SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (June 14, 2016) – In its brief, yet impactful history on the match racing circuit, the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup, an invitational event for 16 to 20 year olds, has served as an outstanding training ground for young sailors who are passionate about match racing and focused on competing at the next level. The 2016 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship, hosted by Sail Sheboygan and the Sheboygan Yacht Club, begins with two days of training followed by three days of racing on Lake Michigan this Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19.
Racing the Elliott 6m, the boat used in the Women’s Match Racing event at the 2012 Olympic Games, 10 talented teams of three have been invited to race at this coveted championship. Seven of the 10 skippers have competed at this championship in the past, including four from last year’s event at Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, Calif. Coaching and instruction will play a major role in these sailors’ experience this week in Sheboygan. Five-time U.S. Match Racing Champion, Dave Perry will lead a North U Advanced Match Racing Clinic on Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16.
Originally known as the Rose Cup, this event was founded by members of the Balboa Yacht Club and the Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association (NBSSA), and was started as an invitational youth match race event in 2010. The mission is to promote youth match racing in the U.S. and improve the skills of racers from around the country in national and international competition. In 2015, US Sailing elevated the Rose Cup to an official US Sailing National Championship.
Sail Sheboygan has an extensive history of organizing and running match racing events at the highest levels. This certified US Sailing Center served as the primary training grounds for the women’s match racers on the US Sailing Team as they campaigned for the 2012 Olympics. Sail Sheboygan has hosted the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation Match Racing Championship for the past three years, and in September, they will host the Women’s Match Racing World Championship and the Blind Match Racing World Championship.
This regatta is the first of two US Sailing National Championships being hosted by Sail Sheboygan in 2016. In August they will host the U.S. Team Racing Championship for the Hinman Trophy.
Media & Coverage
- For results and standings, list of competitors, Twitter updates, photos and more information from the 2016 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship, please visit the event website.
- For breaking news and race results, follow us on Twitter at #rosecup16 to participate in the conversation throughout the championship.
What’s on the line?
- The top finishing skipper will receive an invitation to the 2016 Governor’s Cup on July 18-23 at the Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, California.
- The top finishing skipper will qualify for the 2016 Oakcliff Halloween Invitational on October 29-30 in Match 40’s.
Racing Format
- Stage 1: Round Robin
- Stage 2: Quarterfinal, Semifinal, Final knockout series and consolation races
Awards
- The Rose Cup is the perpetual trophy presented to the winning team.
- US Sailing medals will be awarded to the competitors who finish first through fourth.
- The Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award is the perpetual trophy presented for sportsmanship.
The U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Gill North America and Switlik Survival Products. This US Sailing National Championship is a Sailors for the Sea certified Clean Regatta.
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth 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 Sperry. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, US and Canada. Gill is a worldwide apparel and accessories brand serving the marine industry with over three decades of experience. Gill specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company develops 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. Gill products are available through hundreds of independent dealers and select West Marine Stores. For further information, please contact: Gary Barker at 941 505 2111 or gary.barker@gillna.com.
About Switlik Survival Products
Established in 1920, Switlik Parachute Co. has been owned and operated by the Switlik family for four generations and is known worldwide as a manufacturer of the highest quality sewn and heat sealed inflatable safety and survival products for the aviation, marine, and military/government markets. Our capabilities include a wide variety of anti-exposure and anti-g suits, inflatable life rafts, inflatable life vests, inflation systems and other specialty textile-based military equipment all manufactured at our 85,000 sq. ft facility located in Trenton, NJ USA. www.switlik.com