Rolex Miami OCR open online

Women to match race in standard Laser SB3s

Mandatory, online registration for US Sailing’s 2009 Rolex Miami OCR has opened online. All competitors and coaches must register online before January 19, 2009, as there will be no on-site registration. Women’s match racing teams have an earlier deadline of December 16, 2008. The 2009 event, scheduled for Sunday, January 25 through Saturday, January 31, with racing beginning on Monday, is one of seven events chosen by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup.

The Rolex Miami OCR is open to the classes chosen by ISAF for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions, except for the equipment used for women’s match racing. Last month, ISAF announced that the three-person Elliott 6 will be equipment used for the Women’s Match Racing Event for the 2012 Olympic Games, replacing Women’s Fleet Racing. Because that boat is not available in time so the regatta will use the SB3 Laser Standard with an asymmetrical spinnaker.

Therefore, the 11 Olympic classes competing at the Rolex Miami OCR are: Laser Radial, Laser, Finn, RS:X Men, RS:X Women, 49ers, 470 Men, 470 Women, Star and SB3 Laser Standard with asymmetrical spinnaker. The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar.

The regatta will also be the only ranking regatta for American athletes who aspire to make the 2009 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and US Disabled Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. Based solely on the results at this regatta, US Sailing will recognize the top three boats in each class for both teams.

All women’s match racing teams or Member National Authorities (MNAs) must indicate their interest by registering before December 16, 2008. After assessing the number of entries for women’s match racing, the organizing committee will announce the accepted teams on December 18, 2008. They will also include any additional competition instructions for women’s match racing teams.

For all other classes, registration closes on January 19, 2009. Please visit http://www.RolexMiamiOCR.org for the amended Notice of Race.