US SAILING Announces Ranking System for 2010 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics’ Disabled Classes

Portsmouth, R.I. (August 26, 2009) – US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Program announced today the ranking system for the 2010 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics’ (USSTAG) disabled classes. In each of the three classes selected for the 2012 Paralympic Games -- 2.4mR (open), SKUD18 (mixed) and Sonar (open) – the three teams with the lowest total scores in the series standings after two qualifying regattas will be eligible for the 2010 USSTAG. The two qualifying events are:

• 2009 Americas Regatta, St. Petersburg, Fla., December 4 – 6, 2009
• US SAILING’s 2010 Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, Fla., January 24 – 30, 2010

The final finish positions, not net points, count towards the teams’ series standings. For more details about the ranking system for the 2010 USSTAG, including scoring and requirements, please visit the ranking system page on the US Sailing Teams web site. 

The disabled classes are coached by Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), a five-time US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and two-time Yngling World Champion. The 2012 Paralympic Regatta is scheduled for August 29 - September 9, 2012, in Weymouth, England.

US SAILING provides USSTAG members with financial, fundraising, logistical, performance (including coaching and on-and-off-the-water fitness training), marketing and communication support. Team members must be eligible to represent the United States in the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, remain a member of US SAILING and commit to weight requirements as appropriate in the nominated class. For more information about the USSTAG and the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Programs, please visit the teams’ web site, http://sailingteams.ussailing.org.

About the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and US SAILING 
The US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US SAILING supports members of the USSTAG with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is AlphaGraphics; other sponsors include Rolex, Atlantis WeatherGear, Sperry, LaserPerformance, Harken, Team McLube, Bow Down Training, and New England Ropes. 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 Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, please visit:http://sailingteams.ussailing.org.