Attention US one design sailors!

US Sailing symposium to be held mid-November with top guest speakers

When the US Sailing One-Design Sailing Symposium (ODSS) kicks off on Friday evening, November 16, in Columbus, Ohio, sailors better be ready for a weekend filled with numerous educational sessions led by such sailing legends as one-design and racing rules expert Dave Perry, multiple one-design champion Greg Fisher, and sailing author Stuart Walker, to name a few. The Symposium, which runs through Sunday, November 18 - and is sponsored by Gowrie, Barden & Brett - is geared towards one-design sailors who are interested in keeping the one-design sector of the sport healthy and thriving and in improving their own sailing skills.

Participants of the ODSS can look forward to several special events, including a US Sailing Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series on Saturday evening (November 17) featuring Dave Perry who will talk about winning moves in one-design sailing. The Symposium will be preceded by a Basic Race Management Seminar on Friday, November 16.

Organisers of ODSS have also created a new 'Go Fast' series of workshops to help one-design sailors improve their sailing skills. Workshop topics for this section include boathandling, tactics, reading the wind, and sail trim.

The ODSS covers a wide range of topics for all types of one-design sailors, from getting the latest scoop on the current state of one-design sailing and learning more about how to run a successful clinic or regatta, to learning how to market your class or event and reviewing the basics of insurance. All presenters are experts in their fields, including sailmakers, one-design boat builders, coaches, class management experts, fleet builders, and class leaders, and will encourage idea-sharing in their sessions so there will be plenty of examples on how things should or should not be done.

The registration fee for the weekend Symposium is $120 per person until November 1, and $145 after November 1 (US SAILING members receive $25 off). The fee covers all forums and presentations in addition to lunches, Friday party, Saturday evening's US Sailing Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series, and a Symposium notebook which includes biographies on speakers and workshop overviews. The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Dublin, Ohio).

Created for sailors and one-design classes who would like to learn more about one-design sailing, US SAILING first organized the One-Design Sailing Symposium in 2004. With over 200 active sailboat classes in the United States, this annual event has been a success from its inception as a national forum where sailors and organizers of all levels can learn from experts and exchange ideas.

For more information and to register online, visit www.ussailing.org/odcc.