> US SAILING Media > Latest News > 2009 > Talented Fleet Prepares for 2009 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (November 9, 2009) – Eight elite teams will gather in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to compete for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship (USWMRC) on Nov. 12-15, an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 event. This year’s championship, hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club and sailed in International 24s, features the return of several top performers from previous USWMRC events including 2008 Champion and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) Member Anna Tunnicliffe.
Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Laser Radial, has been increasingly active in women’s match racing over the past couple years. She returns to this year’s national championship with intentions of defending her crown with crew Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer (Redwood City, Calif.), Liz Bower (Rochester, N.Y.), and new teammate, Alice Manard (Charleston, S.C.). Manard and Vandemoer are both members of USSTAG. In March, Tunnicliffe’s team finished third at the ISAF Nations Cup in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Tunnicliffe is currently ranked 13th by ISAF in women’s match racing. They have qualified for the U.S. Match Racing Championship in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Nov. 18-22. Tunnicliffe is US SAILING’s 2008 Yachtswoman of the Year and is also a finalist for the 2009 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year.
USSTAG’s Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.), returns after losing in the finals to Tunnicliffe last year. Tulloch is joined by crew Chafee Emory (Newport, R.I.), Elizabeth Hall (Chevy Chase, Md.) and Elizabeth Kratzig (Miami Beach, Fla.). She is ranked 21st by ISAF in women’s match racing.
Another USSTAG member, Katy Lovell (New Orleans, La.), is a regular at the USWMRC and hopes to get over the hump this year. Lovell’s team lost in the quarterfinals last year to Tunnicliffe, and finished second in 2007, 2006 and 2005. She is joined by crew Kaitlin Storck (Huntington, N.Y.), Lyndsey Gibbons-Neff (Rosemont, Pa.) and USSTAG Member Dana Riley (San Rafael, Calif.).
Evan Brown (New York, N.Y.), a former three-time ISCA All-American skipper from Stanford and runner-up for the 2008 Quantum Female Sailor of the Year award, will try her hand in this national championship along with teammates, Margaret Lumkes (River Forest, Ill.), Jennifer Chamberlain (Annapolis, Md.) and Adrienne Patterson (Annapolis, Md.).
In addition to the many notable competitors in St. Thomas this week is US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Dawn Riley (St. Clair Shores, Mich.), who is crewing for Jennifer Wilson (Chicago, Ill.).
The 2009 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship for the Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Dry Creek Vineyard, Predict Wind and Sail Proud, is part of US SAILING’s National Championship series. The first U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship was held at the Southern Yacht Club in November of 2001.
Complete results, daily recaps, and photos from the event will be posted on the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USWMRC.htm.
For more on the US SAILING National Championships, please visit http://championships.ussailing.org/.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Since Rolex Watch U.S.A. first presented timepieces to America's Cup defenders in 1958, the company has consistently recognized and encouraged excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing, including US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, offshore, one-design and women's events. Please visit us at http://www.rolex.com/.
About Dry Creek Vineyard
Recognized in sailing circles and known for its sailboat labels. The Dry Creek Vineyard family has expressed its passion for sailing since the early 1980s by designing wine labels featuring classic sailing yachts. Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard is located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Calif. For more information on Dry Creek Vineyard please visit www.drycreekvineyard.com.
About SailProud
SailProud is a lifestyle apparel company focused on a dedication to transitional performance and stylish, nautical design. The brand is now focused on growing to become a passionate community of sailors, yachters, and maritime enthusiasts worldwide. At SailProud we pride ourselves on a relentless focus on quality, performance, and comfort - all while remaining passionate about growing the sport and giving back to worthy causes. Please visit us at http://sailproud.com/.
About PredictWind
PredictWind provides professional subscriptions giving participants access to a revolutionary set of tools to pre-empt weather conditions. PredictWind combines sophisticated wind prediction technology with local topography maps to create the highest resolution marine forecast available. Used by the winner of the last two Americas Cups, PredictWind is the choice of experts and boasts outstanding feedback from some of the world’s best sailors. www.predictwind.com.