NEISA News


2016 LASERPERFORMANCE SINGLEHANDED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SET TO BEGIN


GALVESTON, TEXAS (November 2, 2016) – The LaserPerformance Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded National Championships, hosted by Texas A & M University at Galveston and Sea Scout Base Galveston are set to begin Friday, November 4th. Racing will take place Saturday and Sunday in Galveston, Texas.

The championships include the top 18 men and 18 women singlehanded sailors in the nation. At least one male and female sailor has qualified from each of the seven collegiate sailing conferences to compete in the prestigious event. The regatta will take place out of Sea Scout Base Galveston and the sailors will race on Offatts Bayou.

The Sea Scout Base is a new oceanfront 10-acre property featuring a five-story, 60,000 square foot building housing sleeping quarters, a dining hall, classrooms and offices among other amenities. The Base hosted the Cressy, the High School Singlehanded National Championship, last week and has already been host to various other national sailing events.

LaserPerformance is providing a fleet of new full rig Lasers for the men’s event and a fleet of new Laser Radials for the women’s event with new Mark II sails. Marlow Ropes, the Official Rope Sponsor of College Sailing, is also providing mainsheets.

The men will be competing for the Glen S. Foster Trophy, awarded to the first place finisher. The trophy is given in appreciation of Glen S. Foster for his interest in collegiate sailing and devotion to singlehanded competition, particularly in the Finn class. The second place finisher in the men’s event will receive the George Griswold Trophy, given in honor of George Griswold for more than three decades of service to intercollegiate sailing as long time Graduate Secretary of MCSA, former ICSA Secretary, ICSA Eligibility Chairman, and member of the ICSA Hall of Fame.

The women will be competing for the Janet Lutz Trophy, awarded to the first place finisher, in honor of the former Athletic Director at Pembroke College who played a major role in the early growth of New England women’s sailing.

“It looks like there will be great sailing conditions this weekend with 10-12 knots of wind in the forecast,” says Mitch Brindley, president of the ICSA and head coach for Old Dominion University. “I am looking forward to watching sailing and I know the race officials are ready to do a great job. We are fortunate to have the support of LaserPerformance providing new boats and sending a representative to the event to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

Competitors will report at 5 p.m. on Friday for a Competitors Briefing with racing set to begin Saturday at 10 a.m. A regatta dinner hosted by Texas A & M University at Galveston will be held Saturday evening for the competitors at the Sea Scout Base. Racing will continue Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. and no race will start after 3 p.m. on Sunday.

To learn more about the event, the competitors and find results visit the event website: http://2016singlehanded.collegesailing.org/

Contact: Jennifer Mitchell | Toile à Voile for ICSA | media@collegesailing.org | 763-234-8286 m.

The ICSA sponsors and partners through the 2015-2016 season are: LaserPerformance (www.laserperformance.com), title sponsor of “LaserPerformance Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded National Championship”, title sponsor of “LaserPerformance College Sailing Team Race National Championship” and Official Boat Supplier of the ICSA Spring National Championships. Sperry (www.sperry.com), title sponsor of the “Sperry College Sailing Women’s National Championship”. Gill North American (gillna.com), title sponsor of “The Gill College Sailing National Championship”. Quantum Sail Design Group (www.quantumsails.com), official sponsor of the “Quantum Women’s College Sailor of the Year”. Marlow Ropes (www.marlowropes.com), presenting sponsor of the “Marlow Ropes College Sailor of the Year Award” and “Official Rope of College Sailing”. US Sailing (www.ussailing.org), supporting sponsor of the “ICSA National Championship Semi-finals”.