The Rolex Osprey Cup, scheduled for mid October, promises high voltage sailing action spread over three days. The tournament will be studded with some of the most talented women yachtswomen like defending Rolex Osprey Cup Champion and 2008 Olympian Giluia Conti (Toscolano Maderno, Italy), 2008 Olympian Anne-Claire Le Berre (Brest, FRA), US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics members Anna Tunicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) Molly Vandemoer (Redwood City, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.), world’s 1 ranked match racer Lucy MacGregor, and ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year Claire Leroy (Nantes, FRA).

The Rolex Osprey Cup will be held immediately after the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship at the New York Yacht Club. The event becomes important because many teams will be hoping to use it as a springboard for the 2012 Olympics in England.  Pat Seidenspinner, principal race officer and co-chair with Tom Farquhar, said that the interest in the sport is at an all time high now and it is only going to get all the more interesting in the future.   She also said that in order to encourage spectator participation the race would be held near to the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier, which would afford prime viewing location for the tourist.

The format of the Rolex Osprey Cup consists of double round robin, knockouts, semi-final and final rounds scheduled at the end of the round robins. The winners win be awarded in a glittering ceremony at the Regatta Dinner.

The Rolex Osprey Cup was founded in 1996 and ever since then it has become one of the premier-most sailing competition for women. Recognizing the importance of the event, Rolex Watch U.S.A became the title sponsor in the year 2000. The competition is held each year in the middle of October, when it was cancelled because of the Rolex ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship.

Since 1958, when Rolex Watch U.S.A presented timepieces for the America’s Cup, Rolex has been constantly encouraging off shore sailing, competitive sailing, U.S Sailing championship, disabled sailing, and elite athlete preparation. Sailing is a highly specialized sport, involving endless patience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Rolex Watches encapsulates this never say die attitude of the sailor; each time piece a matchless blend of craftsmanship and elegance.

The Rolex Osprey Cup is a part of the Rolex Yachting Portfolio that includes 20 world class events spread across the globe. Some of the famous events include the Rolex Miami OCR, New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, Rolex Big Boat Series, Rolex US-IRC National Championship, Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Bill Hardesty and his crew continued with the spectacular performance that they have been demonstrating consistently over the last few race days to finally emerge as the winners of the Rolex sponsored US Match Racing Championship. It was a spectacular display of experience and team spirit that saw Bill Hardesty and his crew race like champions throughout the regatta and emerge victorious in a fleet that had some of the best sailors trying their luck. Rolex which takes initiatives in creating avenues for the people who have the urge to do the impossible, has been a partner of the US Sailing for years now, and together they have been responsible for offering various platforms to the sailors for realizing their dreams. The 2009 US Match Racing Championship has been the outcome of same efforts and the regatta has managed to bring forth the very philosophy that Rolex has close to its heart and is always reflected in its actions too.

San Diego, California based Bill Hardesty was representing the Chicago Match Race Center and was ably supported by his impressive crew which consisted of Dave Gerber and Jack Jennings. The win meant that the team won the prestigious Prince of Wales Bowl, which has been one of the cups every sailor hopes of winning one day. Considering the fact that the regatta consisted of many past champions and some of the best performing sailors of 2009 including Rolex Player of the Year award winner Anna Tunnicliffe, the race to top was very difficult and hence the victory sweeter. The Chicago Match Race Center team defeated the Pequot Yacht Club team with the score reading 3-2 in their favor at the end of the best of five series. The Pequot Yacht Club had Dave Perry as the skipper who was assisted by his crew which consisted of Chris Museler and Doug Clark. Dave Perry is a very experienced sailor and has in fact won the US Match Racing Championship thrice in the past.

The US Match Racing Championship which was sponsored by the Rolex Watch USA has always been known to be highly competitive with championship usually going to the wire. The same was the story at the 2009 US Match Racing Championship as well since the regatta was finally locked at the score of 2-2 with the final match becoming the championship decider. It was a great site at the famous Tampa Bay where the ten different boats skippered by some elite sailors were out to outrace each other in their efforts to grab the highly acclaimed and much awaited US Match Racing Championship. Even though each team was the best in its own way still there were lots of expectations from the team led by Anna Tunnicliffe who was representing the North Cape Yacht Club/Lauderdale Yacht Club. In a highly competitive field she did well enough to be placed seventh. On the other hand the team to finish at the third spot was the St. Francis Yacht Club which had a team skippered by Russ Silvestri who defeated Taylor Canfield led St. Thomas Yacht Club team. Overall the 2009 US Match Racing Championship had everything in it to deserve to be counted as important as it is in the world of sailing.

Would history be repeated at the Rolex sponsored 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship would become clear by the end of the week as the current edition goes underway on the 11^th November, 2009. The 2008 US Women’s Match Racing Championship had witnessed the tough competition between the teams of Anna Tunnicliffe and Genevieve Tulloch in the finals with Anna Tunnicliffe eventually managing to beat her rival to clinch the title. This year once again both the sailors and their crews have registered for the upcoming 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship and the way Anna Tunnicliffe has been performing all year long it looks like the defending champion is all set to once again grab the Rolex sponsored US Women’s Match Racing Championship.

Rolex sponsored US Women’s Match Racing Championship is one the most prestigious championships in the sailing world and getting the chance to compete in the regatta is a privilege which only few have. Among those who get to become a part of the yearly regatta, they go out of their way to work tirelessly for getting their hands on the much coveted trophy. From the first time the US Women’s Match Racing Championship was held in the year 2001 to the upcoming one there has always been lots of excitement among and expectations from the sailors who participate and considering only the best sailors get the chance to participate these expectations have always been met and usually surpassed. Going by the line up for the 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship, this year’s regatta is not going to be any different.

Though each team is the best and is as good as the other one, the most prominent team is definitely the one with Anna Tunnicliffe as the skipper. The Plantation, Florida based crew also consists of Alice Manard, Liz Bower and Molly O’ Bryan. The impressive bunch of talented and young sailors has had a fantastic run at the sailing championships and as defending champion looks all set to win this year’s championship too. Their success so far can be gauged from the fact that Anna Tunnicliffe has been nominated for the Rolex Sailor of the Year award and is among the strongest contenders. Giving the team strongest competition is the team which has 2008’s runners-up Genevieve Tulloch as the skipper. She has in her crew three Elizabeth’s; Emory, Hall and Kratzig, to help her pose a tough challenge to not only Anna Tunnicliffe’s team but rest of the fleet as well. The Tiburon, California based team is definitely going to be one of the teams to watch out for in the Rolex sponsored US Women’s Match Racing Championship.

With other great sailors like Evan Brown, Kelly O’Brien, Annie Gardner Nelson, Kat Pilley-Lovell, Maegan Ruhlman and Jennifer Wilson also in fray with their immensely talented teams the 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship is surely going to bring forth the philosophy of Rolex of promoting human brilliance through its many efforts especially in the field of adventurous sports like sailing. This week is going to showcase the depth of talent and level of competition that exist in the world of woman sailing.

In the world of women sailors trying to prove their mettle at the national level against the best in their peer group there are many events which are promoted by Rolex in collaboration with the governing body of sailors, US SAILING. One championship that stands out even in the more prestigious crowd of Rolex sponsored championships is the US Women’s Match Racing Championship which is making another return this month to give the best women sailors in US another chance to compete with their fellow sailors. With the focus that Rolex lays on prompting human excellence through various events that it is involved with and sponsors there is certain prestige that every participant attaches to not only to winning but even participating in such opportunities. Sailing has always been one of the sporting fields that Rolex has been very closely involved with and has a very long and well established relationship with US SAILING. US Women’s Match Racing Championship is a prime example of the philosophy that Rolex has at its heart and as the regatta would go underway once again in the middle of November the same would get demonstrated.

The 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship is going to be held from November 11-15, 2009 at the famous and picturesque St Thomas located in the US Virgin Island. The event is being organized by US SAILING and is being sponsored by Rolex Watch USA. The eagerly awaited event will be administered by US SAILING’s US Women’s Match Racing Championship Committee in collaboration with St. Thomas Yacht Club. In addition to the prestige involved in taking part in an event that is being sponsored by

Rolex and tries to promote underlying philosophy of Rolex the sailors would also be vying for the top honors to lay their hands on the coveted Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy and Mrs. C.F. Adams Memorial Trophy. Considering the history of the trophies which in fact dates back even prior to the present title and format of the regatta it has always been an honor for Rolex to be involved with the championship and even more so for the women sailors.

Since the event is in fact an ISAF Grade 3 not everyone gets a go at the trophies. For the 2009 US Women’s Match Racing Championship only eight skippers would be extended an invitation. Those lucky few include the reigning champion as well as three highest US-ranked skippers but only those who would request invitation. Rest of the fleet would be completed by skippers chosen strictly based on their resume. Another important thing is that unless there is an emergency the registered skipper alone would helm the boat. Keeping with the high standards that Rolex is known for and US SAILING is committed to maintain US Women’s Match Racing Championship would be governed by the rules as have been laid out it the 2009-2012 RRS and there shall be no class rules. With the highly competitive field that is expected to be there to take part in the regatta it can be safely assumed that it is going to be an ideal platform for the women sailors to test their skills and would offer great entertaining time to the fans.

The role that Rolex plays in promoting brilliance across various fields through its efforts was amply demonstrated during the just concluded US Multihull Championship. One of the very popular and important events which is an integral part of the US SAILINGs itinerary US Multihull Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch USA and attracts unmatched for talent across various age groups with sailors having different amounts of experience. There are always unparalleled levels of enthusiasm on display that participants demonstrate when the event is being promoted by Rolex and quite justifiably too. US Multihull Championship which in its long established history has gone on to create a niche for itself as the regatta that every sailor wants to take part in and works tirelessly to win too this time around re-established itself as the preferred championship of the sailors looking for some challenging time out on the sea.

US Multihull Championship had started off in the year 1987 and since then has become an important part of the US SAILING’s prestigious National Championship series. The sailors compete to grab the Alter Cup, the trophy that winner of the annual regatta is awarded. The US Multihull Championship over the years has constantly emerged as the fiercely contested regatta due to the fact that it has featured distinguished sailors including world champions, medal winners from Olympic and countless national championship winners. Conceived by the Multihull Council in the year 1985 the US Multihull Championship has the distinction of being the event that travels all over US and is held in a different venue every year. The venue chosen for the 2009 US Multihull Championship was the Gulf of Mexico with the Clearwater Beach being the exact venue. This year’s championship involved 20 multihull teams vying for the top honors and the way the weather played truant at the start of the tournament it had become apparent that someone with undying spirit and ability to go beyond the usual levels of human endurance, the virtues Rolex always believes in promoting, would only be able to win the Alter Cup. In the end that is exactly what happened as the team of John Casey and John Williams was able to outrace other sailors and emerged as the well deserving winners.

During the run up to the US Multihull Championship there were lots of expectations from the strong fleet that had formed and with the practice day and even the first scheduled day for racing getting wiped out due to the weather things only became more interesting. Multiple races were held over various days with the race to top only getting tougher every time the yachts used to go out into the sea. As John Casey and John Williams went on top to win the trophy their gesture of stopping at the crucial juncture to make sure the team of Mike Easton and Tripp Burd was alright was perhaps the most memorable moment of the 2009 US Multihull Championship. It is this camaraderie and sportsmanship that Rolex has at the core of its efforts to promote events like the US Multihull Championship and was the hallmark of the championship as it came to a close.

October 14 to 17, 2009 is going to be the time when the eyes of all sailing fans would be glued to the Philippi Harbor at Carlyle in Illinois as the Rolex Championship of Champions would go underway. The event that has name of the world’s number one manufacturer of luxurious watches attached to it is one of the most popular regattas in the world that every sailor has an ambition of participating in and tries everything possible to go ahead and win it. 2009 Rolex Championship of Champions which is being organized by US Sailing with Rolex Watch USA as the prime sponsor is to be hosted by the Carlyle Sailing Association.

Some of the best sailors in the world have been eying the Rolex Championship of Champions for a pretty long time and now as the notice for the regatta was brought out recently the excitement of everyone has reached newer and higher levels. The regatta would follow a round robin format to determine who would eventually go on to win the race for becoming the champion of champions. In fact Rolex which itself is the champion of champions when it comes to world of watches has a long established tradition of offering platforms to the people who have a desire in them to push all the worldly limits to air and achieve the unthinkable. Rolex Championship of Champions is one of the brightest feathers in the crown of Rolex and this year’s regatta is not expected to be any different.

The championship would consist of one design class which would be represented by a team which in turn should be a member of US Sailing. Not only that whosoever wants to participate in the regatta must be either 2008 or 2009 helmsperson for one design class at National, North American or World Champion level. Moreover, the process of applying for the Rolex Championship of Champions has been simplified this year onwards as the interested sailors can go online, fill the form and submit the application. The competition is going to more difficult than what most would have expected especially because the fleet would consist of only 20 applicants. Since even late entries would be accepted, though solely at the discretion of the organizers, one can very well understand the importance that is attached to the Rolex sponsored regatta and the kind of competition that would be there this time.

The 2009 Rolex Championship of Champions would be held in the Carlyle Lake with the course being either windward/leeward or triangle to make the competition more challenging and enjoyable. Though the regatta officially begins on 14^th, the actual racing would only begin from 15^th October. Once the championship gets into the racing mode the same would continue till the last day of the championship, 17^th October. The four day Rolex Championship of Champions which will bring the best in the world of racing together in the state of Illinois ones again showcases the commitment that Rolex has at the core of its approach to promote human endurance and brilliance.

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.

Rolex has a proven tradition of promoting excellence and brilliance by sponsoring regattas, and New York Yacht Club also has a tradition of winning many of those regattas. This interesting aspect of history was replayed once again as the US Offshore Sailing Championship came to a close and NYYC once again managed to win the top spot. The 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship was a closely contested regatta and all along it seemed like anyone’s championship. But in the end it was the New York Yacht Club team that managed to outrace other sailors to be crowned the 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship winner.

The other interesting aspect of the 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship was the fact that entering the last race of the event there were as much as six different teams each of which practically had a chance of winning the championship. In fact the last day of racing was expected to be very intriguing and closely contested. The close contest can be gauged from the fact that NYYC which was the eventual winner had to score two top finishes even on the last day to get its hands on the prestigious trophy. And in the end it was great day for the New York Yacht Club and helped it keep its habit of ensuring amazing results in the Rolex sponsored events.

When the 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship reached the final day of this year’s regatta the Davis Island Yacht Club was the team heading the points table. Mike Gable the skipper of the Davis Island Yacht Club yacht tried real hard but could not sustain with the top level performance and the championship eventually slipped out of his hands on Sunday. In fact the way the day was on Sunday it had become obvious that this year’s championship would be contested to the last race and that is precisely what happened.

The weather was quite challenging and there was low pressure as well as cold front around the course. But fortunately southwesterly wind was blowing at 7 to 9 knots to help the sailors and the races get into motion. There were two races left on the final day and both of which involved a lot of drama and excitement. The first race was won by the Navy team managed by Jason Mazzoni and in a very interesting manner with many arguments and red flags. Bruce Kurlya and his team of New York Yacht Club came third behind Norm Dawley Southern Maryland Sailing Association but a critical protest resulted in Norm Dawley’s disqualification.

With six teams having a chance of winning the 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship at the start of last race it all came down to the last moments of the championship. The race was won by Di Mattia and Hingham Yacht Club and Bruce Kuryla again finished second which was good enough to get them the championship. The most interesting thing about the 2009 US Offshore Sailing Championship was the fact that the team that won the championship didn’t win even a single race.

Winners are made of tougher steel than one can possibly imagine and the same holds true for Rolex brand of watches. Not only are the watches created with the best of materials but Rolex also ensures that whatever goes into creating the Rolex masterpieces are things that are only top notch and can survive the worst of conditions. Rolex transports disabilities into opportunities, it recognizes determination and talent when it sees one and hence it associates itself with a cause as worthy as the US Disabled Sailing Championships. For Rolex “disabled� is a term that some choose to consider as a disadvantage but for Rolex it is only a set of letters that can be undermined with ambition, undaunted efforts and an indomitable spirit.

No event can more justly draw a semblance to the Rolex ideology like the US Disabled Sailing Championships can. The participants in the event have swept away the worst of obstacles and display a hardiness and sportsmanship that only Rolex can capture in its fine art of watch making.

The event this year was set to be a success from the very start, some of the best weather conditions creating the mood for the race to get going. The weekend when the race is held was one that sailing enthusiasts had earmarked in their social calendars from the last time that this sailing race had created an uproar. The 12 boats and 26 competitors line up was a perfect setting for the event that is sponsored by Rolex Watch USA.

The event was underlined by a stupendous performance from Charles Rosenfeld from Woodstock, Connecticut who emerged as the champion in the single handed 2.4 mR division race. Rosenfeld very successfully posted the bullets in all of the seven races and described his participation as one in a fun regatta, also saying that he was very pleased to do well in such an honorary event.

The Rolex sponsored US Disabled Sailing Championships has opened the shores to sailors who range from quadriplegics, amputees, paraplegics, polio sufferers to cerebral palsy patients. The event is also proud to have tested champions who have gone on to participate in world events like the Paralympic Games. Spurted on by their achievements in an event of this scale and the way Rolex has lent its trademark spirit to the game, some of this year’s participants are also looking at participating in bigger sailing events in the future.

The other name worth a mention and accolades is Jen French and her crew of Ideal 18 double handed division that included other members like Roger Cleworth and Kevin Wixom. French led her crew to win a mention worthy six out of eight races. French from the very start showed that her team had been all set to win the race and they had put in all that they had to make sure that their victory was unsurpassable. Her fleet gained a winning start from the moment the race began and it was easy for the sailing enthusiasts to see that this team had arrived to win. French’s team competed till the last translating their disadvantage into a winning streak and French later went on to credit the victory on a cumulative team effort.

The Rolex sponsored event has and will have more such record setters treading the waters for more time to come.