Team Priscilla: R. J. Cooper & Courtney Cumberland

Quest for Olympic Gold in Paris 2024 Mixed‐Gender, Double‐Handed, Distance

Meet Team Cooper / Cumberland:

Team Cooper / Cumberland R. J. Cooper Courtney Cumberland

R. J. Cooper and Courtney Cooper Cumberland R. J. is a life‐long sailor who began racing Courtney is a life‐long sailor who began racing are a brother and sister duo from Panama City, sailboats at the age of 11. R. J. began racing in sailboats at the age of 10. Courtney began Florida. Both attended Bay High School, where the Gulf Yachting Association circuit on many racing in the Gulf Yachting Association on many their mother was a teacher, and the University different boat types. In college, R. J. sailed for different boat types. In college, Courtney sailed of Florida. R. J. and Courtney sailed together the University of Florida and competed in two for the University of Florida on a national level. extensively throughout their youth and while on national championships. R. J. has competed all Courtney has competed extensively throughout the Sailing Team for the University of Florida. over the in many different one‐ the United States. Courtney is thrilled to be part The pair has teamed up for a bid to represent design and offshore classes and has always had of an Olympic campaign. the United States and win gold at the 2024 a passion for Olympic‐class sailing. Olympics in Paris.

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Meet Team Cooper / Cumberland

R. J. Cooper at the helm of his Courtney Cumberland at the helm of a Melges 24 Competing at the 2018 Star World Championship Competing at the 2019 Fall Naval Academy Sailing Squadron’s Oxford, Maryland Annaplolis to Oxford Race

Nationality: United States of America Nationality: United States of America Gender: Male Gener: Female Height: 6’‐0” (1.8 Meters) Height: 5’‐5” (1.6 Meters) Weight: 178 Pounds (81 Kilograms) Weight: 142 Pounds (64 Kilograms) Family: Married with Two Boys Family: Married Current Residence: Oxford, Maryland Current Residence: Panama City, Florida ID: USARC23 World Sailing ID: USACC266 US Sailing #: 138523T US Sailing #: 214959B

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R. J. Cooper: Racing Experience

Jr. Sailing and Gulf Yacht Association Sailing: One‐Design Keel Boats: Sunfish / Lasers / Laser IIs / Flying Scots / Windsurfers / Hobies J/22 – 2004 Worlds / 2x NOODs / Multiple CBYRA Regattas 6x Flying Scot Midwinters (youngest skipper to ever win a race) Melges 24 – 2016 Worlds / Multiple one‐design regattas Multiple Capdeville (Flying Scot) regattas Star – 2014 North American’s / 2018 Worlds / Multiple one‐design regattas Multiple PHRF races, series’s and regattas 20x Oxford Amateur Racing Series Competitor College Sailing – University of Florida: Offshore Sailing: 1998 Co‐ed Dinghy National Finals – 2x Gulfport to Pensacola Race aboard a J/30 1999 Atlantic Coast Championship – (sailed with Courtney 😊) 5x Pensacola to Panama City Race abourd a J/29 1999 Sloop National Finals – Annapolis (Brozne as skipper) 2001 Annapolis to Newport Race, crew member aboard Sydney 38 Canvasback Multiple single‐handed, double‐handed dinghy, keel‐boat and team race 2018 Newport – Race, watch captain aboard Swan 47 Bandana regattas throught the U.S. Double‐Handed Distance Racing: Canvasback Racing: (Member of semi‐pro sailing team) 2019 NASS Race to Oxford – 30 miles on a Melges 24 5x Key West Race Week 2019 AYC Double‐Handed Distance Race – 81.7 miles on a J/105 2x Race Week Qualifications: 2x NYYC Race Week US Sailing Safety at Sea 2x Block Island Race Week US Sailing, Level 1 Instructor Multiple PHRF, IMS and one‐design yacht races throughout the U.S. Maryland Safe‐Boaters Certificate Olympic‐Class Sailing: Past‐Commodore of the Tred Avon Yacht Club Laser – 1995 Savanah International Test Event / 1996 All Pre‐Olympic Trials events / multiple one‐design regattas Soling – 2000 US Olympic Trials / 2x Fall Soling Bowl / Miami Training / 2000 US Nationals / World Ranking Finn – 2008 North Americans / 2009 Miami “Coach’s Regatta” Star – 2010 Fall Windup (winning crew)

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Courtney Cumberland: Racing Experience

Jr. Sailing and Gulf Yacht Association Sailing: One‐Design Keel Boats: Sunfish / Lasers / Laser IIs / Flying Scots / Windsurfers / Hobies J/22 – 2003 Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship – Annapolis 3x Flying Scot Midwinters 2004 World Championship – Annapolis Multiple Capdeville (Flying Scot and Viper 640) regattas 2005 Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship – Annapolis Multiple PHRF races, series’s and regattas J/24 – 2017 Easter Regatta / Multible CBYRA Regattas College Sailing – University of Florida: J/105 – 2007 NOOD in St. Petersburg / Multipel CBYRA Regattas 1999 Atlantic Coast Championship – Boston (sailed with R. J. 😊) Viper 640 – 2015 Sarasota Series / WRORC (skipper) 1999 Women’s National Championship Finals – St. Petersburg, FL Double‐Handed Distance Racing: 2001 Co‐ed National Championship Finals – Newport, RI 2019 NASS Race to Oxford – 30 miles on a Melges 24 Multiple single‐handed, double‐handed dinghy, keel‐boat and team race 2019 AYC Double‐Handed Distance Race – 81.7 miles on a J/105 regattas throught the U.S. Qualifications & Awards: US Sailing Safety at Sea US Sailing, Level 1 Instructor Maryland Safe‐Boaters Certificate 2016 GYA Sportsmanship Award

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The trail to the 2024 Olympics

In November of 2018 World Sailing, the international governing body of the sport of sailing, announced several new disciplines for sailing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. One of the new disciplines is to be mixed‐gener, double‐handed distance sailing. It was announced that teams will consist of one male and one female on one‐design boats with a target race duration of 2 to 3 days. Further specific details of the new discipline will be published in 2021.

As both life‐long sailors with a huge range of experiences, R. J. and Courtney found this announcement to be very exciting. After discussing the idea of teaming, they plan to begin a campaign for victory in the new class at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

R. J. & Courtney during the 2019 AYC Double‐Handed Distance Race (Tenacious) As R. J. and Courtney begin their new Olympic journey, the goals are broad and simple and include the following: 1. Goal 1 – GET INVOLVED (2019 and 2020): Learn the parameters of the new event, train, practice, obtain a boat, and participate in preliminary regattas. 2. Goal 2 – QUALIFY FOR THE US SAILING TEAM (2021 and 2022): Focus on becoming a top team from the United States and begin participating in World Cup and International events. 3. Goal 3 – QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM (2023 and 2024): Participate in all World Cup and related International events and win the right to represent the United States at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. 4. Goal 4 – WIN A GOLD (2024): Win a gold medal in Mersaille R. J. & Courtney during the 2019 AYC where the sailing will take place for the 2024 Olympics. Double‐Handed Distance Race (USA 501)

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Team Prescilla: Plans for 2020

January: July: Training to Mackinac Race, Double‐Handed: Chicago / Mackinac Island February: August: Training Oxford Regatta, Double‐Handed: Annapolis / Oxford, MD March: Heritage Regatta, One‐Design: Oxford, MD Training September: Application for Chicago‐Mackinac boat charter Centinnial Lipton Regatta, One‐Design: New Orleans, LA NASS Race to Oxford, Double‐Handed: Annapolis / Oxford, MD April: October: Training AYC Double‐Handed Distance Race, Double‐Handed: Annapolis, MD J/88 practice in Panama City, FL Melges 24 U.S. Nationals, One‐Design: Oxford, MD May: Offshore World Championship, Double‐Handed: Valletta, Malta (if OARS Racing Begins!, PHRF: Oxford, MD qualified) AYC Spring Race to Oxford, Double‐Handed: Annapolis / Oxford, MD Ousler Star Regatta, One‐Design: St. Michaels, MD November: Centinnial GYA Opening Regatta, One‐Design: Panama City, FL Training June: December: Chandler Regatta, One‐Design: Panama City, FL Training (South Florida) J/88 practice in Panama City, FL January (2021): Extensive preparation for the Chicago to Mackinac Race Ft. Lauderdale to Key West or World Cup Miami, Double‐Handed

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Contacts:

R. J. Cooper Courtney Cumberland Team Member Team Member Team Cooper / Cumberland Team Cooper / Cumberland

(443) 496‐0684 (850) 890‐2951 [email protected] [email protected]

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