Harbor Springs, MI, July 28, 2008 - Bill Martin (Ann Arbor, MI) steered his Great Lakes 70 Stripes to three first place finishes in three races in IRC Class 1 on Sunday to grab first place in the Rolex US-IRC National Championship. Martin wins the second annual championship trophy and much more, a specially engraved Rolex Steel and Platinum Yacht-Master timepiece.

"I've finally won a national championship,' Martin said when told of his win. "My wife has a national championship in the Cal 25 Class seven years ago. We're finally even."

Martin attributed his three bullets on the last day to excellent crew work and to Bruce Nelson, his tactician for the regatta. "We had impeccable crew work throughout the regatta and especially in the three final races. Every sail selection was perfect. We hit every lay line perfectly. Bruce and the crew were spot on for the series."

Martin praised the race chairman Kevin Farrell and principal race officer Dick Neville and all the volunteers from Little Traverse Yacht Club, Rolex and US-IRC for a perfect regatta. "The weather couldn't have been better and the race committee gave us great racing," Martin added. "Having the Rolex US-IRC National Championship Regatta in Michigan and for Harbor Springs was an honor. Winning was an honor, too. We've had four perfect days of sailing."

Martin, a past president of US SAILING and the Athletic Director at the University Michigan, actively campaigns Stripes in Great Lakes 70 class competition and in fleet racing as well. Winning the Rolex US-IRC National Championship caps off an excellent month of sailing for Martin and Stripes. In the Port Huron Mackinac Race he came second in class and fourth overall. Last week in the Chicago Mackinac Martin took first in class and first in fleet.

Alice Martin, no kin to Bill, came second to the 68 foot Stripes by only 3 corrected seconds-per-mile. She sailed her little Sydney 38, Painkiller 4, valiantly with a pair of second places and a first place in IRC Class 4 on the last day. She needed just a little less time on the course through the week.

Alice was surely disappointed in her 'second-by-three-seconds' finish. "We can look back over the seven races and see opportunities for improvement. We had excellent sailing in the series and certainly congratulate Bill Martin and Stripes for a very well sailed regatta."

Rampage, John Odenbach's Farr/Concordia 47 (Rochester, NY) came third in the championship competition with a consistent three, two, two in IRC Class 2.

Stripes also won IRC Class 1, Rampage won IRC Class 2, Chewbacca a N/M50 sailed by William Peterson (Bayfield, WI) won IRC Class 3 and Painkiller 4 won IRC Class 4. The regatta started in Little Traverse Bay off Harbor Springs, Michigan on Friday and concluded seven races later on Sunday. Six of the races were windward leeward and the race on Saturday was a seven-leg 'Tour of the Bay.'

The Rolex US-IRC National Champion is determined by a performance formula. The combined, corrected seconds-per-mile for all races completed will be calculated for the winner of each class. Stripes, the class-winning boat with the lowest combined corrected seconds-per-mile is the Champion.

The 2008 Rolex US-IRC National Championship was sailed in conjunction with the 48th Little Traverse Yacht Club Regatta and One Design Series. The event is known as the "Ugotta Regatta".

Results are posted at www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=176 For more information, including results and news, visit www.ltyc.org and follow the links to Yachtscoring.com's interface.

Cumulative Provisional Final Results

IRC 1 (IRC - 8 Boats)

1. Stripes, Santa Cruz 70 68', William Martin, Ann Arbor, MI, USA - 2, 2, 3, 4.5, 1, 1, 1, ; 14.5
2. Thirsty Tiger, Santa Cruz 70 68, Albert D'Ottavio, Joliet, IL, USA - 4, 5, 1, 1.5, 4, 4, 3, ; 22.5
3. Windancer, Santa Cruz 70 68, John Nedeau, N. Muskegon, MI, USA - 5, 1, 4, 6, 2, 2, 4, ; 24

IRC 2 (IRC - 8 Boats)

1. Rampage, Farr Concordia 47 47, John Odenbach, Webster, NY, USA - 2, 2, 2, 6, 3, 2, 2, ; 19
2. Natalie J, N/M 46 C/R 46, Philip O'Niel III, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA - 3, 1, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, ; 22
3. Vincitore, Southern Cross Cruiser Racer 52, Jim Mitchell, Gockhauesen, Zurich, Switzerland - 1, 9/DNF, 9/DNS, 1.5, 1, 1, 1, ; 23.5

IRC 3 (IRC - 11 Boats)

1. Chewbacca, N/M Int'l 50 49.9, William Peterson, Bayfield, WI, USA - 4, 12/DNS, 2, 1.5, 2, 2, 4, ; 27.5
2. Eagles Wings, Grand Soliel 44 43, John Gottwald, Glencoe, IL, USA - 7, 3, 5, 4.5, 4, 3, 3, ; 29.5
3. Victrix, Farr 40 41, Curtis Kime, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA - 6, 5, 4, 7.5, 3, 7, 2, ; 34.5

IRC 4 (IRC - 7 Boats)

1. Painkiller 4, Sydney 38 38, Alice Martin, Chicago, IL, USA - 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 1, ; 11
2. Skye, J 122 40, Bill Zeiler, Wilmette, IL, USA - 2, 3, 5, 1.5, 1, 3, 2, ; 17.5
3. Serenissima, Sydney 38 38, Robin Munden, Chicago, IL, USA - 3, 2, 2, 4.5, 3, 1, 3, ; 18.5