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Forum Index: DISCUSSION: Event Reports: Chicago Match Cup 2009

The Publisher ***** Aug 17, 2009, 1:01 PM Post #1 of 5 (4416 views) Shortcut Chicago Match Cup 2009 Log-In to Post/Reply CHICAGO MATCH CUP BRINGS AMERICA’S CUP AND OLYMPIC-STYLE COMPETITION TO CHICAGO 11 teams entered from 5 continents in the highest-graded international event to date CHICAGO, August 17, 2009 -- This week 11 teams from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, Denmark, the US Virgin Islands and the USA will start three days of competition for the inaugural edition of the Chicago Match Cup, held over August 21-23. Organized by the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC), this International Sailing Federation Grade 2 event will be the most international sailing event held this year in Lake Michigan, bringing one-on-one America’s Cup and Olympic-style match race sailing to Lake Michigan. Pitting the skills of one team against another, match race sailing is one of the most intense forms of sailing and is used in the America’s Cup, World Match Racing Tour, and most recently as a new Women’s discipline in the Olympic Games. The short courses, umpired rules, and one-on-one format is also ideal for spectators to follow all the action. “This is regarded as a peak event for us,” says CMRC Director Bill Hardesty, “because we’ll have some very high caliber international match race talent here to do battle. For spectators and sponsors alike this is a unique opportunity to see some truly world-class match race sailing being put on right here in Chicago.” 11 International teams Skippers entered in the Chicago Match Cup include the following: Taylor Canfield, from St Thomas, USVI; Reuben Corbett, from Kerlkerl, New Zealand; Juan Grimaldi, from Mar del Plata, Argentina; Laurie Jury, from Auckland, New Zealand; Takumi Nakamura, from Yokohama, Japan; Lars Nordbjerg, from Aabenraa, Denmark; Dave Perry, from Southport, Connecticut USA; Phil Robertson, from Auckland, New Zealand; Keith Swinton, from Perth, Western Australia; Chris VanTol, from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, USA; and Don Wilson from Chicago USA. Easy spectator access The racing venue could not be easier for those spectators, as CMRC race managers plan to position the course immediately adjacent to the entrance of Belmont Harbor, where the stadium-like setting in the lakefront park allows direct viewing just a few yards away from all the action. The event will also be accessible to spectator craft based in both Belmont and Montrose harbors. Racing is scheduled to start daily at 9 AM, depending on weather conditions, and be conducted in the CMRC’s dedicated fleet of eight equally-matched TOM 28 class yachts, each with a team of four crew. CMRC’s floating base of operations will be on its 70-foot houseboat moored at the North end of Belmont Harbor, immediately adjacent to the Belmont Yacht Club. This makes for easy access for participants and public alike. “Many non-sailors in Chicago are aware only of the annual Chicago-Mackinac Race, where there is a lot of excitement and activity prior to the race, and a parade in front of Navy Pier, but once the race starts the fleet disappears over the horizon,” explained Hardesty. “Our events here at CMRC bring the excitement and drama of competition right to the shoreline, and provided the wind holds the action lasts throughout all of each day of competition. Our venue is very accessible, and so anyone from the park or the bike path can come and have a look.” And after racing the public is also invited to attend the daily press conferences held by CMRC to hear the skippers personally explain their perspectives on the day. These are often highly entertaining, as the tensions from the action on the water get diffused through humor and repartee among the participants. About CMRC CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliot 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations. “This is our first season, but we’ve been very pleased at the response to our regattas and programs,” said CMRC founder Don Wilson, CEO of Chicago-based DRW Trading. “We have a unique situation as being a center for world-class sailing on the doorstep to a world-class city, so we’re pleased to be able to bring the best of both together in events such as the Chicago Match Cup.” For more information about the Chicago Match Race Center, visit the CMRC’s website at www.chicagomatchrace.org, or phone 312-515-1685.

The Publisher ***** Aug 23, 2009, 9:50 AM Post #2 of 5 (4082 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Chicago Match Cup 2009 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Media inquiries: Mary Anne Ward Phone: 312-515-1685 Maryanne@chicagomatchrace.org CHICAGO MATCH CUP STARTS TODAY 11 teams from 7 countries ready for America’s Cup-style competition CHICAGO, August 21, 2009 – Today one-on-one match race competition will begin for the inaugural Chicago Match Cup, organized by the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC). The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 2 event will feature three days of America’s Cup-style sailing where 11 teams representing 7 countries will go into battle off the waterfront in front of Belmont Harbor. The teams represented are led by the following skippers, in order of their ISAF match race rankings: Keith Swinton, from Perth, Western Australia (26th); Lars Nordbjerg, from Aabenraa, Denmark (33rd); Chris VanTol, from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, USA (35th); Takumi Nakamura, from Yokohama, Japan (37th); Dave Perry, from Southport, Connecticut USA (48th); Taylor Canfield, from St Thomas, USVI (57th); Juan Grimaldi, from Mar del Plata, Argentina (61st); Laurie Jury, from Auckland, New Zealand (79th); Reuben Corbett, from Kerlkerl, New Zealand (86th); and Don Wilson from Chicago USA (108th). Racing is scheduled to start today through Sunday at 9 AM, depending on weather conditions, and be conducted in the CMRC’s dedicated fleet of eight equally-matched TOM 28 class yachts, each with a team of four crew. “We’re very pleased to have such a talented and diverse field here for our event,” says CMRC Director Bill Hardesty, “because they will help spread the word on our mission of promoting high-level match race sailing here in Chicago. Our venue close to shore should make this easy for spectator interaction too.” Helping entertain and inform those spectators will be noted sailor and America’s Cup coach Dee Smith, who will be providing on-site commentary on all the action on the water as well as hosting daily press conferences ashore at CMRC headquarters at the north end of Belmont Harbor. Results will be posted on the CMRC website, as will photographs from renowned yachting photographer Peter MacGowan. About CMRC CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliot 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations. “This is our first season, but we’ve been very pleased at the response to our regattas and programs,” said CMRC founder Don Wilson, CEO of Chicago-based DRW Trading. “We have a unique situation as being a center for world-class sailing on the doorstep to a world-class city, so we’re pleased to be able to bring the best of both together in events such as the Chicago Match Cup.” For more information about the Chicago Match Cup and the Chicago Match Race Center, visit the CMRC’s website at www.chicagomatchrace.org, or phone 312-515-1685. (ends)

The Publisher ***** Aug 23, 2009, 9:52 AM Post #3 of 5 (4079 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Chicago Match Cup 2009 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply GRIMALDI & SWINTON TAKE AN EARLY LEAD AT CHICAGO MATCH CUP Argentine & Aussie teams each amass six wins on a difficult shifty day CHICAGO, August 21, 2009 – Juan Grimaldi (ARG) and his Tag Heuer Sailing Team and Keith Swinton (AUS) and his Black Swan Racing team have taken an early lead in the first day of racing at the Chicago Match Cup, amassing 6-0 and 6-2 records respectively among the 11 international teams gathered for this ISAF Grade 2 event. Their next nearest rival on the leaderboard is Phil Robertson (NZL) and his Waka Racing Team, who lay just one win back on a 5-1 record in this first Round Robin stage of the competition. The offshore westerly breeze today varied not only in strength from 8 to 20 knots, but also shifted wildly in direction, making each match a challenge for all teams to properly read the shifts but also for Principal Race Officer Bill Canfield and his race management team from the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC) to strive to keep the courses and starting lines square. Nonetheless, an impressive ten flights were completed today, with short courses set just yards off the shoreline north of the entrance to Belmont Harbor and shoreside spectators kept entertained all day by the action of four matched pairs locked in battle in the CMRC’s fleet of distinctive and equally-matched TOM 28 class yachts. The flat water conditions in the course area also allowed on-site use of the CMRC’s 70-foot two-story houseboat, dubbed “the Bread Box,” as a floating spectator platform, command center, and sometime pick for dueling pairs in their pre-start battles. “Match race sailing has two parts to it – match racing and sailing – and Juan and his team did a fabulous job of the latter part,” said commentator and America’s Cup alumnist Dee Smith, who narrated all the action from an aerial position on the Bread Box’s upper deck. “They did not do very well at their starts, but they soon got right into the groove of the shifts, and sailed really smoothly as a team.” This should be no surprise: even though this may be Grimaldi’s first regatta in the TOM 28’s, he was runner-up in 2001 at the J/24 World Championship, and even though he says he’s been match racing only three years, he has met with early success as the winner of the regional qualifier to last year’s Brasil Sailing Cup on the World Match Racing Tour. Grimaldi has surrounded himself with a team that has sailed together for over 5 years, with bowman Herman Marino having been with him for an astounding 20 years. In contrast, at 26th Swinton is the highest-ranked match race skipper in this field and has been honing his skills at this game for the past six years on and off the World Match Racing Tour and numerous other Grade 1 and 2 match racing events in Europe and the Antipodes. He and his team are now on the start of his US tour of three Grade 2 events, and reckons these are important to his team’s achievement goals of being consistent in their performance. “These events are key to our success as a team this year,” said Swinton. “We know that we can do really well but it is just putting everything into practice on the water when it counts.” Of the shiftiness of the day’s breeze, Swinton’s bowman Nick Bastow said “With a 6-2 score line in these really tricky conditions I think we can be fairly happy with the day.” Round Robin match race action resumes tomorrow at 9 AM CDT, after which the top eight teams in the standings will advance to the next Quarter Final stage of the competition. Results after Day One (based on percentage wins): Juan Grimaldi (ARG), Tag Heuer Sailing 6-0 Phil Robertson (NZL), Waka Racing 5-2 Keith Swinton (AUS), Black Swan Racing 6-2 Lars Nordbjaerg (DEN) 4-3 Dave Perry (USA), Team Perry 3-3 Rueben Corbett (AUS), Black Sheep Racing 4-5 Taylor Canfield (ISV), Team ISV 3-4 Takumi Nakamura (JPN), Albatross Sailing team 3-5 Laurie Jury (NZL), Kiwi Match 2.5-5 Don Wilson (USA), Convexity 2-6 Chris Van Tol (USA), Van Tol Match Racing 1-6 About CMRC CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliot 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations. For more information about the Chicago Match Cup, including complete results, photos and videos, and for more information about the Chicago Match Race Center, visit the CMRC’s website at www.chicagomatchrace.org, or phone 312-515-1685. (ends)

The Publisher ***** Aug 23, 2009, 9:53 AM Post #4 of 5 (4077 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Chicago Match Cup 2009 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Media Inquiries: Mary Anne Ward Maryanne@chicagomatchrace.org Phone: 312-515-1685 GRIMALDI, SWINTON, & ROBERTSON GO THROUGH AT CHICAGO MATCH CUP Steadier breeze favors teams with superior match race expertise; Nordbjerg & Corbett to to re-sail their Quarter-Final match CHICAGO, August 22, 2009 – The top three in the standings from yesterday - Juan Grimaldi (ARG) and his Tag Heuer Sailing Team, Keith Swinton (AUS) and his Black Swan Racing team and Phil Robertson (NZL) and his Waka Racing Team - continued their winning ways today by qualifying for tomorrow’s Semi-Final Round in the inaugural Chicago Match Cup. But this stage in the competition is not quite complete, as a starting line incident in which damage caused by Lars Nordbjerg (DEN) in his match against Rueben Corbett (AUS) and his Black Sheep Racing team forced a jury-imposed 1/2-point deduction against the Danes and another race between this pair in the first-to-three point series. Being on one point, it will be a must-win situation for Corbett. “We feel lucky to make it into the Quarterfinals,” said Corbett, “that was our main goal, so now tomorrow will be do or die - again.” A shift in the breeze to the north today produced steadier 10-12 knots of wind, more ideal for teams honed in their match race skills compared to yesterday’s shifty conditions, but the seas were large and lumpy. While the morning flights of the remaining Round Robin were sailed on courses a little further off the shore of the Belmont Harbor park area, the afternoon courses were closer in to the edge of the Lake, making the shore side favored in most races. Those who mastered their pre-starts and got to that favored side generally did well. “The matches today were much different than yesterday,” said commentator Dee Smith, “because the breeze was less shifty, so there were fewer passing lanes for those that got behind. It was a day for the “young buck” match racers to dominate the “old bull” sailors who were clever yesterday at reading the shifts.” This was reflected in the fortunes of yesterday’s “old bull” leader Juan Grimaldi (ARG) and his Tag Heuer Sailing Team, who won 6-0 yesterday but lost their first three today. “I couldn't feel comfortable with the light wind, because I just couldn't feel the boat," explained Grimaldi. "My crew did a good job to bring me back [in the afternoon] when I felt more comfortable sailing upwind as the breeze built up." In finding their form the Argentines were finally able to win their last match against a fellow “old bull,” Dave Perry (USA), who likewise had problems against the “young bucks.” Nonetheless, Grimaldi and Perry both made it through to be in the top eight teams in the Quarter Finals, though Perry fell 3-2 to Swinton after leading 2-1. “Match racing in waves makes it a different game," explained Perry. "The person behind will get shot out the back.” Swinton’s Black Swan Racing team member Jakob Gustafsson summed up their day by saying “It was as equally as tough a day as yesterday with very different conditions. We sailed well as a team and managed to keep our heads up when things weren’t going our way, and I think we sailed really well under pressure.” Swinton acknowledged this, saying "I feel lucky today. Our starting did not go well, so it was our team work that pulled me out of trouble, good job guys." In other Quarter-Final action, Robertson lost one match to Takumi Nakamura (JPN) and his Albatross Sailing team but took three wins to advance, while Grimaldi had to fight all the way to the fifth and final match against Taylor Canfield (ISV) and his Team ISV - winners of last month’s Grade 3 event here at the Chicago Match Race Center – before getting his three points to advance. Canfield, Nakamura, Perry, and the loser of the Nordbjerg/Corbett pairing will race tomorrow in a Consolation Round to determine 5th through 8th places. The pairings in the Semi-Finals will be determined once Swinton, winner of the Round Robin, announces who his chosen rival will be in this first-to-three point series. A large High pressure ridge is expected to move over the area tomorrow, bringing sunny weather but an uncertain breeze forecast, so these formats may change depending on the wind conditions and the discretion of CMRC race managers to provide fair racing for the Semi-Final, Petite-Final and Final rounds. Regardless, match race action is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 9 AM CDT. About CMRC CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliot 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations. For more information about the Chicago Match Cup, including complete results, photos and videos, and for more information about the Chicago Match Race Center, visit the CMRC’s website at www.chicagomatchrace.org, or phone 312-515-1685. (ends)

The Publisher ***** Aug 24, 2009, 9:24 AM Post #5 of 5 (4059 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Chicago Match Cup 2009 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Media inquiries: Mary Anne Ward Phone: +1 312-515-1685 Maryanne@chicagomatchrace.org ROBERTSON WINS CHICAGO MATCH CUP “Young bucks” compete for Finals glory while “Old bulls” battle for third CHICAGO, August 23, 2009 – On a day challenged by light winds and irregular seas off the Belmont waterfront, Phil Robertson (NZL) and his Waka Racing team of Garth Ellingham, Sam Bell, and Jim Williamson has won the inaugural Chicago Match Cup against Keith Swinton (AUS) and his Black Swan Racing team. The rivalry pitted two of the top four-ranked skippers against each other in what was dubbed the battle of the “Young Bucks” for the relative youth of these skippers and their teams compared to the “Old Bulls” faced off in the Petit Finals. The path to the top was not an easy one for Robertson, who had to first get by Semi-Final rival Lars Nordbjerg (DEN), who sailed first in the day in a Quarter-Final make-up match against Rueben Corbett (AUS). After Swinton bested Juan Grimaldi (ARG) and his Tag Heuer Sailing Team in three straight matches in the other Semi-Final pairing, all eyes were on this contentious pair who took two more matches to decide their series in the last match, with the score Kiwis 3, Danes 2. After a lengthy wait for enough breeze and having found a few favorable shifts, Robertson and team appeared to keep up their momentum to make short work of the close-fought Finals, winning 2-0. "We made a couple big errors and starts were a bit average,” said Robertson to the start of his day. “But then we welcomed the lighter breeze, sailed better and kept going from there. I don't think we had an edge, just did a little better in the tough conditions.” CMRC Director Bill Hardesty said “While the breeze got light today, I think we demonstrated to this world-class group of teams that CMRC can provide top-quality match race sailing in an exciting setting like Chicago. We tried many innovations here for the first time at this event, such as having guests on board the competing boats, and its proven effective at bringing the game to more people in fun and interesting ways.” Another such innovation was having Hardesty broadcast live commentary directly from the stern of the Finalists’ boats during the competition – few other events can claim such intimate access for spectators. Swinton reflected on their performance, saying “We felt we didn't sail badly, but simply didn't quite get the right shift when it was needed. But we made good steps forward for the next regatta.” At the prize giving both Finalists thanked and praised the host Chicago Match Race Center, with Swinton saying the event was “Run so well for being the first one. It has great potential. It can be one of the best match race regattas in the world.” Phil Robertson echoed Swinton in his acceptance speech, saying he “Loves the boats and loves the setup. This was a fantastic event, a fantastic facility, and it is going to go places.” Final Results, Chicago Match Cup: Phil Robertson (NZL), Waka Racing Keith Swinton (AUS), Black Swan Racing Juan Grimaldi (ARG), Tag Heuer Sailing team Lars Nordbjaerg (DEN) Takumi Nakamura (JPN), Albatross Sailing team Dave Perry (USA), Team Perry Taylor Canfield (ISV), Team ISV Rueben Corbett (AUS), Black Sheep Racing Laurie Jury (NZL), Kiwi Match Don Wilson (USA), Convexity Chris Van Tol (USA), Van Tol Match Racing About CMRC CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliot 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations. For more information about the Chicago Match Cup, including complete results, photos and videos, and for more information about the Chicago Match Race Center, visit the CMRC’s website at www.chicagomatchrace.org, or phone 312-515-1685.

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