Dellenbaugh to Face Perry in U.S. Match Racing Championship Finals

Sheboygan, WI (September 21, 2013) – Saturday featured two thrilling semifinal match-ups at the U.S. Match Racing Championship, hosted by Sail Sheboygan. The number one ranked Dave Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.), a two-time champion, defeated fourth ranked Scott Dickson (Long Beach, Calif.), 3-1. The series of the day belonged to second ranked Dave Perry (Southport, Conn.), a four-time champion, edged third ranked Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wis.), 3-2.

Dellenbaugh and Perry will meet in Sunday’s final in a series between two U.S. match racing icons. The first to three points earns the Prince of Wales Bowl.

In Race 1 of the Perry/Roble semifinal, they split tacked at the start and Perry forced Roble to tack away on the windward leg. Perry took a lead around the leeward mark and had a two boat length lead at the windward mark. However, Roble caught Perry going downwind in a luffing overlap. Roble took the lead for the win on their last gybe.

In Race 2, Roble won the start and had a lead at the leeward mark. Roble extended her lead and never looked back to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

Perry took a lead off the start of Race 3 and extended his lead to six boat lengths at the first mark. As the breeze built, Perry’s lead grew as he carried a big lead through the finish to stay alive in the series.

At the start of Race 4, Perry was called for an OCS and Roble took an early one boat length lead. Roble gybed immediately with a lead at the first mark. Perry gained by splitting tacks and pulled ahead on the downwind. Perry surfed a wave through the finish line for the win to force a sudden death Race 5.

Roble picked up a penalty in the pre-start dial-up. She took a lead off the line and gained more of an advantage at the first mark. Perry attempted to take Roble’s breeze. Roble maintained a lead at mark two and both boats tacked immediately. Roble still had no room to clear the penalty. Perry took a puff and closed the gap at mark three. As they approached the finish, Roble slowed to create a trap. In a gybing duel, Roble lost control and Perry went over the top to take the lead, the win, and the series.

Dellenbaugh got off to a rough start in Race 1. Dickson took a lead when Dellenbaugh was called for a penalty on the pre-start. Dellenbaugh had a lead for most of the race, but Dickson took the lead for good when Dellenbaugh took his penalty turn.

In Race 2, Dellenbaugh forced Dickson into an OCS and took a big lead that he never relinquished and tied the series at 1-1.

Dellenbaugh easily won Race 3 to move ahead in the series, 2-1.

Race 4 began with a split tack and Dellenbaugh took the lead as the breeze picked up. He had a large lead at the second mark. Dickson struggled to keep his spinnaker flying while attempting to catch Dellenbaugh downwind. Dellenbaugh won the race and the series, 3-1.

Roble and Dickson will meet in Sunday’s petit finals. The first to two points wins third place.

General sailing conditions included overcast skies, and breeze at 10 to 15 knots. Sunday’s forcast is for 10 to 15 knots from the Northeast with 1 to 3 feet swells.

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, photo galleries, 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