Canada take three of top four spots - 2012 Great Lakes Challenge Cup

by Katie Nicoll on 18 Jun 2012 The Great Lakes International Challenge Cup and Stolze Cup were held at the Rochester Yacht Club on June 15-17, 2012. Competitors from four countries vied for the coveted cup over varied wind conditions and some good current at the mouth of the Genesee River.

An Advanced Match Racing Clinic and Umpires Seminar were held prior to the event. Bruce Cook ran the umpires seminar and Dave Perry, the Match Racing seminar. Unfortunately, Dave Perry was not to have the winnings out on the race course on the final day (though he certainly did have the attention of many competitors every day at the bar after the debrief by the umpires!)

Day one, with good shifty winds, presented challenges for some competitors, but allowed the race committee to run 45 races. As they always say, the creme came to the top seeing Dave Perry in first with seven points, Terry McLaughlin in second with seven points, Peter Wickwire in third with six points, and Lance Fraser in fourth with 6 points.

Day 2 proved to be very challenging for the PRO Steve Wilde with 180 degree wind shifts and breeze under five knots. They were only able to get two flights off and ended racing for the day at just after 3 p.m.

Day 3 was a sailor's perfect day, with steady winds of 10-15 knots. The Race Committee got right to work and managed to run eight full flights (32 races), which saw the lead change and a new sailor jump into the top four positions.

Congratulations to Terry McLaughlin for winning both the 2012 Great Lakes International Challenge Cup and the 2012 Stolze Cup (top LYRA winner).

Many thanks go out to the volunteers and chief Match race organizer, Rick (Doc) Sullivan who was a pure magician finding boats, sails, sponsors, umpires, housing, and sailors for this event. Well done, Doc!

Position points Sailor country
1 9 Terry McLaughlin Canada
2 8 Dave Perry USA
3 8 Peter Wickwire Canada
4 7 Magnus Sandberg Sweden/Canada
5 7 Jason Carminatti USA
6 6 Fraser Lance Bermuda
7 4 Landon Gardner Canada
8 3 Dave Niemann USA
9 3 Doug Shannon USA
10 1 Louise Bienvenu USA