Petersen wins Youth Match Racing title

Chapman Petersen and his team of Luke Woodworth, Samara Walshe, and Tommy Sitzmann won the 2023 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup (USYMRC) on June 21-25 in Sheboygan, WI. Petersen beat defending champion Morgan Pinckney in the final match.

The USYMRC is an invitational event open to sailors who have reached their 16th birthday but not their 21st birthday during the calendar year in which the event is held. Teams of four, which must be comprised of at least one female and one male, competed in Sonars.

Pinkney won the qualifying round robin stage, followed by Michael Kirkman, Petersen, and Justin Callahan. Pinkney won his Semi-Final match against Callahan, as did Petersen over Kirkman. In the Finals, Petersen and Pinkney traded blows in the first two races before Petersen won the third and final race. In the Petit Final, Callahan also won 2-1 over Kirkman.

All competitors cast a vote for the highly regarded Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award. Exhibiting the Corinthian spirit all weekend long, Michael Kirkman, Dougie Cowan, Sophia Hacket, and Ryan Hexter received a standing ovation as they accepted the award.

Dave Perry, a five-time U.S. Match Racing Champion, along with US Sailing Organizing Authority Ryan Davidson, led an Advanced Match Racing Clinic prior to racing.

Event details – Results – Photos