While some participants are selected by sailing resume, the course to the majority of Championships is either open or based on a ladder structure that begins at the local club level and progresses to regional finals before reaching the National Championship.

Since the first US SAILING Championship Trophy was first awarded in 1930, more than tens of thousands of sailors have competed in a National Championship, either at the national level or at the local qualifying level. Many of the Championships' winners have gone on to compete at the highest levels: winning Olympic medals and world championship titles, being named US SAILING Rolex Yachtsmen and Yachtswomen of the Year, and much more.

For more information about US SAILING's U.S. National Championships, please visit www.ussailing.org/championships or contact Liz Walker, US SAILING's Championships Director, at 401-683-0800 or via e-mail at championships@ussailing.org.

The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

Adult Championships Calendar

U.S. Multihull Championship (Hobie Alter Cup); April 24-28; Melbourne Yacht Club, Melbourne, Fla.; Blade F18 - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A.

U.S. Singlehanded Championship (O'Day Trophy); July 24-28; Corinthian Yacht Club, Cape May, N.J.; Laser - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Vanguard Sailboats

U.S. Independence Cup / North American Cup Challenge (Independence Cup and Judd Goldman Trophies); August 2-6; Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago, Ill.; Freedom 20 (Doublehanded), 2.4mR (Singlehanded), Sonar (Triplehanded) - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Dry Creek Vineyard, American Airlines, and Hyatt Hotels

U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship (Allegra Mertz Trophy); September 4-9; Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit, Mich.; Ultimate 20 - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Men's Sailing Championship (Mallory Cup); September 11-15; Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, Calif.; Etchells - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Women's Sailing Championship (Adams Cup); September 11-15; Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, Calif.; Etchells - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Match Racing Championship (Prince of Wales Bowl); September 19-23; New York Yacht Club, Newport, R.I.; Sonar - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Championship of Champions (Jack Brown Trophy); October 17-20; Mission Bay Club, San Diego, Calif.; Snipe - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Team Race Championship (Hinman Trophy); October 19-21; Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, N.Y.; Vanguard 15 - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Vanguard Sailboats, Nautica, and Dry Creek Vineyard

U.S. Offshore Championship (Lloyd Phoenix Trophy); October 26-28; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; Navy 44 - Sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A.

Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (Bengt Julin Trophy); November 12-17; Houston Yacht Club, LaPorte, TX; J/22 - sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A.

Youth Championships Calendar

U.S. Youth Multihull Championship (Arthur J. Stevens Trophy); March 29-April; Miami Yacht Club, Miami, Fla.; SL16 - sponsored by Performance Catamaran

U.S. Youth Sailing Championship; June 22-28; Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, La.; Laser, Club 420, Radial, International 29er - Sponsored by Nautica and Vanguard Sailboats

U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship (Ida Lewis Trophy); July 5-11; Pontchartrain Yacht Club, Mandeville, La.; Club 420 - Sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats

U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship (Leiter Trophy); July 29-August 4; Pleon Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass.; Laser Radial - Sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats

Chubb U.S. Junior Championships

U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship (Sears Cup and Judges Trophy); August 11-16; Lavallette Yacht Club, Lavallette, N.J.; Nomad - Sponsored by Chubb and Vanguard Sailboats

U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship (Bemis Trophy); August 11-16; Bay Head and Mantoloking Yacht Clubs, Bay Head, N.J.; Club 420 - Sponsored by Chubb and Vanguard Sailboats

U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship (Smythe Trophy); August 11-16; Bay Head and Mantoloking Yacht Clubs, Bay Head, N.J.; Laser - Sponsored by Chubb and Vanguard Sailboats