PORTSMOUTH, RI — Using a formula that factors in recent success in individual sports, the US Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, CO, has issued a new round of training grants to would-be Olympians, including sailors. Among the Sydney-bound sailors to receive additional funding are Star sailors Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl and the Men's 470 duo of Paul Foerster and Bob Merrick. The latter are currently in Europe competing at the SPA Regatta.
Reynolds and Liljedahl's recent victory in the 112-boat Star Class Worlds (see today's feature story "Nautica Star Class World Championship") wholly justifies the USOC's largesse, as does Foerster and Merrick's fourth place (out of 109 boats) at their class's recent world championship in Hungary.
As each of these teams continues its preparation, their focus will turn toward excelling in smaller fleets. The competition in the Star Class at the Olympics in Sydney will see 17 boats on the line. The Men's 470 fleet will be composed of 31 entries.
Reynolds, Liljedah, Foerster, and Merrick are all members of the US Sailing Team, which is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Sperry Top-Sider. Douglas Gill, Team McLube and Yale Cordage are suppliers to the Team. Merrick and Foerster are also sponsored by SailNet.com.