Please see the press release about the Lightning Boat Grant Program.
Regards,
Dave
ICSA Webmaster
PRESS RELEASE --
Award-winning Boat Grant Program Application Open to Young Sailors
Youth sailors and young sailors just starting a work career: Looking to
get into a competitive one-design class, but you don't quite have the
resources you need? Consider applying for the 2008 International
Lightning Class Boat Grant Program. It's a unique opportunity for
competitive young sailors who want a boat to race for the 2008 season
without having to buy or even lease a race-ready boat. The application
deadline is December 31, 2007.
The Lightning Class provides the boat, trailer, sails, insurance, some
funding, and even a mentor to help you get going in a class that has
included sailors like this year's 470 Olympic team of Amanda Clark and
Sarah Mergenthaler, as well as sailing legends like Carl Eichenlaub,
Bill Shore, Tito Gonzalez, Rolex Yachtswomen Jody (Swanson) Starck,
Betsy Alison, and Bonnie Shore, Rolex Yachtsmen Ken Read, Dave Curtis,
Dennis Conner, and this year's ISAF Sailor of the Year Ed Baird.
Program founders Allan Terhune and Bill Fastiggi, who won the U.S.
Sailing One-Design Leadership Award in 2007 for this innovative program,
designed the application process to be straightforward and
user-friendly. "The idea is to get good boats into the hands of sailors
who might not be able to afford them otherwise," according to Bill
Fastiggi. "And then be sure that they get to the racecourse."
Last year, four teams from Canada and the United States -- ranging in
age from 19 to 24 -- took Boat Grant Lightnings to the North American
Championships, the Atlantic Coast Championships, and a dozen other
events over the 2007 season. According to Bobby Martin, the Boat Grant
program exceeded expectations, "My boat was brand new. It was amazing.
When I ran into issues, my mentor and members of my local fleet were
always there to help... I never could have imagined that I would have
enjoyed the class and the boat this much." And Bob King, just out of
law school, said that the program provided critical funding for his
young "and poor" team, "The expense program is what allowed me to travel
to the bigger regattas. For example I could not have afforded the $200
in gas to go to Cedar Point for the ACC's."
Applications for the 2008 season are due on December 31st. For details,
visit the Lightning website at
http://www.lightningclass.org/Boat_Grant/GrantProgramIndex.htm
--
David Dabney
ICSA Webmaster
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
________________________________________________
icsa mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=icsa
