Middletown, R.I (April 18, 2007) -- Sailing World and Sperry Top-Sider have announced that the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, based in Baltimore, Md., will be the recipient of the Sailing for Miracles program during the Annapolis stop of the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (N.O.O.D.) Regatta, scheduled for April 27-29 at host Annapolis Yacht Club. Participants will have the opportunity to support Sailing for Miracles, an organization created to raise awareness within the sport of sailing and to encourage giving back to the local community, through donations and fund-raising efforts at the event.

“After our successful partnership with Sailing for Miracles at the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in St. Petersburg, Fla., we looked for another equally special community partner,” said Karen Pitts, Vice President of Marketing at Sperry Top-Sider. “Once we discovered that the greater Annapolis/Baltimore/D.C. area is served by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, it was an easy decision to partner with this very special pediatric hospital.”

All NOOD sailors who make a donation of $50 or more will be given an exclusively designed Sailing for Miracles burgee, donated by Sperry Top-Sider and Sailing World.

“Pediatric medicine is ever-changing and it is only possible to make strides in medicine with the generosity and support from caring people in the community such as the participants in the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design Regattas,” said Kristen Nock, Associate Director of Development at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

The Annapolis stop has always attracted a strong fleet of sailors. “In 2006, 279 teams – or over 3,000 sailors – competed in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Annapolis,” said George Brengle, executive director of the NOOD Regattas and director of marketing for Sailing World. “We’re already on-track to register as many teams this year, and we encourage everyone who participates to give back to the community through Sailing for Miracles.”

The 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas will sail next into Annapolis, Md., April 27-29. Additional venues for 2007 include Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Mich.; Houston, Texas; Larchmont, N.Y.; San Diego, Calif.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Created by Sailing World in 1988, the NOODs attract close to 2,000 boats and more than 30,000 competitors and spectators annually. Each event in the series features three days of sailboat racing for one-design models from 20 to 70 feet in length. In addition to local sailors, sailing’s top stars — including America’s Cup and Olympic champions — are well-represented at the NOODs. Competitive sailors rate the NOODs as the top national event in each region of the country.

Sperry Top-Sider is the national title sponsor of the NOOD Regatta in San Diego which is presented by Sailing World and Mount Gay Rum. Support sponsors who will join the event include Gill, Sunsail, North Sails, Budweiser Select, Flying Tiger Boats and Active Network.

For more information on the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas, including a full schedule for each location, please visit www.sailingworld.com.

About Sperry Top-Sider
Since 1935, Sperry Top-Sider has been the leading brand of footwear for those who love the water. From its introduction of the world's first siped rubber outsole for non-marking traction, to advanced technical fabrication to combat the elements, Sperry Top-Sider remains the vanguard of high-performance amphibious footwear and apparel. Available around the globe in fine independent, marine, outdoor and department stores, Sperry Top-Sider is the official footwear of US SAILING, and is also worn by members of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy SEALs.

Based in historic Lexington, Massachusetts, Sperry Top-Sider supports a wide-range of water-related activities through its many sponsorships, including Acura Key West 2007, the Adopt-A-Billfish Foundation, National Safe Boating Council, Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas and countless others. Sperry Top-Sider is a division of the Stride Rite Corporation (NYSE:SRR). For more information, please visit www.sperrytopsider.com.

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