Starting Wednesday, the world’s top sailing talent will begin a five-day battle of high-intensity match racing for the right to claim the Chicago Match Cup, Stage 4 and the only U.S. stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). A total of $75,000 in prize money is at stake, as well as valuable points on the World Championship year-long series.
The action will begin at 0930 CDT with the start of Qualifying among 12 teams from nine nations. From this stage four teams will advance to the Quarter Finals, with the remaining four slots filled from the results of the Repechage held among the remaining eight teams. Race management is being led by PRO Darcy Cook of the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC).
Courses will be set near the north entrance of Belmont Harbor, site of CMRC’s operations base, and within easy shore side access for spectators.
Stage 4 Chicago Match Cup, Alpari World Match Racing Tour
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX
Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing Team
Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Sailbox
Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing
Don Wilson (USA) Chicago Match Race Center
Tom Slingsby (AUS) Team Tom Slingsby
2014 Alpari World Match Racing Tour Calendar
Stage 1: 5-9 June Match Race Germany, Langenargen, Germany
Stage 2: 30 June-5 July Stena Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, Sweden
Stage 3: 31 July-3 August Sopot Match Race, Sopot, Poland
Stage 4: 17-21 September Chicago Match Cup, Chicago, USA
Stage 5: 24 – 28 September Dutch Match Cup, Lelystad, Holland
Stage 6: 21-26 October Argo Group Gold Cup, Hamilton, Bermuda
Stage 7: 25-29 November Monsoon Cup, Malaysia* (to be confirmed)
Note: dates denote scheduled race days
2014 Tour Card Holders
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX
Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa
David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour
