HARDESTY WINS DOUBLE-HEADER IN CMRC SEPTEMBER "A" AND "B" REGATTAS
9/20/2009

Latest win decided in the last match in an exciting 3-2 Final series

CHICAGO, September 20, 2009 – San Diego-based Bill Hardesty and his team of Dave Gerber, Matt Cassidy, and Jen Wilson were on fire from Thursday through this weekend, winning both Chicago Match Race Center’s September "A" and "B" regattas. Wins in both have earned him valuable points on the World Match Race Ranking List commensurate to an ISAF Grade 3 event.

Unlike the "A" regatta where Hardesty went undefeated, the outcome of the "B" regatta came down to the last run of the last race of the first-to-three point Final. Hardesty claims this was the best match he and his team had in the entire two-event long weekend. “I would have to say the best was winning in the 5th match [in the Final] against Nate: rounding behind him, the luffing duels and being able to pull it off in the end.”

The first-to-two point Petite Final even went to its limit, with Alan Field finally prevailing over Don Wilson in their third and final match.

America’s Cup veteran Geordie Shaver, on hand to provide live commentary for the events, described the action as "Full smack-down sailing: ducking, dodging, dialing, kites in the water, and the like. It was some of the most exciting racing I’ve seen, even in the Round Robin."

Yesterday's favorable conditions and nimble race management allowed for a first-to-three point Semi-Finals and a round-robin Consolation stage to determine 5th through 10th places, which meant everyone – sailing teams, race managers, and umpires – was kept very busy. All were exhausted from the ambitious format and the breezy, shifty, and lumpy seas of the race area, but satisfied with the event, the boats, the organization, and the opportunity to do some competitive Open match race sailing.

"It’s been a long week, but a lot of fun," said Hardesty, who is also the Director of the CMRC. "The emphasis we’ve focused on here has not been on organizing fancy trophies and parties, but on running as many races as possible to give the best value to all the participants. I think we sailed 24 flights and that must be a record for any two-day regatta."

Like Hardesty, Hans Pusch, Alan Field, Kristen Lane, and Chris Nesbitt, CMRC founder Don Wilson competed for four days in both the "A" and "B" regattas, and is also satisfied with the outcome of this last event of the season.

"I would like to thank everyone who makes this happen," said Wilson at the prize giving. "As many know it’s our first season in operation and this just illustrates how well run a match race series can be. Bill Hardesty really deserves the credit for taking the best things on the World Match Race Tour and making them a reality here in Chicago."

Final results, September "B" Regatta:

1 Bill Hardesty, San Diego, CA

2 Nathan Hollerbach, Chicago, IL

3 Alan Field, Los Angeles, CA

4 Don Wilson, Chicago, IL

5 Chris Nesbitt, Corona del Mar, CA

6 Steve Lowery, Chicago, IL

7 Mike Buckley, Chicago, IL

8 Mark Kroening, Newport, RI

9 Hans Pusch, Chicago, IL

10 Kristen Lane, Tiburon, CA

About CMRC
CMRC is the only center of its kind in the US founded to promote and grow the sport of match race sailing. Besides being used in the America’s Cup, match race sailing has recently also been adapted as a Women’s discipline in the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of its mission, CMRC has ordered for delivery next year 4 Elliott 6M class yachts, the type that will be used in the Games, and will use them to train and race teams with Olympic aspirations.

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