Terry McLaughlin and crew win the York Cup Match Race

by Katie Nicoll on 13 Aug 2012 The York Cup Match Race has been running since 1989 at the RCYC.

Starting out in C&C 34s, then J/24s, and J/105s, this race is now held in the club owned fleet of 6 identical Sonars, which are ideal boats for match racing.

This year was again a hotly contested event, with 9 teams from the USA, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands which included competitors Landon Gardner (RCYC), Terry McLaughlin (RCYC), David Niemann (USA), Jennifer Provan (RCYC), Colin Rathbun (British Virgin Islands), Magnus Sandberg (NYC), Doug Shannon (Oakcliff Sailing Centre), David Storrs (USA), and Peter Wickwire (RCYC, RNSYS).

Race Officer Mike Milner, was able to run 46 races over the course of two days, which included a full round robin, semi-finals and finals on the waters of Toronto Harbour.

Saturday saw numerous storms come and go throughout the day and wind gusts up to 20 knots.

Sunday was much lighter but very shifty, causing some very large gains and losses for the competitors. In the end, Terry McLaughlin’s team rose to the top and came away with his eighth win of the coveted York Cup.

Terry McLaughlin won a Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics and the World Championships in 1980 in the Flying Dutchman class. He skippered Canada I to a semi-final birth in the 1983 America’s Cup Trials and helmed the Farr 40 Defiant to victory in the 2001 and 2003 Canada’s Cup. He is a seven time winner of the York Cup, a two time Intercollegiate All-American and a former Laser Canadian, J24 Canadian and J105 North American champion. In 2001 Terry was honoured by the CYA as Rolex Sailor of the Year.

Final Results of Semi-finals and Finals:

1 Terry McLaughlin
2 Peter Wickwire
3 Colin Rathbun
4 Jennifer Provan