The 6th Carlos Aguilar Match Race (CAMR) will set sail in St. Thomas’ scenic Charlotte Amalie harbor on November 21-24 2013.
“New this year,” says regatta director Bill Canfield, “we will have three days of racing instead of four, which is normal in other events like this held around the globe, and eight boats instead of six to make it more exciting on the course and give us time to run a double round-robin, semis and finals.”
The ten Open teams, which represent a combination of highly ranked men and women and active successful match racers from the past, will put their skills to the test in fast-paced highly-competitive sailing action along the spectator-friendly Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
Invitees to date include defending champion Sally Barkow from the USA (10th ranked Women, 26th ranked Open), the USA’s Stephanie Roble (35th ranked Women), Dave Dellenbaugh and Don Wilson (33rd ranked Open), and the USVI’s Taylor Canfield (5th ranked Open) and Peter Holmberg. At least four slots are still available and skippers are welcome to request an invitation.
Past winners of the CAMR read like a Who’s Who of sailing: the USA’s Sally Barkow and Finland’s Staffan Lindberg won the Open Division in 2012 and 2011, respectively, while the USA’s Genny Tulloch triumphed in 2008 and 2010 and France’s Claire Leroy in 2009 in the Women’s Division. Back in 2008, the USVI’s Taylor Canfield was victorious and in 2009 it was the turn of Peter Holmberg. From across the pond, Portugal’s Alvaro Marinho/Seth Sailing Team won the Open Division in 2010.
The CAMR is known for introducing young sailors to the sport, working cooperatively with the V.I. government and V.I. Department of Tourism in its efforts to get more kids out on the water. In 2013, each Open team will have a V.I. high school (under age 18) sailor as a member.
The CAMR is an International Sailing Federation (ISAF)-provisional Grade Two event.
The Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA) is the organizing authority for the CAMR, namesake for the late Carlos Aguilar, who was an avid sailor and match racer. The Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC) is a major sponsor.
“The Chicago Match Race Center is pleased to be a part of the 2013 Carlos Aguilar Match Race,” says Tod Reynolds, program director at the Chicago Match Race Center. “When Lake Michigan freezes in the winter and sailors turn their attention south, the Carlos Aguilar Match Race in St. Thomas has been one of the go-to events. We are proud to support the event this year and to help with the expansion from six IC 24s to eight to allow for even more match racing action on the harbor.”
For more information and Notice of Race, visit: www.carlosmatchrace.com
Report by Carol M. Bareuther.
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