TIME TO REGISTER FOR SANTA BARBARA YACHT CLUB’S
JUNIOR OLYMPIC SAILING FESTIVAL

July 1, 2002 (Santa Barbara, CA/Portsmouth, RI)-Although the entry deadline for US SAILING’s USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival is July 1, young sailors interested in entering the regatta, to be held July 11-14 at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, may still register and pay a late fee. West Marine sponsors the event. Gill North America is an official supplier for the Junior Olympic Sailing Program.

The sailors, who must not turn 20 years old in the year of the event, will take to Southern California’s Santa Barbara Harbor in their own Laser and Radial, Club 420, Club Flying Junior (CFJ), and 29er classes. (No charters or borrowed boats are available.)

Entry forms, liability forms, and medical release forms are available online at <http://home1.gte.net/res07wtt/reg1.htm> and should be mailed, along with a check for $130 (payable to Santa Barbara Yacht Club) to: BJ Danetra, Junior Olympics, 606 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. The entry fee includes a clinic, lunch each day, Saturday evening dinner, various snacks and trophies. The entry fee, payable to Santa Barbara Yacht Club, must be postmarked by July 4, 2002 to avoid a late fee of $25. The entry fee is nonrefundable.

Regatta Chairs are Caroline Baker Cjbocean@hotmail.com and Colleen Kegg ckegg@west.net <mailto:ckegg@west.net>.

USA Junior Olympic medals will be awarded to competitors placing first through third in all divisions. The top finishing Area J sailors in the 420 Class and the Laser Class (Full Rig), who are eligible in accordance with the US SAILING Junior Championship Notice of Race and published conditions will qualify to sail in the 2002 Bemis and Smythe Finals. The Finals will be held at the Hampton Yacht Club, Hampton, VA.

The events begins Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. with registration and rigging, followed at 11:00 a.m. with the opening ceremony, immediately followed by on- and off-the-water clinics throughout the day.

On Friday, the day will begin with a clinic at 9:30 a.m., rigging and lunch at 11:00a.m. and racing, running from noon until 4:00. Saturday and Sunday will follow the same schedule, but Saturday will end with a luau at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday with closing ceremonies at 4:00 p.m.

The sailing instructions will be available at registration and on the web at www.sbyc.org <http://www.sbyc.org>.

All coaches and other on the water support personnel must register with the organizing authority during the regular scheduled registration periods using the official coaching and support boat registration form. Coaches who are able to bring proof of US SAILING certification will be given appropriate access and recognition, and a free hat.

For information on USA Junior Olympic Sailing, contact Lee Parks at US SAILING, juniorolympics@ussailing.org or 401/683-0800, visit the web site at www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo.

USA Junior Olympic Sailing is a grass-roots youth development program that defines a path for youngsters to become involved in sailing and develop their skills though events nationwide, with a goal of making sailing a life-long sport. The United States Olympic Committee Junior Olympic Program involves more than 3,500,000 participants in over 20 sports annually. The USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival program is sponsored by West Marine, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of recreational boating supplies and apparel. It offers its broad assortment to boaters worldwide through its 232 retail stores, an international catalog mail order division, a wholesale division and an Internet site, www.westmarine.com. West Marine is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the US SAILING Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals, as part of a continuing commitment to encourage youth to enjoy boating as a positive recreational activity. Douglas Gill International is one of the world's leading suppliers of specialist waterproof and breathable sailing clothing. Gill branded clothing is sold through independent retail outlets and via a network of distributors in 26 worldwide markets, including the USA where it is the top selling yachting clothing brand. Visit their website at <http://www.gillna.com/>. The United States Sailing Association is the national governing body for the sport of sailing, the mission of which is to encourage participation and excellence in sailing and racing in the United States. The organization achieves its goals through member organizations and volunteers, located throughout the United States, who are supported by an administrative staff located at the organization’s headquarters in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. For more information about US SAILING, visit the website at www.ussailing.org.