Prince of Wales Bowl on the Line in Chicago
Event Coverage & Social Media –
- Facebook Live: Watch live streaming of the racing with commentary from hosts Josh Toso and Laura Beigel on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21. Follow US Sailing on Facebook for live streaming updates and alerts.
- For results and standings, photos, and more information from the 2018 U.S. Match Racing Championship, please visit the event website.
- Use Hashtag – #MatchRacing18 – to engage in conversations about the Championship on social media.
CHICAGO, Ill. (October 18, 2018) – Sailing’s version of “one-on-one” competition will seize the spotlight this week as the energy and passion of match racing takes center stage in Chicago. The 51st U.S. Match Racing Championship, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club, features ten talented teams comprised of both men and women skippers and crew, who will race for the coveted Prince of Wales Bowl over three days. Racing gets underway at this US Sailing National Championship on Friday, October 19 and concludes on Sunday, October 21.
Made popular by the America’s Cup, match racing pits one boat against another around a short two-lap windward/leeward course. This race format emphasizes the need for great boat speed, strong boat handling, teamwork and communication. The tournament-style format makes it fun by maximizing the number of races per day.
The intended course area will be the south section of Monroe Harbor or Lake Michigan, just outside of Belmont Harbor. Teams will be racing in the Sonar.
The 2017 U.S. Match Racing Champion, Pearson Potts (Newport, R.I.) has returned to this event with the goal of defending this title in Chicago after winning last year in Oyster Bay, New York. Potts will be joined by crewmates Robert Savoie (Bristol, R.I.), Bryce Kopp (Fairfield, Conn.), and Max Lopez (Red Bank, N.J.). Kopp and Savoie crewed for Potts in last year’s triumphant U.S. Match Racing Championship. Potts is the #3 ranked match racer in the U.S.
Janel Zarkowsky is one of two female skippers competing this week. She won back-to-back U.S. Match Racing Championships as crew for Dave Dellenbaugh’s Pequot Yacht Club team in 2013 and as crew for Taylor Canfield’s Chicago Match Race Team in 2012. After placing fourth in last year’ event as a skipper, she returns to take another shot at the Prince of Wales Bowl in the same role. Zarkowsky will be racing with Patrick Curran (Riverton, N.J.), AJ Reiter (San Diego, Calif.), and Tierney Driscoll (Virginia Beach, Va.).
Three-time U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion, Nicole Breault (San Francisco, Calif.) will make a run at her first U.S. Match Racing title again in this year’s event. Breault qualified for this event after winning the Qualifier held at St. Francis Yacht Club and by winning her third straight U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship in August. She will be racing this week with Molly Carapiet (San Francisco, Calif.), Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.), and Yuri Namikawa (San Francisco, Calif.). Breault is the #5 ranked match racer in the U.S.
Potts and Breault are two of five nationally ranked match racers in the top six competing this week. Christopher Poole (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) is ranked #2; Peter Holz (Chicago, Ill.) is ranked #4; and David Hood (Long Beach, Calif.) is ranked #6.
Invitations to race at this Championship were delivered to the 2017 champion, the top ranked U.S. female match racer, and winners from U.S. Match Racing Championship Qualifier events at Oakcliff Sailing, St. Francis Yacht Club, Chicago Yacht Club, San Diego Yacht Club, Bayview Yacht Club, Rochester Yacht Club, and Long Beach Yacht Club.
There is a lot riding on this year’s Championship. The winner of the Prince of Wales Bowl will be offered an invitation to the 2019 U.S. Match Racing Championship. If not already invited, the top finisher also earns an invitation to the 2019 Ficker Cup, hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club (Calif.). US Sailing Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded to the skippers and crews placing first through third.
Racing Format (subject to change)
- First Stage – Round Robin
- Second Stage – Quarterfinals
- Third Stage – Semifinals
- Fourth Stage – Finals and Petite Finals
The 2018 U.S. Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Gill, Hobie Polarized, and Regatta Ginger Beer.
Chicago Yacht Club Media Contact: Sara Proctor, communications@chicagoyachtclub.org
US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, 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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Gill North America
Gill was an idea born on the water. In 1975 our founder, Nick Gill, was a keen sailor who utilized his father’s factory in Nottingham to begin production of truly capable sailing apparel. Kit that could be both protective and comfortable. We develop and test all our garments and we’ve grown to become one of the leading marine apparel brands in the world. We’ve equipped round-the-world teams when they’ve won prestigious ocean races, as well as Olympians to get them on the podium. Inspired by our nautical heritage we’ve also developed lifestyle clothing that can be worn anywhere, but which is still engineered with a marine pedigree. Today our garments utilize a range of cutting-edge technologies, from Activated Carbon baselayers to SuperFabric™, the most abrasive-resistant fabric in the world. At sea, saltwater comes at you from everywhere, so our clothing is tested in-house and on the water to withstand the very worst.
That means whatever environment you find yourself in – sea, shore or inland – we’ve already engineered the kit to perform for you. Contact: Tim DeWitt, Sales & Marketing Associate at tim.dewitt@gillna.com or 678-730-5597. https://www.gillmarine.com/us/
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 headquarters is located in Plainview, New York. For further information, please visit the company’s website at www.hobiepolarized.com.
About Regatta Ginger Beer
Regatta is a brand premium craft mixers using the finest natural ingredients to create distinctive flavors. Our flagship product – Regatta Ginger Beer – comes together with notes of ginger and hints of citrus to make an extremely clean tasting and refreshing ginger beer that’s perfect for mixing cocktails or enjoying by itself. Regatta craft mixers and sodas are non-alcoholic, non-gmo and gluten free. Regatta Ginger Beer was awarded the 2017 “Platinum Medal” in the prestigious International SIP Award competition and was also the 2017 Consumer’s Choice Award winner. Regatta has been deeply rooted in supporting the sport of sailing since it’s inception and is proud to be the Official Ginger Beer of US Sailing. http://regattagingerbeer.com/