U.S. Team Racing Championship

by Marlieke de Lange Eaton on 14 Aug 2008 The U.S. Team Racing Championship for US SAILING's George R. Hinman Trophy, hosted by the Erie Yacht Club (Penn.) will take place from August 15th through 17th on Lake Erie. The event - sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Nautica, LaserPerformance and Dry Creek Vineyard - will be sailed in Vanguard 15s with a three-boat / six-sailor team format. The U.S. Team Racing Championship attracts the best team racers in the country, with competitors selected based on their team resumes. This year's event will determine the United States' representatives to the Team Racing World Championships, to be held in Australia early next year.

NYYC Team Silver Panda is one of the clear favorites entering the event as the current Team Racing World Champions and winners of the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Team Racing Championship. Led by Colin Merrick, team members Clay Bischoff, Amanda Callahan, Elizabeth Hall, Lisa Keith and Peter Levesque will return to defend their title for a third time. From the UK, recently undefeated in the Royal Yachting Association's National Team Racing qualifying regatta, the West Kirby Hawks representing the West Kirby Sailing Club will travel 'across the pond' to challenge the strong American field. Other teams to watch will be Team Mudheads and Team Stop Making Sense, both sailing for New York Yacht Club, the most winning club in championship history, claiming five titles in the past 15 years. Representing the Erie Yacht Club, hometown entry Team Confederation of Tecumseh will also be worth watching, as their local lake-sailing knowledge may provide them with a leg-up on the competition.

The George R. Hinman Trophy was first presented in 1981, named in recognition of George R. Hinman's many years of service and contributions to yachting. The list of former winning competitors of this event include two current Olympians and members of US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, Anna Tunnicliffe (Laser Radial) and Tim Wadlow (49er).

Complete results, daily reports, and photos from the event will be posted on the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/ustrc. The U.S. Team Racing Championship for the George R. Hinman Trophy is part of US SAILING's National Championships series. For more information about these events, visit www.ussailing.org/championships.

About the Event Sponsors
As with all US SAILING Adult National Championships, the U.S. Team Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. LaserPerformance, manufacturer of Vanguard 15s sailed in this championship, is a sponsor of the U.S. Team Racing Championship, along with several other U.S. Championships. Nautica-the Official General Apparel Supplier to US SAILING and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics-also returns this year as a sponsor of the Championship. Dry Creek Vineyard sponsors several U.S. Championships, including the U.S. Team Racing Championship.

About US SAILING
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.