BRISTOL, R.I (January 18, 2023) – US Sailing and the US Match Racing Committee have opened the annual David Storrs Match Racing Grant Program, which provides monetary support to US match racers between the ages of 19 and 29. The grant is provided by the endowment of David Storrs, a legendary match racing competitor who passed away in 2019.
The program provides reimbursement up to $5,000 per team to pay for expenses such as entry fees, travel expenses, and lodging for one full calendar year. One female and one male skipper will be selected for the grant. Recipients are encouraged to attend at least 4 events, and are required to attend at least one Dave Perry Clinic (or equivalent) and at least three graded events, one of which must be a U.S. Match Racing Championship qualifier. Applications close March 15th.
In addition to financial support, the grant program provides a mentor who will be available to share veteran advice and ensure a successful match racing campaign. Mentors will be available to give advice on regatta selection, racing tips, and provide a whiteboarding session with long-term goal setting for the team. Mentors have many years of experience, national championships, grand slams, and numerous graded events to their name. And more importantly, they are dedicated to YOU!
“Having access to mentors that we could reach out and ask any questions to was an amazing resource,” said 2022 Grant Recipient Patrick Shanahan. “The mentors helped us navigate the match racing realm which can seem daunting to a team with not a lot of match racing experience.”
We recognize that boat ownership is difficult for young adults and according to 2022 grant recipient Alfonso García Bringas, “it would not have been easy to participate in as many regattas as we did if it hadn’t been for the grant.”
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply!
More information on the grant can be found by visiting the US Sailing website or by clicking here.
Key Dates:
- January 15th: Applications Open
- March 15th: Applications Close
- April 1st: Reference checks and team interviews as needed
- April 15th: Grant awardees announced