Portsmouth, R.I. (August 4, 2006) — A team of top youth sailors representing the United States will arrive in Los Angeles, California Saturday to compete in the 2006 Laser Radial World Championship. Almost 200 sailors will vie for the Youth World Champion title over six days of racing, beginning Monday, August 7. US SAILING, the national governing body of the sport, together with Vanguard Sailboats, an official sponsor of the US Sailing Team, will
send the American team to this event.

The five sailors who make up the US Laser Radial Youth World Team are: Randy Hartranft (Bayville, N.J.), Tedd Himler (Manhasset, N.Y.), Kyle Rogachenko (Collegeville, Pa.), Ian Sutherland (Toms River, N.J.) and Jerry Tullo (Staten Island, N.Y.).

Coach Brett Davis (Naples, Fla.), who will accompany the sailors to
California, said he expects at least one top-ten finish. Rogachenko, 18, finished eighth at last year’s Laser Radial Youth World Championship in Fortaleza, Brazil.

“We have a strong team,” said Davis, who recently observed the international Laser contenders at the 2006 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Weymouth, Great Britain. “I expect the competition to be challenging, compared to previous years.”

“It will depend partially on the weather,” said Davis. “If we have stronger winds, our sailors will be up there in the top five.”

Hosted by the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, just outside Los Angeles, the Laser Radial World Championship consists of three world championships: Men, Women and Youth. The Men and Women Championships conclude today, and the Youth Championship begins Saturday, August 5.

As part of a nationwide program to support youth development for sailing, the US Radial Youth World Team was created by Vanguard and US SAILING to encourage young sailors to get more experience on the international race course. The five sailors will receive a grant to help off-set the expenses incurred while attending the World Championship. The sailors, who must be between the ages of 15 and 18, were selected based on their individual rankings on the Laser Radial Grand Prix in 2005.

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