U.S. Sailing Forms Teams to Train 2016 Olympic Sailors

's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has created a new structure for the 2012 U.S. Sailing Development Team (USSDT) in order to help train future Olympians. 

The team will now have two groups: the Olympic Development Team (ODT), focused on performance in Olympic Class equipment; and the Youth Development Team (YDT), focused on performance in the equipment used in the ISAF Youth World Championship.

Created in 2007 and known then as the Elite Youth Development Team, the program was expanded in 2008 to help young athletes who have been identified as future Olympic prospects to acquire the skills necessary to launch successful campaigns and compete at the Olympic level.

“Our goal is to provide an elite environment designed specifically to prepare young sailors for the highly competitive world of Olympic sailing,” said chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee Dean Brenner.

Selection for the 2012 USSDT will change from a resume process to a straight-forward regatta selection process. U.S. Sailing's High Performance Director may invite additional sailors to join the team on a wild card basis with the approval of the Olympic Sailing Committee.

Olympic Development Team

The Olympic Development Team is targeted at athletes, aged 16-24, who are focused on the Olympic classes for the 2016 games. Athletes will be selected at U.S. Sailing's Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, FL, Jan. 22-28. A separate regatta will be held in January 2012 in Florida to select the Multihull (mixed crew) and 29erXX (two person women’s skiff).

Youth Development Team

The Youth Development Team is targeted at athletes, aged 14-18, who are focused on success at the ISAF Youth World Championship and also may be considering a serious Olympic campaign within the next four years. Athletes will be selected at the U.S. ISAF Youth Worlds Qualifier, scheduled for Jan. 14-16, 2012 at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, in Long Beach, CA. A separate regatta will be held in January, 2012, in Florida to select the Formula 16 (multihull) team.