US Sailing postpones U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship
July 2, 2020
The 2020 racing calendar continues to be cleared, even as cities, counties and states try to re-open after Shelter in Place orders.
BRISTOL, Rhode Island—We are more than three months into the Covid-19 pandemic and US Sailing continues to cancel or postpone racing events like a bad virus clearing out everything on your computer. The latest event to not be held in 2020 because of Coronavirus: the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship.
US Sailing announced the postponement of the U.S. Women’s Match Racing on June 11. The race was originally scheduled to take place Aug. 21-23; US Sailing, in conjunction with host San Diego Yacht Club, will now host the race in 2021.
The new dates: Aug. 19-22, 2021.
“This is a frustrating time for all of us, and we are doing our best to get back out on the water safely and in accordance with the local restrictions due to COVID-19,” Event Chair, Jeff Johnson, of the San Diego Yacht Club, said. “Still, after considering many options for a national competition, planning an event that followed those local guidelines and being considerate of the sensitivities of competitors and officials, San Diego Yacht Club, in conjunction with US Sailing have decided to cancel the 2020 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship.”
The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship was founded in 1974 for fleet racing; the format was changed to match racing in 2000. The first-ever U.S Women’s Match Racing Championship was held in November 2002; Southern Yacht Club hosted the race in New Orleans.
The race’s winner is awarded the Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy, which honors four-time U.S. Women’s Match Championship winner and former race committee chair “Leggy” Mertz.
The runner-up winner is awarded the Adams Memorial Trophy, named after Mrs. Henry (Adams) Morgan.
Long Beach’s Allie Blecher won the 17th U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship in 2019.
