Spotlight on Chicago for World Match Racing Tour

Chicago, IL (September 16, 2014) – The world’s top sailing talent begin on Wednesday a five-day battle of high-intensity match racing for the right to claim the Chicago Match Cup, the only U.S. stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). A total of $75,000 in prize money is at stake, as well as valuable points on the AWMRT World Championship year-long series.

The action will begin at 0930 CDT with the start of Round Robin competition among 12 teams from nine nations. From this stage four teams will advance to the Quarter-Finals, with the remaining two slots filled from the results of the Repechage held among the remaining eight teams. Race management is being led by PRO Darcy Cook of the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC).

Courses will be set near the north entrance to Belmont Harbor, site of CMRC’s operations base, and within easy shore side access for spectators. This morning CBS Chicago caught Tom Slingsby and his team from Australia and defending champion Taylor Canfield from the US Virgin Islands and his US One team practicing on the Lake Michigan.

And for those who wish to follow the action online there are several available options available throughout the competition:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/worldmatchracingtour – behind the scenes updates, news updates, round up race updates, images of the day, etc. Similar content offered at www.Facebook.com/ChicagoMatchRace.

Twitter: @worldmrt – tweet feeds about the regatta in general, newslink to articles, etc. Also @wmrt_liverace will provide flight-by-flight updates, more of a commentary feed about the races. Similar content also tweeted from @matchracecenter.

Competing teams in the Chicago Match Cup include the following:
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX
Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Team Trifork
Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Sailbox
Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below
Don Wilson (USA)
Tom Slingsby (AUS)

Report by event media. Photo by IsaoToyama.com.

Background: Chicago Match Cup (September 17-21) is the fourth stop on the seven event Alpari World Match Racing Tour, the leading professional match racing series sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Prize money is awarded for each event, with event points culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. Tour website: http://www.wmrt.com