Match Racing Survey

A proposal has been made by the U.S. Match Racing Championships Committee (USMRCC), which organizes the Open, Women’s and Youth match racing qualifiers and championships, to require at least one female and one male on each team in the 2017 U.S. Match Racing Championship and its Qualifiers.

A short survey has been developed to gather public opinion: click here.

The survey deadline is January 13, with survey input to assist the USMRCC vote on this proposal on January 17, 2017.

This proposal is in line with the global effort to increase opportunities for women to compete at the highest levels of the sport, including the Olympics and the Volvo Ocean Race. The Intercollegiate Match Racing Championship currently requires at least one female be on each team, and the USMRCC recently voted to require teams in the 2017 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship to have at least one female and one male on each boat.

Since World Sailing grades match racing events, it also sets the maximum weight allowed based on the minimum number of crew permitted x 87.5 kg (193 pounds). This means if teams are permitted to sail with 3 or 4, then the total max weight is 579 pounds. For teams of 4 or 5, the max weight is 772 pounds.

2017 would be a test year to observe the impact on participation in both the Open and Youth events. Please note that the next US Women’s Match Racing Championship is scheduled for Fall 2018. There will be several opportunities in 2017 for women to match race in both clinics and regattas. Watch for information in future issues of The Dial Up.

Survey and comments here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7J2X7RQ

If you wish to make additional comments, you may email Bruce Stone.

For the full schedule of 2017 USMRC Qualifiers, click here.

Source: Bruce Stone, USMRCC chairman