Minnesota Women's Sailing Team

Jenny Child, Joni Berg, Tanya Manrique, and Leah Willcutt are from the Wayzata Yacht Club, on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. They have sailed for the past three years in 2001 Bayfield Race Week, 2001 and 2003 Rolex IWKC in Annapolis, MD, and local regattas. In Minnesota, they have raced in the Joe Cool Icebreaker each year, American Diabetes Regatta, J22 Midwest Districts, E-Scow Nationals, and Key West Race Week. The four look forward to World's. "It is an opportunity to push the boat, the Minnesota Women Sailing Team, and test our skills against the best J22 sailors for clean air on the 100+ boat starting line!" From past experience in Annapolis, tides and currents will be the biggest challenges they anticipate. The bay is different from their home waters - "lobster pots are scarce in the Midwest!"
Midwest pride at the past Rolex Championship September 2003 was their focus. Their sponsors included Yoplait Nouriche, Great Clips, and Future Brands. The MWST made exciting additions to their J22 sailboat for 2003 Rolex, adding the boat name SheMight graphically and the MWST logo on the hull, and placing sponsors on the sails. The MWST was interviewed by WCCO TV, a local Minneapolis station, in July, telling the story of the past 9 years as a non-profit organization that promotes women in sailing. WCCO's broadcast increased the awareness of women in the sailing community, and brought new members back to the sport they love. The 2004 season opens with 31 MWST members. More are expected as good weather arrives in Minnesota.
When they are not sailing, Joni is Visuals Editor for 8 weekly newspapers, MWST Public Relations Chair and a happy grandmother! Jenny hires part-time Test Administrators /Proctors for Pearson VUE and is Past Commodore for the MWST. Tanja is a family court trial judge and MWST Vice Commodore. Leah, MWST Treasurer, works at Nordstrom's in sales.
The team finds themselves one of the few all women crew competing in Worlds.
For more information visit www.race.annapolisyc.org.

DYC Sailors Headed To J22 Worlds

Susan and David Turnham, Connie Bloom and Jill Caraway-Carlson are headed to Annapolis, MD for the 2004 J/22 World Championship this May. A record fleet of 122 boats from 18 states and five countries is already entered in the regatta, being hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.
Check-in and boat measurement begins May 15 and continues for three days to accommodate the large number of boats. Opening ceremonies are May 17 at Annapolis City Dock. Governor Robert Ehrlich, Mayor Ellen Moyer and other dignitaries will speak. The Naval Academy Band will perform. Gary Jobson has been named Honorary Chairman of the event sponsored by Jaguar/Land Rover of Annapolis. Jobson 52, is a world class sailor, television commentator and author based in Annapolis, Maryland. Gary covered 2003 America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand for ESPN and Sailing World. In 2004 he will cover the Yachting Olympics for NBC in Athens.
Action on the water should be intense as a who's who of J/22 standouts is slated to attend. There are three former world champions in the fleet - two-time winner Chris Larson (1992, '94) of Annapolis, Terry Flynn (2002) of Houston, Texas and current title holder John den Engelsman of The Netherlands. Racing begins on Tuesday, May 18 and concludes on Friday, May 21.
For more information visit www.j22.org.