BRISTOL, R.I. (June 11, 2020) – Following weeks of collaboration and consultation, US Sailing and the San Diego Yacht Club have officially decided to reschedule the 2020 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship to the summer of 2021. This US Sailing National Championship was originally slated for August 21-23, 2020 and is being tentatively rescheduled to August 19-22, 2021.
“This is a frustrating time for all of us, and we are doing our best to get back out on the water safely and in accordance with the local restrictions due to COVID-19,” said Event Chair, Jeff Johnson of the San Diego Yacht Club. “Still, after considering many options for a national competition, planning an event that followed those local guidelines and being considerate of the sensitivities of competitors and officials, San Diego Yacht Club, in conjunction with US Sailing have decided to cancel the 2020 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship. However, San Diego Yacht Club is eager to host the event, hopefully under much improved circumstances, on approximately the same date – August 21-23, 2021. Mark your calendar, study your moves, and we look forward to seeing you on the water in 2021.”
“The health of the competitors, volunteers, race officials, and our communities is the utmost priority. We value the high level of competition that is created when teams can travel safely from across the nation, and we do not believe that will be achieved this year,” said Janel Zarkowsky, Championship Co-Chair. “
“We look forward to hosting the 2021 US Women’s Match Racing Championship at San Diego Yacht Club and can’t wait to see you all on the water soon,” said Beka Schiff, Championship Co-Chair. “Depending on what the restrictions look like this August, we are talking with San Diego Yacht Club about holding a local Match Race clinic and casual match racing event the same weekend.”
The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship originated from the U.S. Women’s Open Championship regatta founded in 1974 for fleet racing. In 2000, a motion to change the event from fleet racing to match racing was passed and the first U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship was held at Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans, La.) in November 2002.
The Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy is presented to the winner in honor of “Leggy” Mertz, a four-time winner of the U.S. Women’s National Championship and former Chair of the Women’s Championship Committee. The Adams Memorial Trophy is presented to the runner-up in honor of Mrs. Henry (Adams) Morgan.
Allie Blecher (Long Beach, Calif.) won the 17th U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship in 2019. Learn more about the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship by clicking on the event website.
For any questions about the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, please contact US Sailing by email at Championships@USSailing.org.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.