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Iklé to pick Morning Light crew for documentary
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Scott Iklé |
August 2, 2006
GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart and William Smith Colleges Sailing Head Coach Scott Iklé ’84 is a member of the selection committee that will pick the 15 sailors who will train for the 2007 Transpacific Yacht Race. Eleven or 12 will race Roy E. Disney’s Morning Light from Los Angeles to Hawaii, without coaches or advisors on board.
The tryouts are the first phase of a true film documentary by Disney’s Pacific High Productions planned for theatrical release in 2008. The 30 young men and women, who were chosen from among 538 applicants, are competing for 15 spots. The tryouts, which begin Aug. 5, will be based in downtown Long Beach at Rainbow Harbor and at the adjacent Hyatt Hotel. Selections will be announced before the candidates depart on Aug. 13.
The 30 will rotate daily sailing on four Catalina 37s chartered from the Long Beach Sailing Foundation. A member of the selection committee will be on each boat. Executive producers Disney (Fantasia 2000) and Leslie DeMeuse (CSTV) and sailing team manager Robbie Haines will observe from a chase boat.
Preparing for his 14th season at the helm of his alma mater’s sailing program, Iklé has firmly entrenched Hobart and William Smith at the forefront of collegiate sailing. He has directed HWS to 27 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Championship appearances, producing 11 top three finishes, including the 2005 Team Race and Coed Dinghy titles. Possessing an exceptional eye for talent, Iklé has mentored 38 All-Americans in the past 10 years. Highly decorated himself, Iklé was named the 2003 US SAILING National Coach of the Year. He also has coached at the international level, directing Team USA in the Pan-American Games and the World Sailing Games.
Iklé will serve on the selection committee with Stan Honey of Palo Alto, Calif., who recently navigated ABN AMRO 1 to its Volvo Ocean Race victory; Carol Buchan, Seattle, a world and national champion in various classes; and Andrew Campbell, San Diego, a four-time All-American at Georgetown University.
Mike Tollin (WB’s One Tree Hill) is also an executive producer. Fred Golding (Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage) will be the director. The film, to be shot in High Definition theatrical quality, will be distributed by the Walt Disney Co.
This press release includes information from Pacific High Productions’ media contact, Rich Roberts.