Home field advantage at Detroit Cup

Detroit, MI (August 22, 2019) – Defending champion Ryan Seago (USA) from host Bayview Yacht Club has a 5-0 record after 7 flights sailed today in the 12th edition of the 2019 Detroit Cup. Even though not all teams have raced five matches in the round robin yet, as there are eleven teams racing eight boats, Seago’s undefeated record gives him the top spot in the results from today.

“We know the boats and we know the venue,” admitted Seago, “so we have an initial advantage, but this changes quickly as the teams learn the tricks of sailing here.”

With a weak cold front rolling through in the morning hours, the cool offshore breeze was a welcome respite from the summer heat, but not very stable for setting suitable courses across the Detroit River. Two matches in Flight 2 had to be abandoned and re-sailed twice due to dying breeze and huge shifts.

However, by lunch time the skies cleared and an easterly breeze filled enough to run another five flights to get about halfway through the first stage round robin. Other teams with solid records thus far in this stage include Chris Poole’s Riptide Racing (USA, 4-1), Jordan Stevenson (NZL, 3-1) and Nathan Hollerbach’s Ender Racing (USA, 4-2).

Round Robin racing will resume tomorrow, with a forecast of Northeast breeze of 5- 10 knots, similar to today.

As a testament to Bayview’s active and enthusiastic support towards all forms of racing, the day concluded with a shift from international match racing in Ultimate 20 sportboats to fleet racing in ULDB 70 Sleds racing up and down the river in front of the club in an informal contest called the “Ambassador Cup.”

“We are racing, we are Bayview,” pronounced Detroit Cup chairman Lance Smotherman in a summary of the long racing heritage of this club, spanning over a century since its founding in 1915.

The 12th edition of the Detroit Cup is being held over August 22-25 in Detroit, MI.

Event details – Results

Editor’s note: In the absence of Detroit Cup photos we are giving the love to the Detroit Tigers.

Day One Results:

Grand Slam Series 2019
The Detroit Cup is the second stage of the Grand Slam Series, a circuit 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

Source: Dobbs Davis