Strong Winds Limit Racing on Day One of U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship

NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 10, 2011) – Teams got a late start to racing today on day one of the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, hosted by Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, La. Only two flights were completed on Lake Pontchartrain.

Skippers Genny Tulloch (Sausalito, Calif./Houston, Texas), Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), and Kaitlin Storck (New Orleans, La.) positioned their teams well for the Round Robin stage by going 2-0.

See Thursday’s results below:
Flight 1
Storck def. Dellenbaugh
Roble def. Lovell
Tulloch def. Bienvenue
Barkow def. Grimm (DNS)

Flight 2
Lovell def. Dellenbaugh
Barkow def. Bienvenue
Tulloch def. Grimm (DNS)
Storck def. Roble

Racing began when wind speeds dropped below 20 knots at approximately 2:30 p.m. CT following a postponement, and teams raced without spinnakers. Breezes ranged from 16 to 22 knots for most of the day. This US Sailing National Championship resumes Friday morning.

For more information on the teams racing at this year’s U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, read the preview: www.ussailing.org

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.

The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship is certified by Sailors for the Sea as a Clean Regatta.

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.
• 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.

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