LA PORTE, TEXAS (July 16, 2008) To advance growth in women's sailing, Rolex Watch U.S.A. has announced that it will expand its sponsorship of "Road to Rolex" clinics in 2008 and 2009, and is working with US SAILING to increase the number of clinics offered. The clinics are known as "Road to Rolex" as they prepare women for keelboat racing with an eye toward competing in US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC). The biennial regatta returns to Houston Yacht Club in La Porte, Texas from October 14-17, 2009.Organizers are seeking yacht clubs and sailing centers to host the Road to Rolex clinics. The clinic program is designed for one- or two-day formats and features an instruction manual developed by five-time US SAILING's Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). Alison, an internationally recognized sailing educator and coach, has won the Rolex IWKC
five times.
"The Road to Rolex clinics are designed to be adaptable to a group's ability level, knowledge of the equipment and skills requiring attention," said Taran Teague, US SAILING's International Women's Keelboat Committee, which oversees the Rolex IWKC. "Our goal is to pair up expert sailors as coaches, such as past Rolex IWKC competitors, with women sailors to prepare them for competition in The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship."
At clinics with more than five boats participating, the host organizer will run a series of short races at the conclusion of the clinic. The winner will receive a $200 credit toward her entry fee for the Rolex IWKC. Organizations interested in hosting a Road to Rolex clinic should contact Jessica Willis at US SAILING for more information, Tel: (401) 683-0800 or email: jessicawillis@ussailing.org.
The first scheduled Road to Rolex clinic will be held October 31 - November 2 at the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club (Oak Point, Texas) with Elizabeth Kratzig, a noted international competitor and coach. Online registration is now open. For additional details and to register. Contact Gayle Finster at Tel: (940) 686-5667or gayle@fortc.com.
The Road to Rolex clinics were initiated in 1997 to provide women sailors with additional opportunities to hone their sailing skills. Locations where past clinics have been held include Annapolis, Md., Rochester, N.Y., Monterey, Calif., Oklahoma City, Okla., Chicago, Ill., and Houston, Texas, as well as Cape Town, South Africa.
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 La Porte, 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. The Notice of Race for the 2009 Rolex IWKC will be available in early 2009 at www.ussailing.org/riwkc. Sailors also may subscribe to receive email news announcements about the Rolex IWKC by visiting www.usssailing.org/riwkc.
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