Youngsters To Gather in Florida

More than 575 junior sailors will be in Miami December 26-30 to race in US SAILING’s Junior Olympic Sailing Festival – Orange Bowl at the Coral Reef Yacht Club and US Sailing Center.

This is a record number in the 27 years this event has been held and 26 percent increase over last year’s event. Sailors are coming from 26 states and four countries to race in the regatta. The event, presented by West Marine and also sponsored by Gill, is part of the USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival, which helps young sailing enthusiasts, 18 years old and younger, who already have on-the-water experience develop their sailing skills while having fun on and off the water.

“We’re very excited that so many young sailors are participating in this fun event,” said US SAILING Inshore Director Lee Parks, who runs the Junior Olympic Sailing Festival program. “The Orange Bowl is the fastest growing Junior Olympic Sailing Festival in the country.”

Olympic gold medalist Magnus LILJEDAHL will present the awards on the final day of the event, December 30. Awards will be given to the top five finishers in each class: Optimist, Laser, Laser Radial, 29er, and Club 420. The Magnus Liljedahl Sportsmanship Trophy and the Arthur Merrill Trophy for the top southern Florida Optimist sailor will also be awarded.

For more information about USA Junior Olympic Sailing, please contact Lee PARKS, US SAILING Inshore Director, at 401-683-0800 or via e-mail at juniorolympics@ussailing.org. More information on these events can also be found on the website at the address below.