Competitions

US Olympic sailors are rarely wealthy enough to compete in the Olympics without raising external funds. Sailors cannot make it to the Olympics with family money alone. The US Sailing Olympic Sailing Committee can’t meet all of our Olympians needs. When our sailors do get on the water, they are competing against international sailors who are nationally funded—for training, logistics, and gear.
Not only do competitive sailors need support when they are at the Olympic level, they need external support to get to that Olympic level.

AYCF helps Olympians and aspiring Olympians of all ages to be the best they can be. For younger sailors, a grant can make the difference between competing or not competing, competing competitively or simply learning how to begin the process of raising money to become an amateur sailor. For more advanced sailors, grants can give them moral support from their home community, legitimacy to larger funders, or the crucial difference between a coach or not.

APPLY FOR A COMPETITION GRANT

FUNDING GUIDELINES
Amateur Sailing Competition:

1. Amateur sailors
   1. Amateur sailors from the Mid-Chesapeake Bay area who are participating in national or international sailing competition are eligible. An “amateur” sailor includes any sailor if the national governing body of the sport does not consider the type of support paid to the athlete as destroying the athlete's eligibility to participate in competitions as an amateur.
   2. AYCF will not accept contributions designated for the benefit of a specific amateur sailor.
   3. A competition or campaign budget must be included in the application.
      1. Travel, entry and charter fees, lodging costs, communications, and uniforms are eligible for support [capital investments, such as sails, hull, equipment, etc., are not funded];
      2. Other sources of support should be included;
      3. AYCF can be the sole sponsor; no matching funds or other sources of support are necessary to qualify; and
      4. AYCF does not discriminate based on financial need.
   4. A sailing resume must be included in the application.
   5. AYCF evaluates proposals based on realistic budgets and clear, measurable and appropriate goals and objectives.
   6. Sailors are eligible for two grants from AYCF in one calendar year, and the grants can be for an overall campaign or separate competitions.
   7. Following evaluation of grant applications, an applicant will receive –
      1. A letter explaining why the application did not receive a grant, or
      2. A funding agreement that will specify the cooperation expected of the applicant in furnishing to AYCF reports, photographs, appearances, or testimonials with respect to his or her competition.
2. National and International Regattas:
   1. Organizations hosting national and international regattas in the Mid-Chesapeake Bay area are eligible.
   2. A regatta budget must be included with the application.
      1. Other sources of support must be shown in the application;
      2. General overhead expenses are not eligible for support; and
      3. Expenses related to increasing regatta participation, such as travel reimbursements, entry fee sponsorships, or charter boat fee sponsorships, or outreach, advertising or promotions to expand the demographic diversity (gender, physical ability, age, skill level), are eligible.
   3. The organization's experience with hosting major regattas must be included.
   4. AYCF evaluates proposals based on realistic budgets and clear measurable and appropriate goals and objectives.
   5. Organizations are eligible for two grants from AYCF in a calendar year. These grants can be for an individual competition or separate competitions.

"I just wanted to thank you again for the support from the Annapolis YC Foundation. It really is allowing me to continue on my quest for the GOLD!!!"
- Elizabeth Merrifield Filter, 2004 US Olympic Team, Women's Keelboat

Nick Nelson's crew extends his full body on the trapeze wire to keep the boat flat while Nick concentrates on sailing fast upwind.

Carol Croni's 2004 Olympic team preparing to race their Yngling as they represent the United States in Athens. 2004 was the Olympic debut of the Yngling class. Representing the United States, Carol Cronin (Jamestown, RI), Liz Filter (Stevensville, MD) and Nancy Haberland (Annapolis, MD), racked up more first and second place wins than any other team in their class (including the gold medalists). Consistency was the key, however, and they finished a respectable 10th in a field of 16.

Jesse Falsone and crew proudly display the perpetual trophy they received after winning the 2003 East Coast Championships for the 505 class.