Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta

by Jake Fish on 18 Dec 2008
Over 700 junior sailors from 24 countries, as well as 26 U.S. states and territories will convene for the 32nd annual Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta based at the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, Fla. on December 27-30, 2008. The Orange Bowl Regatta is the culminating event of the USA Junior Olympic Sailing season. This regatta is the largest youth sailing regatta in the country.

Junior Olympic Sailing events are a cooperative program of US SAILING and the U.S. Olympic Committee with the purpose of broadening the base of youth sailing in the United States. The regatta is one of many events that take place in South Florida during the month of December that concludes with the FedEx Orange Bowl football game. The event is the largest of 25 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals. Registration for this event closed on December 15, 2008.

The regatta includes four days of competition on Biscayne Bay, featuring fleet racing on four courses for Club 420, Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7 and Optimist classes. Other Orange Bowl Regatta events include a College Sailing Forum (Coral Reef Yacht Club on Dec. 28), and a Salute to the Sailing Olympians including the 2008 Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe and silver medalist Zach Railey (CRYC, Dec. 30). Trophies will be awarded to the top five or ten sailors in each fleet, depending upon fleet size. Each Optimist Green Fleet sailor will receive a USA Junior Olympic medal. 2004 Olympic gold medalist Magnus Liljedahl will present the Orange Bowl Regatta sportsmanship trophy to a sailor who exemplifies sportsmanship at the event.

For more information about US SAILING’s JO program, including a complete list of upcoming JO events, 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.

US SAILING’s Junior Olympic Sailing Program is a nationwide series of sailing regattas for youth ages 8 to 21. Each event in this family of regattas is hosted by a different club or organization, but all events share a common goal: to encourage young sailors to enjoy sailing and to develop their skill. Events mix Olympic-style competition with elements of learning and fun for all levels—from beginning racers to those with Olympic aspirations. In 2009, 25 events are planned for waters in the continental United States and Hawaii and nearly 4,000 sailors are expected to compete. Junior Olympic Sailing is coordinated by US SAILING and sponsored by West Marine, Gill and Active.com.