Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 3

Allie Blecher wins U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship

by US Sailing 21 Aug 2022 19:47 PDT August 19-21, 2022
Katja Sertl, Beka Schiff, Ali Blumental, and Allie Blecher, winners of the 2022 U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship © US Sailing / Amalia Infante

Allie Blecher and her team from California Yacht Club claimed their second U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship this weekend, besting last year's runner-up Janel Zarkowsky and her team from Scuttlebutt Sailing Club / Storm Trysail in the finals 3-0.

Top three teams:

  1. Team BAAM: Allie Blecher, Katja Sertl, Beka Schiff, and Ali Blumenthal
  2. As One: Janel Zarkowsky, Rose Edwards, Annabelle Ayer, and Eva Fortunato
  3. Vela Racing: Nicole Breault, Karen Loutzenheiser, Julie Mitchell, and Hailey Thompson
As Blecher has already won her berth to the 2022 Women's World Match Racing Championships this November in Auckland, New Zealand, Zarkowsky will receive an invite for her second-place finish.

Event reigning champion Nicole Breault of St. Francics Yacht Club bested last year's third place finisher Bridget Groble and the Bow Down racing team in the Petit Finals, taking third overall. Breault will be joining Blecher at the 2022 Women's World Match Racing Championships, having qualified because of her World Sailing ranking.

"For us it's always about communication, staying heads out of the boat and connecting the dots," said winning skipper Allie Blecher. "It was a tricky event - sometimes you had to leave your guy to head for pressure, and it would be well worth it."

After three days of light mornings, shifting to a Long Island Sound sea breeze in the afternoons, race committee was able to race a round robin, consolation round robin, semifinals, and finals for a total of 70 races. From match racing rookies to seasoned veterans, a multitude of sailors were in attendance with a large focus on learning and uplifting female sailors.

"My favorite thing about the women's match racing series is that everyone is really willing to work together to get better," said Ali Blumenthal, a member of winning Team BAAM. "There's no 'every man for themselves' out on the water or on land, so it is a wonderful opportunity for women of any ability to get into match racing because everyone wants to share information and make the fleet better."

US Sailing would like to thank the umpires, race officials, race committee and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club for their tireless work on this event. Events like this would not be possible without the strong support from clubs and volunteers.

US Sailing would also like to thank National Sponsors Gill Marine, and Regatta Craft Mixers and local sponsor TUCK Gin for their support of the event. Gill Marine provided personalized changing robes to all competitors, while Regatta Craft Mixers and TUCK Gin provided complimentary signature drinks after racing.

Full results available here.

Related Articles

GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D4
High stakes for semi-finalists as the final four teams in each division are locked in The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final match-ups in both the Open and Women's class, locking in the final four teams in each division for Friday's semi-finals. Posted on 3 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D2
A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task on the second day of racing at the GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand, Sweden. Posted on 1 Jul
RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships 2025
Nine teams duelled for supremacy in glamour conditions at the WPNSA The 2025 RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships saw nine teams duelling for supremacy in glamour conditions at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Posted on 1 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D1
Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day of the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, official championship stages of the World Match Racing Tour and Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted on 1 Jul
Aspen renews sponsorship for Women's Match Race
As title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and World Match Racing Tour has announced the return of leading speciality insurer and re-insurer ASPEN as title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta to be held from 21-26 October. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA overall
A tense light-air final on the Severn River USA's women's match racing team Team Baam skippered by Allie Blecher from California won the 2025 Santa Maria Cup today, defeating Vela Racing team skippered by Nicole Breault 3-0 in a tense light-air final on the Severn River. Posted on 8 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 3
Nicole Breault and Allie Blecher to meet in the final USA's Nicole Breault / Vela Racing and Allie Blecher / Team Baam have both advanced to the final of the Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, the second stage of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour championship. Posted on 7 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted on 6 Jun
CYCA and RFBYC announce partnership
To host Australia's premier match racing events The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are pleased to announce a joint partnership between the two Clubs to host Australia's premier match racing events in January each year. Posted on 5 Jun
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTER