YOUNG WINDSURFERS INVITED TO CLIMB ON BOARD FOR JUNIOR OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

July 1, 2002 (Portsmouth, RI)-Children ages 6-12 are invited to join the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) and the Cape Cod Windsurfing Association for the USA Junior Olympic Windsurfing Festival Nevin Sayre FREE Windsurfing Kids Camp, July 6-7, 2002. The event will be held at Coonamesett Pond, Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. West Marine is the event sponsor.

Young windsurfers, or those who would like to learn to windsurf, may register online for one of the three sessions (9:30a.m. Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Saturday, or 9:30a.m. Sunday) at <http://www.islandsports.com/main/custom/kids/>.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Tinho Dornellas of Calema Windsurfing (Merritt Island, Fla.) coming up from Florida to spearhead the instruction,” said event organizer Nevin Sayre. “Tinho has not only taught more kids than any one I know, but his infectious attitude makes him the perfect fit for the Kids Camp.”

Groups of two or three students are trained on supplied Mistral Windgliders and new AHD Zen boards. The stable and maneuverable Windglider can hold an adult along with two kids. The new AHD Zen board is designed by Tinho and will be making its international debut at the Nevin Sayre Kid's Camp.

World-class sailor Nevin Sayre started running a monster clinic for over 200 six to twelve-year-old aspiring windsurfers four years ago. Since then the camps have taken on a life of their own with tiny sailors coming from all over to learn to windsurf.

“Coonamesett Pond is a beautiful protected lake along side the Cape Cod Country Club in the Hatchville area of Falmouth,” said Sayre. “I am very pleased with this site. A secluded sand beach and grass rigging area make the ideal setting and kids will feel super safe and comfortable here. We are not at the mercy of tides.”

The Cape Cod Kids Windsurfing Club was formed in 1999 after the inaugural running of the Nevin Sayre Free Kids Camp at West Dennis Beach. This auxiliary organization to the Cape Cod Windsurfing Association was formed to continue promoting windsurfing to children of all ages and bring the sense of community and friendships to the children through this wonderful sport.

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. 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.