We are not the only major event going on in Annapolis this weekend, however and you will all need to make special considerations for a triathlon that will be taking place in the city on Saturday morning. Many roads will be closed in town and the only way to get to USNA will be to come in via MD 450 *SOUTH* (exit 27 on US 50 / 301) over the Naval Academy Bridge to Gate 8. Traffic police will allow vehicles through that way, but traffic will only be flowing one way at a time. You should all allow an extra 30 minutes for transit to the regatta on Saturday Morning. The roads should all be clear by mid day on Saturday, so you will be able to travel other ways for the remainder of the weekend.

Thank you for your cooperation and we apologize for the inconvenience on Saturday.

COLLEGE SAILING’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI-FINALS SET TO BEGIN AT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

Annapolis, Md. (May 10, 2012) – This weekend, May 12 – 13, the U.S. Naval Academy will host the Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s (ICSA) National Championship Western and Eastern Semi-Finals at the Robert Crown Center. The Crown Center was dedicated in the spring of 1974 named in honor of the late Captain Robert Crown. The Naval Academy is a premier college sailing venue with the capacity to host large events with two full fleets of 420s and FJs on the water at once to allow for a maximum amount of racing. Sailing takes place on the Severn River in front of the Crown Center.

More than 140 sailors will compete in the two-day event, with supporting sponsorship from Marlow and U.S. Sailing. The Semi-Finals kick off the highly anticipated ICSA Spring National Championship series of regattas, which begin at the end of the month.

The regatta is divided into two fleets, Eastern and Western, each comprised of a mix of the top 18 schools in the country, representative of the seven collegiate sailing conferences in the nation: New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Coast and Northwest. The top nine schools in each fleet will qualify for the Gill/ICSA Coed National Championship Finals, June 6 – 8, 2012 in Austin, Texas. The final team in each fleet to qualify will be awarded the U.S. Sailing GRIT Award.

Eighteen races are scheduled in A and B Divisions of each semi-final fleet. On Saturday the Eastern fleet will race in 420s and the Western in FJs. On Sunday the groups will switch boats. Windward/Leeward courses are planned for the racing with the possibility of trapezoid courses, says Ian Burman, head coach of the Navy Sailing Team. The teams will report at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with racing starting between 9:30 and 10 a.m.

For additional regatta information, competitors and live results visit the event website: http://2012semis.collegesailing.org/. Follow the action live on the ICSA Twitter feed: @collegesailing.

The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada. Visit www.collegesailing.org to learn more.

The group code is ISF.  Reservations can be made at www.doubletreeannapolis.com and entering the group code in the convention/group field or by calling (410)224-3150 and requesting the rate for the Intercollegiate Sailing event. DEADLINE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS IS APRIL 27^th!

Hampton Inn Annapolis: A block of 15 double rooms are reserved at the Hampton Inn Annapolis for $129 per night.  Teams can call the hotel (410)571-0200 and reserve rooms under the ICSA Semi-Finals group block (group code: ICS). DEADLINE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS IS APRIL 25^th!

The request for a pass can be done online at http://www.navysports.com/ot/navy-visitors-team-officials.html

Username: team
Password: go2navy!

You will not likely receive any sort of confirmation, but if you fill out the form correctly, you will be allowed to drive onto the Academy.

While only visiting teams and event officials will be allowed vehicle access to the yard, other spectators and supporters are encouraged to walk on to view the event.

Here is a link to Directions:  http://www.navysports.com/facilities/navy-navalacademy-directions.html

Here is a link to information about the Crown Center:  http://www.navysports.com/facilities/robert-crown.html

Photo Copyright Rob Migliaccio