Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup Preview

by Eliza Garry 26 Jun 19:44 UTC June 26-30, 2024
US Youth Match Racing Championship 2022 for the Rose Cup © Bronny Daniels / Joysailing

The 2024 U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship (USYMRC) is set to be a thrilling event, showcasing the top young sailing talent in the country. This prestigious competition will take place from June 26 to 30, 2024, at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The USYMRC is an invitational event open to sailors who have reached their 16th birthday but not their 21st birthday during the calendar year in which the event is held. The Championship features world-class coaching and race management and serves as an outstanding training ground for young sailors who are interested in match racing and focused on competing at the next level.

The event will feature teams of four sailors, competing in a round-robin format followed by knockout stages. Races will be held using Sonars, known for their suitability for close and competitive match racing.

Prior to the start of racing, competitors are treated to two days of practice and clinics, with coaching from sailing rules expert, Dave Perry, and match racing icon, Janelle Zarkowsky Martin.

Participants will be vying not only for the championship title but also for the prestigious Rose Cup, a trophy that symbolizes excellence in youth match racing. The event will follow the Racing Rules of Sailing and the specific Sailing Instructions tailored for this championship.

The winner of the USYMRC will also receive an invitation to the Governor's Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship, provided he or she has filed a Request for Invitation (RFI) for the Governor's Cup by Friday, April 12, 2024. 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.

The Rose Cup started as an invitational youth match racing event in 2010. It was founded by members of Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach, California, and the Newport-Balboa Sailing & Seamanship Association ("NBSSA"). US Sailing made the event one of its three match racing championships, and it officially became the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship in 2015.

At each USYMRC, the presentation of the Nick Scandone Sportsmanship Award is always a highlight. This 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.

The Rose Cup was named by NBSSA for America's Cup, Congressional Cup and offshore tactician Andy Rose, for his contributions to youth match racing for the Governor's and Rose Cups.

Spectators and sailing enthusiasts can look forward to a high-energy competition with tight maneuvers and strategic sailing. The Corinthian Yacht Club, known for its excellent facilities and coastal views in the iconic sailing town of Marblehead, will provide a perfect backdrop for this exciting championship.

"The Corinthian is thrilled to be this year's Rose Cup host," shared Joe Fava, Regatta Chair at CYC. "Our club has been leading a movement to bring match racing back to Marblehead and the Rose Cup is part of this effort. Sailors should expect outstanding racing and umpires as the team includes both international race officers and international umpires. As with any event hosted at the Corinthian, competitors should also expect a great program off the water filled with great instruction and most of all FUN!"

Conditions in late June are expected to feature relatively light breezes with temperatures in the high 70's. While cloud cover and humidity generally increase during the month, sea breezes are possible in the afternoons.

This year's list of skippers includes sailors from all over the country, including one local:

  • Connor Bennett (San Francisco, CA)
  • Dylan Sih (Newport Beach, CA)
  • Hamilton Barclay (La Porte, TX)
  • James Pine (Mt Pleasant, SC)
  • Morgan Pinckney (Newport Beach, CA)
  • Pearse Dowd (Marblehead, MA) * local competitor
  • Peter Busch (San Diego, CA)
  • Siena Nichols (Corona del Mar, CA)
  • Thomas Sitzmann (Severna Park, MD)
  • Tor Svendsen (Ross, CA)

The event will feature a two-day livestream on June 29 - 30 with commentary, presented by GoPro. Commentary provided by Clinton Hayes (Saturday) and Ansgar Jordan (Sunday).

For more details on the event schedule, rules, and livestream, visit the event website.

Related Articles

The Sailfish VDS Variable Degree Stepped Hull
This unique design features three distinct running surfaces Our exclusive VDS Hull Design proves that three hulls are always better than one, delivering a soft, safe ride every time. Posted on 22 Nov
Fishing: Titanic Trout
Speckled trout addicts know it's trophy time If you're a Gulf Coaster or have an inkling to escape from the north, arguably the best speckled seatrout action is about to happen and will continue into the winter months. Posted on 22 Nov
How navigation tech is protecting our seabeds
Seagrass meadows store 10% of the ocean's carbon Just under two years into partnering together and more responsible sailing and seagrass conservation has been put on the map by Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) and Savvy Navvy. Posted on 21 Nov
ASMFC to meet on 2025 Striped Bass Management
The meeting is in response to the 2024 Stock Assessment Update The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will meet on December 16th to consider changes to the 2025 management measures to meet the stock's rebuilding targets. Posted on 19 Nov
Fishing: 11th Hour Muskies
Stalk the biggest muskies of the year Take advantage of the gap between fall and ice fishing season to stalk the biggest muskies of the year. Posted on 19 Nov
Marine Auctions: November Online Auction
Bidding to Open on Friday 22 November and Close on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 2pm AEST Bidding to Open on Friday 22 November and Close on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 2pm AEST. Posted on 19 Nov
Fishing: Win Randy Howell's Boat
Randy Howell is once again doing his part to support King's Home With the 2024 bass tournament season now complete, noted pro bass angler Randy Howell is once again doing his part to support King's Home. Posted on 18 Nov
Fifteen years of searching for smalltooth sawfish
NOAA Fisheries scientists have been studying smalltooth sawfish in South Florida since 2009 NOAA Fisheries scientists have traveled to South Florida multiple times a year for 15 years to study smalltooth sawfish. Posted on 17 Nov
Top 10 baits from Toyota Series Championship
The jighead minnow accounted for yet another big win While the infamous jighead minnow proved to be the winning lure for rising star Hayden Marbut at the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies, it was far from the only way to catch bass on Wheeler Lake. Posted on 13 Nov
Contender Boats rolling in new features for 2025
Get ready to fish harder with new innovations on all 2025 Contender models Get ready to fish harder with new innovations on all 2025 Contender models. These exciting updates are geared towards improving functionality, reliability, and overall experience for Contender Boats' 2025 models. Posted on 13 Nov
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024