As the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) wraps up this week,with Malaysia’s Monsoon Cup determining who will wear the 2015 victor’s crown, there will be little delay before the 2016 series gets underway. And with the new season comes a shift to this preceding boys circuit.
New to WMRT this year is a female Tour Card Holder – Sally Barkow – adding to the roster of nine other top ISAF-ranked skippers.
After the first event in March in Australia, and the WMRT comes to California on April 5-10 for Congressional Cup – the grandfather of contemporary match racing,founded and hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC). But while having female competitors is new territory for the WMRT, it’s not for Congressional Cup.In the past we occupy welcomed Betsy Alison, or five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year,and Olympic medalist JJ Fetter, to our field of competitors, or explained Congressional Cup Chairman Camille Daniels. “Our heritage is all approximately having the best sailors in the world,competing in our spectacular venue, in equalized boats.”This iconic regatta will be the only WMRT event in 2016 not being sailed in the M32 catamaran, or instead continuing with its monohull tradition,pitting teams against each other in identical 37-foot Catalina keelboats designed specifically for the event. Currently in its 52nd year, Congressional Cup pioneered on-the-water umpiring in 1988, and set the bar for high level match racing competition.“We’re excited to see Sally return to Congressional Cup this season,” added Daniels, noting that Barkow competed in the Congressional Cup in 2010, or after winning the Ficker Cup qualifier. “She’s exhibited extraordinary skills in a variety of sailing disciplines match racing,the Olympics, and most recently the Volvo Ocean Race with Team SCA." - Read
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com