US West Coast clubs create new match racing series

LONG BEACH, Calif.---A new set of match racing events, the California Dreamin’ Series, has been created for the spring of 2011 offering sailors the opportunity to compete in three consecutive weekends of ISAF Grade 3 match racing.

The West Coast series begins with a stop at St. Francis Yacht Club’s event Feb. 26-27, followed by Long Beach Yacht Club’s Butler Cup, March 5-6---an upgrade from the previous Grade 5 status---and winds up at San Diego Yacht Club’s event March 12-13.

The new series is truly a dream come true for skippers who are trying to crack their way into top-drawer world events but are in the process of accumulating the necessary points to qualify for an invitation.

The California Dreamin’ Series, coupled with the East Coast 2010 Trifecta match racing series of the Chicago Cup, Aug 13-15, the Detroit Cup, Aug. 18-22, and the Knickerbocker Cup, Aug. 25-29---in which the series winner receives an invitation to compete in the Grade 1 Congressional Cup and a chance at the coveted Crimson Blazer in March 2011---are a big shot in the arm for the growth of match racing in America.

Getting an invitation to a Grade 1 match race is often a long slogging process of competing in and finishing well in events scattered throughout the world. These new series will give American and international skippers a jump start to their goals by minimizing time commitment and expenses as they compete in U.S. venues in close proximity and within days apart.

These changes and more are all part of the newly created North American Match Race Series organized by Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit, Mich.; Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Port Washington, N.Y.; Chicago Match Race Center, Chicago, Ill.; Long Beach Yacht Club, Long Beach, Calif.; San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, Calif. and St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, Calif.

These six clubs have dedicated themselves to promoting and developing high-level match racing countrywide and are on the forefront of bringing U.S match racing to the attention of the international sailing community.


MEDIA CONTACT
Rick Roberts
562.493.5173
Mobile: 310.367.9079
rroberts@lbyc.org