Jacob La Dow of San Diego Among World's Best Young Sailors to Battle in Red Bull Youth America's Cup

ST. MARY'S CITY, MD (12/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Jacob La Dow, a native of San Diego, Calif., and sophomore skipper at St. Mary's College of Maryland, has earned a spot to participate in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup-a first-ever competition for talented youth sailors, ages19 to 24, to gain the experience they need to contribute to an America's Cup team.

After an intensive two-day trial, La Dow, 19, was one of few selected by ORACLE TEAM USA to compete on Team America Racing, one of two U.S.-based, six-man teams selected by ORACLE TEAM USA. The other is American Youth Sailing Force.

"This is a big step in my sailing career," said La Dow. "This just goes to show that if you set your mind to doing something, you can do it. All it takes sometimes is a strong effort and the right people."

Crews of both Team America Racing and American Youth Sailing Force will make periodic trips to San Francisco to train under the tutelage of ORACLE TEAM USA in the coming months, with more extensive training to take place in the summer. They will then compete in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup scheduled for September 1-4, 2013, in San Francisco, during the heart of the 34th America's Cup racing season.

The youth teams are made up of collegiate All-Americans, youth world medalists and members of U.S. Sailing's Development Team.

###

St. Mary's College of Maryland, designated the Maryland state honors college in 1992, is ranked one of the best public liberal arts schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. More than 2,000 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary's River in Southern Maryland.