US Youth Match Racing Championship Returns Home

Corona del Mar, CA (June 16, 2015) – The launch of the 2015 US Sailing National Championship season will be sparked this week by the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup, hosted by Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, Calif. on Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21.

The Rose Cup, founded by members of the Balboa Yacht Club and the Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association (NBSSA), started as an invitational youth match race event in 2010. The mission is to promote youth match racing in the U.S. and improve the skills of competitors in national and international competition from around the country.

US Sailing is proud to be the organizing authority of this new US Sailing National Championship. In 2014, the event founders and the Rose Cup Committee, under the direction of US Sailing Match Racing Committee Chair and four-time U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Perry, successfully elevated the Rose Cup to an official US Sailing National Championship.

“We could not be more excited to finally have a true youth match racing national championship in the U.S.,” said Perry. “It will be quite an honor for the team who wins. Match racing is an exciting discipline in our sport, and we want to encourage the 16 to 20 year old group to get involved and be proficient at match racing, as this is an excellent bridge to higher levels of sailing.”

The U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship is an invitational event based on requests for invitation from qualified skippers. The event will be sailed in the Governor’s Cup 21 sailboat, with teams of three or four sailors (maximum crew weight of 578 pounds) who must be at least 16 and no older than 20 years old in 2015.

Coaching and instruction will play a major role in these sailors’ experience this week in Corona del Mar. Competing sailors will take part in a North U Advanced Match Racing Clinic led by Dave Perry on Thursday, June 18.

Media & Coverage

• For results, standings, video highlights from Chris Love, photos, Twitter updates, and more information from the 2015 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship, please visit the event website.
• For breaking news and race results, follow us on Twitter @USSailing. Use hashtag – #RoseCup15 – to participate in the conversation throughout the championship.

What’s on the line?

• The top three skippers will receive an automatic invitation to the 49th annual Governor’s Cup to be held at Balboa Yacht Club on July 20-25, 2015.
• The top finishing skipper will qualify for the Oakcliff Sailing (NY) Halloween Invitational in Match 40s on October 30 to November 1, 2015.

Event Schedule

• Wednesday & Thursday, June 17-18: Registration, weigh-in, practice with coaching
• Thursday, June 18: North U Advanced Match Racing Clinic, Opening Ceremony
• Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21: First Signal for racing scheduled for 11:00 am PDT.

Racing Format and Venue

• The venue will be the Pacific Ocean off Newport Beach, California.
• The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, downwind finish, and a gate for the leeward roundings.
• Stage 1: Round Robin
• Stage 2: Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Final Knockout Series and Consolation Races

Prizes

• The Rose Cup is the perpetual trophy presented to the winning team.
• US Sailing medals will be awarded to the competitors who finish first through third.
• The Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award is the perpetual trophy presented for good sportsmanship.

Competitor Notes

• Last year’s champions will return to defend the Rose Cup – Christophe Killian (Newport Beach, Calif.), Harrison Vandervort (Costa Mesa, Calif.), Jack Martin (Newport Beach, Calif.)
• List of Teams (subject to change)

The U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship is sponsored by US Sailing national sponsors Gill North America and Switlik. This championship is supported locally by sponsors Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association, North U, Harken, Maritime Sciences & Seamanship Foundation, Cannon Building, Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets, Island Marine Fuel and William’s Electric.

Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org