US Sailing congratulate Woman Coach

by Penny Piva Rego on 24 Feb 2001 The United States Sailing Association congratulates Betsy
Alison, one of the top female sailors in the United States, for receiving the Leadership in Women’s
Sailing Award, co-sponsored by BOAT/U.S. and the National Women’s Sailing Association.

'Betsy has a truly remarkable combination of sailing skills, energy, and compassion, and has inspired
thousands of women to start sailing,' said US SAILING President Dave Rosekrans. 'Her clinics in
Women’s Match Racing for newcomers have helped numerous women’s teams prepare for events like
the Rolex International Keelboat Championship. That she is a competitor in the same event further
shows her commitment to the sport.'

'The Leadership in Women's Sailing Award is given to a person who has a record of achievement in
inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing and we are very proud to be able
to honor her,' said Doris Colgate, president of the National Women's Sailing Association, who
presented Betsy with the Award at the recently concluded Sail Expo in Atlantic City.

Alison has donated hundreds of hours advising and coaching the U.S. Disabled/Paralympic Sailing
Teams, and coached the Team to a Bronze medal in Sydney this fall. She has volunteered in
designing, promoting and teaching sailing clinics in the U.S., Chile, New Zealand and the Caribbean,
and has been actively involved in the National Woman's Sailing Association's AdventureSail program,
which helps inner city and at risk young women develop a healthy lifestyle through sailing.

She is the only person to win the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year five times.

Alison is ranked first in the United States and second in the world in Women's Match Racing, and in
June won the BOAT/U.S. Santa Maria Cup for the second time. Her current goal is to win an Olympic
medal in the new women's keelboat discipline in the 2004 Games in Athens. She won the ISAF
Women's World Match Racing Championship in 1998, the silver medal in 1999, and the bronze medal
in 2000.

The United States Sailing Association is the national governing body for the sport of sailing, the
mission of which is to encourage participation and excellence in sailing and racing in the United
States. The organization achieves its goals through member organizations and volunteers, located
throughout the United States, who are supported by an administrative staff located at the organization’s
headquarters in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. More information about US SAILING is available at
www.ussailing.org.