Singlehanders ready

The 2008 US Singlehanded Championships for the George O'Day Trophy are set to begin today

An elite group of singlehanded sailors from across the country have been selected to compete in the 2008 US Singlehanded Championships for the George O'Day Trophy.

The event hosted by the Sayville Yacht Club (NY), sponsored by Rolex Watch USA and LaserPerformance will be held from 6-10 August and raced in Sunfish.

Twenty-three talented sailors comprised of a mix of juniors and adults ranging in age from 17 to 61 years old qualified for this year's championship. Among the deep field of competitors is Krysta Rohde, of Richmond Hill, GA the reigning 2007 Women's Singlehanded Champion who represents the US Coast Guard Academy and the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA). Zeke Horowitz, the second-place finisher in the 2008 High School Singlehanded National Championship represents the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA).

Many of the competitors have won multiple Singlehanded events including Doug Kaukeinen, the recent winner of the Sunfish North American Championship, David Loring, a two-time winner of the Sunfish World Championship, Paul Foerster, an Olympic and Pan American Games medalist and former Sunfish World Champion Paul-Jon Patin.

Friends of George O'Day a well-known sailor, manufacturer of small boats and Olympic gold medal winner, founded the US Singlehanded Championship in 1962. Based on a ladder series started at the club level, the championship is open to men and women representing the Intercollegiate Sailing Association, Interscholastic Sailing Association (High School sailing), Youth Championships and Military. Past winners of the event include Gordon (Gordy) Bowers Jr, Robert (Robbie) E Doyle, Shawn Kempton and Brodie Cobb.

The winner of this event will be presented with the prestigious George O'Day Trophy. Also at stake is the Peter J Barrett Sportsmanship Trophy, an accolade named for a two-time Olympic medalist and the first winner of the O'Day Trophy who was well known amongst his peers for his sense of fair play and honesty.