Melges 24 Gold Cup Regatta at Chicago Yacht Club preview

by Joy Dunigan on 21 Jun 2013 The 2013 Melges 24 Gold Cup, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club, takes place June 21-23 with a healthy twenty-plus teams registered to compete. Four countries are represented including Bermuda, Canada, Jamaica and the United States. Within the American fold are teams representing nine states that include California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.

Some of the fleets biggest and brightest star-studded teams are in attendance. Newly crowned (as of April 2013) Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Alec Cutler aboard Hedgehog, 2013 Bayview One Design Regatta winner and reigning Gold Cup Champ Bora Gulari on New England Ropes/West Marine Rigging, former North American Champion Argyle Campbell (2004) on Rock n' Roll and 2010 National Champ Alan Field on WTF are in Chicago to further prepare and fine tune their programs for the forthcoming Sperry Top-Sider World Championship taking place in San Francisco, CA on September 30 - October fifth.

The local favorites consist of Don Wilson on Convexity, Shane Vowels on I'm With Stupid and USMCA Midwest District Governor August Hernandez on High Voltage.

The USMCA would like to welcome Conor Clark on Embarr back to the competitive Melges 24 arena after a short hiatus. The US Fleet is excited to welcome new riders and soon to be runners Robert Hughes on Heartbreaker, Jimmy Frisinger on USA-13 and Michael Hessler on Mojo.

In advance, the USMCA wishes to thank the fabulous Cate Muller, owner and lady-driver of Das Kleine Boot for her big efforts to make the Melges 24 Gold Cup in Chicago the best ever!

Registration, weigh-in and sail inspection draws to a close on Thursday in preparation for three amazing days of racing in one of America's greatest cities. Last minute registration and weigh-in takes place on Friday morning with the first warning signal firing off at 11.30. Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday with a grand awards presentation later that afternoon.

There are two incredible main social events taking place at the Gold Cup. On Friday evening, the Chicago Match Race Center will be graciously hosting the fleet at the north end of Belmont Harbor. On Saturday afternoon, apres racing, a big barbecue happens at Belmont on the patio.

Full Entry List

1.) Uri Saks, CAN-723
2.) Donald Wilson, Convexity
3.) Cate Muller, Das Kleine Boot
4.) Conor Clarke, Embarr
5.) Curtis Jazwiecki, Gnarly Ruca
6.) Ryan Glaze, Gringo
7.) Robert Hughes, Heartbreaker
8.) Alec Cutler, Hedgehog
9.) August Hernandez, High Voltage
10.) Frank Davenport, Hocus Pocus
11.) Paul Hulsey, Hoodlum Racing
12.) Rob Britts, Hot Mess
13.) Shane Vowels, I'm With Stupid
14.) Roger Counihan, Just Add Water
15.) Michael Hessler, Mojo
16.) Bora Gulari, New England Ropes/West Marine Rigging
17.) Jimmy Frisinger, USA-13
18.) Argyle Campbell, Rock n' Roll
19.) Dan Brezin, Surprise
20.) Steven Boho, The 300
21.) Ken Grey, The Djinn
22.) Ian Schillebeeckx, Vollebak
23.) Alan Field, WTF