Tough sledding at US Match Race Championship

Oyster Bay, NY (October 14, 2017) – The US Match Race Championship continued on its second day of competition as lighter winds made for tough sledding to finish the single round robin qualifying stage that would advance the top eight teams into the quarterfinal knock out ladder.

Jeffrey Petersen and Reed Baldridge failed to make the cut, while Peter Holz’s undefeated streak in the round robin ended in his 9th and final race, losing to Nevin Snow.

The top eight teams paired up for the best of five series, with Janel Zarkowsky, Snow’s former coach from Georgetown, beating her student two-straight before time was called for the day. Snow, the defending champion, still has a shot to make a comeback and advance to semis tomorrow when racing continues.

Currently #1 seed Holz trails 8th place seat Chris Kennedy 1-2 in the quarters. In the beginning, it was looking like business as usual for Holz, winning the first race of their quarterfinal match but Kennedy and the Oakcliff team came back swinging to win the next two. If they win one more it will be the upset of the regatta.

Pearson Potts of Yankee Creole Racing adapted well to the sticky conditions to beat David Storrs and break their second-place tie in the last flight of the round robin. In the quarters they were the only team to advance three-straight, over Nicole Breault. “We won with our boat-handling, which is really how we qualified to begin with,” said Pearson.

Storrs almost knocked out Steve Lowery with two straight wins but Lowery wasn’t going down without a fight. He won the third match and will continue the fight tomorrow.

The 2017 edition of the U.S. Match Racing Championship for the Prince of Wales Bowl will be held October 13 to 15.

Event details – Competitor list – Results

Source: Francis K. George, Oakcliff Sailing