Press release received today from Sail America, of interest to NorCal sailors and others... Newport, RI, October 1, 2001 – Sail America, the sailing industry trade association and the organizer of Pacific Sail Expo today announced that it supports the decision by members of the San Francisco Bay Area sailing community to proceed with planned sailing events on the San Francisco Bay during the first weekend of October and other regularly scheduled Fleet Week celebrations. This year’s official Fleet Week was canceled due to the recent tragic events across the nation as many US military vessels and craft are being deployed overseas. In lieu of the usual Fleet Week activities, local Bay Area businesses and maritime organizations have planned a parade of vessels, both historic and recreational, to sail by the City front between 2:30 and 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a tentative flyover of antique aircraft. Radio station KFOG will simulcast patriotic music during the parade of vessels. Fleet Week celebrations held annually in San Francisco is symbolic in many ways of our nation’s efforts to provide the freedom Americans have always enjoyed. Fleet Week, along with Opening Day on the Bay, sees more boats out enjoying the freedom of being under sail or on a boat in the Bay than any other time of the year. Said Dawn Riley, CEO of America True Sailing Programs, “Sailboats by their nature are symbolic of freedom and I think this is one time in our nation’s history when we need to be reminded of how important freedom is to us as Americans. In a way, Bay Area sailors and boaters presence out on the Bay during the upcoming Fleet Week shows support for the absent vessels and servicemen that have been deployed on our nation’s behalf.” If you would like to participate in a sailing event on the Bay during Fleet Week, contact your local sailing or yacht club or a Bay Area sailing school. Programs such as The Olympic Circle Sailing Club in Berkeley will be donating 10% of its charter proceeds during Fleet Week to the Red Cross.