U.S. Youth Match Racing Champs in Sheboygan

Sheboygan, WI (June 14, 2016) – The U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup, an invitational event for 16 to 20 year olds being hosted by Sail Sheboygan and the Sheboygan Yacht Club, will see ten 3-person teams compete June 17-19 on Lake Michigan.

Racing the Elliott 6m, the boat used in the Women’s Match Racing event at the 2012 Olympic Games, the field includes seven of the 10 skippers that have competed at this championship in the past, including four from last year’s event at Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, Calif. Coaching and instruction are a significant portion of the program, with 5-time U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Perry leading a North U Advanced Match Racing Clinic for the teams on June 15 and 16.

Originally known as the Rose Cup, this event was founded by members of the Balboa Yacht Club and the Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association (NBSSA), and was 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 racers from around the country in national and international competition. In 2015, US Sailing elevated the Rose Cup to an official US Sailing National Championship.

Sail Sheboygan has an extensive history of organizing and running match racing events at the highest levels. This certified US Sailing Center served as the primary training grounds for the women’s match racers on the US Sailing Team as they campaigned for the 2012 Olympics. Sail Sheboygan has hosted the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation Match Racing Championship for the past three years, and in September, they will host the Women’s Match Racing World Championship and the Blind Match Racing World Championship.

This regatta is the first of two US Sailing National Championships being hosted by Sail Sheboygan in 2016. In August they will host the U.S. Team Racing Championship for the Hinman Trophy.

What’s on the line?
• The top finishing skipper will receive an invitation to the 2016 Governor’s Cup on July 18-23 at the Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, California.
• The top finishing skipper will qualify for the 2016 Oakcliff Halloween Invitational on October 29-30 in Match 40’s.

Racing Format
• Stage 1: Round Robin
• Stage 2: Quarterfinal, Semifinal, Final knockout series and consolation races

Awards
• 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 fourth.
• The Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award is the perpetual trophy presented for sportsmanship.

Event details – Competitors