Chicago Match Race Center - Fresh opportunities

by Stephanie Roble on 7 Feb 2013 The Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC), entering its fifth season of providing world class match race sailing to the Great Lakes area, is pleased to announce its 2013 schedule of events and a new entry fee policy that seeks to grow sustainable match race sailing around North America.

This year's list of event includes 6 ISAF Grade Three events, two at the Grade Two level, and one Grade WC event, the Chicago Match Cup, the only US stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). Entry to each event is by invitation, although teams can get to the Grade Two and the Grade WC event through a series of qualifiers, both at CMRC and other match race venues.

New for 2013 is an innovation in the CMRC entry process that will help ensure a turn-key experience for all teams invited to its events: entry fees will now vary according to the age and the budgets of the teams. This new system gives lower fees to teams whose skipper is under 28 years old (Level C), and higher fees to teams that have any paid professional crew on board for the event (Level A). All other teams are regarded as Level B.

Yet, rather than merely giving incentive for younger and more amateur teams to participate, this new scheme also gives more benefits to those with high entry fees. Level B teams, for example, receive pre-event boat charter options to train and practice, along with assistance in organizing accommodation while in Chicago, while Level A teams receive CMRC out-of-town membership privileges, a half-day of private TOM 28 coaching, custom CMRC team gear and photos, and two passes to the course-side VIP lounge at the AWMRT Chicago Match Cup.

Chicago Match Race Center Director Tod Reynolds comments, 'We analyzed a variety of approaches in order to strike the right balance between cost and value delivered. We feel this new model can work. The sailors will receive the same high quality in racing, equipment, and event management they've come to appreciate at CMRC, but are now provided some additional incentive to use this to their full advantage. We look forward to working with teams and tweaking the 'knobs' of the model as we receive feedback. We know that perhaps the greatest impact we can have on growing match racing globally is to find a new solution to event funding equation.'

May 18-19: Grade 3 - Spring Invitational
Prizes: invitation to 2013 Chicago Match Cup Qualifier; invitation to 2013 Richardson
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking - 10 teams total
Deadline to request: April 1, 2013

June 13-16: US Women's Match Race Championship
Prizes: invitation to US Open Match Race Championship
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking - 10 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: May 1, 2013, via US Sailing

June 28-30: Grade 2 - Chicago Match Cup Qualifier
Prizes: invitation to 2013 Alapri World Match Racing Tour Chicago Match Cup
Qualifiers: 2013 Ficker Cup (1); 2013 CMRC May Grade 3 Spring Invitational (1)
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking - 12 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: May 15, 2013

July 18-19: Grade 3 - Summer Invitational A
July 20-21: Grade 3 - Summer Invitational B
Prizes: invitation to 2013 Oakcliff International, 2013 CMRC August Grade 2 Grand Slam
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking- 10 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: June 1, 2013

August 6-11: Alpari World Match Racing Tour - Chicago Match Cup
Qualifiers: 2012 CMRC Grade 2 Grand Slam, 2013 CMRC Chicago Match Cup Qualifier
Invitations: eight via AWMRT; two invitations extended by CMRC - 12 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: June 15, 2013

August 16-18: Grade 2 - Grand Slam
Prizes: winner of 2013 Grand Slam Series earns entry to 2013 Congressional Cup
Qualifiers: 2013 Oakcliff Summer Invitational, June 8-9 , 2013 CMRC Summer invitational
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking - 12 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: July 1, 2013

September 26-27: Grade 3 - Autumn Invitational A
September 28-29: Grade 3 - Autumn Invitational B
Invitations: ten invitations allocated by resume and ranking- 10 teams total
Deadline to request invitation: August 15, 2013
Chicago Match Race Center