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17 April 2007, 03:18 pm

Grants Offered To Prepare Women Sailors For Competition

Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship 2007

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

To foster growth in women's sailing, Rolex Watch U.S.A. has announced that it will sponsor several 'Road to Rolex' clinics across the USA and abroad in preparation for US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship, scheduled for 14-17 November at Houston Yacht Club, La Porte, Texas.

Organizers are seeking yacht clubs and sailing centres to host the 'Road to Rolex' clinics. Since 1997 the clinics have provided women sailors with additional opportunities to hone their keelboat racing skills needed for competition in the Rolex IWKC.

The Road to Rolex clinic programme is designed for one or two day formats and features an instruction manual developed by five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy ALISON (USA). ALISON, an internationally recognized sailing educator and coach, has won the biennial Rolex IWKC five times.

'The Road to Rolex clinics are designed to be adaptable to a group's ability level, knowledge of the equipment and skills requiring attention,' said Liz FILTER, a 2004 Olympian and national chairperson for the event. 'Our goal is to pair up expert sailors as coaches, such as Betsy ALISON, with aspiring women sailors to prepare them for competition in the Rolex International's Women's Keelboat Championship.'

At clinics with more than five boats participating, the host organizer will run a series of short races at the conclusion of the clinic. The winner will receive a $200 credit toward her entry fee for the Rolex IWKC.

Organizations interested in hosting a 'Road to Rolex' clinic should contact Trish a McElroy at no720s@gmail.com.

The 'Road to Rolex' clinics were initiated in 1997 to provide women sailors with additional opportunities to hone their sailing skills.