Clearwater Community SC named official US Sailing Team Training Center

by Will Ricketson on 8 Mar 2014 The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider has named Clearwater Community Sailing Center (CCSC) of Clearwater, Florida, an official US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Training Center. As part of its new role, CCSC will acquire three brand-new 2.4mR Paralympic keelboats, two SKUD-18 Paralympic keelboats, and four Laser Radial Olympic dinghies.

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes will be granted access to the venue and this equipment throughout the year, for both personal training sessions and full-team training camps. With this new partnership, CCSC firmly cemented its place as a leading contributor in the U.S. effort to produce a winning national Olympic and Paralympic team, and to cultivate a more effective development pathway for future Olympians and Paralympians.

'Clearwater Community Sailing Center is providing a major shot in the arm to Olympic and Paralympic sailing in the U.S.,' said Josh Adams, Managing Director of US Olympic Sailing. 'CCSC is committed to providing our team with a world-class venue and equipment to match. We are proud and excited to form a new partnership with such an energetic and forward-thinking organization.'

Training sailors is a mission at the heart of the original purpose of CCSC, which was founded in 2002 to foster local growth in the sport. CCSC has since become one of the largest community sailing organizations in the US, with over 60 boats in its fleet. 'Our mission is to bring the sport of sailing to the people of Clearwater, and we are thrilled to now go a step further and help our national sailing team. This will be a great development for the community, and for the city,' said Frank Chivas, CCSC board member.

By entering the realm of high-performance sailing, CCSC has begun a new phase in its evolution as a program. 'Clearwater Community Sailing Center is extremely honored in being recognized and chosen by the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider as an official Training Center,' said John Adair, Director of CCSC. 'This is a wonderful time to serve our local sailing community, as well as our national community of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. We see all of the possibilities, and are proud to be involved with the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider in its effort to expand our wonderful sport.'

Beyond the new equipment that CCSC will soon provide to U.S. athletes, perhaps an even more significant contribution will come in the form of the pristine weather conditions found in the area, noted Rich White, Program Director for CCSC. 'The world is going to have a chance to see what Clearwater sailors have known for a long time; Clearwater is the best place to sail!' US Sailing