The Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC) Hires Taylor Canfield as Sailing Manager

Highest-ranked collegiate match race talent in the US to start in June

Chicago, USA – The Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC) is pleased to announce that intercollegiate match race talent Taylor Canfield has been hired to be the Sailing Manager of CMRC for its daily operations in the upcoming 2011 season. Canfield is currently a senior at Boston College and will start in this position after graduating in May.

Hailing from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, 21-year old Canfield has shown outstanding performance potential in the last two years. Besides winning last fallʼs Intercollegiate Match Race Championship for Boston College, he also earned victories at two CMRC Grade 3 events, as well as winning the 2010 US Trifecta of Grade 2 events, which earned him an invitation to the Grade 1 Congressional Cup this coming March. Canfield’s remarkable climb through the ranks at the ISAF Grade WC 2010 Argo Group Gold Cup to finish 6th earned him the highest ranking of any North American skipper.

These and other results add up to Canfield being ranked 31st overall in the ISAF Open Match Race World Rankings, second-highest of any North American-based skipper, just two positions behind CMRC Director Bill Hardesty.

"Having Taylor on board will give us more flexibility to offer more services and opportunities to CMRC members and others who come to learn and train in match race sailing," said Hardesty. "He’s been racing at our events now for two years, so he knows our operation very well, and his experience for the last two summers coaching at Chicago YC gives him some valuable coaching and training skills to help enhance this part of our mission."

"I’m very much looking forward to taking on this challenge," said Canfield. "CMRC has been the most active sailing facility of its kind in the US, and has given a tremendous opportunity for people like me to come and learn, train and race. There is a lot of interest now in match racing, so I’m excited to be part of helping grow this trend in the sport."

For more information about CMRC, visit www.chicagomatchrace.com