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For many, becoming an Olympic athlete is a lifelong dream. For a few elite sailors, their dream may become a reality in Newport this October. Newport and Middletown will be the host venues for a ten-day sailing series beginning on October 6 which will select the athletes to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games in Qingdao, China. Winners of the Newport/Middletown event classes will earn Trials medals and berths at the next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Sailing Community Unites The Rhode Island Sailing Foundation (RISF), led by Dr. Robin Wallace, is the Organizing Authority for the event with the partnership and support of Sail Newport, Ida Lewis Yacht Club and New York Yacht Club. The group of organizations won the bid to host the prestigious event in 2005 and ran a warm-up Pre-Trials event last October.The boats that will be used in the event include the men’s one-person Laser which debuted as an Olympic Class at the 1996 Olympiad in Georgia. The women’s single-handed boat is the Laser Radial which will be used for the first time at the 2008 Games. The Laser Radial, has the same hull as the Laser, with a smaller sail which helps the lighter-weight women athletes in boat handling in heavy winds. Both boats are produced locally by the Portsmouth, RI-based Vanguard Sailboats. The Trials will be limited to the top thirty men and women in each of the Laser and Laser Radial classes. Sailors will compete throughout 2007 at a series of events for slots at the Olympic Trials in October. The RISF has appointed Tom Duggan as the course manager for Middletown and he is expected to run as many races as the rules permit over the ten-day schedule. Paralympic Sailors The Paralympic Classes will sail in the one-person 2.4mR which can be a man or woman at the helm. The double-handed Skud 18 must have a co-ed team. And the third Paralympic boat, the Sonar, requires three crew members who may be comprised of an all-man, all-woman or coed team. To get to the starting line in a Paralympic slot, sailors with disabilities will also compete in a series of qualifiers throughout the 2007 season in various U.S. locations. Paralympic sailors also have an opportunity to tune up prior to the Trials at the Thomas C. Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta, August 27-30. That event is also organized by Sail Newport. Dr. Wallace and Principal Race Officer Ron Hopkins will also run both the Clagett and the Trials for the Paralympic sailors. Visit the website at: www.ussailing.net/clagett
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Where to Watch –Boaters Take Notice Shore side vantage points for the Paralympic contest are Potter Cove in Jamestown or Goat Island, depending how weather dictates the course locations. The Laser and Laser Radials will race off Third Beach in the Sakonnet River. Racing is expected to run between 10–3pm thru October 14 in both Newport and Middletown. Recreational boaters will be able to see the action at all locations. Organizers ask boaters to stay wide of courses, so as not to obstruct or compromise the racing. The Sail Newport web site will post recreational boater guidelines and information for spectators. Funding for the Trials Since the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act prohibits charging an entry fee for an event in which an athlete is competing for the right to represent the U.S., sailors only pay a nominal fee. The act is intended to make the sport accessible to all regardless of economic ability. However, the Trials require significant funds to operate. Organizers of Sail for Hope, an annual Sail Newport event, have announced that this year’s September 29 regatta will benefit the Olympic and Paralympic Trials. Participating Narragansett Bay sailors will be encouraged to raise private donations through a sail-a-thon type format. In addition, the RISF and Sail Newport will be recruiting donations from individuals and sponsorships from area businesses to defray the cost of running the Trials. The contact is kim.cooper@sailnewport.org. Calling All Volunteers Although seemingly small based on the number of competitors, the Olympic and Paralympic Trails requires a large flotilla of support boats and over 100 volunteers. Dr. Robin Wallace oversees the entire Race Committee and will work with Sail Newport, Ida Lewis Yacht Club and New York Yacht Club to assign volunteers. Individuals are encouraged to contact one of the partner organizations or Adam Desantis at Sail Newport (adam.desantis@sailnewport.org or 401-846-1983). Alternatively, individuals may sign up and inquire about volunteer opportunities at www.sailnewport.org. For further information check the Sail Newport website. Information will continuously be updated prior to the event and daily race results posted as they are released. www.sailnewport.org © 2007 Newport Harbor Guide. All rights reserved. |