Before the world’s premier skippers compete in one of the most prestigious international sailing competitions, they will first sail with students from Chicago’s Rickover Naval Academy in a harbor race at Belmont Harbor Station on June 20.
To kick off the 2008 Etchells World Championship, hosted by World Sport Chicago and the Chicago Yacht Club, the harbor race will introduce 32 students to the thrill of sailing. The students and sailors will depart the harbor for the race at 1:30 p.m. and return at 3 p.m. to tour the yacht club and socialize.
In July about 16 Rickover students will begin a sailing training program with the Chicago Yacht Club in hopes of launching an academy team. If successful, Rickover will be one of only two Chicago public schools involved in competitive sailing.
“We want to stretch our students’ horizons and encourage them to learn from the experiences of others,” said Commandant Michael Tooker, military director of the academy.
Founded in 2005, Rickover Naval Academy is a college preparatory school that uses the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program to provide leadership training to 315 students in ninth to 11th grade. Next year the school will expand to include seniors.
“We are excited to introduce the students of Rickover Academy to competitive sailing with the generous support of the Chicago Yacht Club and some of the finest skippers from around the globe,” said William Scherr, chairman of the board of World Sport Chicago. “Along with the Etchells World Championship, this event will help demonstrate that Chicago and Lake Michigan are world-class venues for Olympic sport.”
The 2008 Etchells World Championship will run from June 21 through June 28, bringing top international skippers, such as defending World Champion Andy Beadsworth and 2006 Champion Jud Smith, to Lake Michigan.
The World Championship comes only weeks after the city was named one of the four finalists for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. World Sport Chicago is the “living legacy” organization of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid focused on promoting the growth of Olympic sport in Chicago. The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world.
Opening ceremonies take place on June 21, and the first race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on June 23.
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ABOUT WORLD SPORT CHICAGO
World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth. Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete Advisory Counsel (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events. WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy as a real agent of social change for the city. William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board and Scott Myers serves as the executive director.
ABOUT THE CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of nearly 1,500 boating enthusiasts and is one of the preeminent organizers of regattas, races and predicted-log events in the United States. The club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining and full-service catering at both its Monroe and Belmont stations.
Contact:
Mica Matsoff
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Paul Elsberg/Kelli Conkey
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