U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship Starts Thursday in San Francisco

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 12, 2012) – The St. Francis Yacht Club will host the 2012 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship for four days of racing this week on San Francisco Bay. Six teams of four will be competing in J/22s for the Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy this Thursday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 16. This US Sailing Championship is a Qualifying Event for the 2012 ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals.

This year’s roster is highlighted by Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.), a two-time U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion skipper. Tulloch finished just short of winning her third consecutive U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship at least year’s event on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. She lost a thrilling Final match to Sally Barkow, 3-2. Tulloch will be sailing with US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider teammates Jennifer Chamberlin (Washington, D.C.) and Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wis.), who finished fourth as a skipper at last year’s event. Margaret Shea (Wilmette, Ill.) will also be crewing for Tulloch. She was a crew for Roble last year.

Three-time Rolex Women’s Match Racing Champion Sandy Hayes (Scituate, Mass.) is in pursuit of her first U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship. She will be joined this week by teammates, Cindy Olsen (Scituate, Mass.), Ivy Binns (San Mateo, Calif.), and Krista Paxton (Detroit, Mich.).

The race area will be set on the San Francisco City Front in the San Francisco Bay. Racing begins at 12 pm PT on Thursday and at 10 am PT on Friday through Sunday. Peggy Lidster is the Event Chair and Suzy Leech is the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Chair.

For results, standings, photos and more information on the 2012 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, please visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USWMRC.htm.

For breaking news and race results from San Francisco, stay connected with US Sailing through Twitter and Facebook.

The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Old Pulteney, and Gill North America. This championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.

Written by Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager