Carlos Aguilar Memorial Match Race

December 6, 2009 (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, ISV) – Peter Holmberg, Maurice Kurg, Morgan Avery and Ben Beer (ISV) utilized years of experience to defeat Taylor Canfield, Max Nickbarg, Tyler Rice and Chris Rosenberg (ISV) in an all US Virgin Islands final at the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race. Holmberg took Canfield down with two straight wins in the best of three finals in the Grade 3 Match Race in which junior sailors and locals went head to head against America’s Cup skippers and sailors who have reached the top of the match race standings in their careers.  In the Petite Finals, Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) defeated Colin Rathbun (IVB) 2-0.  In the preceding Semi Finals, Holmberg defeated Gram Hansen 3-1 while Canfield topped Rathbun 3-1.

Racing in the beautiful natural amphitheater of St. Thomas’ harbor, the sailors enjoyed 4 perfect days of sailing in the double round-robin, semi and finals event.  Consistent trade winds of 10-15 knots, sunshine and warm weather treated the racers to some of the best sailing in the world.

In the Women’s division, the #1 Women’s Match Racing team in the world, Claire Leroy, Eladie Bertrand, Clarie Pruvot, and Marie Riou (FRA) defeated the US Women’s Match Racing Champion and the defending Carlos Aguilar Match Race Champion, Genny Tulloch and her team, which included Sally Barkow, Alana O’Reilly and Amanda Callahan in two matches in the first to two wins final.

Leroy was enthusiastic about the experience her team gained during the past three weeks of practice and racing in the US Virgin Islands. “Peter Holmberg gave us some time and we practiced against him. The quality of the sailing and competition was excellent. We look forward to returning for next year’s event,” said Leroy.

Claire Leroy (FRA) and Genny Tulloch (USA) dispatched their Semi-Final opponents by winning three straight against Katy Pilley-Lovell (USA) and Julie Bossard (FRA), respectively.


Open Results:

1.    Peter Holmberg (ISV)
2.    Taylor Canfield (ISV)
3.    Jes Gram Hansen (DEN)
4.    Colin Rathbun (IVB)
5.    Dave Perry (USA)
6.    Chris Haycraft (IVB)
7.    Fritz Bus (AHO)
8.    Mauicio Gallardo (ELS)

 Women’s Results:

1.    Claire LeRoy (FRA)
2.    Genny Tulloch (USA)
3.    Julie Bossard (FRA)
4.    Katy Lovell (USA)
5.    Liz Baylis (USA)
6.    Renata Decnop (BRA)
7.    Kelly Obrian Uzenski (ISV)
8.    Maria Ramires (POR)

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Visitors and locals alike lined up along the Charlotte Amalie waterfront to watch the concluding matches of the Grade 2, 1st Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race Championship.

In the end, and following racing that was razor close, it was St. Thomas' Taylor Canfield who won the Men's Division. "I've done a fair amount of match racing this past year and this win is an incentive for me to keep going," says 19-year-old Canfield, currently ranked 152 in ISAF's Open Match Race Rankings for October 29, 2008 and who would eventually like to compete in the ultimate match race, the America's Cup.

Texas native, Genny Tulloch, and her crew beat Californian and former Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Liz Baylis, for the Women's Division title. "In many match races you're just concentrating on your opponent. At this event, we also had to focus on the constantly shifting winds which made it really challenging and fun."

This event honored the memory of Carlos Aguilar, and avid sailor and match racer, who was gunned down last year following a robbery at his home.

"Carlos loved match racing and he loved a good party," says Pat Bailey, a St. Thomas-based International Sailing Judge at the awards ceremony at Yacht Haven Grande. "He would have loved to be here."

RESULTS

Men's Open
1. Taylor Canfield, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
2. William Bailey, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
3. Alec Anderson, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
4. Chris Haycraft, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
5. Peter Stanton, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
6. Fraito Lugo, Puerto Rico
7. Chris Curreri, St. Thomas/El Salvador
8. Frits Bus, St. Maarten

Women's Division
1. Genny Tulloch, California
2. Liz Baylis, California
3. Anna Tunnicliffe, Florida
4. Lee Icyda, Rhode Island/St. Thomas
5. Sandy Hayes, Massachusetts
6. Louise Bienvenue, New Orleans

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Shifty wind conditions saw several lead changes throughout the Women's Division racing in the morning, followed by Men's Open Division competition in the afternoon at the second day of racing in the Carlos Aguilar Match Race Championship. The completion of the second round-robin saw the leader board change, with St. Thomas' 16-year-old William Bailey skippering the winning team for the Men, with California's Genny Tulloch helming the winning Women's team. The top four teams in each division will sail off tomorrow to determine the overall winners.

At the completion of Round Robin 2, the results are:

Men's Open
1. William Bailey, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (12 wins)
2. Taylor Canfield, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (12 wins)
3. Alec Anderson, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (8 wins)
4. Chris Haycraft, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (8 wins)
5. Peter Stanton, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (7 wins)
6. Fraito Lugo, Puerto Rico (3.5 wins)
7. Chris Curreri, St. Thomas/El Salvador (3 wins)
8. Frits Bus, St. Maarten (2 wins)

Women's Division
1. Genny Tulloch, California (8 wins)
2. Anna Tunnicliffe, Florida (8 wins)
3. Liz Baylis, California (6 wins)
4. Lee Icyda, Rhode Island/St. Thomas (4 wins)
5. Sandy Hayes, Massachusetts (4 wins)
6. Louise Bienvenue, New Orleans (-1 wins)