> US SAILING Media > Latest News > 2010 > The U.S. Match Racing Championship Starts This Week in Grosse Pointe
The U.S. Match Racing Championship Starts This Week in Grosse Pointe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 15, 2010) – Detroit’s Bayview Yacht Club is the host for this week’s U.S. Match Racing Championship, a US SAILING Adult National Championship. The U.S. Match Racing Championship is an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 event. The highest placing eligible skipper in this event will qualify to represent the U.S. in the 2011 ISAF Nations Cup.
Ten teams will go one-on-one for the Prince of Wales Bowl in Ultimate 20s on Detroit River. The championship begins Thursday, September 16 and concludes on Sunday, September 19.
Three-time U.S. Match Racing Champion (USMRC) Dave Perry (Southport, Conn.) will attempt to win a fifth USMRC title for Pequot Yacht Club (PYC). Perry won this championship on two occasions while representing PYC in 2008 and 2006, and once for the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club in 1982. Last year he finished in a close second place to Chicago Match Race Center’s Bill Hardesty, 3-2, in an exciting best-of-five series final match. This year Perry will be sailing with Chris Museler (who won with Perry in 2008 and 2006) and Michael Rehe.
John Pearce (Alexandria, Va.), a skipper for the team represented by the Ithaca Yacht Club, brings a colorful resume to Detroit. Pearce is the former head coach of the Dartmouth College sailing team. Pearce was on the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics in 2006 and 2005. He placed fifth overall at the 2007 U.S. Olympic Trials in the Laser class competition. In June, he finished second at the LYRA Stolze Cup Match Racing Regatta. He’ll be sailing with Cameron Hoard and Tim Scanlon.
Taylor Canfield (St. Thomas, USVI), an Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All-American, will sail on behalf of the St. Thomas Yacht Club this week. The senior from Boston College won the US Grade 2 Trifecta, a series of three consecutive US-based ISAF Grade 2-ranked events in August. He also finished third at the Chicago Cup, hosted by the Chicago Match Race Center last month. Canfield is hoping to improve upon his fourth place finish in last year’s USMRC. He’ll be teamed up with Sergei Lie and Hamish Matthew.
The winning skipper will also receive an invitation to race in the 2011 Knickerbocker Cup, a Grade 2 event and World Tour Qualifier. Also, the highest placing skipper who does not receive an invitation to the Congressional Cup from that event’s organizational authority will receive an invitation to race in the 2011 Ficker Cup, a Congressional Cup Qualifier and Grade 2 event. The U.S. Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Dry Creek Vineyard, Hobie Polarized, and Gill North America.
EVENT FORMAT
Stage 1: Double Round Robin – The top four finishers will advance to Stage 2. Places 5-10 will be determined at this stage.
Stage 2: Semifinal Series – First to win two races. Winners will advance to Stage 4. Other teams will advance to Stage 3.
Stage 3: Petit Final Series – First to win two races. Determines places 3-4 in the regatta.
Stage 4: Final Series – First to win three races. Determines places 1-2 in the regatta.
*Format is subject to change by the organizational authority.
Visit the event web site for results, daily recaps, photo galleries, and more. For up-to-the-minute updates during the championship, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. 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.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, Central America, US and Canada. Gill is an apparel and accessories leader in the worldwide marine industry for over three decades and specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company tests, designs and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear. Available through hundreds of dealers nationally, Gill NA is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America, where it is the top selling yachting clothing brand. For more information on Gill NA, visit the company website at http://www.gillna.com/or contact Lance Jones at Gill NA, (678) 730-5581 / e-mail: lance@gillna.com
About Dry Creek Vineyard
Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard is located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, just outside of the charming wine country town of Healdsburg. The winery is known for producing some of California’s finest Fumé Blancs and Zinfandels. In addition to these “flagships,” Dry Creek Vineyard is also known for excellent Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. In 1997, the family released a new vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate Endeavour vineyard. Then, beginning with the 2004 vintage, the family introduced a new proprietary blend called The Mariner. Each wine has redefined the concept of terroir as the winery continues shape their portfolio for future success. Dry Creek Vineyard owns over 200 acres of vineyard land, primarily in Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley. For more information on Dry Creek Vineyard please visit www.drycreekvineyard.com.
About Hobie Polarized
Hobie Polarized is a leading designer, developer, marketer and distributor of polarized eyewear. The brand’s innovative lens technology allows total glare reduction, 100% UV protection, enhances contrast and provides optimum visual acuity. The company’s products are sold worldwide and are used by watermen at all skill and lifestyle levels. The Hobie Polarized headquarter is located in Plainview, New York. For further information, please visit the company’s website at www.hobiepolarized.com.