Eurex Match Cup 2011 Day 2 + Video

2:33 PM Sun 10 Jul 2011 GMT

'Eurex Match Cup 2011' CMRC - Chicago Match Race Center Click Here to view large photo

Eurex Match Cup 2011 is being held at Belmont Harbor, Chicago between 8th and 10th July.

A morning postponement for lack of breeze quickly segued into another day of near-perfect conditions in the second day of competition at the Chicago Match Race Center's Eurex Match Cup. The remaining three flights of the second Round Robin were completed this morning, followed by another four flights of the third Round Robin. If the remaining three flights of this round are completed tomorrow, this will mark a record number of round robins in CMRC's three-year history.

Still leading the pack of eight teams from four nations on 16 points, Taylor Canfield of the US Virgin Islands continued his winning ways, but is not assured of remaining on top to choose his opponent tomorrow with runner-up Steve Lowery lurking only two points back with three flights remaining.

In fact, this gap may close even more, since a re-sail has been ordered by the Jury due to an unclear course change signal made in Lowery's second Round Robin match against fourth-placed Jordan Reece from Australia, in which the two rounded different marks on their final lap. This match has important tie-break significance: if Lowery wins, he retains his runner-up position and closes to within only a point of Canfield. But if he loses, the young Australian takes this place as runner-up.

In fact, more of these complex tie-breaks may emerge among the top four in the standings, which also includes CMRC founder Don Wilson, before the order of the final four is determined.

And even though the remaining teams are mathematically eliminated from advancing to the next stage, they did not go down without a fight. One of the closest matches yet was in the topsy-turvy last flight of the day, where a dying breeze and monstrous 60-degree shifts made no lead safe. Lowery and his young rival Tyler Rice from the US Virgin Islands traded leads after a start that looked to be a push-over for Lowery in its first lap.

'We kept up the pressure on the run,' said Rice, 'and managed to just sneak inside him at the bottom mark and take the lead. Then we hit a set of waves and stopped, he leapt forward, then we took it back. I think we changed leads six times in the match, it was really great.'

Another interesting and unusual scenario occurred when Wilson's team realized they had rounded the wrong mark on the first beat, but only after seeing a course change at the bottom mark made to the mark they just rounded. So, weighing their options, they decided to round the final top mark and set a trap for rival Leo Vasiliev in the hope of drawing three penalties on them, thereby disqualifying them from the match.

Or so went the theory. Unfortunately they'd forgotten the rule preventing attacks made on rivals on other legs of the course, so the gambit failed and Vasiliev prevailed to win the match.

'We're training our team for the Canada's Cup and the Grade 1 in the fall, so we're trying out various scenarios,' said a grinning Wilson. 'It's all about the big picture.'

Match race action in the Eurex Match Cup continues tomorrow with the continuation of the second Round Robin at 9:00 AM. Live narration broadcast on the internet will be provided by commentators Dobbs Davis and Nathan Hollerbach.

Standings after 18 flights:

1. Taylor Canfield (ISV) 16 - 2
2. Steven Lowery (USA) 14 - 4
3. Jordan Reese (AUS) 13 - 5
4. Don Wilson (USA) 13 - 5
5. Tyler Rice (ISV) 8 - 10
6. Leo Vasiliev (USA) 4 - 14
7. Guy Mossman (USA) 3 - 15
8. Magnus Sandberg (CAN) 1 - 17

Official Partners of the CMRC include Eurex, CME Group, Newedge, City Inns family of hotels, and Line Honors is the Official Clothing Supplier to CMRC.

For more information on CMRC, visit the website or contact CMRC Program Director Tod Reynolds at tod@chicagomatchrace.com .