| Name |
Betsy ALISON |
Lee Aiko ICYDA |
Suzy LEECH |
| Date of Birth |
22000 |
39352 |
24469 |
| Place of Birth |
New Jersey, USA |
Stuart, FL, USA |
Greenwich, CT, USA |
| Profession |
Sailing Coach, television co-host |
Full time Sailor |
Sailor/Database programme |
| ISAF Sailor ID |
USAEA1 |
USALI1 |
USASL3 |
| Website |
www.challengeus.org |
www.challengeus.org |
www.challengeus.org |
| Age started sailing |
8 |
15 |
3-4 with my parents |
| First boat sailed |
Sunfish |
420 |
Etchells 24 |
| Age started racing |
9 |
15 |
21 |
| First boat raced |
Sunfish |
420 |
IMS/PHRF boats in Annapolis |
| What inspired you to take up sailing? |
Parental involvement and encouragement |
After my competitive days in equestrian eventing were over, my family encouraged me to give sailing a try. It took less than an hour to figure out it was the perfect sport for me. |
Both of my parents were avid sailors when I was young. My father was on the 1st US team to win the Admiral’s Cup in 1969. My mother often crewed for my dad on our Etchells and other boats. I sailed around the world (Annapolis – American Samoa) with my family from 1977-1979. |
| How did you buy your first boat? |
Cash |
Technically, I co-own my first boat with my team; Betsy Suzy and I used our USOC funding to purchase our Yngling. |
Yngling 2001 (with savings) |
| Which was your first sailing club? |
Metedeconk River Yacht Club |
US Sailing Center of Martin County |
As a kid, parents were members of American YC) |
| Which was your first sailing club? |
Metedeconk River Yacht Club |
US Sailing Center of Martin County |
My first club – New York YC |
| First Event competed in and Year |
MRYC Junior Series in 1969 |
Laser II Midwinters, as crew in 1994 |
Annapolis – Newport Race on Tempest (S& S 81 with parents) in 1977 |
| First Event won and Year |
MRYC Junior Sunfish Series 1972 |
High Scholl Regatta in 420s in 1995 |
1st major one I remember – Block Island Race Week J 33 Bow in 1992 |
| Principle achievements |
2000 US Paralympic Sailing Team Head Coach |
2003 Open Yngling World Champions; |
1st Yngling Open World Championship 2003 |
| Principle achievements |
US Disabled Sailing Team Coach 1998-2000 |
Bronze medal in 2002 Women’s Yngling World Championship |
1st SPA Regatta (our first major European Yngling win) |
| Principle achievements |
US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year – Sailing |
Selected as the US Sailing Team of the Year 2002 |
US Women’s Match Race Champions – 12/2002 |
| Principle achievements |
Rolex US Yachtswoman of the Year 1998, 1993, 1984, 1982 & 1981 |
Ranked #1 on the US Sailing Team 2003 |
One Ton Cup Champion – 10/2002 (with K-Yachting) |
| Principle achievements |
RI Sport Council – Personal Achievement Award 1997 |
Ranked #1 in the ISAF rankings for 4 consecutive cycles |
North American Yngling Champion 2001 (with Courtenay BECKER-DEY) |
| Principle achievements |
New Jersy Women of Achievemnt 1983 |
Collegiate All American 1999-2000, 2000-2001 for Tufts University |
Mumm 30 World Champion 1999 (with Barry ALLARDICE) |
| Principle achievements |
US Amateur Athlete in Yachting 1982 & 1981 |
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America’s Cup 1994-1995 with America3 |
| Principle achievements |
Collegiate All-American Honorable Mention 1981 (Tufts) |
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| Principle achievements |
US Sailing Association Member of National Training Faculty 1990-1994, Master Trainer for Level II, Instructor Trainer for Levels I and II |
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| Principle achievements |
US Team Coach of World Disabled Sailing Team – Gold and Silver Medallists 1998 |
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| Principle achievements |
Co-Host of Boating Today TV (now in 3rd season). |
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| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
US Women’s Sailing Champion 1991, 1990 and 1984 |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series (Citizen’s Cup) in 1994- 1995, and this past year campaigning to represent the US at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. These two events are arguably the two ultimate events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to experience both. |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
US Women’s Single-Handed Champion 1982, 1981 and 1979 |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series (Citizen’s Cup) in 1994- 1995, and this past year campaigning to represent the US at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. These two events are arguably the two ultimate events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to experience both. |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
Women’s Laser World Champion 1983 |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series (Citizen’s Cup) in 1994- 1995, and this past year campaigning to represent the US at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. These two events are arguably the two ultimate events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to experience both. |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
ISAF Dubai World Championships 1998 – 1st Women’s Match Racing |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series (Citizen’s Cup) in 1994- 1995, and this past year campaigning to represent the US at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. These two events are arguably the two ultimate events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to experience both. |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
ISAF Dubai World Championships 1998 - Women’s Keelboat |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series (Citizen’s Cup) in 1994- 1995, and this past year campaigning to represent the US at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. These two events are arguably the two ultimate events in the world, and I have been lucky enough to experience both. |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
2nd Yngling Open World Championship 2001 |
A year ago May, our team came together. In this relatively short period of time, we have accumulated an impressive resume. I am proud of all our accomplishments, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as highlights: In July 2002, the Yngling Worlds were held in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was our second fleet racing regatta together and our bronze medal performance qualified the United States for the Olympic Games. Winning the 2003 Yngling Open Worlds is by far the highlight of my sailing career. As the first women to ever win the Yngling Open Worlds, our team made history. |
The most significant two events in my sailing career have been my involvement with America3 for the America’s Cup Defence Series |
This American trio have dominated at the top of the ISAF World Rankings in the Yngling since May 2003, having produced a series of top ten results from each of the ISAF Grade 1 and 2 events they have competed in over the past twelve months. Not satisfied in excelling in the women’s fleet, they have also conquered the open fleet and claimed the Gold Medal at the Yngling Open World Championship in July 2003.