Corona del Mar, Calif. (June 20, 2015) – It was an action packed Saturday off the coast Newport Beach today as the 12 teams competing at the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championships got a full day of racing in. The table has been set for Sunday’s final series. The Balboa Yacht Club will defend the Rose Cup against the team from the San Diego Yacht Club in Sunday’s final.
The defending champions from Balboa Yacht Club (Calif.), Christophe Killian, Harrison Vandervort and Jack Martin were defeated just once through 11 flights in the Robin Robin stage to take the number one seed into the quarterfinals. They dispatched of the team skippered by William Curtiss from the Chicago Yacht Club (Ill.), 2-0. They went on to defeat skipper Nicolas Sertl of the Rochester Yacht Club (N.Y.), 2-0, in the semifinal.
The San Diego Yacht Club’s (Calif.) Scott Sinks, Andy Reiter and Storm Brown edged skipper Christopher Weis of Del Rey Yacht Club (Calif.), 2-1, to earn the right to challenge Killian on Sunday. Sinks was 8-3 in the Round Robin stage. They defeated skipper Sean Cornell of Centerpointe Yacht Club (N.Y.), 2-0, in the quarterfinal.
Saturday Morning Update
On the first day of racing, Nicholas Sertl and his team from Rochester, New York, demonstrated the difference a little experience makes when he had had four losing races and then came back to win the next four. The wind had become stronger as well which would be more like conditions in upper New York State.
The teams were on the course and ready at 11 am. The seas were lumpy and the wind at five knots. The regatta format begins with the Round Robin, which pits each team against every other team in a match race. Then the top 8 teams go into the Quarterfinals, while the bottom four teams compete in a knock-out series for places 9 to 12. The four winners of the Quarterfinals go into the Semi-finals. The two winners of the Semi-finals go into the Finals to decide the champion. The two losers compete to decide places 3 and 4.
There are two race committees, on two different courses which speeds up the match racing experience since only two teams are in each match. The Chief Principal Race Officer (PRO) is Bruce Greene, while Steve Kent and Summer Greene each head up the Race Committee on each of the two RC boats. Umpires follow each match to make sure the rules of match racing are followed. The umpires have come from all over the country to volunteer their time and knowledge for the event.
– Nancy Mellon, Balboa Yacht Club
Media & Coverage
- For video highlights from Chris Love (to be posted Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings), photos, Twitter updates, and more information from the 2015 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship, please visit the event website.
- For breaking news and race results, follow us on Twitter @RoseCup2015. Use hashtag – #RoseCup15 – to participate in the conversation throughout the championship.
- Daily Pilot – Killian undefeated on first day of Rose Cup
- Daily Pilot – Killian seeks repeat in Rose Cup
Social Media Highlights from Saturday
Last match of the day! Sinks v Weis, deciding who advances to finals. Winner take all #RoseCup15
— RoseCup2015 (@RoseCup2015) June 20, 2015
Semi final matches: 1 Sertl v Killian. 2 Weis v Sinks. Semi finals are best of three, first to 2 points #RoseCup15
— RoseCup2015 (@RoseCup2015) June 20, 2015
Thank you to our wonderful RC Volunteers for putting on the races! #RoseCup15 pic.twitter.com/n4TGiRMaW2 — RoseCup2015 (@RoseCup2015) June 20, 2015
Race committee on station. Lumpy seas, 5kts out of the South. Sun is trying to peak out. Let’s get this racing started! #RoseCup15
— RoseCup2015 (@RoseCup2015) June 20, 2015
Good morning to Day 2 of the Rose Cup! Teams are getting ready to head out to the race course #RoseCup15 pic.twitter.com/xX3hBTjJu3 — RoseCup2015 (@RoseCup2015) June 20, 2015
Sailing with friends! @peawilly #rosecup15
A photo posted by Colin Richards (@colin_richards_sails) on
What’s on the line?
- The top three skippers will receive an automatic invitation to the 49th annual Governor’s Cup to be held at Balboa Yacht Club on July 20-25, 2015.
- The top finishing skipper will qualify for the Oakcliff Sailing (NY) Halloween Invitational in Match 40s on October 30 to November 1, 2015.
Event Schedule
- Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21: First Signal for racing scheduled for 11:00 am PDT.
Racing Format and Venue
- The venue will be the Pacific Ocean off Newport Beach, California.
- Teams are racing the Governor Cup 21.
- The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, downwind finish, and a gate for the leeward roundings.
- Stage 1: Round Robin
- Stage 2: Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Final Knockout Series and Consolation Races
Prizes
- 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 third.
- The Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award is the perpetual trophy presented for good sportsmanship.
The U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship is sponsored by US Sailing national sponsors Gill North America and Switlik. This championship is supported locally by sponsors Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association, North U, Harken, Maritime Sciences & Seamanship Foundation, Cannon Building, Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets, Island Marine Fuel and William’s Electric.
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org
Created with flickr slideshow.
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
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