As the time for the much awaited Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is drawing to a close with only a day left the 35 teams which are going to compete against each other have finally gathered at the Lake Ontario, the place where over next couple of days they all will try their best to come out on top and become a proud Rolex winner. It has been a well recognized tradition of Rolex, the number one maker of luxurious watches in the world, to take steps in creating opportunities whereby human brilliance and endurance can be demonstrated and proved and the long relationship that Rolex has built with US Sailing is one of the best examples of that endeavor only. The fact that Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship has a distinct international flavor to it makes it a championship that every woman sailor looks up to as a challenge and a matter of pride to be a part of and the platform sponsored by Rolex makes participating and winning all so more enjoyable.

Beginning on the 7^th of October 2009 and concluding on the 10^th Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is celebrating its 13^th anniversary this year and in addition to the high level competition women sailors are going to have the time of their life at the Rolex gala as well as the award presentation ceremony which are eagerly looked forward to by the sailors as the regatta itself is. The high point of the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is definitely the Bengt Julin Trophy and the remarkable Rolex time piece which the skipper of the boat that will win will get to flaunt on her wrist.

The 2009 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is going to be a memorable regatta in the history of the biennial regatta for as much as 35 teams would race side by side in multiple races in their efforts to outrace others and become a proud winner. The regatta is going to be organized by the Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) and would take place off the mouth of Genesee River right on the Lake Ontario. The racing spread over four days would be held under the leadership of Hank Stuart, the principal race officer and the RYC Race Committee.

The 35 teams which are going to participate in the 2009 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship would be representing five different countries and 15 different states of USA. The countries which will have representation at the US Sailing’s regatta include Canada, Netherlands, Great Britain, South Africa and of course USA.

Rolex Watch USA has the honor of being the sponsor of the title which has added to the prestige of the tournament. This year’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship will have an interesting mix of youth and experience with the participants including high school sailors as well as one 80 year sailor. Once they all set sail on 7^th and by the time championship finishes on 10^th the role that Rolex tries to play would have got another boast and sailors would have got another chance to actually live their dreams.

The journey of the emancipation of women has been as tumultuous as the ebbing tide and probably that’s why, more interesting. Rolex is proud to sponsor and promote sporting events like sailing for women and assisting them in developing their talent. The Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is the recognition of women sailors and their mastery over sailing. Maybe it is the unpredictability of the ocean waves and the momentary gusts of wind that draw the finest women sailors around to compete in what is now regarded as the crown jewel of women’s regatta. Sailing is a sport that Rolex has constantly supported and in view of promoting this sport to all people it has endeavored to go where none others have. A partnership that began many years ago in 1985 between Rolex and US Sailing has grown to become a top notch, premier event for women sailors everywhere. The Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is a biennial tournament that attracts keelboat as well as offshore sailors who come together to battle it out and stake a claim over the coveted title. An array of activities and programs has been introduced to further augment the importance of sailing among women and improve the career opportunities of dedicated women sailors. Like the ‘Next Step to Rolex’ program that aims to improve the keelboat handling skills of girls between the ages of 13 and 17.
After the completion of the racing tournament a social gathering is held on the docks every evening, allowing sailors and their team mates to recuperate and unwind. The premier women’s regatta culminates into a grand traditional gala where winners are awarded a Rolex watch in recognition of their sailing skills.

The Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) will be organizing and hosting the social get-togethers at the docks for this year’s edition of the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship. The bid for Rochester Yacht Club a historic yacht club that was founded in 1877, to host the International Women’s Keelboat Championship was put forward by the Olympian Cory Sterl. The last major sailing tournament to be held at the esteemed Rochester Yacht Club was the J/22 World Championships that was held in 2002.This year the International Women’s Keelboat Championship will be held on the elusively pristine waters of Lake Ontario from the 7^th to the 10^th of October. This eminent regatta for women is about three months away; however the preparations for making this event into an absolutely flawless, world class event are already underway. The organizers have begun implementing the plans and the procedures that would make this competition as streamlined as possible. Skilled women sailors are polishing their skills and making improvements in tackling unforeseen circumstances, in a last minute effort to increase their chances of coming out on top. As the sailors and their teams ready themselves for this predominant event, crowds of reporters and sailing enthusiasts are brimming with anticipation, to discover the winner for this year’s International Women’s Keelboat Championship.

Rolex, the steadfast supporter of this premier women’s regatta readies itself, to deliver the most astounding and probably the most competitive International Women’s Keelboat Championship.