Annapolis, MD — The 2001 Rolex International Women's Keelboat
Championship (Rolex IWKC) Outreach Committee will select 25 junior women
sailors to participate in the Rolex Next Step Program, September 21-23 in
Annapolis, Md. The event will be held in conjunction with the Rolex IWKC,
part of US Sailing's championship series, to be held September 22-28 at the
Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC).

Junior women sailors, 13 to 19 years old, should write, in 100 words or
less, what they enjoy about sailing, their sailing experiences, and what
they think they will gain from spending a weekend at the opening of the
Rolex IWKC.

Entries should include a letter of recommendation from a sailing coach and
be submitted to Sue Mikulski at [email protected] by August 1, 2001.
Attach the essay and reference letter as Word documents and put "Rolex IWKC
Outreach Committee" in the subject line. Entries also can be mailed to
Annapolis Yacht Club, 2 Compromise Street, Annapolis, MD 21404.

The Rolex Next Step Program was established in 1997 to expose juniors to
international women's sailing in a mentoring atmosphere. This year's
program begins on Friday, September 21with a welcome party and workshop at J
Port Annapolis, featuring asymmetrical sailing with Rolex IWKC competitors
aboard J/80s provided by J Port Sailing Club and J World Annapolis.

Saturday, September 22 features a J/22 clinic with America's Cup campaign
veteran Tucker Thompson and US SAILING Instructor Trainer Nan Leute Walker,
director of J Port Sailing Club. A barbecue at AYC will follow.

On Sunday morning, September 23, Pease Glaser, Olympic 470 Silver Medallist
and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, will talk about her Olympic experiences
over breakfast at AYC.

Sunday afternoon, former US SAILING president Jim Muldoon will host the
juniors aboard his well-known offshore racer, Donnybrook, for lunch and to
observe the Rolex IWKC practice race. Participants will be presented with
certificates of achievement from Rolex.

Organizers are using the Internet to promote the Rolex IWKC and provide
information: www.annapolisyc.com/rolexkeelboats is focusing on Annapolis
details; www.ussailing.org/riwkc has the official NOR and Entry Form in PDF
format, event history and news releases. There is a web server list to get
direct information by email. To subscribe, visit www.ussailing.org/riwkc .