Racing Summary (May 7, 2012): In a thrilling conclusion to four days of women’s match racing, Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) and her Team Maclaren crew Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) won the 2012 US Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta by defeating Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI) and her Team 7 Match Race crew Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) and Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.). Tunnicliffe defeated Barkow in the “first-to-six-wins” final match-up, which was held in Weymouth and Portland, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. With the win, Tunnicliffe, Vandemoer and Capozzi were selected for the 2012 US Olympic Team – Sailing, pending confirmation from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“We knew it was going to be a good day going into it,” said Tunnicliffe moments after reaching the dock. “The weather wasn’t spectacular, but we were glad to be out there.”

2012 WMR US Olympic Team Qualifier – Images by US Sailing Team
Going into the final day, Tunnicliffe was up four wins to Barkow’s one. Off the bat, Barkow won the first two wins to bring the score near even. “Sally’s team started the day really strong and came out with two wins,” said Tunnicliffe.

The second race of the day saw Barkow get a penalty off the start. Tunnicliffe lead around the two-lap course, until the last third of the downwind run. Barkow rolled over top of Tunnicliffe and incurred a second penalty. Quickly, they forced an offsetting penalty on Tunnicliffe and almost instantly cleared their remaining penalty. They crossed the line ahead to win and bring the finals to a 4-2 scoreline.

“To be honest, it all happened so fast,” said Tunnicliffe of the maneuvers. “I made a massive mistake and it cost us. We had that race in the bag. I got a little excited and tried to go for the finish, rather than just waiting. She did a really good job teeing us up, and sailing circles around us and getting rid of two penalties. I tried to jump her too soon on the line. I should have waited for her to get into a bad position for us to make our move. We had to dig deep and overcome her momentum.”

They went on to win race three convincingly, getting a strong start and worked hard to keep a lead throughout. “We had a really solid race in race three,” she continued. “Which got us back on track for the last race.  At times we had a two-length lead, and she (Barkow) closed it up to a quarter-length lead.  Coming into the last run it was all about keeping our breeze clear on the one jibe, coming into the mark. Unfortunately, I jibed into bad air and collapsed the kite. We were able to drift across the line ahead to take the victory.”

Vandemoer will be a first-time Olympian. “It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s reassuring to know that if you work hard and you keep focused it’s going to pay off in the end. We still have a lot to do.”

Capozzi is a 2008 Olympian who sailed in the Women’s Keelboat (Yngling) with Barkow. The experience she brought from that campaign was an advantage for this team. “I think from the beginning I had some ideas, but we have to all accept them and choose if we want to use them or not,” she said. “We took a couple of those ideas and then just molded it to what we like. We changed it here and there, but it’s valuable to have all that experience on a three-person team.”

Her wisdom from Qingdao will be an advantage as they make their way to the 2012 Games. “We are going to keep doing the same thing we’re doing every day,” she said. “Outwork our competitors, train hard, have good conversation with our coach Dave Dellenbaugh, and have fun really. We’re not going to change much; we’re going to keep going.”

Giving full credit to their coach Dave Dellenbaugh, Tunnicliffe said: “He’s our rock. He kept the information going regardless of what the score was, regardless of what race we were in. Same info, same critiques. He never overanalyzed anything. We’re super psyched he’s here and that we get to take him to the Games.”

Four teams advanced to the 2012 US Olympic Qualifying Regatta from the 2011 event. In addition to Tunnicliffe’s and Barkow’s teams, the additional two teams are: Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) with Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.) and Darby Smith (Chicago, Ill.); and Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, CA) with Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.).

“The US Olympic Trials is the hardest regatta to do in the world,” said Tunnicliffe. “Our teaml, Team Tulloch and Team Barkow are three of the top 10 world teams. Coming into the Games, we’re knew that whichever team won here is going to the Olympics and is going to win gold. The other teams are training

You have to put that extra bit of training it. It pushed us to the level we’re at and to keep training.”

The teams headed by Tunnicliffe, Barkow and Tulloch are members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

For Barkow, the day was bittersweet. She had come so far from a disappointing 2008 Games to the finals to represent USA in 2012. “It was a tough battle,” said Barkow moments after arriving at the dock. “We knew we had the talent and the ability to do it. It didn’t go our way a few times. You feel pretty down after a situation like this. You work really hard for a long time and have a really great team. When you don’t win the last one it’s a bummer.

“It was a year and a half ago that we committed to sailing full time. Last October, it was committing again to more full time and leaving other things in our lives off the table. We’ve learned the game to a really high level. We worked on our strengths and weaknesses.”

“I’m really proud of the effort that all of our women’s match racing teams and coaches put in over the past several years,” said Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.), Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee. “Every one of them has a great deal to be proud of; even the teams that didn’t win have lots to be proud of. Our program worked together to build the best national match racing program in the world. We all congratulate Anna, Molly, Debbie and Dave Dellenbaugh. We also congratulate Team Barkow, Team Tulloch and Teamm Roble for a world-class performance.”

The Olympic Sailing Regatta will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, located on the southern coast of England, approximately 120 miles southwest of London.

Daily racing recaps, results and photos will be on the event site: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Events/2012/WMRTrials.htm

About the event: The USA’s top Olympic hopefuls in Women’s Match Racing will begin competition in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, in Weymouth, England. Organized by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport and the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the event is scheduled for May 4-9 at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. The event will determine the three women’s match racing representatives for the 2012 Olympic Team. The four teams competing advanced to this event – the second, and final, selection event for the 2012 Olympic Team – by finishing in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, part 1, October 26-30 at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, in Miami, Fla.

The teams skippered by Barkow, Tulloch and Tunnicliffe are members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

About US Sailing

The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

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Photo credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

Racing Summary (May 6, 2012): Racing in the Final Round of the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta began with five flights competed. Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” with Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi took an early lead over Sally Barkow’s team of Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham and Alana O’Reilly. Current standings are Tunnicliffe with four wins, Barkow with one. The format is a “first-to-win-six” match-up where the winner will qualify to represent the USA at the 2012 Olympic Games this summer.

Day three of the US Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta. Photo Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

“The crew did a fantastic job today. It was very tricky conditions; puffs were coming in from the left and the right. Just when you thought you’d settled into a trend it changed.

The day had a lot of ups and downs, with lead changes and tight racing. “All of our races were really close,” said Tunnicliffe. Sally and her team are very, very good. We are taking it one race at a time. A lot of our races went our way. We’re looking forward to more tomorrow.”

One of the standout moments of the day was the third race. Just when it looked like Tunnicliffe’s team was winning upwind and around the first weather mark, Barkow passed her downwind to take control. As Tunnicliffe explained, they went on to do the same maneuver on the second downwind leg and gain the lead. “We learned from what she did to us. We kept it really cool. It was set up to pin her up against the (committee boat) and jibe into the finish line and take the race. It was a tight race. It was an aggressive race. We learned from it and moved on. We had a rotation after that, so we went on to focus on the next race.”

To listen to the full audio interview with Anna Tunnicliffe: http://soundcloud.com/usstag/anna-tunnicliffe-post-racing

Barkow, Kratzig Burnham and O’Reilly, who advanced to from the Semi-Final Round after defeating Genny Tulloch, Alice Manard Leonard and Jenn Chamberlin, came into the Final Round prepared for any situation. What they found, was that the tricky wind conditions and aggressive racing did not go their way.

“It was a tough day,” said Barkow. “We just weren’t executing. We made some mistakes. We’re not super pleased. We’ll regroup tonight and make a plan for tomorrow.”

Lead changes, downwind rolling and "it's not over 'til it's over" excitement characterized day three of the Trials. Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

When asked to pinpoint what the team needs to improve upon, Barkow summed it up: “Boat speed felt fine. It was a pretty tricky day on the water. Every leg was a different wind direction. I think we need to look outside the boat a little more and anticipate what’s going to happen. We knew what was happening in the moment, not so much what was going to happen next and we need to connect the two. It’s not over.”

The US Sailing race committee will begin the round on Sunday. Racing is held on the Nothe Course, which is the approximate location for the Olympic Sailing Regatta.

The winner will represent USA at the 2012 Olympic Games. The Olympic Sailing Regatta will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, located on the southern coast of England, approximately 120 miles southwest of London.

Daily racing recaps, results and photos will be on the event site: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Events/2012/WMRTrials.htm

About the event: The USA’s top Olympic hopefuls in Women’s Match Racing will begin competition in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, in Weymouth, England. Organized by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport and the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the event is scheduled for May 4-9 at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. The event will determine the three women’s match racing representatives for the 2012 Olympic Team. The four teams competing advanced to this event – the second, and final, selection event for the 2012 Olympic Team – by finishing in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, part 1, October 26-30 at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, in Miami, Fla.

Competing teams:

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI), with Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) and Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.)

Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) with Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.) and Darby Smith (Chicago, Ill.)

Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, CA) with Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.)
Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, FL) with Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport,

N.Y.)

The teams skippered by Barkow, Tulloch and Tunnicliffe are members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

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Photo credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

Tunnicliffe and Barkow Advance

Racing Summary (May 5, 2012): With the two Semi-Final Rounds complete in the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, two teams advance to the Final Round, a first-to-six series. Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” with Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi will meet Sally Barkow’s team of Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham and Alana O’Reilly to decide who will represent the USA at the 2012 Olympic Games this summer.

Tunnicliffe leading Roble

Tunnicliffe’s team bested Stephanie Roble’s team of Maggie Shea and Darby Smith, in two straight races. Combined with four wins from Friday’s racing, Tunnicliffe heads into the final undefeated and looks to secure her second Olympic team berth.

“Team Roble did a fantastic job and they’ve come a long way,” said Tunnicliffe. “We’re excited to advance to the finals. We want to go to the Olympic Games. We wanted to win the Semis; we want to win the finals. It’s another step along the way. We’re psyched we got through it and now we have another six races to win.”

Going into the semi-finals, Tunnicliffe will face Barkow. To go against the world #3 team, Tunnicliffe shared the team’s preparation insight. “We’ve been training the past three and a half years for this regatta and the Olympic Games. This is another regatta along the way. We knew we had to face one of the American teams. We’ll keep sailing the way we’ve been sailing. The past couple of months we’ve been sailing quite well and executing quite well. We’ll see what happens on the water tomorrow.”

Listen to the full interview with Tunnicliffe: http://soundcloud.com/usstag/anna-tunnicliffe-at-weymouth

In the second Semi-Final match, held in the morning, Genny Tulloch, Alice Manard Leonard and Jenn Chamberlin came out with a 3-2 advantage from Friday’s matches against Sally Barkow’s team of Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham and Alana O’Reilly.

Tulloch and Barkow

Tulloch won the first match, but then Barkow came back to win the next four races. “We feel really good,” said Barkow after racing. “It was an awesome series against Genny, they’re a really strong s team. We didn’t think it would be that tough at the beginning. It was really about a team effort with Dave (Perry) and the girls. We just kept plugging away with what we’ve been working at and it paid off.”

The racing was close and exciting, with leads changing in every race. Compared to Friday’s racing, it appeared that Barkow’s team had adjusted slightly. “We changed our starting plan a little bit and we kept plugging away around the course,” said Barkow. “We also changed our jibing time downwind. That helped a lot.”

The Final match is a “first to win six matches” format. The US Sailing race committee will begin the round on Sunday. Racing is held on the Nothe Course, which is the approximate location for the Olympic Sailing Regatta.

The winner will represent USA at the 2012 Olympic Games. The Olympic Sailing Regatta will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, located on the southern coast of England, approximately 120 miles southwest of London.

Daily racing recaps, results and photos will be on the event site: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Events/2012/WMRTrials.htm

About the event: The USA’s top Olympic hopefuls in Women’s Match Racing will begin competition in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, in Weymouth, England. Organized by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport and the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the event is scheduled for May 4-9 at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. The event will determine the three women’s match racing representatives for the 2012 Olympic Team. The four teams competing advanced to this event – the second, and final, selection event for the 2012 Olympic Team – by finishing in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, part 1, October 26-30 at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, in Miami, Fla.

Competing teams:

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI), with Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) and Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.)

Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) with Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.) and Darby Smith (Chicago, Ill.)

Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, CA) with Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.)
Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, FL) with Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport,

N.Y.)

The teams skippered by Barkow, Tulloch and Tunnicliffe are members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

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 Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, danapaxton@ussailing.org, mobile: 401-369-0490 (in the U.K.)

Barkow nosing over the finish in race 3

Racing Summary (May 4, 20120): Racing in the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta got underway in Weymouth/Portland, UK, with a significant portion of the Semi-final Round completed. Although the day started out with grey skies and light wind, the conditions improved to allow the Race Committee to complete four races in Flight A and five in Flight B.

In the “first-to-six wins” round, there are two pairings. The first, Flight A, completed four races. Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” with Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi leads Stephanie Roble’s team of Maggie Shea and Darby Smith with four wins, zero losses.

Tunnicliffe and Roble headed off the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy docks for the first races held in 5-7 knots. In the opening match up, Roble’s nerves may have gotten the best of her as she crossed the starting line early, and incurring a penalty to give Tunnicliffe an early lead and a relatively simple first win.

The second race was the most exciting of the series with Roble leading Tunnicliffe off the line and around the first windward mark. She extended her lead on the first downwind run to round ahead by almost one minute. But then, the wind shifted and went light, giving Tunnicliffe a chance to get into a more favorable wind, at almost halfway behind on the course. She gained speed and passed Roble, who was still waiting for the wind to find her. The second, third and fourth race wins went to Tunnicliffe.

In Flight B, five races were held. Genny Tulloch, Alice Manard Leonard and Jenn Chamberlin lead Sally Barkow’s team of Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham and Alana O’Reilly with three wins to Barkow’s two losses. The afternoon match up of the two teams was held in slightly stronger wind, 7-10 knots and building over the rest of the day to 15.

Racing in the Semifinal round continues on Saturday, May 5. The winner of each of the two Semifinal Knockout Series matches will advance to Stage 2 – the Final Knockout Series, which is also a “first to win six matches” round. Tulloch handily won the first two matches, and then the wind built making the third match even more exciting. Barkow and Tulloch got into a heavy tacking duel in the first upwind leg, with Barkow round the top mark with a slight three boat-length advantage. Tulloch tried hard to pass from behind downwind, but Barkow covered well to round the mark ahead. She held the advantage to cross the finish line by less than one boat length for the win.

With Tulloch up 2-1, she went into the fourth race looking for another win. She had a strong start and held the lead around the course. While Barkow fought hard to catch and tried many times to get into a position to pass, it wasn’t mean to be. Tulloch up with three wins, to Barkow’s one.

The fifth race – the last one of day 1 – was held as the sky was getting dark. Barkow got off the starting line with good speed and conveyed that into a controlling lead on the course. She continued to lead Tulloch to take another win. The series stands at three wins for Tulloch, two wins for Barkow.

Racing in the Semi-final round continues Saturday, May 5. The winner of each of the two Semifinal Knockout Series matches will advance to Stage 2 – the Final Knockout Series, which is also a “first to win six matches” round. The winner will represent USA at the 2012 Olympic Games. The Olympic Sailing Regatta will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, located on the southern coast of England, approximately 120 miles southwest of London.

Daily racing recaps, results and photos will be on the event site: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Events/2012/WMRTrials.htm

About the event: The USA’s top Olympic hopefuls in Women’s Match Racing will begin competition in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, in Weymouth, England. Organized by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport and the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the event is scheduled for May 4-9 at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. The event will determine the three women’s match racing representatives for the 2012 Olympic Team. The four teams competing advanced to this event – the second, and final, selection event for the 2012 Olympic Team – by finishing in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, part 1, October 26-30 at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, in Miami, Fla.

Competing teams:

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI), with Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) and Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.)

Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) with Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.) and Darby Smith (Chicago, Ill.)

Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, CA) with Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.)
Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, FL) with Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)

The teams skippered by Barkow, Tulloch and Tunnicliffe are members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

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Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, danapaxton@ussailing.org, mobile: 401-369-0490 (in the U.K.)

Portsmouth, R.I. (April 30, 2012) – On May 4, the USA’s top Olympic hopefuls in Women’s Match Racing will begin competition in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, in Weymouth, England. Organized by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport and the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the event is scheduled for May 4-9 at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, site of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. The event will determine the three women’s match racing representatives for the 2012 Olympic Team. Daily racing recaps, results and photos will be on the event site: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Events/2012/WMRTrials.htm

The four teams competing advanced to this event – the second, and final, selection event for the 2012 Olympic Team – by finishing in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifying Regatta, part 1, October 26-30 at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, in Miami, Fla.

Competing teams in order of ISAF ranking (April 18) with skipper (skipper hometown), crew, crew:

#1 Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, FL) with Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)

#6 Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI), with Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) and Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.)

#10 Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, CA) with Alice Manard Leonard (East Haven, Conn.) and Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.)

#28 Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) with Maggie Shea (Chicago, Ill.) and Darby Smith (Chicago, Ill.)

The teams headed by Tunnicliffe, Barkow and Tulloch are members of US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

The event format will consist of two stages. Stage 1 – Semifinal Knockout Series, in which the winner of each semifinal series will be the first boat to score six points. As the top-ranked skipper, Anna Tunnicliffe selected Stephanie Roble as her opponent in this stage. Sally Barkow and Genny Tulloch will compete in the other Semifinal Series match.

The winner of each of the two Semifinal Knockout Series matches will advance to Stage 2 – the Final Knockout Series, which is also a “first to win six matches” round. The winner will represent USA at the 2012 Olympic Games, pending confirmation from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Olympic Sailing Regatta will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, located on the southern coast of England, approximately 120 miles southwest of London.

“Very soon we will have a complete 2012 US Olympic Sailing Team,” said Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.), Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee. “It is always a long road to the Olympic Games for the athletes, and the Women’s Match Racing selection is almost complete. Each of the four teams competing this week has put in a tremendous effort preparing for the Trials. We’re proud of each and every sailor, and their hard work and dedication to the Olympic dream.”

The OSC representative for the event is Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.), 2004 Olympian in women’s keelboat (Yngling); principal race officer is Tom Duggan (Hyannis, Mass.); women’s match racing consultant is Liz Baylis (San Rafael, Calif.), executive director of Women’s International Match Racing Association (WIMRA); and chief umpire is Tom Rinda (HOME).

US Sailing selected the 13 athletes in the nine fleet racing Olympic events based on two previous events: 2011 Sail for Gold and 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The USA qualified in each of the 10 events selected for the 2012 Olympic Games with a maximum team size of 16.

The 10 sailing events selected for the 2012 Olympic Games are: Finn (Heavyweight Dinghy); Laser Radial (Women’s One Person Dinghy); Laser (Men’s One Person Dinghy); 470 Men (Men’s Two Person Dinghy); 470 Women (Women’s Two Person Dinghy); 49er (Men’s Two Person Dinghy High Performance); RS:X (Men’s Windsurfer); RS:X (Women’s Windsurfer); Star (Men’s Keelboat); and Elliott 6m (Women’s Match Racing).

All selection procedures have been reviewed and approved by the USOC Team Selection Working Group. For additional details about the selection procedures for the 2012 Olympic Team – Sailing, please visit http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Games/Olympics/Selection.htm.

To read an interview with OSC Chairman Dean Brenner about the evolution of the 2012 selection procedures, please visit http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2010/Selection_Procedures_Interview.htm

About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing supports these elite athletes with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Rolex Watch USA, Atlantis WeatherGear, LaserPerformance, Harken Team McLube, Bow Down Training, New England Ropes, Group Experiential Learning and Trinity Yachts. http://sailingteams.ussailing.org

The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org .

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 Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, danapaxton@ussailing.org

Gold, silver and bronze medals to USA!

Daily Summary: Hyeres, France (April 27, 2012) – Gold, silver and bronze medals were collected by US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider at the 2012 French Olympic Sailing Week: Gold to Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” of Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi, in Women’s Match Racing; Silver to Amanda Clark and Sarah  Lihan in Women’s 470; Silver to Sally Barkow’s “Team 7” of Alana O’Reilly and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham in Women’s Match Racing; and Bronze to Jen French and JP Creignou in the SKUD-18.

Exclusive video with Tunnicliffe, Vandemoer and Capozzi

The Women’s Match Racing fleet was sent out early this morning and the race committee completed more of the round robin matches, but was unable to complete all of the flights. When the conditions surpassed those suitable for racing, the racing was abandoned. Results were calculated on percentage of wins in total number of races sailed. Tunnicliffe, Vandemoer and Capozzi won all 16 matches they sailed and captured the gold medal.

“We’re very happy with how the racing went,” said Tunnicliffe. “It was a lot of races, 16 races, and unfortunately we couldn’t go into the finals, but you can’t control the weather. We’re psyched with where we’re at (with racing), so far, going into the Trials.”

The team with second best percentage was Barkow, O’Reilly and Kratzig Burnham, and they were awarded the silver medal. Ekaterina Skudina, from Russia, won bronze.

“It’s a bit of a disappointment,” said Barkow of the conditions ending the regatta early. “We were hoping to get it in, but the breeze was picking up too much. For us, we’re one race short of completing the round robin. To have a shot at the finals would have been great.”

Exclusive video with Barkow

Women’s 470 team of Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan went into the medal race with a strong shot at a medal. As Lihan explained, it all went their way for the most part.

“We had a pretty solid start at the boat, with great height and great speed,” she said. “We held pretty much out to the port lay (line), and then tacked over. In these conditions it’s important to minimize the number of tacks because it slows you down. At the first beat we were leading around the windward mark, tacked on starboard lay, set. We had a little problem in the set. Our spinnaker got caught on our spreader, but fixed the problem and kept going from there.” The team finished in second and secured the medal behind the Dutch team, in first.

“We’re really excited; it’s been a great week of strong wind,” said Clark. “We’ve been practicing a lot in strong wind and it shows. To finish up second here really helps our confidence as we go into the Games this summer. Turning it up for this event and the Worlds, that’s our main goal. To finish in the top three is definitely exciting and a really good way to start representing the new US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. And we’re really excited to have them onboard with us.”

Exclusive video with Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan at the dock after the medal race

Racing in the Paralympic classes was cancelled and all series results, to date, were deemed the final overall results.  Jen French and JP Creignou finished in third overall in the SKUD-18, and were awarded a bronze medal.

Held April 22-27 in Hyeres, France, the event hosted over 900 sailors from 50 countires. Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.com/

New Title Sponsor

On April 24, Sperry Top-Sider®, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

The Team: There are 26 athletes competing at this event, 15 of whom have qualified for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Overall results French Olympic Sailing Week:

2.4mR – Mark LeBlanc (New Orleans, La.) – 10th
49er – Erik Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) and Trevor Moore (N. Pomfret, Vt./Naples, Fla.) – 40th
470 Men – Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.) – 14th
470 Women – Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – 2nd
Finn – Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) – 13th
Laser – Rob Crane (Darien, Conn.) – 24th
RS:X Men – Bob Willis (Chicago, Ill.) – 25th
RS:X Women – Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.) – 29th
SKUD-18 – Jen French (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and JP Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.) – 3rd
Sonar – Paul Callahan (Cape Coral, Fla./Newport R.I.), Tom Brown (Castine, Me.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.) – 9th

Women’s Match Racing:

Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) – 1st

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.) – 2nd

Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.), Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.) and Alice Manard Leonard (New Orleans, La./East Haven, Conn.) – 8th

2012 US Sailing Development Team: 49er – Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) and Zach Brown (San Diego, Calif.) – 48th

The US Sailing Team Top-Sider was not represented at French Olympic Sailing Week in the Laser Radial or Star classes.  French Olympic Sailing Week is the fourth event of the 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup season.

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider’s European schedule:

May 2-12 Star World Championship, Hyeres, FRA
May 4-13 49er World Championship, Zadar, CRO
May 4-10 Laser World Championship, Botenhagen, GER
May 10-18 Finn Gold Cup (Worlds) Falmouth, U.K.
May 10-19 470 World Championships, Barcelona, ESP
May 15-20 Laser Radial Women’s Worlds, Botenhagen, GER
June 4-9 Skandia Sail for Gold, Weymouth, U.K.
June 16-20 Kiel Week, Kiel, GER
June 25-30 Women’s Match Racing Worlds, Gothenburg, SWE

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Editors notes:

Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Press Officer, +1 401-683-0800, x615, danapaxton@ussailing.org; mobile +1 401-369-0490

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/ussailingteam
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ussailingteam or @ussailingteam
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ussailingteam

Daily Summary: Hyeres, France (April 26, 2012) – Day 5 of racing at French Olympic Sailing Week was another day of heavy wind and big waves preventing some of the classes from completing racing. For Friday’s medal races in the Olympic classes, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider will be represented in the Women’s 470 by Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan. The battle for silver is on after the series leaders from The Netherlands captured the overall title on points

For a video interview with French and Creignou discussing the boat and plans for the next two months

Jen French and JP Creignou are in third overall in the SKUD-18. With the cancellation of racing, organizers will use Friday to complete up to three more races in the Paralympic classes.

“We’re getting back into the rhythm of things,” said French. “This regatta is a good check in for us and a good gauge of where we are. We have a list of things we need to work on before Sail for Gold. In breeze it’s all about keeping the boat upright, keeping the water out of it and keeping our speed downwind. It’s a challenge in the breeze because in the SKUD you can’t hike out.”

Although organizers attempted to get the women’s match racing fleet underway at an early hour, the conditions proved too rough for the Elliott 6m boats. Wind over 25 knots and large, rolling waves forced the cancellation of racing for the day. Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” of Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi won their two matches and continued to go undefeated.

“We’re taking it day by day,” said Capozzi when asked about the winning streak. “The conditions are pretty challenging, so we learn a little bit each day and try to improve in each race. One thing our coach Dave Dell (Dellenbaugh) is good at is helping us with boat speed and making sure we’re fast and also faster than the other boat. We spend a lot of time on that and make sure we’re confident in our settings.”

Debbie Capozzi talks about their winning streak. http://soundcloud.com/ussailingteam/debbie-capozzi-checks-in-for

The preliminary plan for Friday is to finish the round robin before holding final and petite final rounds. If the round robin is not completed, then final positions will be calculated on percentage wins.

Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.com/

New Title Sponsor

On April 24, Sperry Top-Sider®, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

The Team: There are 26 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes competing at this event, 15 of whom have qualified for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Competing in the French Olympic Sailing Week:

2.4mR – Mark LeBlanc (New Orleans, La.)
49er – Erik Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) and Trevor Moore (N. Pomfret, Vt./Naples, Fla.)
470 Men – Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.)
470 Women – Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Finn – Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.)
Laser – Rob Crane (Darien, Conn.)
RS:X Men – Bob Willis (Chicago, Ill.)
RS:X Women – Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.)
SKUD-18 – Jen French (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and JP Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Sonar – Paul Callahan (Cape Coral, Fla./Newport R.I.), Tom Brown (Castine, Me.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Women’s Match Racing:

Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.)

Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.), Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.) and Alice Manard Leonard (New Orleans, La./East Haven, Conn.)

Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) and Zach Brown (San Diego, Calif.), members of the 2012 US Sailing Development Team, will compete in the 49er.

The US Sailing Team is not represented at French Olympic Sailing Week in the Laser Radial or Star classes.

(end)

Editors notes:

Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Press Officer, +1 401-683-0800, x615, danapaxton@ussailing.org; mobile +1 401-369-0490

Rights-free photos of the new Team logo: http://usst.photoshelter.com/gallery/Press-announcement-April-24/G0000v9w6zgKIErA/C0000X4cd91pAJck

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/ussailingteam

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ussailingteam or @ussailingteam

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ussailingteam

Daily Summary: Hyeres, France (April 25, 2012) – On day four of racing at French Olympic Sailing Week, light wind was a complete change from the previous three days’ 20-plus knots. US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider holds four top-10 positions: Jen French and JP Creignou third in the SKUD-18; Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan fourth in Women’s 470; Mark LeBlanc is tenth in 2.4mR; and Paul Callahan, Tom Brown and Bradley Johnson are tenth in Sonar.  In Women’s Match Racing, Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” of Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi continued to go undefeated.

Performance highlights include:

Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl finished the day’s racing with a 3rd in race 8. They’ll advance into the gold fleet, which is the top half division in the Men’s 470 fleet. They currently sit in 11th overall and will need to finish in the top 10 tomorrow in order to advance to Friday’s medal race.

“It has been a very windy event,” said Biehl “The first day went well for us. Generally it has been going well. We have been trying some new things and checking on our settings because we haven’t had this kind of wind for a while.”

Exclusive video with Biehl, who talks about OCS scores and how that affects the overall plan.

Erik Storck and Trevor Moore won the first 49er race of the day and as they explained in their daily racing blog, “We were happy to notch a race win in our first race as US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes today! This is a brilliant partnership, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.” For their full report: http://www.storckmooresailing.com/

In the Men’s RS:X windsurfer, Bob Willis has been struggling in the breeze, but working hard to harness the power. “It’s very hard to sail tactically sound and keep your head out of the boat when you’re focused on boat speed, which is our #1 priority,” said Willis. “In Hyeres, with the Mistral, it’s been really shifty, choppy and windy. For the most part I feel my speed has been really good, but I’ve had some issues with staying in phase, and my results indicate that.” Willis is currently in 26th.

Exclusive video with Bob Willis where he talks about the RS:X World Championship last month, and what it’s like going from a Mistral to very light wind in Hyeres.

Racing continues through Friday, April 27. Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.com/

New Title Sponsor

On April 24, Sperry Top-Sider®, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

The Team: There are 26 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes competing at this event, 15 of whom have qualified for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Competing in the French Olympic Sailing Week:

2.4mR – Mark LeBlanc (New Orleans, La.)
49er – Erik Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) and Trevor Moore (N. Pomfret, Vt./Naples, Fla.)
470 Men – Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.)
470 Women – Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Finn – Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.)
Laser – Rob Crane (Darien, Conn.)
RS:X Men – Bob Willis (Chicago, Ill.)
RS:X Women – Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.)
SKUD-18 – Jen French (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and JP Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Sonar – Paul Callahan (Cape Coral, Fla./Newport R.I.), Tom Brown (Castine, Me.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Women’s Match Racing:

Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.)

Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.), Jenn Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.) and Alice Manard Leonard (New Orleans, La./East Haven, Conn.)

Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) and Zach Brown (San Diego, Calif.), members of the 2012 US Sailing Development Team, will compete in the 49er.

The US Sailing Team is not represented at French Olympic Sailing Week in the Laser Radial or Star classes.

(end)

Editors notes:

Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Press Officer, +1 401-683-0800, x615, danapaxton@ussailing.org; mobile +1 401-369-0490

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/ussailingteam

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ussailingteam or @ussailingteam

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ussailingteam

Sarah Lihan works the wire on day 3.

Daily Summary: Hyeres, France (April 24, 2012) – Another windy day almost threatened to cancel racing on day 3 of French Olympic Sailing Week, but with a very early morning start some classes managed to squeeze in at least one race. The strong Mistral wind continued to excite the fleets and US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes are improving scores as the week progresses. The Team holds five top-10 positions: Jen French and JP Creignou third in the SKUD-18; Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan third in Women’s 470; Mark LeBlanc is eighth in 2.4mR; Caleb Paine is ninth in the Finn; and Paul Callahan, Tom Brown and Bradley Johnson are eighth in Sonar.  In Women’s Match Racing, Anna Tunnicliffe’s “Team Maclaren” of Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi continued to go undefeated and now find themselves up 8-0. Sally Barkow’s “Team 7” of Alana O’Reilly and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham extended their win-loss record, as well, and are at 8-1.

Performance highlights:

Finding the “fast gear” are Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan, who relished the 20-plus knot day, scoring a 2-4 in the Women’s 470. “Speed in breeze has been one of our greatest strengths overall as a team,” said Lihan after racing. “We were able to capitalize on that. Our racing philosophy has been that when we have our conditions we are out to get top 3. So when conditions are less favorable we have maximized in wind. We have been quite quick and sailing smart tactically.”

With the early start, the team was at the boat park by 7am to begin the one-hour pre-race preparation before heading out to the racecourse. They wore the red ISAF leaders bibs and sported a red dot on their mainsail to signify an overall third place in the fleet. “It’s always nice to wear the bibs,” said Lihan. “We’ve had the red bibs before and nice to have them on again, and we are only a few points away from the blue bibs.”

While many classes did not race today due to too much wind, the 470 fleets – men’s and women’s – completed two races. “One of the greatest things about the 470 is that it can race in 0-35 knots,” continued Lihan. “Where we usually set our rake (mast setting) is huge gap to where it was today for the 25-28 knots. It is a massive difference. Let’s just say we sailed today in a setting we have never sailed before.”

Some of the conditions appeared to be survival weather, especially in the Paralympic 2.4mR, which sits very close to the water. With wind and waves comes a boat handling challenge. “You get really wet and you constantly have to pump the boat out,” said Mark LeBlanc. “And then you have to make decision while trying not to sink. The control lines are tailored, but some guys it’s harder for them to use a manual pump and steer at the same time.”

Full audio with LeBlanc: http://soundcloud.com/usstag/mark-leblanc-2-4mr-pre-racing

Racing continues through Friday, April 27. Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.com/

New Title Sponsor

Sperry Top-Sider®, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced today its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider announcement

(end)

LEXINGTON, MA and PORTSMOUTH, RI (April 24, 2012) – Sperry Top-Sider®, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced today its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

A key part of the title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team — comprised of the top-performing sailors in the 10 Olympic and three Paralympic boat classes – all boats and main sails on the National, Paralympic and Development teams will feature the Team’s new emblem, which incorporates the Sperry Top-Sider logo.  In June, the Team’s new logo will be unveiled at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth, England.  The Team’s website, social media channels, monthly newsletter The Medalist and Olympic and Paralympic headquarters in Weymouth, England will be re-branded with the new Team logo as well.

Sperry will also continue its role as exclusive footwear sponsor for the Team, who wear-test products and provide Sperry’s product designers with feedback for product enhancements.  Effective January 2013, the sponsorship will also include performance apparel, eyewear, accessories (hats, bags and socks) and luggage so that all athletes sport the brand from head to toe.

“We’ve had a close, successful relationship with Sperry for a long time, but this represents a whole new level of their commitment and our partnership,” said Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.), Chairman of US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Committee. “The Games begin in three months, and this significant expansion of our relationship comes at exactly the correct time, with an extension through the 2016 Games. We are thrilled to have a partner like Sperry, and our athletes will benefit immensely from all the resources they bring to the table.”

Craig Reingold, President of Sperry Top-Sider, commented “We have been the official footwear of the US Sailing team for two decades.  The title sponsor opportunity came at an ideal time for us, coinciding with our introduction of our innovative footwear technology, GripX3, developed with feedback from the Team. This sponsorship is a natural fit for the brand and shows commitment and support for the sport of sailing.

Reingold continued “With 2012 being an Olympic year, we have an opportunity to support these world-class athletes in a milestone event of their sailing careers — their pursuit of Olympic gold.  This sponsorship further solidifies the leadership role that Sperry is taking in the performance sailing industry.”

In addition to the Olympic and Paralympic US Sailing teams, Sperry’s sponsorship also includes the US Sailing Development Team, a group of approximately 50 promising younger sailors who are the future of the sport of sailing.  Selected annually as the top-performing sailors in each of the classes included in the Olympic Games and the ISAF Youth World Championships, the athletes train alongside the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider at ISAF Sailing World Cup events and class World Championships.

The US Sailing Team’s partnership with title sponsor AlphaGraphics ended on April 20, 2012 due to a change of ownership. The partnership began in 2007 and marked the first time that a USA national Olympic team, in any sport, had a title sponsor. “Over the past five years, our athletes, coaches and staff did a tremendous job of collectively building the US Sailing Team brand into a unified and recognizable property on the international Olympic and Paralympic sailing circuit,”  said Brenner. “One of the reasons why Sperry Top-Sider stepped forward to partner with us so quickly is that they see this team as a valuable property and a brand that they want to be associated with. We will miss our partnership with AlphaGraphics, and are grateful for everything they did to help the us sailing team become what it is today.”

About Sperry Top-Sider’s GripX3™ Technology

Sperry Top-Sider is dedicated to delivering the latest technology for sailing enthusiasts as part of its support of the sport.   Sponsorship of the US Sailing Team and the increased investment in Team Sperry coincides with the launch of Sperry’s most technically advanced performance sailing footwear collection to date.  The GripX3™ performance sailing collection is designed for competitive sailors seeking the perfect combination of comfort, breathability and flexibility.  GripX3™ features adaptive wave siping^TM, and Hydrogrip Rubber™ that combine to provide Sperry’s grippiest outsole to date. The technology also includes Sperry Top-Deck 360™, a proprietary technology that provides advanced grab and grip on the upper of the shoe.  GripX3™ Technology was created in collaboration Sperry-sponsored sailors who wear-tested the product in extreme sailing conditions.

About Sperry Top-Sider

Since 1935, Sperry Top-Sider has been the leading brand of footwear for those with a Passion for the Sea^®. From its introduction of the world’s first siped rubber outsole for non-marking traction to advanced technical fabrication to combat the elements, Sperry Top-Sider remains the vanguard of high-performance amphibious footwear for life and activities in, on and around the water.

Available around the globe in independent, marine, outdoor, department stores and on www.sperrytopsider.com, Sperry Top-Sider is the official footwear of the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas, Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week, the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider and the National Safe Boating Council.

Since early 2010, the brand has launched 14 Sperry Top-Sider retail stores in the US – retail stores dedicated to the Passion for the Sea^® lifestyle. Sperry Top-Sider is a division of the Collective Brands Performance and Lifestyle Group, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS). For more information, please visit www.sperrytopsider.com.

About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing supports these elite athletes with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Rolex Watch USA, Atlantis WeatherGear, LaserPerformance, Harken Team McLube, Bow Down Training, New England Ropes, Group Experiential Learning and Trinity Yachts.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. For more information about US Sailing, please visit www.ussailing.org. For more information about the US Olympic Sailing Program and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, please visit: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org.

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For further information, please contact:

Sperry Top-Sider; Beverly Antunes; beverly.antunes@sperrytopsider.com                                                               Saltwater: Georgina Bartlett or Louise Bennett,  George.bartlett@saltwatercoms.com; Tel: +44 (0)1202-669244;   Cell: +44 (0)7768-240-924

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider: Dana Paxton, danapaxton@ussailing.org; Tel: +001 401-683-0800 x615; Mobile: +001 401-369-0490