PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
North Kingston, Rhode Island, May 4, 2023
Club 420 Association Announces new Womens Award
The Club 420 Association pleased to announce that the winners of the newly created Club 420 Association’s Women’s Doublehanded North American Championship will receive The Lynne Jewell Shore / Allison Jolly Trophy. How befitting to bestow this honor to Lynne and Allison, who are legendary in the world of sailing as the first women to win a Gold Medal in the modern Olympic Games in 1988. We thank Lynne and Allison for supporting our inaugural regatta.
Lynne Jewell Shore:
Lynne began sailing at age 7 inspired by her mother, Lydia who was a crew member aboard Irving and Electa Johnson’s “Yankee” for a circumnavigation of the world in 1953-54. She was a standout intercollegiate sailor at Boston University and achieved another first by being the first women to qualify for the Men’s Collegiate Singlehanded Championship. Lynne was one of the top single-handed sailors in the world in the early 80’s. She won the Women’s Laser World Championship twice in 1980 and 1984 and the US Singlehanded Championship in 1980 and 1983. She competed in six world championships in six different class boats, finishing in the top 10 in the J/24, Etchells, Europe Dinghy, 470, Laser and Snipe. For her outstanding accomplishments she was named the US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in 1980 and again in 1988 with Allison Jolly for their Gold medal in the 1988 Olympic accomplishment.
Lynne can be seen still sailing competitively in many classes and continues to give back to women in sailing by being a role model and mentor. She also helped develop the Clagget Championships for junior women’s sailing. Lynne was elected to the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2021.
Allison Jolly:
Allison began sailing at the age of 10 in St. Petersburg, Florida. She attended Columbia University and won the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Women’s A division National Championships in 1975 and then transferred to Florida State University, winning the same championship in 1976. After pairing with Lynne Jewell Shore to capture the Gold Medal in the 1988 Olympics, Allison and Lynne were named US Sailing Yachtswomen of the Year in 1988. In 2010, she was named President of the US 470 Class Association. In 2016 she was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and was elected to the Nationals Sailing Hall of Fame in 2019.
She has been the long-time sailing coach for the University of South Florida. Jolly says, “I love coaching. It is a huge responsibility, and yet a fantastic opportunity as well.” Allison, like Lynne is a great role model for sailors in the United States and beyond and has mentored many women sailors throughout the years.
About the Club 420 Association – The Club 420 Association was established in 1980 to promote, foster, encourage and sponsor one-design sailing for youth sailors. The Association annually sponsors a North American Championship, the Woman’s North American Championship, US and Canadian National Championships and the team racing National Championship as well as regional events and clinics across North America while promoting the class to all ability and experience levels of youth sailing.
For more information on the regatta being held at the Brant Beach Yacht Club on July 12th -14th, 2023 visit: 2023 Club 420 Womens North American Championship
For information on the Club 420 Association please visit www.club420.org or contact the class at [email protected]
Leave a Reply