Alison Takes Early Lead at Championship of Champions

Columbia, SC (October 25, 2013) – Friday’s racing provided a strong indication that competition will be close atop the leaderboard through the weekend at US Sailing’s Championship of Champions, hosted by the Columbia Sailing Club. All helmsmen have qualified for this event by winning a 2012 or 2013 one-design class National, North American, or World Championship. Helmsmen and their crew are being tested in Lightnings.

Sailors experienced the best of Lake Murray today. The morning was a crisp 50 degrees with winds out of the Northeast at 10 to 12 knots. Winds were shifty and unpredictable throughout the afternoon. Teams took a break at 1 p.m. after five races. Racing resumed at 2:50 p.m. for four more races. After the break, winds shifted to the Northwest at 5 to 8 knots.

This year’s special guest competitor and National Sailing Hall of Famer, Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.) had a strong day on Lake Murray today. Alison and crew Will and Laura Jeffers (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) have a one point edge over 2013 Lightning World Champion David Starck (Amherst, N.Y.) and crew Ian Jones (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and wife Jody Starck (Amherst, N.Y.). Standing seven points back is 2012 J/80 North American Champion Brian Keane (Weston, Mass.), who is sailing with Steve Hunt (San Diego, Calif.) and Victor Diaz De Leon.

Standings: Top 6 (out of 20 teams)
1. Betsy Alison: [7]-1-7-5-1-2-6-3-5- ; 30
2. David Starck: 4-5-5-2-[15]-10-1-2-2- ; 31
3. Brian Keane: 10-3-3-3-5-5-2-6-[11]- ; 37
4. Skip Dieball: 8-2-1-9-3-[21/OCS]-8-15-1- ; 47
5. Lee Sackett: 6-[21/OCS]-8-1-11-3-5-9-8- ; 51T
6. Darrell Peck: 9-11-6-4-6-4-4-[14]-7- ; 51T

For a full roster, results, standings, photos and real-time Twitter updates from the course, please visit the event website.

US Sailing’s Championship of Champions is sponsored by Gill North America. This championship is a Sailors for the Sea – Clean Regattas certification event.

Championship Notes:
– Racing takes place on Lake Murray. The course will be windward/leeward or triangle
– One throw-out result will be applied when 8 to 13 races are completed; two throw-outs will be applied if more than 14 races are completed.
– Four races are required to constitute a regatta.
– Warning signal for first race of the day is 9:30 am.
– Limited spectator boats available. Check with registration desk at the Columbia Sailing Club.

Championship Personnel:
Event Chair: Jan Jernigan
Championship of Champions Chair: Paul Abdullah
US Sailing Championship Director: Liz Walker

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org, 401.683.0800 x614