Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

Rolex Womens's Match 2008 - Hayes wins 3rd Title

by Media Pro Int'l on 16 Apr 2008
Sandy Hayes, Scituate, MA, Nancy Heffernan, Cindy Olsen, Verian Aguilar Rolex
Sandy Hayes (Scituate, Mass.) and her team won the 2008 Rolex Women's Match, hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.) from April 10-13. Sailing with Hayes were crew members Nancy Heffernan, Cindy Olsen and Verian Aguilar. A total of 10 teams competed in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 match-racing regatta, which was created in 2002 to improve opportunities for women sailors specifically interested in match racing. With the win, #25 world-ranked Hayes, along with second-place finisher Katy Lovell (New Orleans, La.), gained an automatic invitation into the Rolex Osprey Cup, an ISAF Grade 1 regatta, to be held October 21-25, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

'It was my 50th birthday on Friday, so it was a great way to celebrate,' said Hayes, who also won the 2006 and 2004 editions of Rolex Women's Match. 'Our tactician was Nancy Haberland Heffernan, who is absolutely fantastic and unbelievable to sail with. I haven't skippered since the Rolex Osprey Cup (last October); I've been spending more time working than anything else, and so it was great to get back out on the water. I was totally relaxed; whatever was going to happen happened.'


According to regatta co-chair Tom Farquhar (St. Petersburg), the outcome of the regatta was determined in the final match. After running 89 matches over four days, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club race committee set the final match on Sunday afternoon, with Hayes and Lovell the final pair. 'If Sandy won the final match, she would have had 17 points and won on the event. If Katy won, they would have been tied with 16 points each, and Katy would have won the tiebreaker.'

True to match racing form, whoever controlled the pre-start would have the advantage in the match. Hayes explained, 'Since we were the last match of the pairings, by the time it was our turn it had been about three minutes since the RC started. They set the (starting) line and then there was a big shift. We came in on port and crossed her (Lovell) on port. We were the last ones in (to the starting area) and the line was still set for the original course. We got the change of course and knew that the pin was favored.'

In match racing, the boat starting on port, or the left-hand side, starts by the 'pin' end of the starting line as opposed to the boat end.

'As we entered, we crossed each other and circled,' continued Hayes. 'She went to jibe and I jibed inside of her and since we were going for the pin, she tacked away. The race started and it was over, really. We had the lead.'

Hayes will take the confidence of this victory with here to Brazil where she competes later this week in the Brazil Women's Cup.

For the women who are new to match racing, such Corey Hall (St. Petersburg), the learning experience was notable. Hall sailed with a team of friends from her high school - Kelley Simpson, Mary Kate Hall and Mallory Willet - and finished eighth. 'They were thrilled,.' said regatta co-chair Pat Seidenspinner. 'The other (older) teams all offered them encouragement but didn't cut them any slack.'


Rachael Silverstein, a college sailor and frequent Rolex Women's Match competitor, sailed very consistently, winning seven matches in each round robin. 'She lost twice to Sandy and once each to Katy and Rosanna (Ramos), the three highest ranked teams in the event,' commented Farquhar. 'Corey won four matches, including her last two, sailing in her first match racing event.'

At the dinner Thursday evening at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, with all of the competitors, race committee, umpires and other invited guests present, event co-chairman Pat Seidenspinner paid tribute to Nucci Novi Ceppellini, an ISAF vice president who passed away earlier this year.

Seidenspinner reminded the group of the contributions Ceppellini had made to women's racing and to match racing in particular, while serving as an officer of ISAF. ISAF recently awarded its Beppe Croce Trophy posthumously to Ceppellini in recognition of her many contributions to the sport of sailing.

Final results - 2008 Rolex Women's Match April 10-13 at St. Petersburg Yacht Club St. Petersburg, Fla.
Finish, Skipper, Hometown, Crew
1. Sandy Hayes, Scituate, MA, Nancy Heffernan, Cindy Olsen, Verian Aguilar
2. Katy Lovell, New Orleans, LA, Alice Manard, Ann Graham, Kim Logan Gotchberg
3. Rachael Silverstein, St. Petersburg, FL, Jee Lee, Kristen Herman, Abby Ethington
4. Rossana Ramos, Brasilia, Brazil, Raquel Aymone, Sandra Branchine, Mariana Lacerda
5. JoAnn Fisher, Annapolis, MD, Lynda Hiller, Nicole Breault, Meaghan Ruhlman
6. Liz Hjorth, Marina del Rey, CA, Karyn Jones, Marylyn Hoenemeyer, Shala Lawrence
7. Louise Bienvenu, Metarie, LA, Lisa Luongo, Jen Millar, Ann David
8. Corey Hall, St. Petersburg, FL, Kelley Simpson, Mary Kate Hall, Mallory Willet
9. Sue McDowell, Bay Village, OH, Sue Michos, Bev Keeler, Debbie Gibbs
10. Lauren Knoles, East Lansing, MI, Sandy Svoboda, Laurie Muma, Krista Paxton

www.rolexwomensmatch.org.

Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Related Articles

Meet the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Commentary Team
Olympian Lisa Darmanin and Rolex Sydney Hobart Winner Jack Macartney to lead live broadcast The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to confirm Olympian Darmanin and 2022 & 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Macartney as the lead commentators for the live broadcast of the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Posted today at 6:46 pm
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90.
Posted today at 6:27 pm
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona summary
Yachts from over 10 countries and around 400 sailors competed off the coast of Barcelona Barcelona's prestigious regatta for Classic and Vintage yachts, the Puig Vela Clàssica, celebrated its 18th edition, further strengthening its position as one of the premier international events for classic sailing in the Mediterranean.
Posted today at 6:06 pm
SailGP - Fresh breezes predicted
Fresh breezes are forecast the first day of racing in SailGP and the Admirals Cup. With two days remaining to the start of racing in SailGP Portsmouth, the forecast is for fresh breezes on both racedays, which should make for exciting racing.
Posted today at 5:36 pm
Nominations open for World Sailing Awards 2025
Presentation to be held at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on 5th November Many of the sport's biggest names will be in attendance at the World Sailing Awards 2025, held on Wednesday 5 November at a gala ceremony at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.
Posted today at 4:12 pm
Mackay Bieker BM-V3 dominates at 2025 Moth Worlds
Innovation was on display at the just concluded Moth Worlds across nearly every area of the boat. The 2025 Moth World Championships in Lake Garda delivered thrilling racing across a wide range of conditions, featuring an elite lineup of Olympic champions, America's Cup helmsmen, SailGP stars, and the next group of up-and-coming youth.
Posted today at 3:07 pm
OK Dinghy World Ranking July 2025
Patric Mure is the new World No.1 Patric Mure has become only the 11th person to reach the top of the OK Dinghy World Ranking list as he takes over the No.1 spot from Australia's Roger Blasse, who drops to fourth. Britain's Andy Davis and Nick Craig move up to second and third.
Posted today at 2:07 pm
Double Podium For Team Allen
Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a Moth Worlds victory Representing Team Allen through its French distributor, XPO, Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a dominant victory at the 2025 International Moth World Championship.
Posted today at 11:00 am
New concept & programme for the Yacht Racing Forum
An updated concept designed to reflect our delegates' expectations This year, we will merge the conference on the Management and Business of the sport and the Design & Technology Symposium, enabling all participants to attend the entire event.
Posted today at 10:50 am
Blind Sailor's solo Round the Island Challenge
Dani A. Pich is aiming to navigate his Patí Català catamaran around the Isle of Wight next week A truly remarkable challenge is underway on the Solent, with blind sailor Dani A. Pich aiming to sail solo around the Isle of Wight in a catamaran dinghy that has no rudder, no centreboard, no boom and is steered by the use of balance and body weight.
Posted today at 9:06 am