Oakcliff All-American Offshore Team signs up with Gill as the latest Gill Race Team members.

Buford GA - June 3, 2011  Gill North America, importer and exclusive distributor of the Gill brand in North America is pleased to announce its support of the 2011 Oakcliiff All-American Offshore Race Team.  Through this partnership, the Oakcliff AAOT members have joined a select group of Gill Race team peers competing at both National and International levels.

AAOT is committed to providing high-performance offshore training opportunities for an up and coming generation of American ocean racing leaders. Applicants  went through a detailed selection process before making final team selections for 2011. The crew ranges in age from 18- 30. The average crew age on the 2011 team is 23.

The Oakcliff All-American Offshore Team (Oakcliff AAOT) is fully equipped in Gill gear. The 2011 team will be racing on the USMMA Sailing Foundation’s IRC 65 Vanquish to compete in four key events this year: the Storm Trysail Club’s 66th Around Block Island Race; the Annapolis to Newport Race; the Transatlantic Race (Newport, R. I. to The Lizard, England) and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

“Having sailed tens of thousands of miles in some of the most extreme conditions, I know how important it is to have good gear” says Oakcliff Executive Director Dawn Riley.  “Gill has provided our team with the right gear for the various conditions when needed most.”

David Pritchard President of Gill North America added” We are excited about the opportunity to work with young rising offshore sailors from the next generation. In fact several of the core crew we have worked with before on Roy Disney’s “Morning Light” project.   

Morning Light Sailor, Jesse Fielding remembers, “I wore Gill offshore gear on my first major ocean race and am proud to hang it on my hook again.  It makes you sleep better knowing the gear you put on is going to keep you dry and well protected from the elements.” 

As part of the sponsorship engagement Gill is the official clothing of the Oakcliff Sailing Center, a unique coaching and training center located in Oyster Bay, NY. Oakcliff is using its multiple fleets, disciplines and programs to train the next generations of champion sailors to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

With Gill’s partnership Oakcliff is able to help athletes at every level select the correct equipment and optimize their sailing experience.

The Oakcliff All-American Offshore Team is supported by the USMMA Sailing Foundation, Oakcliff Sailing Incorporated, and the Storm Trysail Club.  Tax-deductible donations can be made to either USMMA Sailing Foundation Inc. or Oakcliff Sailing Incorporated.

Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean,  US and Canada. Gill is a worldwide apparel and accessories brand serving  the marine industry with over three decades of experience . Gill specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company develops and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear.

Available through hundreds of independent dealers and select West Marine and Gander Mountain Stores.

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For more information on Gill NA, visit the company web site at www.gillna.com, or contact Lance Jones at Gill NA, Tel: (678) 730-5581 Fax: (770) 831-3663 e-mail: lance@gillna.com