Grand Slam Series shifts to Detroit

For the 12th consecutive year, the 2019 Detroit Cup is being held over August 22-25 in Detroit, MI. Eleven teams from Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, and the US are lined up to compete for this coveted trophy and their share of Grade 2 points on the World Sailing Match Racing Ranking List.

The event is the second of the four-part US Grand Slam Series, which consists of the Chicago Grand Slam, Detroit Cup, Oakcliff International, and Thompson Cup. The overall winner based on accumulated points from the results of these four events get an invitation to next year’s Grade 1 Congressional Cup in Long Beach, CA.

Racing at the Detroit Cup will be among 3-person teams sailing equally-matched Ultimate 20 class boats, with courses set on the Detroit River at a spectator-friendly venue in front of the Bayview Yacht Club.

Entry list in order of World Sailing ranking:
• Chris Poole (14th) – USA – Riptide Racing, crew TBA
• Ryan Seago (26th) – USA – Bayview YC, crew Matt Graham, Alex Hume
• Finn Tapper (28th) – AUS – Cruising YC of Australia – crew George Richardson, Jake Liddel
• Jordan Stevenson (31st) – NZL – Royal NZ Yacht Squadron – crew Mitch Jackson, George Angus, Dougie Cowan**
• James Pinder (88th) – GBR – Royal Thames YC – crew Alex Smallwood, George Hopes, Jamie Webb**
• Alexis Gesualdo (107th) – USA – Tropique Racing, crew Owen Miller, Scotty Dickson
• Jackson Hamilton (117th) – USA – Glen Lake YC – crew Donal Ryan, David Larson
• Chris Weis (119th) – USA – Del Rey YC – crew Roberto Stevens, Alex Burrow
• Dave Perry (122nd) – USA – Pequot YC – crew Wyatt Dennis, Daniel Pegg
• Ethan Prieto-Low (133rd) – AUS – Royal Freshwater Bay YC – crew Andrew Henderson, Ben Walsh
• Nathan Hollerbach (N/R) – USA – Ender Racing – crew Nick Marcolini, Austin Colpaert

**Overseas teams often have 4 team members for the larger boats in the other events of the Grand Slam, but for Detroit Cup they may sail only with three on their team.

Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team were victorious at the 2019 Chicago Grand Slam, and they have been regular contenders at the Detroit Cup, making it to the Semi-Finals last year. However, Ryan Seago is local to Bayview and the defending champion, Nathan Hollerbach is also a local favorite with many D-Cups in his repertoire as well as a US National Champion title, Dave Perry is an experienced guru at this game, and the overseas teams are often on the podium at this event.

Chief Umpire for the Detroit Cup 2019 is John Pratt (USA), with help from Martin Clasen (GER), Ray Groble (USA), Mike Kasper (USA), Geoff Pedrick (USA), Roger Purdy (NZL), Lance Smotherman (USA), Jesper Wilken (DEN), and Steve Wrigley (USA).

Event details – Results – Facebook

The Grand Slam Series is a series of four Grade 2 match racing events in the USA in which the overall winner receives an invitation to the 2020 Congressional Cup, the 56th edition of this Grade One match race regatta held in Long Beach, CA. For Notice of Race, click here.

• Chicago Grand Slam: Aug 15-18, in Tom 28s
• Detroit Cup: August 21-25, in Ultimate 20s
• Oakcliff International: September 2-4, in Match 40s
• Thompson Cup: September 6-8, in Match 40s