Nelson Stephenson (l), Regatta chairman and a second-consecutive-term governor of Westport’s Cedar Point Yacht Club, chats today at the club with U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kevin Burnham. “It’s all about making it a great week for the competitors,” Stephenson said.  Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Today was a day of preparation for entrants in the 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship which begins Monday at Westport’s Cedar Point Yacht Club. This is the first time that the club, founded in 1887, has hosted the event since the tourney’s inception in 1973. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Gordon Joseloff/WestportNow.com photo

The Twins have won the AA (third grade) division of the Westport Little League. The team staged a vigorous comeback to beat the Devil Rays 11-5.  Pictured (l-r) are: William Mennie, Christoph Bub, Matthew Weisgerber, Peter Bradshaw, Andrew Felman,  Jordan Fishbach, Charlie Leonard, Evan Angelastro, Ethan Weinberger, Robert Giannone and Wyatt Cook. Kneeling is Spencer Warner.  Standing in the back row are coaches Don Warner, Ted Cook and Marc Felman.  Missing is Twins player Andreas Refvik. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Weston Family Y�s Water Rat swim team is looking for family and teammate addresses in advance of its November celebration of 55 years of competitive swimming.

The event will be held Friday, Nov. 25 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport.

With a rallying cry of �55 in 2005,�  past and present team members, along with coaches, parents, and longtime Water Rat supporters, will be invited to share memories and look ahead to the team�s future successes, an announcement said.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit the YMCA�s Ann Atkinson Fund which helps defray travel and apparel expenses for swimmers so that no child is denied the opportunity to be on the team.

Almost 100 Staples soccer players, young Westport Soccer Association players and their families enjoyed a tailgate party before the MetroStars-Columbus Crew match at Giants Stadium on Saturday. There were prizes for juggling, shooting and relay race contests, plus a special appearance by Crew midfielder Kyle Martino, a 1999 Staples graduate and U.S. men’s national team member. Martino (top row, 4th l) is flanked by Staples varsity players Brendon Cristobal, Keaton Cristobal, Matt Lamb, and co-captains Colin Nangle and Ross McGibney. In the front row are six future Wrecker stars. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Howard Silver for WestportNow.com

Blue Wreckers and White Wreckers scramble for the football during today’s annual Blue White Classic. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Today’s Blue White annual classic was the first opportunity for Wrecker fans to preview the fall team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The Staples Gridiron Club tonight presented a check representing a $100,000 pledge to the Westport Field of Dreams Committee for its community project to install artificial turf for football, soccer, lacross, field hockey and rugby teams. Brad Bohling, president of the Gridiron Club, presented the check to Verne Sedlacek, chair of the fundraising committee. Others pictured are (l-r) Carmen Roda, Chrstine Romann, Bill Mitchell, who hosted a project fund-raiser at his store June 10, Mark Gudis, and Bill McNee. The ceremony took place at tonight’s Blue and White game pitting the Wreckers against each other. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Compo Beach will be the site of a basketball tournament next month to benefit reconstruction of the Compo Beach playground.

The two-day event on Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 will be open to men and women and children. Participants will be grouped into two categories � “13 and Under” and “Over 13,” according to Suzanne Dodge chair of the playground project.

Prizes for the winners will include official NBA gear, signed merchandise and other prizes provided by local merchants, she said.

Mike Greenberg, host of the “Mike and Mike in the Morning Show” on ESPN will emcee the awards ceremony after the tournament finals on Sunday.