NATIONAL HOSPICE REGATTA CHAMPIONSHIP 2000
May 5, 6 &7, 2000
Annapolis, Maryland
"Inspired by Competition; Enhanced with Compassion"
In 1999, over 1000 skippers nationwide competed for a good cause. Thirteen hospice charity regattas helped raise over $700,000 for hospice care for over 10,000 terminally ill patients and their loved ones. Revenues were distributed to thirty hospice care programs coast-to-coast.
The regattas are all members of the new National Hospice Regatta Alliance, which is organizing the championship to further the goals of all the regattas -- raising money and awareness for hospice care.
Following each local regatta's 1999 event, the local organizers invited one winner to participate, with two crew members, in the first national championship, to be held May 5, 6 & 7, 2000 in Annapolis, Maryland. Invitations were based on local performance and confirmed by availability for the national event. The organizers of the local regatta determines the specific criteria and methods.
Upon arrival in Annapolis, the invited skippers and crew will be introduced to the fleet of borrowed boats, J/105s organized and prepared with the help of early-bird sponsor J /Boats Chesapeake. The fast, popular J 105 is the official boat of the championship. J/ Boats, Inc. is another early bird sponsor. A.G.A. Correa & Son of Edgecomb, ME, is providing the trophies.
Friday, May 5th, will be a practice day, followed by two days of fleet racing which will be scored as a series. Each day will be capped by special events. The race committee will consist of some of the area's and the country's most experienced race managers. The races will be on Olympic or government-mark courses on the Chesapeake Bay outside of Annapolis.
"Our prime objective is to establish a national hospice championship that spotlights on the enormous breadth of hospice care supported by the thirteen regattas," according to Virginia H. Brown, president of the new Alliance.
After the premier event in Annapolis, home of the original Hospice Cup regatta, the championship will rotate among the local venues.