France wins 2022 Detroit Cup

Jean-Baptiste Bernaz and his Mistral Gagnant team won the 2022 Detroit Cup held August 18-21 in Detroit, MI. This was the second stop on the four-event Grand Slam match race series of Grade 2 events and a member of the World Match Racing Tour.

Due to a lack of sailable wind on the final day to hold the Semi-Final and Final stages, the final standings were based on the Round Robin results among the 11 teams competing in the Ultimate 20s.

Based on a 9-1 record in the Round Robin, Bernaz and his team of Jules Bidegaray and Thomas Deplanque from France have won the 14th edition of the Detroit Cup.

Bernaz is no stranger to winning in other arenas of sailing too: he is the reigning World Champion in the ILCA 7 Laser Class, he has been in four Olympics representing France, and has been the French national match race champion twice.

Other podium finishers included Ryan Seago (USA – Bayview YC) in second place and Cole Tapper (AUS – CYCA) in third place. In fourth and also a Semi-Finalist was Chris Poole (USA – Seawanhaka YC).

Throughout the event racing conditions were light to medium-strength breeze from a variety of directions, giving both competitors and race managers a challenge in setting and sailing the courses with shifty breezes and the current of the Detroit River. Reading this tricky race course and executing perfect crew choreography were the keys to success, along with the occasional bit of luck.

“We were looking forward to having our best four teams meet today and produce some exciting racing,” said event chairman Lance Smotherman. “Nonetheless, it has been a fantastic week to have once again a great field of competitors here from around the world to re-affirm this event as upholding our strong heritage of support for match race sailing.”

Details: https://www.matchracingresults.com/2022/detroit-cup/

2022 Grand Slam Series
August 12-14 – Chicago Grand Slam – Chicago, IL
August 18-21, – Detroit Cup – Detroit, MI
August 25-29 – Oakcliff International – Oyster Bay, NY
August 31-September 3 – Thompson Cup – Oyster Bay, NY

The team with the highest score in three of four events will be the winner of the 2022 Grand Slam and will be invited to compete at the 2023 Congressional Cup. – Details