US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship
Returns to Houston Yacht Club in 2009
La Porte, Texas, USA (March 11, 2008) - Organizers of US SAILING's Rolex
International Women's Keelboat Championship - the first world 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 senior 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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