Top-ranked and first-time sailors headlined day three of the Carlos Aguilar Match Race, (CAMR), which is being presented by Ulysse Nardin/Trident Jewels & Time.
In the Women’s Division, Great Britain’s Lucy MacGregor beat the Netherland’s Klaartje Zuiderbaan twice in the first two races of the first-to-three-points semi-finals, while the USA’s Genny Tulloch similarly earned two bullets over the USA’s Sally Barkow.
In the Open Division, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Peter Holmberg finished neck-and-neck with the USA’s Dave Perry after both sailors each won a race in the first two semi-final races. Similarly, the USVI’s Taylor Canfield and Portugal’s Alvaro Marinho/Seth sailing team each won a raceand lost a race.
With winds continuing to be unseasonably light and shifty, the open teams took to the race course in the morning and the women in the afternoon in Charlotte Amalie harbor. In the Open Division, the Race Committee abandoned a few of the last remaining matches due to lack of time.
“Those matches would not have affected the final result,” said principal race officer Bill Canfield.
Portugal’s Seth Sailing Team posted two wins for the day and earned entry into the semi-finals. “We are used to strong winds and not so shifty,” said Marinho. “In these conditions, no race is ever over until the finish. But we’ve been sailing better each day and in each race.”
Laurie Jury’s team from New Zealand didn’t make the top four, but they did win two races for the day. “I’ve got a new crew and it has been a learning curve for us,” said Jury. “Our boat handling was definitely better today.”
In the Women’s Division, the USA’s Genny Tulloch looked on the positive side. “You don’t often get conditions like this, so it’s good training.” Tulloch has one eye focused on fellow USA sailors, who she will compete against for a berth into the 2012 Olympics, and the other on the international skippers, who she may meet in London. Likewise, Brazil’s Julianna Senfft was closely watching fellow Brazilian Renata Decnop, as was the rest of the fleet.
“I really like the fast-paced action of match racing,” said Senfft, who added that this event is good practice for the Brazilian Nationals, which are part of the country’s Olympic trials, which will start mid-December.
In between the action, nearly a dozen local teenagers got their first taste of handling a tiller and calling tactics in the Budget Marine Youth Regatta. “I got to steer, it was so much fun,” said 13-year-old Shamoi James. Davis Polius Jr., also age 13, called tactics. “I’d like to do it again.” The young sailors were all members of HYPE (Helping Young People Excel).
Racing will conclude on Sunday with the semi-finals and then the finals.
Spectators are invited to watch the racing under tented bleacher seating where there will be live narration provided by America’s Cup-sailor-turned commentator, Geordie Shaver. Arm chair viewers around the world can watch via a live webcast on www.carlosmatchrace.com. Racing starts at 9 a.m. (GMT – 4 hrs) daily.
The St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) and the Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA) are the organizing authority for the Grade 2 CAMR, namesake for the late Carlos Aguilar, who was an avid sailor and match racer.
Match racing pits one identical boat against another on a short course oftentimes near to shore. The most recognized example of match racing is the America’s Cup. On-the-water umpires make instant calls and enforce the rules. The result is very exciting racing up and down the Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
Day Three Results(Number of Wins-Losses)
Women’s Division – Final Round Robin Standings
Lucy MacGregor, GBR, 13-1
Sally Barkow, USA, 13-1
Genny Tulloch, USA, 9-5
Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 7-7
Julianna Senfft, BRA, 5-9
Renata Decnop, BRA, 5-9
Sandy Hayes, USA, 3-11
Kelly O’Brien-Uszenski, USVI, 1-13
Open Division – Final Round Robin Standings*
Peter Holmberg, USVI, 12-1
Taylor Canfield, USVI, 10-3
Alvaro Marinho/Seth Sailing Team, POR, 9-3
Dave Perry, USA, 7-5
Colin Rathbun, BVI, 5-9
Laurie Jury, NZL, 4-9
Chris Van Tol, USA, 3-10
Stratis Andreadis, GRE, 2-12
*Some matches abandoned in last two flights
Women’s Division – Semi-Finals After Two Races
Lucy MacGregor, GBR, vs. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 2-0
Sally Barkow, USA, vs. Genny Tulloch, USA, 0-2
Open Division – Semi-Finals After Two Races
Peter Holmberg, USVI, vs. Dave Perry, USA, 1-1
Taylor Canfield, USVI, vs. Alvaro Marinho/Seth Sailing Team, POR, 1-1
