Greetings race fans,

With our boat in transit to Miami, we’ve taken the last few weeks to take care of some campaign business. Our first 470 Team USA newsletter is on its way to the printers and will be mailed out shortly. Please take a moment to visit our website (www.470TeamUSA.com) and enter your address on the home page if you would like to receive a copy of the newsletter.

Since our last update, Erin joined several other US Sailing Team members at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, just outside of San Diego, in the first week of November (Alice was unable to attend because of work commitments). She spent two days with the Nation's top instructors specializing in sports physiology, sports medicine, and weight training. She underwent a fitness evaluation as well as several other coordination, balance and agility tests. Fitness goals and work out programs to suit each US Sailing Team member were discussed. On the second day there was a lecture on the Biomechanics of sailing, which included ways to most effectively use bodyweight in the boat. The weekend was wrapped up with an erg test. Each sailing team member, as well as US Sailing coach Skip Whyte, got on the rowing machine and raced against the clock for the best time to complete 2000 meters. Everyone's times were recorded and each is expected to improve their performance on the erg, as well as all other tests over the weekend, at our next evaluation in January. The training sessions at the US Olympic Training Center provided Erin with direction on how to pursue her physical training and the confidence and motivation to make it a priority. Alice will undergo similar testing in Miami in January when Erin has her reevaluation.

We’ve planned a couple of great training weekends with other US and international teams in December and January in Miami. And in January we will compete in our two remaining 2006 US Sailing Team qualification events, the North American Championship and the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. We’re looking forward to getting back on the water and maintaining our spot at the top of the 2006 rankings.

Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter!

Cheers,
Erin & Alice