The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship - A Spectator Thrill! (9/18/01)
Interest Soars As Teams Prepare: Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (5/16/01)
All-Woman Jury Highlights International Focus (4/13/01)
The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship comes to the J/22 (3/11/01)
Notice of Race and Entry Form available (2/20/01)
Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship Moves to Annapolis (June, 2000)

September 18
The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship - A Spectator Thrill!
The public is welcome to "climb aboard" as the 9th biennial Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (IWKC) rolls into town for the first time ever -- September 22-28! The Rolex IWKC is regarded as one of the highest profile, most competitive all-women keelboat regattas in the world.

"Area sailors and armchair sailors alike are welcome to join us at Annapolis' City Dock to greet almost 250 competitors from around the globe at the Opening Ceremonies, Sunday, Sept. 23 from 5-6 p.m.," says Linda Gimbel Hughes, Annapolis Rolex IWKC Public and Media Relations Director. "Spectator boats are also invited to come watch as more than 60 teams of four women from around the world battle it out on J/22 keelboats in 10-races over five days on the waters off of Annapolis."

Weather permitting, approximately two races will be held daily from Monday, Sept. 24- Friday, Sept. 28. First gun goes off at 11 a.m. Hughes suggests using binoculars for exceptional race viewing.

Want to watch but don't have a boat? Here's the solution: Event officials have commissioned a daily spectator boat. "Grab your friends and family and come down to City Dock," says Debbie Gosselin of Watermark Cruises and a regatta organizer. "Just meet the boat at end of Annapolis City Dock. We'll depart at 10 a.m. and return at 4 p.m."

There will be a cash beverage service available (beer, wine, soda, juice and liquor). Spectators may also buy box lunches. Place orders when making reservations. To reserve call 800-569-9622 ext. 104 or 410-268-7601 ext.104. Cost is $30 per person. "We have record participation at this regatta. And with women's keelboat racing making its debut as the 11th sailing medal for the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the new Annapolis venue, it's a sure thing that this will be a highly memorable regatta for the competitors and our community," says Sandy
Grosvenor, event co-chair.

Past competitors have included the world's brightest racing stars as well as those on the rise. The entry list reads like a who's who of world class sailing - Olympians, Whitbread Round the World racers, America's Cup veterans and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year winners. "Teams from Japan, South Africa and our own backyard will enjoy Annapolis' renowned hospitality and the regatta's blend of tough competition and international camaraderie," says Anne Harrington, event co-chair. "Our invigorating fall sailing conditions, experienced race management team from Annapolis Yacht Club, strong volunteer base and excellent facilities are keys to further enhancing this regatta's world-class reputation."

In addition to Rolex, the founder of the event and title sponsor, other sponsors include: Phillips Seafood, Dry Creek Wines, Dirty Dog Eyewear, Nextel, Chart House, Annapolis Waterfront Marriott, Boat Yard Bar & Grill, Quantum Sails, Watermark Taxi, Eastport Yacht Club, Severn Sailing Association, Jack Martin Insurance, Carey Kirk Interior Designs, Heinekin, Conde Nast, Einsteins, RegattaWeb.net and J Inc.

SPECTATOR BOAT GUIDELINES
1. Stay at least 100 yards away from all racing marks, competing boats, and/or official boats (race committee, media, jury). Race committee boats will all be flying a blue flag with an anchor and the initials "RC" on it. The jury boats will have a flag that says "JUDGES" on it. And all other official boats will be flying a white flag with the regatta logo on it. Please honor requests to move from any official boat.

2. Be aware of the wake your boat causes. Travel at no more that 4 knots near and around the racecourse. If you want to go at higher speed, first move several hundreds yards away from the racecourse, then accelerate, and slow again to a minimum wake speed before you re-approach the racecourse. Under the racing rules, competitors are not allowed to communicate with other boats while they are racing, and they will be penalized if they do so.

3. Sailboats, please keep your sails down in the racecourse area so you won't interfere with the racers' wind patterns and you won't be confused with a competitor.

4. Monitor VHF Channel 22A for special safety information. Use VHF channel 9 for hailing and keep all non-distress radio traffic off VFH channel 16.

Anticipation Mounts in Annapolis with Key Developments (12/24/00)
Organizers say "change" has been the key word used in planning the 9th Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (IWKC), slated for September 22-28, 2001.

The first change was announced last summer when US SAILING reported that the biennial event, after 14 years with the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, R.I., was moving to Annapolis, Md. Then, it was decided that the smaller four-person J/22 would replace the J/24. And, for the first time ever in the regatta's history, a Rolex timepiece would be awarded to the winning skipper. Next, the Annapolis Yacht Club, fresh from hosting the 2000 Nautica Star World Championships, took the helm as the host club. (It has partnered with other local clubs and area sailors to provide a town-wide organizational team.) Finally, the International Sailing Federation Council (ISAF) added women's keelboat fleet racing as the 11th sailing medal for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"Based on a dialogue with the women sailors, we're anticipating between 50 and 75 entries representing eight to 12 countries," said Sandy Grosvenor, a three-time Rolex IWKC veteran who serves as co-chair with Anne Harrington. "The new venue and boat have been enthusiastically embraced. And we anticipate that the new Olympic status of keelboat racing for women will bring even more energy and greater participation to the regatta."

The regatta doesn't require qualification for entry, only that each team becomes a member of its country's national governing authority for sailing. Teams of four women on each J/22 will battle it out in 10 races over five days in a series of triangular and windward-leeward courses set on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Nightly social events will be capped off with the traditional grand Rolex Gala and Awards Ceremony with internationally acclaimed sailor and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson serving as Master of Ceremonies.

Racing Luminaries Compete with Rising Stars
The competitors include the world's brightest racing stars -- Olympians, Whitbread Round the World racers, America's Cup veterans and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year winners -- as well as those on the rise. They enjoy the regatta's blend of tough competition and international camaraderie. Winners in the event's eight-year history have been five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison; 1989 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Jody Swanson; two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and 2000 Summer Olympics Silver Medallist JJ Isler; and the regatta's defending champion Pat Connerney. Swanson and Cory Sertl, another Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, have already registered for the 2001 regatta.

Annapolis Boasts Strong Volunteer Base
"The exceptional fall sailing conditions on the Chesapeake Bay will combine with a peerless race management team, a strong volunteer base and excellent facilities to maintain the Rolex regatta's world-class reputation," said Harrington. "An additional boost to our organization's efforts is the administrative participation of some of Annapolis' best and brightest 'do-ers,' most of whom are rabid sailors."

Harrington and Grosvenor head the local committee comprised of previous organizers of several world renowned races. Veterans of the Baltimore/Annapolis stop-over of the Whitbread Round the World Race for the Volvo Trophy include Linda Gimbel Hughes, who will direct media relations; Frieda Wildey, who will coordinate the Awards Program; Chip Thayer, who will continue his Race Committee role; and Melinda Berge, who will manage the web site. Former Star Worlds coordinators include Barbara Vosbury, Jo Schram, Debbie Gosselin, Marcia Grosvenor, and Julie Winters. Tom Stalder worked with the famed women's match racing regatta, the BoatUS Santa Maria Cup. Other committee members include sailors from several area yacht clubs: Ramsey Alexander, Todd Hiller, Sue Mikulski, Joni Pentafallo, Bonnie Steele, Bonnie Urban, Michelle Zinn and Don Zinn.

Clinics Slated To Support Women & Juniors
Building the momentum, local organizers are working with Rolex to set up a series of Road to the Rolex Clinics across North America that will focus on building racing skills for women and juniors. Yacht clubs or communities interested in hosting a clinic should contact Sue Mikulski at SuMikulski@aol.com. In addition, a Next Step Program for Juniors is planned to begin just days before the championship. It will include an essay contest, a mini-regatta in Annapolis, on-water viewing of the championship and a special awards program.

Competitors Get Info Via Email or Internet
Organizers are using the Internet to promote the regatta and provide information. www.annapolisyc.com/rolexkeelboats is focusing on Annapolis details; www.ussailing.org/riwkc has event history, official publications and news releases. "Competitors can even subscribe to a web server list to get direct information by email anytime, anyplace," said Harrington. To subscribe, visit the contacts page or www.ussailing.org/riwkc. The Official Notice of Race and entry forms will be available in early 2001 as the new 2001 rules become published. In the meantime a Regatta Announcement has been published at www.ussailing.org/riwkc/2001/regattaannouncement.pdf. It offers preliminary regatta details pending final rule modifications by ISAF made this November.

Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship
Moves to Annapolis  J/22 Replaces J/24; Dates Set for September 2001
June, 2000

The changes were implemented by US SAILING's Women's Keelboat Committee after analyzing extensive questionnaires and conversations with participants, who traditionally have included international sailboat racing's brightest stars as well as those on the rise who enjoy the regatta's unique blend of tough competition and international camaraderie. For the first time in the regatta's history, a Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the winning boat.

"Hosting the Rolex Women's in the same place and in the same boat for all these years has helped the regatta fulfull its original mission to get more women into keelboat racing," said Denise MacGillivray (Middletown, R.I.), who chaired the event in 1999 and recently became the new chair of US SAILING's International Women's Keelboat Championship Committee. "Now women all around the world are organizing keelboat campaigns, and the event is well established as one of the highest profile, most competitive all-women keelboat regattas in the world. The change of location and boat will make the challenge new to those who have participated before and inspire new teams to form."

MacGillivray added that the regatta's five-day, ten-race format has been maintained, along with a day for registration/measurement and a day for practice. Nightly social events will be capped off with the traditional Rolex gala and awards presentation.

"I think the changes are great," said five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), who also has won the Rolex Women's event five times. "I'm certainly not an expert at sailing a J/22, but I definitely plan on training hard and racing the event in 2001." The other winners in the event's eight-year history are 1989 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Jody Swanson (Buffalo, N.Y.); two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year JJ Isler (San Diego, Calif.), who will represent the U.S. in the 470 class at the 2000 Summer Olympics; and the regatta's defending champion Pat Connerney (Newport, R.I.).

"Changing to the J/22 will allow the teams to sail with four crew instead of six," said 1995 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Cory Sertl (Rochester, N.Y.), who finished third at the Rolex Women's event in 1997 and was second in '95. "The boat will be that much more manageable, from owning to trailering to sailing it, and I love sailing in Annapolis in the fall - that's a real draw."

The Rolex Women's event typically attracts between 30 and 50 teams representing eight to 12 countries, with foreign teams finishing consistently in the top five. The regatta does not require qualification for entry, only that each team become a member of its country's national governing authority for sailing.

"We are thrilled to have an event the caliber of the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship coming to Annapolis," said AYC Commodore Art Libby (Annapolis). "AYC regularly hosts major international competitions, and we are confident that excellent fall sailing conditions on the Chesapeake will combine with our experienced race management team, strong volunteer base and excellent facilities to maintain this regatta's world-class reputation."

For more information, contact Denise MacGillivray, P.O. Box 1172, Newport, RI 02840; 401-849-5492; fax 401-849-8168; email: JWRLD@aol.com.