US Sailing’s 2009 Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (March 16, 2009) – The Notice of Race for the 13th running of US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC) is now available online at the event Web site and as a 10-page color brochure. This world-class event, one of the highest profile women’s keelboat regattas in the world, will be held Oct. 7-10, 2009, at the Rochester Yacht Club in Rochester, N.Y. In the past, competitors from Asia, Australia, Europe, South Africa, the USA and New Zealand have participated alongside previous champions such as 2008 Olympian and the 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.); two-time Olympic medalist and four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year JJ Isler (La Jolla, Calif.); and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). The Rolex IWKC is part of the US SAILING Championships program.

“The skill level of the entrants competing makes this event one of the most challenging and fulfilling regattas in the world,” said Rochester Yacht Club’s regatta chair Anne Beadling. “Along with regatta co-chair Chris Dorsey, the all-volunteer Organizing Committee, Race Committee and our yacht club staff has been preparing for the Rolex IWKC non-stop since November and is committed to making this an unforgettable experience for every competitor.”

For four days, the Rolex IWKC will feature 11 windward/leeward races and will be preceded by two days for registration, measurement and a practice race. Evening social events, which include an all-crew party at nearby Kodak world headquarters, will culminate with the traditional Rolex gala and awards presentation where a Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the winning boat’s skipper. Registration for the championship is scheduled to open in early March and sailors who register by September 1 will receive US $100 off their entry fee.

“Rochester Yacht Club will be an exciting location for competitors,” said Taran Teague, national chairperson for the event and 2007 co-Principal Race Officer. “Hank Stuart has been recruited as the Principal Race Officer for the event and we know that the RYC will ensure that the racing will be first-rate.”

For more information about the 2009 Rolex IWKC, contact Event Chair Anne Beadling by email at riwkc09@gmail.com or the Rochester Yacht Club at 585-342-5511. For more information about the 2009 Rolex IWKC or to subscribe to news updates, visit http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/RIWKC.htm

Tags: U.S. Sailing, US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship