28 Sep Every Once in a While – Bill Simon to the US Match Racing Championships
Every once in a while we let program director out of the office. Here is his report of his time at the US Match Racing Championships hosted Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead MA:
Jon Signsen called looking for a bow person for the US Sailing Match Race Championship also known as the Prince of Wales Bowl. In a moment of craziness I suggested that I might be available and Jon wound up with by far the oldest bowman in the event.
This was my first visit to the USMRC and accounts from all of the repeat attendees including 4 time winner Dave Perry was that this was the strongest field seen in some time that resulted in great competitive racing throughout the busy racing schedule. The CMRC was well represented with three teams (Canfield, Wilson and Pusch) and Oakcliff was well represented by board member Dave Perry sailing with Chris Museler, Chris Poole, Bobby Martin and Jon Singsen who have sailed many events at Oakcliff. There were many young teams who really showed that match racing in the US is on an upswing. We can look towards more US sailors in the top ISAF rankings.
Our event started with a tough day where we went 2 – 7 in the first round robin. The second day was much better as we went 6 – 1 and cemented a position in the Quarterfinals. We wound up 5th in the two round robin stages. The format called for the top seeds to pick their opponents and Dave Perry chose 4th ranked Dustin Durant and the self dubbed “Fun Boat” so we went up against Brad Funk who was sailing with Luke Lawrence who was at Oakcliff for this year’s Youth Clinegatta.
The excitement was at the top of the field as Taylor Canfield who was sailing with the winner of the Women’s USMRC Stephanie Robles and Maggie Shaw and Janel Zarkowsky who attended last year’s Youth Clinegatta at Oakcliff selected Bard Funk for his Semifinals and won in straight races. Dave Perry was sailing against Dave Dellenbaugh who was sailing with two Olympians Debbie Capozzi and Stu McNay along with his daughter Rebecca Dellenbaugh. Dave Perry won the first two races before Dave Dellenbaugh won the last three to move on. Taylor Canfield who won the most races in the quarterfinals won the first two races and was leading at the leeward gate. Canfield allowed an upwind split and went to the left that had been paying out most of the day but not this time. Dellenbough came back and crossed several boat lengths in front and went on to win. With a 4 pm last warning fast approaching Co- PRO Sue Miller who also was the PRO at the Oakcliff International got the race off and Dave Dellenbough again won for a 2 -2 tie. It all came down to the final race where Taylor Canfield had the yellow start and controlled throughout the prestart and got the winning start. This time he covered throughout the race and won the Prince of Wales Bowl in his fifth try.