2020 US Match Racing Champs cancelled

US Sailing and the U.S. Match Racing Championships Committee have announced the cancellation of the 2020 U.S. Match Racing Championship, originally scheduled to be hosted by the Rochester Y​acht Club on September 25-27 in Rochester, NY.

The U.S. Match Racing Championship Committee had plan​ned to issue invitations at the end of June, but with travel restrictions put in place in New York, they do not see a realistic way to hold the regatta safely ​while conforming to local​ and state guidelines and restrictions.

“After 18 months of planning for the U.S. M​atch R​acing C​hampionship with an excellent umpire team in place, housing arranged​, and race management organized​, it comes down to the COVID-19 restrictions ​on travel to the area recently put in place in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from high risk areas of the country, mak​ing it impossible for Rochester Yacht Club to safely hold an event of this level,” said Rick Sullivan, Event Chair for Rochester Yacht Club.

The U.S. Match Racing Championship, founded in 1967, features up to 10 talented teams comprised of both m​ale and ​female skippers and crew who race over three days for the coveted Prince of Wales Bowl. Selection is made through qualification ​events or by invitation. ​The winn​ing skipper ​receives an automatic invitation to the following year’s event.

The 2021 U.S. Match Racing Championship is scheduled for October 1-3 at Long Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach, CA.

Pearson Potts (Newport, R.I.) won the 52nd U.S. Match Racing Championship in 2019.

Event details: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/championships/2020-u-s-match-racing-championship/