2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team announced.

The Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) of U.S. SAILING, national governing body for the sport, has announced its 2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team. Created in 1998 to develop and prepare the Team attending the Paralympic Games, the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team annually recognizes the top-three competitors in the two classes selected for the Paralympic Games--Sonar and 2.4 Metre.

For the first time, each Sonar team will name an alternate allowing for crew substitution should the need arise. The U.S. Disabled Sailing Team is sponsored by Lands' End and Rolex Watch. U.S.A. Suppliers to the Team are Extrasport, Gill North America, McLube, and Sperry TopSider.

The following members of the 2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team are listed in ranking order one through three. Named in the Sonar class (skipper and crew)--1998 World Disabled Sailing gold medalist John Ross-Duggan (Newport Beach, CA), with Mike Ross (Leucadia, CA), J.P. Creignou (St. Petersburg, FL), and alternate Larry Kutno (Seffner, FL); 2001 2.4 Metre North American and Northeastern Champion Rick Doerr (Clifton, NJ), with Tim Angle (Marblehead, MA), 1998 World Disabled Sailing silver medalist Richard Hughes (Kennesaw, GA), and alternate Maureen McKinnon-Tucker (Marblehead, MA); 2000 Paralympians Paul Callahan (Providence, RI) and Keith Burhans (Irondequoit, NY), with Mike Hersey (Hyannis, MA), and alternate Roger Cleworth (Brandon, FL).

Named in the 2.4 Metre class--2001 IFDS 2.4 Metre World silver medalist and 2000 Paralympic 2.4 Metre bronze medalist Tom Brown (Northeast Harbor, ME); John Ruf (Pewaukee, WI); and Tom Franklin (Miami, FL).

The 2004 Paralympic Regatta is scheduled for late August in Athens, Greece, shortly after the 2004 Olympic Games, and will utilize the same competition venue. Additional information on the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team is available at www.ussailing.org/Olympics/Paralympic or by contacting Jan Harley, Media Pro, 1-401-849-0220.