Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championshiop - “Show Will Go On” After Hurricane Isabel

Annapolis, Md. (September 23, 2003) – Though Annapolis has had to deal with the effects of Hurricane Isabel, organizers of US SAILING’s 2003 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC) confirmed today that the tenth running of the event will go on as scheduled, September 27-October 3. The Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC), host to the regatta, sustained minor water damage to the clubhouse and surrounding docks. The local fleet of International J/22 class keelboats, many of which will be used for the regatta, were moved in advance of the storm from the yacht club’s waterside facility and were not damaged.

“The storm surge flooded downtown Annapolis and the Annapolis Yacht Club, where the event will be headquartered,” said Event Chair Molly Hughes, “but we were very well prepared. Over the last week, the local sailors, volunteers and staff members from Annapolis Yacht Club, Eastport Yacht Club and Severn Sailing Association have rallied around the clock to clean up quickly in order to be able to pull off this regatta.. It is just amazing what the community has accomplished.”

Hughes confirmed that a record 67 teams are making their way to Annapolis to compete in next week’s event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The teams represent Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, New Zealand, South Africa and 17 states from across the U.S.

Organizers are using the Internet to promote the regatta and provide
information: www.race.annapolisyc.com/rolexkeelboats is focusing on Annapolis details; www.ussailing.org/riwkc has the official Notice of Race and Entry Form in PDF format, event history and news releases. There is a web server list to get direct information by email.