Oakcliff International Match Race Regatta
by Oakcliff Sailing 30 Aug 2022 01:27 BST
Dave Perry - Oakcliff International Match Race Regatta © Peter Taylor
Dave Perry won the Oakcliff International in an epic battle with Peter Holz right up against the time limit and the committee boat. He and his team come away with $2500 in Prize Grants and Hobie Sunglasses for all. Chris Poole rounded out the leaderboard besting Megan Thompson from New Zealand who was sailing with a mostly female crew, adding coach Ruben Corbett at the last minute.
Dave Perry commented that he was proud to see the American flag flying across the podium on this penultimate stop on the Grand Slam Tour but was also very was excited to see so many new new teams on the circuit pointing out that the only 4 races he lost before the finals were to really young teams. The real excitement was saved for the moment he crossed the finish line wiping off a penalty and winning the regatta in epic fashion all caught on video.
Dave Perry was sailing with a creative team made up of all skippers in their own right, Congo Cup expert, Steve Flam, America's top female match racer, Nicole Breault, up and coming skipper Cormac Murphy and World Champion Youth Match Race Champion Daniel Pegg.
Three of the four days offered champagne sailing for the 12 international teams racing onboard the 10 Oakcliff Match 40s. With Saturday being better suited for barbecues and swimming than sailing, the Race Committee banged out 45 races Sunday alone and Monday's dismal forecast was wrong in a good way, with shifty 8-12knots challenging all in the final four.
There is a one-day break before the Thompson Cup hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club begins. SCYC is also in Oyster Bay and will be using Oakcliff Sailing's Match40s and support teams.
T2PTV and Oakcliff Sailing provided Facebook Live Commentary and daily wrap up reports. That captured the spirit of the regatta which included a lot of racing, some swimming and plenty of BBQ's.
Full Results available here.