2008 Junior Olympic Sailing Festival Season

by Marlieke de Lange Eaton on 10 Jun 2008 Throughout the United States, young sailors are eagerly anticipating the last school bells and the first racing signals of the season.

US SAILING's 12th annual Junior Olympic (JO) Sailing Festival season is set to begin with three events in June, kicking off with events in Illinois, Missouri and Florida. The JO Festival, sponsored by West Marine, Gill and Active.com, is a nationwide series of regattas designed to promote the enjoyment of sailing and development of skills to young sailors as well as to provide a pathway for aspiring Olympic competitors.

During the course of the 2008 JO season, which runs from June through December, approximately 4,000 young sailors will race Optimists, Lasers, Bytes, Sunfish, El Toros, Club 420s, CFJs, 29ers and windsurfers in 21 events held in 14 states. Since the inception of the program in 1997, approximately 35,000 sailors between the ages of 8-21 have participated in over 200 events offering various levels of competition, skill building and fun activities designed to encourage a life-long involvement in the sport of sailing. Additionally, US SAILING's JO program has inspired of hundreds of young sailors to reach for their Olympic dreams.

US SAILING Junior Olympic Festival events slated for June 2008:

June 20-22 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival - Upper Midwest
Lake Forest, Ill.
Joey Harris - harrisj@cityoflakeforest.com
www.cityoflakeforest.com/cs/rec/cs_rec2d16.htm

June 20-22 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival - Midwest
Lake St Louis SC, St. Louis, Mo.
Pearson Buell - pearsonbuell@centurytel.net
www.lakestlouissailing.com

June 21-22 USA Junior Olympic Windsurfing Festival
Calema Windsurfing School, Merritt Island, Fla.
Susie Dornellas - susie@calema.com
www.calema.com

For a complete schedule of US SAILING's 2008 Junior Olympic Sailing Festival events visit:
www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo/calendar.asp?KEYWORD=Junior+Olympic.

For more information about US SAILING's JO program, please visit www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo or contact US SAILING Inshore Director, Lee Parks at 401-683-0800 or via e-mail at juniorolympics@ussailing.org.

The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.