The 2024 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship (USYMRC) for the Rose Cup was a thrilling event down to the final moments of the last race. The Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts hosted a fantastic event for all regatta participants.
The final round ended with a 3-1 win from Morgan Pinckney, Peter Barnard, Samantha Hemans, and Kelly Holthus of Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
Pinckney defeated Hamilton Barclay, Ava Anderson, William Baker, and Hayden McCready of Lakewood Yacht Club in the finals.
The event began with two days of advanced match racing clinics from Janel Zarkowsky Martin and Dave Perry. Due to tactical execution by the race committee, a full round robin was completed, followed by the final rounds of racing.
The Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award was given to Peter Busch, Kate Joslin, Peter Joslin, Harrison Strom of San Diego Yacht Club. The trophy, named for the late US Paralympic Gold Medalist Nick Scandone who, in addition to winning the Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, was beating both able bodied and physically challenged competitors throughout the last year of his life as he fought ALS. Nick’s persistence against seemingly insurmountable odds provides inspiration to winners of the Scandone Sportsmanship Trophy and to all sailors.
Final results are:
1. Morgan Pinckney, Peter Barnard, Samantha Hemans, Kelly Holthus
2. Hamilton Barclay, Ava Anderson, William Baker, Hayden McCready
3. Thomas Sitzmann, Robby Meek, Alice Schmid, Luke Woodworth
4. Dylan Sih, Dillon Garcia, Michael Sentovich, Shay Wood
5. Siena Nichols, Liliana Brennan, Eddie Kliem, Maddie Nichols
6. Peter Busch, Kate Joslin, Peter Joslin, Harrison Strom
7. Pearse Dowd, Lucca Antonietti, Eloise Goedkoop, Kate Myles
8. James Pine, Nathan Pine, Logan Mraz, Addyson Fisher
9. Connor Bennett, Allie Shand, Robbie Upton, Alec Van Kerckhove
10. Tor Svendsen, Tristan McDonald, Henry Scholz, Merritt Sellers
The 2025 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup will be hosted by Balboa Yacht Club on June 25-29, 2024. This will be the 15th anniversary of the Rose cup and the 10th anniversary of it being named as the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship.
Pinckney will be continuing his team’s match racing program this year with invitations to both the Governor’s Cup and the U.S. Match Racing Championship (USMRC).
Stemming from the USYMRC, Hamilton Barclay’s team earned invitations to both the USMRC and the Oackliff Invitational. Also, Dylan Sih’s team earned an invitation to the Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship. The “GovCup” is the oldest, and arguably the most prestigious youth match racing event in the world and will be sailed this year for the 57th time at Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach, California from July 22-27, 2024.
Barclay and Pinckney will have the chance to face off again at the Governor’s Cup.
“This year’s Rose Cup was the most cohesive groups of kids, race supporters, umpires, and event staff,” said Ryan Davidson, US Sailing Championship Committee Event Representative. “Thank you so much to the Corinthian Yacht Club for a fantastic event and congratulations to our winners, Morgan Pinckney and his team. Can’t wait to see everybody again next year.”
Spectators near and far enjoyed access to the two-day livestream provided by GoPro with commentary from Clinton Hayes and Ansgar Jordan. Sailing fans can look forward to livestreams at both the USMRC in October in and the U.S. Team Racing Championship in August.
