KING HARBOR YACHT CLUB TEAM WINS
U.S. MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Newport Beach, Calif. (September 26, 2005) – An exciting final day of the U.S. Match Racing Championship last Saturday made for a late afternoon of racing until the champions were decided. For the team representing King Harbor Yacht Club, made up of skipper Brian Angel (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and crew Payson Infelise (Long Beach, Calif.) and David Hochart (San Diego, Calif.), it was well worth the long day of racing: they came away with winning the National Championship title and US SAILING’s Prince of Wales Trophy. Hosted by Newport Harbor Yacht Club in Newport Beach, Calif., the Championship was sailed in Governors Cup 21s and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Dry Creek Vineyard.

On the final day of the U.S. Match Racing Championship, the King Harbor Yacht Club team faced the Bayview Yacht Club team of Detroit, Mich. in the finals, skippered by Chris van Tol. Both teams had won their semi-final matches with convincing 2-0 victories. The two teams sailed four highly contested matches in the final, but Angel’s team went on to a 3-1 victory to claim the title. In the battle for third place, John Loe of Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, La. defeated the Pequot Yacht Club team of Southport, Conn. led by David Rosow with a 2-0 win.

The team from King Harbor Yacht Club sailed a consistent regatta and demonstrated great teamwork throughout. With their win, the team has qualified to compete in the semi-finals of the International Sailing Federation’s 2006 Nations Cup, which will be held in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Eight teams competed in the U.S. Match Racing Championship, with more than 25 teams competing in local and regional qualifying events. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused last minute team cancellations from two teams, those of Benz Faget (New Orleans Yacht Club) and Andy Lovell (Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans).

For complete results, daily reports, and photos from the U.S. Match Racing Championship, please visit www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmrc.  

The event is part of US SAILING’s National Championships. For more information about US SAILING’s National Championships, visit www.ussailing.org/championships or contact US SAILING’s championships manager Liz Walker at championships@ussailing.org.

About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization’s mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including the US Sailing Teams and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

(End)