Barkow Leads Tulloch by a Point at U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 11, 2011) – The eight teams competing at the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, hosted by Southern Yacht Club, made up for lost time today by completing the first Round Robin Stage and starting the second. Skipper Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.) has a one point lead over defending two-time Champion Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, Calif./Houston, Texas).

Barkow won all seven races in the first Round Robin, including a win over Tulloch in the final flight. Her team also won both races in the second Round Robin. She is the #3 ISAF ranked women’s match racer in the world, and returns to the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship after losing in the finals last year to Tulloch in Sheboygan, Wis. Crewing this week for Barkow is Elizabeth Kratzig-Burnham (Miami Beach, Fla.), Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) and Amanda Callahan (Portsmouth, R.I.).

Tulloch, the #11 ISAF ranked women’s match racer in the world, won six of seven races in the first Round Robin and the first two races in the second. Joining her are teammates Alice Manard Leonard (New Orleans, La./East Haven, Conn.), Jennifer Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.) and Elizabeth Hall (Cary, N.C.).

Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wis.) has won six of nine races, and is currently in third place. Her team came on strong at the end of the day with three consecutive wins. Her crewmates this week are Maggie Shea (Wilmette, Ill.), Darby Smith (Wilmette, Ill.) and Jennifer Wilson (Chicago, Ill.).

Wind conditions were considerably lighter on Friday compared to Thursday. Breezes today ranged from 4 to 5 knots on Lake Pontchartrain. Teams are racing for the Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy in J/22 boats this year. See today’s results:

Round Robin 2 - Flight 2
Dellenbaugh def. Lovell
Barkow def. Bienvenu
Tulloch def. Grimm
Roble def. Storck

Round Robin 2 - Flight 1
Tulloch def. Bienvenu
Roble def. Lovell
Dellenbaugh def. Storck
Barkow def. Grimm

Round Robin 1 - Flight 7
Bienvenu def. Grimm
Storck def. Lovell
Roble def. Dellenbaugh
Barkow def. Tulloch

Round Robin 1 - Flight 6
Lovell def. Bienvenu
Storck def. Grimm
Barkow def. Dellenbaugh
Tulloch def. Roble

Round Robin 1 - Flight 5
Barkow def. Roble
Lovell def. Grimm
Storck def. Bienvenu
Tulloch def. Dellenbaugh

Round Robin 1 - Flight 4
Roble def. Grimm
Tulloch def. Storck
Barkow def. Lovell
Dellenbaugh def. Bienvenu

Round Robin 1 - Flight 3
Barkow def. Storck
Dellenbaugh def. Grimm
Roble def. Bienvenu
Tulloch def Lovell

For more information about the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Gill North America and Old Pulteney Single Malt Whiskey, visit the event website for standings, daily recaps, photos and more. For up-to-the-minute details from New Orleans, follow us on US Sailing’s Twitter site. For more information on the teams racing at this year’s U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, read the preview: www.ussailing.org

Championship Notes:
• The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship is an ISAF Grade 3 event.
• The racing venue will take place on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, NNE of New Canal.
• The intended time of the first attention signal on Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13 is 10:00 a.m. CDT (subject to change).
• The event will consist of Round Robin racing and Knock out series stages.
• The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, finishing downwind.
• Barkow, Kratzig-Burnham, O’Reilly, Tulloch, Manard Leonard and Chamberlin are all members of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics.
• Perpetual Trophies will be awarded for first and second place: The Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy, emblematic of the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship; and the Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Memorial Trophy, emblematic of the Runner-up position.
• US SAILING medals will be awarded to the skippers and crews placing first through third.
• The winning skipper will be awarded an automatic invitation to the 2012 Buddy Melges Challenge.
• The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship is certified by Sailors for the Sea as a Clean Regatta.

(Written by Jake Fish for US Sailing website: www.ussailing.org)