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18 August 2005, 04:47 pm

Top Single-Handed Sailors Head To California

U.S. Single-Handed Championship 2005

Long Beach, California, USA

23 of the USA's best single-handed sailors are arriving in Long Beach, California to compete in the U.S. Single-Handed Championship for US SAILING's George O'Day Trophy. The sailors of the U.S. Single-Handed Championship have come a long way to be able to compete in the National Championship: they defeated more than 100 sailors nationwide in elimination rounds at local sailing organizations across the country.

The event is sailed in Lasers, provided by Vanguard Sailboats, out of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. The Championship kicks off today with a Rolex clinic and racing will take place from Friday through until Sunday. The event is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., as are all of US SAILING's Adult National Championships.

Competitors for the U.S. Single-Handed Championship are selected through ladder events starting at the local club level, as well as up to six additional sailors who are selected based on their sailing resume. In addition, the regatta is also open to sailors representing the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association, the Interscholastic Sailing Association (high school sailing), the U.S. Youth Championship, and the military. Some of the competitors who have qualified for this prestigious Championship include US Sailing Team member Ryan MINTH (USA), who finished third at the event last year and Thomas BARROWS (ISV) who won the U.S. Youth Championship earlier this summer and finished second at the U.S. Junior Single-Handed Championship last weekend.

The George O'Day Trophy was presented to US SAILING in 1962 by friends of O'DAY who was well known to sailors through his company manufacturing small boats. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 as helmsman in the 5.5 Metre class.

Marlieke Eaton