Dellenbaugh Sweeps Double Round Robin at U.S. Match Racing Championship

Sheboygan, WI (September 20, 2013) – Two-time U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and his team picked up where they left off Thursday with another impressive outing on Lake Michigan.

Through the double round robin stage, Team Dellenbaugh is perfect at 14-0 and they hold the number one ranking as the top four teams advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

“We’re happy with our round robin performance; however, round robin wins only get you into the semifinals, and have no meaning going forward. Now we need the win in the semifinals,” said Dellenbaugh.

Four-time winner of the Prince of Wales Bowl, Dave Perry (Southport, Conn.), is in the hunt again with 11 wins. After struggling to a 3-4 record through the first round robin, Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wis.) and her team that features the 2012 champion helmsman Taylor Canfield (Chicago, Ill.), rebounded to go 6-1 in the second round robin. Roble’s only loss came at the hands of Dellenbaugh. Perry and Roble split their two head-to-head match-ups.

“Our first round robin was not our best,” said Roble. “We learned a lot as a team and came back to put points on the board. We’re stoked to be going into the semifinals.”

Scott Dickson (Long Beach, Calif.) and his team tallied a 6-8 record and won the tie-breaker over Matthew Graham (Ann Arbor, Mich.).

“We had shaky boat handling in the beginning but are thankful because it was the boat handling that got us into the semifinals in the end,” said Dickson.

Saturday’s semifinal match-ups feature Dellenbaugh vs. Dickson and Perry vs. Roble. First to three points advances to the finals on Sunday. Tomorrow’s races include the 5 to 8 consolation knock-out series. Race results and standings

On Friday, Lake Michigan featured lighter breeze and less chop in comparison to Thursday. Winds started at 10 knots from the South/Southwest. By the end of the day, the winds increased and shifted to 15 knots out of the West. Weather is forecasted to be sunny with winds from the Northwest at 10 to 15 knots and 1-2 foot waves. The regatta will wrap-up Sunday with the petit finals and finals.

This US Sailing National Championship is being raced in Sonars and hosted by Sail Sheboygan (Wis.). The winning skipper of this event will receive an invitation to race at the Ficker Cup, a grade 3 event and a Congressional Cup Qualifier.

The U.S. Match Racing Championship is a US Sailing National Championship sponsored by Gill North America and Hobie Polarized Sunglasses. The championship is a Sailors for the Sea – Clean Regattas certification event.

Visit the official event website this week for the daily video recaps by Chris Love Productions, photos, daily recaps, rosters, standings, real-time Twitter updates from Sheboygan, and more.

Championship Notes:
– Course area is east of the Sheboygan Harbor on Lake Michigan
– Racing to start at 10 a.m. Thursday through Sunday (subject to change)
– The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, finishing downwind
– The skippers and their crew members placing first, second and third in this regatta will be awarded US Sailing Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, respectively.

Championship Personnel:
Greg Kiely, U.S. Match Racing Championship Chair
Kathy Lindgren, Event Chair
Liz Walker, US Sailing Championships Director

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org, 401.683.0800 x614