Preview: U.S. Match Racing Championship at Oakcliff

Oyster Bay, NY (October 8, 2015) – Oakcliff Sailing has long been recognized as a hub for match racing enthusiasts. The popular sailing center will play host to the 48th edition of the U.S. Match Racing Championship this weekend in Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Ten talented teams representing their home sailing organizations will go one-on-one for the Prince of Wales Bowl. Helms qualified for this national championship through a series of events run throughout the country. Invitations were issued to the winning skippers at each of the 2015 U.S. Match Racing Championship Qualifiers, the 2014 U.S. Match Racing Champion, and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion.

Returning to take another shot at this US Sailing National Championship is four-time (2011, 2008, 2006, 1982) U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Perry. He will be representing the Pequot Yacht Club (Conn.).

The lone women’s skipper racing this week is 2015 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion, Nicole Breault. Ranked #12 in the world in women’s match racing by ISAF and #2 in the country, Breault had a tremendous season. She won the 2015 ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in the women’s match racing competition. Breault will be representing St. Francis Yacht Club (Calif.).

After placing third at last year’s U.S. Match Racing Championship, Russ Silvestri will make another run at the title this weekend. He also posted a strong performance at the 2015 ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final with his fourth place finish. Silvestri is ranked #5 in the U.S.

The three-day event begins Saturday, October 10 and concludes on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12. This championship is an open event being contested in the Match 40 with up to five or six crewmates per team including the skipper.

Oakcliff Sailing runs an extensive match racing program throughout the season that includes competitive regattas and instructional clinics. In 2014 they hosted the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship.

Click here for list of Teams

Racing Format
Stage 1 – Preliminary Round Robin
Stage 2 – Quarterfinal Knock-out Series
Stage 3 – Semifinals Knock-out Series
Stage 4 – Petit Finals Knock-out Series
Stage 5 – Finals Knock-out Series

Race Course
The intended course will be windward/leeward/windward/leeward with starboard roundings, finishing downwind. The intended course area will be the Oyster Bay or Cold Spring Harbor.

Prizes on the Line
The winner will be named the U.S. Match Racing Champion and will have their name engraved on the Prince of Wales Bowl, a perpetual trophy that will be kept on display at US Sailing. US Sailing medals and Oakcliff Sailing prizes will be awarded to teams placing first through third.

Event Website

Report by US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.