VENUE PROFILE


has started such a unique program in a great city.”


The Center is one of the few places with the facilities to allow teams training sessions with all the necessary support – especially race officials and on the water umpires. Another sailor who’s benefitted is Olympic Match Racer, Sally Barkow - finding a role in training the USA’s Olympians shows that the CMRC has come a long way in a short time, as Wilson pointed out. “In 2011 (the third season in existence) we hosted a Grade 1, a Grade 2, as well as seven Grade 3s.” While the Grade 1 and 2 events take up the headlines, there are professionally coached match race training sessions for local members twice a week, along with entry into a series of Grade 4 and 5 events. And some of those locals are now getting pretty good.


Steven Lowry boasts the 1981 US Singlehanded Championship on his CV (at the expense of Dave Perry) but is now, “a family man with a day job, strictly Category 1”. Previously, Lowry and Derrick Reig craned two J22s in and out of the water to train in the evenings but, says Lowry, “Don’s establishment of CMRC changed that and transformed the level and effectiveness of our training. The Tom 28 Maxs are wonderful boats, superbly maintained and practices are well run.” Lowry’s ISAF Ranking is currently 111, but there are plenty of talented youngsters snapping at his heels. Alex Curtiss is one of them, “Once my friends and I decided match racing was something worth pursuing, we went to work, joining CMRC and with the support of Taylor Canfield and Tod Reynolds we were able to


Photo: Isao Toyama


Photo: Peter McGowan


rapidly ramp our level.” Watch out for Mr Curtiss.


The Center’s Tom 28 Maxs are fitted with a hot-seat position, and sponsorship is an important part of the strategy. Wilson commented, “We ran the Grade 1 and 2s at the end of Navy Pier, which provides one of the best locations in the world to host easily viewable match races in a major city. Using this forum, CMRC can now offer some very high profile sponsorship opportunities.” The boats are branded, and there are tiered bleachers and live commentary,


Photo: Peter McGowan


making the racing accessible to anyone using the waterfront.


Looking ahead, Program Director Tod Reynolds hopes, “to continue to raise the level of and involvement in match racing in the United States, as well as providing excellent value for corporate sponsors by hosting events and programmes that utilize the city waterfront and stadium sailing amphitheatre that is downtown Chicago.” And Don Wilson plans to be one of those to benefit - now ranked second in the US; “The goal is to just keep on getting better at the game!”


Photo: Isao Toyama


Do you know of a top match racing venue you’d like to see featured in Match Racing 360°? If so, contact us at info@matchrace.com.


MATCH RACING 360° | NOVEMBER 2011 page | 13


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