Canfield Takes Commanding Lead at 2011 U.S. Match Racing Championship

Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614

CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. -  (October 14, 2011) – After a promising start to day two of the 2011 U.S. Match Racing Championship, visibility issues caused by foggy conditions off Newport Beach threatened racing in the afternoon. The 12 teams competing for the Prince of Wales Bowl in Governor’s Cup 21 boats completed five more flights of Stage One’s Single Round Robin, despite a lengthy delay. Taylor Canfield (St. Thomas, USVI) stands alone in first place and is undefeated with a 7-0 record. Canfield is representing the Chicago Match Race Center this week.

Sailors welcomed steady breezes, sunny skies and cool temperatures this morning and early afternoon. However, a heavy fog rolled in at approximately 1:45 p.m. and racing was postponed for two hours before the Race Committee made the decision to resume and finish two more flights on shortened courses. Racing was conducted between Balboa Pier and Newport Pier. There are four flights remaining in the Single Round Robin. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. pt (subject to change).

Canfield and his crewmates Tod Reynolds (Chicago, Ill.), Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wis.) and Jennifer Wilson (Chicago, Ill.) had another stellar day on the water. They picked up four critical wins over several contenders including, three-time Champion Dave Perry (Southport, Conn.), 2010 Champion Shawn Bennett (Tiburon, Calif. ) and Nevin Snow (San Diego, Calif.). Four teams are tied for second place with 5-2 records, including skippers Perry, Snow, Dan Aeling (San Diego, Calif.) and Shawn Ryan (Metairie, La.). See today’s results below:

Friday’s Stage One Single Round Robin Results
Flight 3:
Perry def. Bennett
Canfield def. Nesbitt
Angel def. Powers
Aeling def. Ryan
Dickson def. Stone
Snow def. Johnson

Flight 4:
Aeling def. Powers
Ryan def. Angel
Johnson def. Snow
Canfield def. Perry
Snow def. Dickson
Nesbitt def. Bennett

Flight 5:
Ryan def. Johnson
Perry def. Aeling
Canfield def. Snow
Angel def. Nesbitt
Bennett def. Snow
Powers def. Dickson

Flight 6:
Aeling def. Nesbitt
Snow def. Bennett
Powers def. Johnson
Ryan def. Dickson
Canfield def. Stone
Perry def. Angel

Flight 7:
Aeling def. Johnson
Nesbitt def. Snow
Ryan def. Bennett
Perry def. Stone
Canfield def. Powers
Dickson def. Angel

Hear what Snow had to say about the day of racing for his team at this year’s U.S. Match Racing Championship.

Teams are racing through Sunday, October 16 in this four day US SAILING National Championship event. The winning skipper of this event will receive an invitation to race in the 2012 Knickerbocker Cup, a Grade 2 event and World Tour Qualifier. Also, the highest placing skipper at the 2011 U.S. Match Racing Championship who does not receive an invitation to the Congressional Cup will receive an invitation to race in the 2012 Ficker Cup, a Congressional Cup Qualifier and Grade 2 event. The U.S. Match Racing Championship is an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 event.

The U.S. Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Gill North America, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses and Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky. Please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USMRC.htm for results, standings, daily reports and more. Also, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/ussailing for regular updates from Corona del Mar, Calif. The Championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.

Read the official 2011 U.S. Match Racing Championship preview.

Championship Notes:
• Eligible skippers qualified or were offered a select invitation to compete.

• The intended format (Subject to adjustment):
    • Stage 1 - A single round robin. Places 9 – 12 will advance to Stage 2. Places 1-8 will advance to Stage 3. 
    • Stage 2 – A single round robin to determine places 9-12 in the regatta. 
    • Stage 3 – A knockout round for Stage 1 places 1-8, first to score at least three points. The four winners will advance to Stage 4. The others will be places 5-8 in the regatta. 
    • Stage 4 - A semi final knockout series, first to score at least 3 points. The winners will advance to Stage 6. The others will advance to Stage 5. 
    • Stage 5 – A Petit Final knockout series, first to score at least 2 points, to determine places 3-4 in the regatta. 
    • Stage 6 – A Finals knockout series, first to score at least 3 points, to determine places 1-2 in the regatta.

• The course will be windward/leeward, windward/leeward, with starboard rounding, finishing downwind.
• Racing will be conducted in the Pacific Ocean adjacent to Newport Beach.
• The skippers and their crew members placing first, second and third in this regatta will be awarded US SAILING Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, respectively.