for final tuning, practice and the Opening Ceremonies, eight days of scheduled racing and a reserve day.  All twenty-four scheduled races were completed in difficult conditions. In spite of the very short courses – having a target time of 30 minutes for a two lap windward leeward – many marks were moved. All to the right place and the changes signaled properly 

And… the race committee had to work with a Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions written by somebody else…

The Olympic Sailing Committee Regatta Representative summed it up; “Their practice and training made the Olympic Trials a perfect event. There were no mistakes…”

The winner of the 2008 St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy is Southwestern Yacht Club of San Diego, California.  Accepting the award for the club is Vice Commodore Margo King Hemond, and Bruce Greene, principal race officer.   Bruce was accompanied by his wife, Christine.