01 Apr Oakcliff Season Kicks Off with U.S. Match Racing Qualifier
David Storrs (skipper, above) placed second in the 2015 U.S. Match Racing Championship/Ethan Johnson
OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK (April 1, 2016) – Oakcliff Sailing will host the second of eight qualifiers for the 2016 Open and Women’s U.S. Match Racing Championships in two weeks. The event is the first of Oakcliff’s extensive 2016 racing calendar. Seven teams are currently registered for the event including Oakcliff board member and current U.S. ranked #2, David Storrs (Southport, CT).
Racing will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 16/17 in Oyster Bay, New York on Oakcliff’s fleet of Match 40s. It will be preceded Friday, April 15 by a match racing clinic led by three-time U.S. match racing champion and America’s Cup winner David Dellenbaugh. The clinic is open to all sailors including those not competing in the qualifier. (Click here to register for the clinic.)
Currently scheduled to compete are David Storrs (Southport, CT), Dylan Vogel (Jamestown, RI), Peter Holz (Chicago, IL), Danielle Gallo (New York, NY), Whitney Kent (Madison, WI), Elizabeth Shaw (Halifax, Novia Scotia), and Doug Shannon (New York, NY).
The 2016 U.S. Match Racing Championship will be held at San Diego Yacht Club on October 7-9 and the 2016 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship at Annapolis Yacht Club on September 9-11 . The top skipper at the Oakcliff qualifier will receive an invitation to the Open Championship and the top female skipper will receive an invitation to the Women’s Championship. Glenn Darden (Fort Worth, TX) received an invitation for the Open Championship after winning the first qualifier hosted by Fort Worth Boat Club last month.
Three top female skippers – Kent, Shaw, and Gallo – will battle it out for the first qualifying bid to the Women’s Championship. If a female skipper places first overall, she will receive an invitation to both the Open and Women’s Championship.
Live updates of the racing can be found by following Oakcliff on Twitter (@OakcliffSail). Daily recaps, photos, and live broadcasts can be found on Oakcliff’s Facebook page throughout the event.
Oakcliff Sailing is a non-profit coaching and training center for sailors who have progressed beyond traditional coaching methods. The center can be contacted by email at race@oakcliffsailing.org or by calling (516) 802-0368.
For more information:
Scott Guinn
Director of Public Relations
Oakcliff Sailing
pr@oakcliffsailing.org
(516) 802-0368