It examines the role of women in maritime history as commercial fisherwomen, in the merchant marine, as America's Cup racers, serving in the United States Navy and Coast Guard, and as inspiration for the mythology of mermaids, sea nymphs and goddesses.

For 1997 she got a Cup racer of her own, before she moved up to the Belgian Procar series in 1998, which ran to Super Production regulations.

The yearly events invites all 944 Cup racers to compete on the same track over the course of 2-3 days to crown a National Champion.

"I'm hoping this lets me focus more on the Cup car, lets me be a better Cup racer by maybe having more time during the race weekend to maybe hone the setups in," Edwards told NASCAR.com.

I wanted it to be clear to the rest of the racers and coaches and anyone else that I was the best World Cup racer.

Shea, a Lake Placid resident and champion World Cup racer in a sport known as skeleton, has gone from alternately training and bartending to being anointed as something of a star for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games, Ted Turner's made-for-television, five-day spectacle that ends Sunday.

"Urban Trees," public art sculptures, line the Embarcadero, home to boats ranging from visiting cruise ships to America's Cup racers to the historic ships of the Maritime Museum; (619) 234-9153 or www.sdmaritime.org.

As no race tyres were available for 19" rims, the 18" wheels of the Cup racers were used.

America's Cup racers attach an almost mystical importance to the pre-start.

Nelson is a veteran America's Cup racer as well as designer, he teamed with Dennis Conner on three Stars & Stripes boats (12-meter, catamaran, and IACC) from 1985 to 1995 as both a racer and designer.