The Westport Weston Family Y Water Rat Swim Team won today’s 15-mile marathon swim across Long Island Sound to benefit Swim Across the Sound, the St. Vincent’s Medical Center cancer charity in Bridgeport. The team’s victory, in 5 hours 47 minutes, was its third in a row. More than 160 swimmers took part in the swim from Port Jefferson, L.I. to Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport. Pictured are (l-r): Frisk Driscoll, Coach Ellen Johnston, Anna Smith, Michael Dunn, Keenan Koss, Danny Platow, Christina Bladek, and Coach Bill Krumm. Contributed Photo

An effort to install four synthetic turf playing fields in Westport by the Field of Dreams Committee will remain a dream for a little longer.

Town officials pulled a contract to install the turf on four athletic fields � two at Staples High School, one at Wakeman Park, and one behind Saugatuck Elementary School � from Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen agenda.

First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell said there were unresolved issues concerning bonding and financing by the company, Wayne, Pa.-based Sprinturf.

According to Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy, there were also concerns with the timetable that Sprinturf had set forth for construction on the Staples football field, the first of the four fields set to be renovated.

10 a.m. � Town Hall Room 201 � Administrative Review Committee
7:30 p.m. � Town Hall Room 201/201A � RTM Finance Committee
7:30 p.m. � Town Hall Auditorium � Zoning Board of Appeals
8 p.m. – Levitt Pavilion – The Denns, country, folk, and jazz
8 p.m. – Westport Country Playhouse – “The Member of the Wedding”

Jo Rasmussen, president of Westport’s Longshore Women’s Golf Association and owner of Fitness Works in Playhouse Square, admires her latest golf trophy. She was champion and medalist at the 2005 H. Smith Richardson Women’s Golf Association Championship at the H. Smith Richardson golf course in Fairfield. This is Rasmussen’s second straight victory, having won the championship in 2004 as well.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Sailing champs: Leigh Hammel, 16, (l) and Emily Dellenbaugh, 15. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNowcomHistory was made today as the four-day 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship hosted by Westport’s Cedar Point Yacht Club came to an end.

For the first time in the 23-year history of the event, an all-female team has won the doublehanded Club 420 fleet. Emily Dellenbaugh, 15, of Easton, Conn., and Leigh Hammel, 16, of Warren, Vt., took the honors.

They demonstrated great consistency throughout the event by always finishing in the top six of seven races in the 50-boat fleet.

Thomas Barrows of St. Thomas, USVI, was victorious in the Laser class and Kyle Rogachenko of Collegeville, Pa., won the Laser Radial class.

The 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship got underway today under overcast skies in Long Island Sound off Westport.  Westport’s Cedar Point Yacht Club is hosting the four-day event which has attracted 160 entrants under 20 from all over the country. Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Entrants in the 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Champsionship get used to the waters of Long Island Sound off Westport today. Westporters interested in watching the races Monday should be at Cedar Point Yacht Club at 9:30 a.m. where they will board boats for viewing. Advice from Regatta Chairman Nelson Stephenson: “Bring lots of sunscreen.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Kevin Burnham, U.S. Olympic gold and silver medalist, shows off his medals today at Westport’s Cedar Point Yacht Club. He is guest speaker at a dinner tonight kicking off the 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship which gets underway at the club Monday. Burnham’s father is a former Westport resident. Burnham had the distinction of being the oldest gold medalist winner at the 2004 Athens Games when he won at age 48. He won his silver in Barcelona in 1992. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Gordon Joseloff/WestportNow.com photo