US Sailing Announces Multihull Qualifier for 2012 Youth Worlds Team

Portsmouth, R.I. (November 16, 2011) – With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil only four years away, now is the time for youth sailors to consider a campaign in a high-performance multihull. Although the boat has not yet been selected, US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Program has already begun development of this discipline in the U.S. through its US Sailing Development Team (USSDT). The 2012 USSDT includes the 2012 Youth Worlds Team, and selection for the multihull representatives will take place at the 2012 Tradewinds Regatta, scheduled for January 13-15, 2012 in Key Largo, Fla. The regatta will utilize the F16 multihull for youth sailors. The Notice of Race and registration information is posted:http://www.catsailor.com/Tradewinds/TradewindsISAF_NORs2012.html.

“Youth development in Olympic classes and potential classes is the foundation of the Olympic Sailing Committee’s mission to win medals at Olympic Games,” said US Sailing’s High Performance Director/Head Coach Kenneth Andreasen (Tampa, Fla.). “Bringing the multihull back into the 2016 Games opens up a lot of opportunities for youth sailors, and we want to make sure any sailor who is interested in a serious Olympic campaign gets the on our radar for coaching and training.”

In addition, the top open team, who meets all the eligibility requirements (age and nationality), will be entitled to represent the United States at the 42nd ISAF World Championship 2012 to be held in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. The top two eligible mixed (male and female) teams will qualify for the 2012 US Sailing Development Team.
Multihull training camps are planned for 2012 to help guide interested sailors. Please contact development@ussailing.org for more information.

Athletes will be selected for the Youth Development Team in the following classes: Radial girls, Radial boys, 29er, I420 girls, I420 boys, Techno 293 girls and Techno 293 boy at the U.S. ISAF Youth Worlds Qualifier, scheduled for January 14-16, 2012 at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, in Long Beach, Calif. The Notice of Race: http://www.abyc.org/upload/2012_ISAF_Youth_World_Qualifier_NOR.pdf

About the US Sailing Development TeamCreated in 2008, the US Sailing Development Team (USSDT) is qualified for annually, and supported and administered exclusively by the US Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) of US SAILING. The team has two groups: the Olympic Development Team (ODT), focused on performance in Olympic Class equipment; and the Youth Development Team (YDT), focused on performance in the equipment used in the ISAF Youth World Championship. The OSC’s mission for the USSDT is to develop sailors for Olympic-caliber competition and to prepare them for qualification to the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) and the Olympic Sailing Team. In 2011, the US Sailing Development Team won three silver medals at the ISAF Youth Worlds, and three bronze medals in 2010, the Team’s best performance in 18 years.

About US SailingThe United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org

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Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, danapaxton@ussailing.org, 401-369-0490

US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Heads to Australia for World Championships

Posted on November 29, 2011 by US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics

Event Will Determine U.S. Olympic Team in Fleet Racing Classes

Portsmouth, R.I. (November 29, 2011) – It all comes down to one regatta for US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics athletes looking to clinch a U.S. Olympic Team spot. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Championships, set to take place Dec. 3-18, 2011 in Perth, Australia, will serve as the second and final U.S. Olympic Team Selection Event in the nine Olympic fleet racing events. It is also the country qualification regatta where USA will look to secure an Olympic berth in all 10 Olympic events. More than 5,000 officials, 1,200 sailors and tens of thousands of spectators are expected to visit Western Australia for the two-week regatta where world champions in each of the 10 Olympic sailing events will be determined. Exclusive photos and reports will be posted on USSTAG’s website, Facebookand Twitter channels.

“All of the training and preparation done by US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics athletes over the past three and a half years will come together in Perth,” said Olympic Sailing Committee Chairman Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.) “The Olympic Sailing Committee structured the U.S. Olympic Team selection process to align with our primary mission of fielding a team that gives the U.S. the best possible chances of success at the Games. And international competition at the highest level is what will best prepare America’s athletes for the Olympic Games. At the conclusion of this regatta, America will know 13 of the 16 U.S. Olympic Team members.”

USSTAG athletes will combine their overall score from this regatta with their result from the 2011 Skandia Sail for Gold, however not all USSTAG athletes are competing for an Olympic team spot. The top-performing eligible athlete(s) in each Olympic fleet racing class will be selected to join the U.S. Olympic Team to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games, scheduled for set for July 27- August 12, 2012 in Weymouth/Portland, England. To see who is leading the results after the Sail for Gold, please visit the Trials Tracker.

US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics members competing in the ISAF Sailing World Championships:          

49er (Men’s Two Person Dinghy High Performance):
Erik Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) and Trevor Moore (North Pomfret, Vt./Naples, Fla.)

Men’s 470 (Men’s Two Person Dinghy):
Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.)
Adam Roberts (San Diego, Calif.) and Nick Martin (San Diego, Calif.)

Women’s 470 (Women’s Two Person Dinghy):
Erin Maxwell (Wilton, Conn.) and Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar (New York/Fishers Island, N.Y.)
Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Finn (Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy):
Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.)

Laser (Men’s One Person Dinghy):
Rob Crane (Darien, Conn.)
Clay Johnson (Toms River, N.J.)

Laser Radial (Women’s One Person Dinghy):
Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Men’s RS:X (Men’s Windsurfer):
Robert Willis (Chicago, Ill.)
Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Women’s RS:X (Women’s Windsurfer):
Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.)

Star (Men’s Keelboat):
Mark Mendelblatt (Miami, Fla.) and Brian Fatih (Miami, Fla.)
George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and Mark Strube (Punta Gorda, Fla.)
Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) and Ian Coleman (Annapolis, Md.)
Andy Horton (Washington, D.C.) and John von Schwarz (Annapolis, Md.)
Rick Merriman (New York, N.Y.), who will sail with past USSTAG member Phil Trinter

Women’s Match Racing Olympic Team selection does not take place at the ISAF Sailing World Championships. The two events used to select the U.S. Olympic Team representatives are the U. S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regattas, held in October, 2011 and May, 2012. The top two placed teams in the first qualifying regatta earned the USA spot at the Worlds:
Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)
Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, Calif.), Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.).

The 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships is the key country qualification event for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Seventy five per cent of nations to participate in London will be decided at Perth 2011, based on the entry quotas established by ISAF. US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics athletes and all competing USA sailors are eligible to qualify the USA in each of the 10 Olympic events.

Also competing this week in the Laser class is Derick Vranizan (Shoreline, Wash.), a member of the US Sailing Development Team.

Follow the Athletes/ Follow the Team:

• Major daily highlights on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/USSTAG
• Live breaking news and results updated throughout the day on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/USSTAG
• Photo gallery http://olympics.ussailing.org/multimedia/photo-gallery
• Behind-the-scenes views about US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics from Team Leader Dean Brennerhttp://www.usstag.blogspot.com

Joining the team in Perth will be Olympic Sailing Committee Chairman and Team Leader Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.); High Performance Director/Head Coach and Finn coach Kenneth Andreasen (Tampa, Fla.); Communications Director Dana Paxton (Newport, R.I.); Commercial Manager Katie Smith (Newport, R.I.); Olympic Coach Luther Carpenter (La Porte, Texas), Laser Radial; Olympic Coach Leandro Spina (Miami, Fla.), Star; coaches Mike Kalin (San Francisco, Calif.), Laser; Olympic Coach Romain Bonnaud (France), Men’s 470; Zack Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) Women’s 470; David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.), 49er; and Dave Dellenbaugh (Southport, Conn.), Women’s Match Racing. The Performance Enhancement Team includes: Team Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainers, Mark Kenna (Sydney, AUS.) and Dr. Shawn E. Hunt (Miami, Fla.); Team Chef Leah Holsten-Danielson (La Cruz De Huanacaxtle, Mexico/Salem, Ore.); Sports Psychologist Dr. Wendy Borlabi (Chula Vista, Calif.); and Meteorologist Doug Charko (NZL).

To read the press release announcing the selection procedures, please click here. To read the details of the selection procedures, please click here. 

About US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics
The US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics 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 AlphaGraphics. US SAILING supports these elite athletes with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is AlphaGraphics; other sponsors include Rolex Watch USA, Atlantis WeatherGear, Sperry Top-Sider, LaserPerformance, Harken Team McLube, Trinity Yachts, New England Ropes, Group Experiential Learning and Bow Down Training.

US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics on Facebook
US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics on Twitter
US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics on YouTube
US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics racing updates

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. For more information about US SAILING, please visit: www.ussailing.org. For more information about the US Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Program and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, please visit:http://sailingteams.ussailing.org.

Volvo Ocean racing News: Team Telefónica crossed the finish in Cape Town at 1814 UTC

Leg 1 Report: 26/11/2011 19:02:12 UTC   DTL DTLC BS DTF 1 TELE Finished: 021d 05h 14m 25s 2 CMPR 0.00 203.0 18.8 188.0 3 GPMA 622.50 203.0 20.3 810.4 - ADOR Retired from Leg 1 - PUMA Retired from Leg 1 - SNYA Retired from Leg 1  Team Telefónica crossed the finish in Cape Town at 1814 UTC After putting in a faultless performance on Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started from Alicante, Spain on November 5, Team Telefónica crossed the finish in Cape Town at 1814 UTC (2014 local time) on Saturday after 6,500 nautical miles and 21 days five hours, 14 minutes and 25 seconds (21:5:14:25). Telefónica skipper Iker Martínez and his crew stepped ashore to a summer’s evening in Cape Town and a rapturous welcome from a crowd of sailing fans, shore crew and loved ones. “The feeling is fantastic. It's something that you only dream of. We've seen what can happen and we have achieved much more than we thought we could," said Martínez, an Olympic gold and silver medallist for Spain. The team now lead the Volvo Ocean Race with a total of 31 points -- 30 for victory in the first offshore leg and one point for coming last in the Iberdrola In-Port Race back in Alicante.  CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand were around 200 nm behind the winners, with an ETA of Sunday morning. Groupama sailing team were around 825 nm behind and expected in on Tuesday. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Team Sanya and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG were all forced to retire from the leg and are facing a race against time to be ready for the Cape Town In-Port Race on December 10 and the start of Leg 2 to Abu Dhabi the following day. Telefónica navigator, Andrew Cape/AUS said of the team’s success, “It’s hard to put your finger on one thing, but it comes down to solid decision-making. We were always pretty sure of where we wanted to go, that’s just my aspect of it. The guys kept the boat moving fast and everything in working order, which is massive because you don’t go anywhere with stuff breaking or if you’re not trimming fast.  The whole crew worked really hard to keep this show on the road and it has worked out really well.” It was day four, November 8, when Telefónica first took over the lead from PUMA’s Mar Mostro (Ken Read/USA). The pair had covered each other’s move in what has turned out to be an unusual opening leg for the world’s premier ocean race. Boat-breaking conditions early on, which forced out Ian Walker and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam and Mike Sanderson’s Sanya, gave way to endless upwind sailing in light airs. As Chris Nicholson/AUS (CAMPER), Martínez and Read all decided west definitely was best in terms of position, the drag race between Telefónica and Mar Mostro began and looked set to continue throughout this, the second longest leg of course. Groupama became a lonely warrior, splitting from the pack in an unorthodox move and hugging the African coast, a tactic that put her briefly into first place. By day seven, PUMA’s Mar Mostro and Telefónica had traded places and the following day, the fleet finally found the weather system they had been looking for and hoisted their downwind sails. On day 11 and after 2,000 nautical miles of racing, Mar Mostro was only 7.2 nautical miles ahead of the blue boat and, as the leading pair tackled the windless Doldrums, the lead swapped regularly. At the Equator, PUMA’s Mar Mostro and Telefónica crossed within an hour of each other and the trend continued when, on day 13, November 17, Mar Mostro led Telefónica round the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha by 55 minutes. But, by day 14, fortunes had changed and Telefónica had taken charge as the two yachts raced hard to reach a cold front which would catapult them into Cape Town.  Martínez said at the time, “We’re pretty close to PUMA, almost nothing between us.  It’s great to be so close – it makes it a great race.” The crew of Telefónica had freed themselves from PUMA’s vice-like grip and stormed away, heading south to skirt the Saint Helena high-pressure system that blocked their path to the sought-after westerlies and the inevitable sleigh-ride to the finish. On day 17, November 21, 31 nm behind Telefónica, Mar Mostro dismasted. The match race was over. PUMA limped away towards the most remote settlement on earth at Tristan da Cunha, where they await a ship to take them back to Cape Town, and the crew of Telefónica sailed their own foot perfect race to the finish.

Volvo Ocean Race :Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Back On The High Seas

@Paul Todd 

It’s day six for the fleet racing in the Volvo Ocean Race and the conditions are taking their toll with seasickness and tiredness setting in for the crews sailing out to the west. Inshore, Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas/FRA) continues to luck in, leading the fleet by 111.40 nautical miles (nm), while the rest of the fleet loses out.

The three boats to the west, led by Telefónica (Iker Martinez/ESP) with PUMA’s Mar Mostro (Ken Read/USA) just eight nm astern are currently sailing upwind and away from Fernando de Noronha, the mark of the course on the Brazilian coast that the fleet must leave to port, in order to reach a new low-pressure system. Once there, they will hook into the new breeze on the western side, avoiding the centre where there will be little or no wind, and speeds will start to clock up.

The on-going battle between PUMA’s Mar Mostro and Telefónica continues as they engage in their own private drag race, causing a frenzy of activity for each tack as gear and crew are stacked in the optimum position. The two boats are in sight of each other, which adds to the onboard competition.

It is hard for CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS), who are on their own, 78 nm to the north. Nerves of steel are needed on board as the crew cling to their strategy to sail closer to the low-pressure system and meet the promised new wind.
Meanwhile, the crew of Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas/FRA) are relishing their lonely course 24 nm inshore.

They spent a magical night racing downwind under a full moon, no clouds and a balmy 20 degrees Celsius. The dream trip will be over if the weather gods kill what little is left of the trade winds, but for now the crew are enjoying themselves and last night they saw very clearly the lights of their former base camp in Lanzarote. Earlier this morning they gybed away from the Canary Island of Fuerteventura and they are now running parallel with the coast.

Discussions on board include how best to bridge across to the west and re-join the fleet. Earlier this morning, bowman Brad Marsh described this move as “similar to crossing a battlefield full of mines and bombs -- with surrounding trenches and gunfire from all angles”. But he added that Groupama sailing team are a band of smart and experienced Frenchmen who are confident in their battle plan.

Every position report tells a story. Will Groupama 4’s bold move pay off or is west still best? The crews wait in anticipation for the only source of information that gives the answer – at least temporarily.

Meanwhile, a long way behind, Abu Dhabi resumed racing this morning as they stepped tentatively back into Leg 1 with a replacement mast.

Read more »

VOR Update :Groupama Gamble pays off In shore

It’s losses all round tonight at 2200UTC as Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas/FRA) extends her lead.Telefónica with the Spanish super star Iker Martinez has lost 20 nautical miles (nm), PUMA’s Mar Mostro (Kenny Read/USA) 19 nm, and the worst casualty CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS) has lost 24 nm. She’s now 105 nm in deficit and has only averaged 5.4 knots out to the west, while the French team is creaming along at 13.8 knots as the boat heads into fresher breeze on their inshore course. Telefónica and PUMA’s Mar Mostro are just a mile apart, still clinging tightly to each other and watching every move, while CAMPER is out of sight, 21 nm further west with Madeira 60 miles on their port beam. Groupama 4 has about 60 nm to sail before the French team reaches the Canary Island of Lanzarote. But, it’s going to be a long painful night for the three in the west until they reach Madeira and a potential change of fortune. Contacts ►

For more information on the Volvo Ocean Race please visit:www.volvooceanrace.com For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact: Sophie Luther – Communications Manager (travelling) Tel + 34 966 011 152 / Mob +34 606 894 940 sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.com Lizzie (Green) Ward – (UK) Mob +44 7801 185 320 lizzie.ward@volvooceanrace.com Christina Gaither- Press Assistant (Spanish language) Tel + 34 966 011 158 / Mob +34 676 675 931 christina.gaither@volvooceanrace.com Media Guide Download in English (38 MB) or read flip version online Images High resolution images can be downloaded fromhttp://images.volvooceanrace.com Tim Stonton, Picture Desk Manager (Spain) Tel +34 966 011 151 / Mob +34 606 905 497 tim.stonton@volvooceanrace.com Broadcast For video inquiries, please contact: television@volvooceanrace.com Please visit www.volvooceanrace.com/broadcastroomFor any assistance please contact: sonia.kannengiesser@synapticdigital.com  Radio For radio accreditation and requests please contact USP Content at:radio@volvooceanrace.com Media Zone  www.volvooceanrace.com/mediazone

Editors' Notes: The Volvo Ocean Race The Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 started on October 29 in Alicante, Spain and will finish in Galway, Ireland in July. The course of the race includes stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Miami (USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). The first race first took place 38 years ago (as the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74), testing the crews against some of the most ferocious elements that man can encounter. The 2011-12 race takes the teams over 39,000 nautical miles (45,000 miles or 72,000 kilometres).

Volvo Ocean Race Update .It is clear that this is not your usual first leg of the Volvo Ocean

Leg 1 Report: 09/11/2011 10:03:01 UTC DTL DTLC BS DTF 1 TELE 0.00 5.0 17.3 5766.7 2 PUMA 8.00 1.0 17.8 5774.7 3 GPMA 16.70 17.0 10.2 5783.4 4 CMPR 60.90 16.0 14 5827.6 - ADOR Suspended Racing - SNYA Retired from Leg 1 It is clear that this is not your usual first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. In fact, Stu Bannatyne (NZL) co-skipper of CAMPER says, “The traditional first half of the first leg of this race is nothing like we are experiencing now.” Having done this race five times previously, Bannatyne would have a good idea of what ‘normal’ is, and it seems that the weather the fleet is contending with is anything but.  Out in the west it has been straight line sailing for new leader Telefónica (Iker Martinez/ESP, PUMA’s Mar Mostro (Ken Read/USA) in second and fourth-placed CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS) who all continue to slog upwind, often without tacking for hours on end. However, a change in direction will come when this westerly group nears the island of Madeira, some 92 nautical miles ahead. A frontal system is approaching which will bring about a wind shift, so all gear is ready for the tack and the crews are waiting for the signs. Once through this system this group will begin their turn south and enjoy some beam reaching towards the Doldrums, but this, the best type of sailing is still a tantalising 36 hours away at least. Although the westerly choice still seems favourable, the rock-hopping along the coast had pushed Groupama 4 and Franck Cammas’ team into the lead earlier this morning, but at 1000 UTC today they had slipped back to third place losing 17 nm, largely through having to sail dead downwind in light airs. Tomorrow Groupama 4 should pass through the corridor between Lanzarote and Western Sahara where winds will build. They are now over 300 miles to east of the rest of the fleet and 42 nautical miles offshore. Although the French crew describes their position as the ‘highway to hell’, they also say: “With Morocco just under our eyes, we really feel like this is the start of a round the world trip… A lonely one, and one that really wasn’t planned.” Speaking to Race Headquarters this morning, PUMA’s Ken Read said he was surprised by Cammas’ choice and would not want to swap places. No one likes not being in the lead and on board CAMPER the crew has been left with a bitter taste after sacrificing considerable miles to edge west yesterday. They are now 60 nm behind Telefónica and have lost another 16 nm in the last three hours. A steely determination prevails among the crew who wait anxiously for the results of each position report every three hours. When the update arrives, good or bad news is met with barely a word; it is just about clawing back the lost miles and getting back into the game. The crew reports: “Everyone is still smiling and all still giving each other grief purely for the entertainment of everyone around them!”