Teams Represent World’s Top Female Skippers

Eastport, Md., USA - Eastport Yacht Club and BoatUS will host a slate of the world-class female sailors on June 2-5 in Annapolis, Maryland, at the 2010 BoatUS Santa Maria Cup . The roster is comprised of many of the top-ranked international skippers, including three teams representing France, four teams from the USA, two Brazilian entries and a Canadian team. All competitors are campaigning for spots on 2012 Olympic teams and the BoatUS Santa Maria Cup is part of the training and ranking process.

Team captains and their home country are:

· Claire Leroy (France): Ranked 1st in the world and defending champion and two-time match racing World Champion (2007 and 2008).
· Anne-Claire Le Berre (France): Ranked 6th in the world.
· Julie Bossard (France): Ranked 7th in the world.
· Anna Tunnicliffe (USA): Ranked 10th in the world, Tunnicliffe is an Olympic gold medalist (Beijing 2008) and 2009 International Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
· Genny Tulloch (USA): Ranked 14th in the world and three-time collegiate all-American, Tulloch was selected in 2007 as a team member of Morning Light, the vessel that was featured in the Disney documentary feature film. She was the only female to make the 11-person race team and compete in the legendary Transpac Race from California to Hawaii.
· Sally Barkow (USA): Ranked 17th in the world and an Olympian (Beijing 2008), Barkow is past Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and three-time winner of the BoatUS Santa Maria Cup.
· Juliana Senfft (Brazil): Ranked 25th in the world.
· Maegan Ruhlman (USA): Ranked 60th in the world and winner of the 2010 Sundance Cup, Ruhlman is a local ’Naptown favorite.
· Sarah Bury (Canada): Ranked 68th in the world.
· Raquelhora Aimone (Brazil): Ranked 79th in the world.

All of these top skippers and crew will be dueling it out on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in a series of head-to-head matches. Unlike many regattas where big budget, high-tech boats usually have a pronounced advantage over their competition, BoatUS Santa Maria Cup captains and their three-woman crews compete on near-identical J-22 (22-foot) sailboats, with teams switching boats after each race and winners determined through skill, tactics and finesse. Adding to the excitement, the match race format pits boat against boat, one-on-one, in fast-paced duels that often sees the winner crossing the finish line a mere seconds ahead of their opponent.

On the day prior to the start of match racing -- Tuesday, June 1 -- journalists and TV crews are invited to sail with the competitors as they engage local area sailors in a special PRO-AM Race (contact Clare Vanderbeek, claregvanderbeek@aol.com).

Umpires Announced

Umpires responsible for overseeing the competition have been drawn from around the world, including the US Virgin Islands, Sweden, New Zealand, Great Britain, and the USA. All umpires have been certified by the International Sailing Federation, which is the world governing body for the sport of sailing.

Umpires include:
· Henry Menin (US Virgin Islands, Chief umpire)
· Charlotte Greppe (Sweden, Deputy umpire)
· Shane Borrell (New Zealand)
· Micheal Butterfield (Great Britain)
· Jim Capron (USA)
· Bruce Cook (USA)
· Bob Duffy (Bermuda)
· Sandy Grosvenor (USA)
· Dave Pyron (USA)
· Jeff Borland (USA)
· Deb Schoenherr (USA)
· Greg Kiely (USA)

Stay tuned to www.BoatUSSantaMariaCup.org as new information is posted.

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Editor’s note:
The BoatUS Santa Maria Cup Opening Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on June 1 at Susan C. Campbell Park on City Dock in Annapolis and will be followed by a reception for competitors and the press at the Historical Annapolis Museum.

About Eastport Yacht Club:
Located on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland, this club of 600 members is recognized around the yacht-racing world as a leader in race management. Additional information about the club is available at www.EastportYC.org .

About BoatUS:
BoatUS - Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with government representation, programs and money saving services. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.