2014 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Selection: Olympic Classes
Amendment: For the 49er FX class, order of finish at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami will determine 1) priority entry at 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships; 2) both entries at the 2014 Rio Test Event; and 3) the 2014 Rio fleet boat assignment.”
About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support.
The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. Yale Cordage is a team supplier. The US Sailing Center Miami is an Olympic training site. Oakcliff Sailing and Clearwater Community Sailing Center are US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.
Qualification for the 2014 US Sailing Team and Selection for other 2014 events
1. Laser, Radial, Finn, 49er Men, 49er FX, 470 Men, 470 Women
1.1 The top eligible finisher in each class’ 2013 World Championship will qualify for the team with the #1 ranking.
1.2 The top eligible finisher in the 2014 SWC Miami who did not qualify under section 1.1 will qualify for the team with the #2 ranking. All other eligible finishers will not qualify for the team but will be ranked in their class according to their finish.
2. RS:X Men, RS:X Women, Nacra 17
2.1 The top two eligible finishers in the 2014 SWC Miami will qualify for the team. All other eligible finishers will not qualify for the team but will be ranked in their class according to their finish.
3 Before being formally placed on the US Sailing Team, athletes that have qualified above must execute:
3.1 The US Sailing Team Athlete Agreement, and;
3.2 The Code of Conduct.
4 Athletes or teams that are placed on the US Sailing Team will have the option to execute the US Sailing Team Commercial Agreement Level 1 and Level 2.
5 Athletes or teams that have been placed on the 2014 US Sailing Team will be removed from the team if/when:
5.1 They resign from the US Sailing Team or retire from active Olympic class competition.
5.2 They are found in violation of the Code of Conduct by the OSC.
5.3 The end of the 2015 SWC Miami is reached.
6 The 2014 class rankings will be used as the selection event for any other event during 2014 that has restricted entry unless a different procedure is announced by the OSC at least sixty days prior to that event.
2014 Event Qualification and USST Rio Fleet
2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships Qualification (Santander, Spain)
ISAF allocates entry places for the 2014 World Championships. USA receives a single Priority Entry in all 10 events. Additional entries are allocated by their qualification: http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/Santander2014ISAFWorldsQualificationSystem-%5b14745%5d.pdf
For Priority Entries, in the following events: Laser, Radial, Finn, 49er Men, 49er FX, 470 Men, and 470 Women, the top eligible finisher in each class’ 2013 World Championship will qualify for the Priority Entry.
For Priority Entries in the following events: RS:X Men, RS:X Women, and Nacra 17, the top eligible finisher in the 2014 SWC Miami will qualify for the Priority Entry.
All additional entries for the 10 events will be determined at the 2014 SWC Miami starting with the highest finisher who did not qualify for the Priority Entry.
2014 Test Event Qualification (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
There are two entries per event per country for the 2014 Test Event. The first US entries will be based off of the 2014 funding levels A1-A3 in the Laser, Radial, 470 Men, 470 Women, Finn and 49er FX. The second qualification spot for the Laser, Radial, 470 Men, 470 Women, Finn and 49er FX classes will be awarded to the eligible US team with the highest finish at the 2014 SWC Miami. For the classes 49er, Nacra 17, RS:X Men and RS:X Women, the two entries per event will be determined by the top eligible finishers in the 2014 SWC Miami.
2014 USST Rio Fleet Assignment
The boat assignments for 2014 will be based on class ranking determined by the 2014 funding levels A1-A3 in the Laser, Radial, 470 Men, 470 Women, Finn and 49er FX.
For the classes 49er, Nacra 17, RS:X Men and RS:X Women, the boat assignment will be determined by the top eligible finisher in the 2014 SWC Miami.
2014 Direct Athlete Support (DAS) Details, Tasks, and Conditions
2014 Performance Pool Funding Conditions:
Funding from the USOC and US Sailing is earned through the combination of on-the-water performance and completed tasks, which are detailed here.
Athlete results will be scored against the following table of 2013 events, resulting in an overall grade for 2014 funding.
| 2013 Eligible Events | 5 Points | 4 Points | 3 Points | 2 Points |
| 2013 Major Events | Top 5 | Top 10 | Top 20 | Gold Fleet/Top Half |
| 2013 European Championships | Top 5 | Top 10 | Top 20 | Gold Fleet/Top Half |
| 2013 World Championships | Top 5 | Top 10 | Top 20 | Gold Fleet/Top Half |
• To earn 4 or 5 points at a Major Event other than ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, at least 10 other athletes competing at that event must be currently ranked in the top 30 of the ISAF Rankings. Otherwise that event will be scored as a 3 point event. This rule may be waived for new classes where the ranking lists are not yet populated or realistic.
• To earn any points at a Major Event including ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami an athlete must also finish in the top 50% of finishers.
• Major Events for 2013 are ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Princess Sofia Trophy, SOF Hyeres, Delta Lloyd, and Kiel Week.
2014 FUNDING LEVELS (Based on 2013 Results):
Level |
Achieve the following |
Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17) only |
|
A1 |
Finish top 3 at World Championships |
Finish top 3 at World Championships |
|
A2 |
Score at least 13 total points counting best 3 events. |
Finish top 10 at World Championships |
|
A3 |
Score at least 11 total points counting best 3 events. |
Finish top 20 at World Championships |
|
A4 |
Score at least 8 total points counting best 3 events. |
Finish Gold Fleet or top half at World Championships |
2014 Performance Grade Funding Amounts
|
Single |
Double |
|
|
A1 |
$60,000 |
$120,000 |
|
A2 |
$45,000 |
$90,000 |
|
A3 |
$30,000 |
$60,000 |
|
A4 |
$10,000 |
$20,000 |
The funding for levels A1, A2 and A3, will come directly from the USOC. The funding for level A4 will come from US Sailing.
Performance Bonuses
Major Event Bonus
A top 5 at the 3 major events, will earn a bonus. 2014 Major Events are ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Princess Sofia Trophy, and SOF Hyeres. The following bonuses will be paid per athlete (single) or team (double), with a maximum of 3 teams per class. There is a total event bonus cap of $75,000.
Single Double
1st $5,000 $10,000
2nd $4,000 $8,000
3rd $3,000 $6,000
4th $2,000 $4,000
5th $1,000 $2,000
Enhanced Operation Gold Performance Bonuses
Top 12 finishes at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships will earn an Enhanced Operation Gold Performance Bonus (EOG). Minimum bonus levels for EOG are outlined below. Bonuses could be higher depending on remaining size of pool and results. Final bonus pool amounts will be announced following the 2014 Combined Worlds.
1st- 3rd: $5,000
4th- 8th: $3,000
9th- 12th: $1,000
*Amounts are per athlete in an Olympic class.
Other Funding Details
Funding Discretion
Funding Guidelines are not an agreement to pay out grants. They are included for informational purposes. Actual awards may be greater or lesser depending on (1) the number of athletes in that class with qualifying results, (2) career results including prior World Championships, Olympic Trials, Olympic Games and other events, (3) continuity of team mates in multi-person classes (4) relative strength of qualifying results in different classes and (5) specific or extenuating circumstances including, but not limited to illness or injury.
Medical Absence
Athletes who are unable to compete in a given year due to a medical condition (i.e. pregnancy, broken bone, surgical procedure, etc.) may be considered for funding in the next year based on a grade achieved prior to the medical absence. The OSC will consider the situation and make a recommendation to the USOC for final decision, as it does with all USOC funding decisions.
Non-Medical Absence
Athletes may request funding consideration from the OSC when away from competition for non-medical reasons (such as a one-year or multi-year rest following the Olympic Games). The OSC will consider the situation and make a recommendation to the USOC for final decision, as it does with all USOC funding decisions.
Athletes requesting this funding must supply the following information to be considered for funding, and shall be aware of the following conditions:
1. The level of performance required to be considered for funding for non-medical reasons is:
a. An Olympic medalist from the most recent Games; or
b. A podium finisher at the most recent class Worlds; or
c. Multiple top 10 finishes at major events (i.e. ISAF Sailing World Cup events, World Championship, Continental Championship) from the prior quad.
2. An annual Individual Athlete Plan must be completed and submitted to the High Performance Director and Managing Director of Olympic Sailing for review and shall include an update on current physical fitness and future fitness plans, a complete training schedule detailing the number of training days and regatta days that are scheduled, and an explanation of crew composition. Preference will be given to continuity of crew composition.
3. If time away exceeds more than 1 year from the conclusion of the most recent Olympic Games, athletes shall be aware of the following:
a. A greater level of commitment must be demonstrated in the IAP when submitted for consideration.
b. An athlete may receive reduced funding in the initial year, but then will be given the same opportunities as all other athletes for funding in subsequent years.
Split-up of Teams and Continued Funding
Both members of doublehanded teams that change partners during 2014 may be allowed to continue to receive current year funding and carry their points already earned during 2014 forward with new partners in consideration of 2015 funding at the discretion of the OSC and USOC. Applications should be submitted to the High Performance Director and will be considered based on plan and possibility for success with the new partner.
Changing Events
Athletes who switch from one Olympic Class event to another may be allowed to continue to receive their funding at the discretion of the OSC, and the approval of the USOC. Athletes may apply to have that grade transferred to another class in which they will begin training in for the 2016 Games. For example, a triple handed sailor who switches to a double handed class will apply to receive double handed funding, a double handed sailor who switches to a singlehanded class will apply to receive singlehanded funding, etc. Applications will be considered based on plan and possibility for success in the new class, and should be submitted to the High Performance Director.
Payment Schedule
Direct Athlete Support will be paid quarterly, based on successful completion of tasks. Payments will be received on or about the first Monday of March, June, September, and December. In all classes, the funding will be split evenly between skipper and crew.
Operation Gold Funding:
In addition to the above funding, USOC offers bonus awards for strong performances at the 2014 Combined World Championship. The payment schedule is as follows:
1st place: $5,000 per sailor
2nd place: $4,000 per sailor
3rd place: $3,500 per sailor
4th place: $3,000 per sailor
5th place: $2,500 per sailor
6th place: $2,500 per sailor
7th place: $2,000 per sailor
8th place: $2,000 per sailor
2015 Funding
2015 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Direct Athlete Support Funding Criteria
Athletes will be scored according to results at the following table of 2014 events, resulting in an overall grade for 2015 funding:
2014 Eligible Events 5 Points 4 Points 3 Points 2 Points
2014 Major Events Top 5 Top 10 Top 20 Top Half
2014 World Championships Top 5 Top 10 Top 20 Top Half
- 2014 Major Events for this purpose are SWC Miami, Princess Sofia Trophy
(Palma) and SOF Hyeres. - For students only, Class Europeans can be counted as a Major Event if
you are unable to compete in Palma or Hyeres due to school commitments.
Request to count Europeans must be submitted for approval to High
Performance Director by 2/28/14. - To earn any points at an event athletes must also finish in the top 50%
of finishers.
2015 FUNDING LEVELS (Based on 2014 Results):
Level Achieve the following
A1 Finish within the top-3 countries at World Championships
A2 Score at least 13 total points counting best 3 events or finish within the top-10 countries at World Championships
A3 Score at least 11 total points counting best 3 events
A4 Score at least 8 total points counting best 3 events
