2014 Chicago Match Cup - Canfield Conquers

Taylor Canfield (ISV) and team US One win Chicago Match Cup Ian Roman / WMRT

Hayden Goodrick Team US One Chicago Match Cup 2014 © Ian Roman / WMRT

Canfield started strong in the 15-20+ knot northerly breeze that puffed and shifted all day, dominating all matches in the first-to-three point Semi-Finals against Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team and amassing a convincing winning score of three - zero. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar looked like he would do the same by winning his first two matches against Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets, but then the French team took the third match to bring the score to two - one. However, in Match four Williams once again took control early and kept control to earn his berth in the Finals three - one.

The momentum Williams had gained in that last match seemed it would carry through to the Finals where he owned the start and took the early lead in the first match. But on the last half of the last run to the finish, Canfield closed the gap and then achieved an overlap and control of Williams, who managed to stay clear in hard spinnaker luff from Canfield. Williams then managed to build enough separation to gybe back to starboard at Canfield, luff him hard, and force a penalty on him for not keeping clear. One last gybe back by Canfield on the finish line only earned him another penalty, thus ceding the win to Williams. Score: Williams one - zero.

Williams and Canfield tangle in Finals luffing match © Ian Roman / WMRT

The second match saw Williams back in control in the pre-start, not only pushing Canfield over the line early at the start, but forcing on him a red flag penalty for not keeping clear. After taking his obligatory turn, Canfield was left to follow Williams around the first lap, especially after a right shift on the first run made that leg a parade. But being clever with the wind shifts on the last beat put Canfield close, and then into a lead that he managed to defend to make the score even at one - one.

In Petit Final action, Richard led in nearly every turn of both matches against Hansen to win this series for third place two - zero.

On water action atChicago Match Cup 2014 © Ian Roman / WMRT

In the third match of the Finals, Williams took the right side of the start and never let go control of this match, helped by a right shift that deprived Canfield of any passing opportunities. Williams's narrow lead on the last leg to the finish looked reasonably safe, until Canfield rode a puff to close the gap, overlapped Williams to leeward, and under Tour rules was allowed to luff. According to match umpires Bill Edgerton, Alfredo Ricci and Flavio Naveira, Williams did not keep clear, and was not in the two-length zone at the pin end of the finish, and therefore earned a penalty before crash gybing to try to get to the line before Canfield. Score: Canfield two - one.

Mathieu Richard shows winning effort in Petit Finals © Ian Roman / WMRT

In the last match, Canfield wanted and took the right and successfully defended this side to where Williams never had a chance to get ahead. Even in one dial-down defense on the first beat, Canfield simply extended his lead more. With the breeze dropping slightly, and the big puffs of earlier matches no longer available to enable the trailing boat any opportunity to catch the leaders, Canfield went on to sail comfortably into the finish and his successful defense of the Chicago Match Cup.

'It was fantastic to defend this event in front of all of our families and friends,' said an elated Canfield. 'And I really have to thank my team for an incredible performance this week in only losing two matches. In these conditions when you're behind never out of it, and this team is incredible: when we were behind they only pushed harder for us to win.'

Stunning backdrop for the finals of Chicago Match Cup 2014 © Ian Roman / WMRT

Overall results of Stage Four Chicago Match Cup, Alpari World Match Racing Tour:

1 Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One
2 Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets
4 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
5 Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team
6 Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing
7 Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing
8 Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX
9 Tom Slingsby (AUS) Team Tom Slingsby
10 Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Sailbox
11 Don Wilson (USA) Chicago Match Race Center
12 Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing

Semi-Finals:
• Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One, 3-0
• Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar, 3-1

Petit Finals:
• Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets, 2-0

Finals:
• Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One, 3-1

Quarter – Finals:

• Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets beat Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 3-1
• Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team beat Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 3-2
• Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar beat Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team 3-0
• Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One beat Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 3-0

Repechage:

1. Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 6-1
2. Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 5-2
3. Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 5-2
4. Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team 4-3
5. Tom Slingsby (AUS) Team Tom Slingsby 3-4
6. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Sailbox 2-5
7. Don Wilson (USA) Chicago Match Race Center 2-5
8. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing 1-6

Qualifying:

• Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One 10-1
• Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 9-2
• Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team 7-4
• Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 7-4
• Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 7-4
• Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 5-6
• Tom Slingsby (AUS) Team Tom Slingsby 4-7
• Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Team Trifork 4-7
• Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 4-7
• Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team 4-7
• Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Sailbox 3-8
• Don Wilson (USA) Chicago Match Race Center 2-9

2014 Leaderboard Standings after Stage Four:

1 Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 94pts
2 Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 74pts
3 Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone 73pts
4 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing 63pts
5 Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 52pts
6 Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 48pts
7 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa 20pts
8 David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour 20pts

Chicago Match Cup Results and Pairings:

Skipper/Team		RR Record	QF Record	5-8 Record	SF Record	PF Record	F Record	Overall	% Wins	Prize (USD)	Points
1 Taylor Canfield USone		10-1	3-0		3-0		3-1	19-2	90	18750.00	25.00
2 Ian Williams GAC Pindar		9-2	3-0		3-1		1-3	16-6	73	13500.00	22.00
3 Mathieu Richard LunaJets		12-6	3-1		1-3	2-0		18-10	64	9375.00	19.00
4 Björn Hansen Hansen Sailing Team		8-10	3-2		0-3	0-2		11-17	39	7500.00	16.00
5 Pierre Antoine Morvan Vannes Agglo Sailing Team		7-4	0-3					7-7	50	6375.00	14.00
6 Phil Robertson WAKA Racing		7-4	2-3					9-7	56	5625.00	12.00
7 Chris Steele 36 Below Racing		11-7	0-3					11-10	52	4875.00	10.00
8 Keith Swinton Team Alpari FX		9-9	1-3					10-12	45	4125.00	8.00
9 Tom Slingsby Team Tom Slingsby		7-11						7-11	39	2250.00	4.00
10 Eric Monnin Swiss Match Race Team		5-13						5-13	28	1500.00	2.00
11 Donald Wilson Chicago Match Race Center		4-14						4-14	22	1125.00
12 Joachim Aschenbrenner Aschenbrenner Racing Team		5-13						5-13	28