USSTAG Qualifier Clinic and Regatta

Four top US women match racers will sail in Sheboygan this May to face off in the second installment of the 2011 US SAILING Team AlphaGraphics Women's Match Race Qualifying series.

The winning skipper of this event has the option to sail at these upcoming events:

1. Sail for Gold, GBR - June 5-11, 2011
2. Kiel Week, GER - June 18-22, 2011
3. Open Europeans, FIN - June 30-July 17, 2011
4. 2011 Test Event, GBR - August 1-14, 2011
5. Sail Melbourne, AUS - November 6-12, 2011

Any USA spots that are not used at these events by the winning skipper will rotate back and forth between the second and third place skippers.

These qualifying events determine not only rankings for who represents the US at future events, but also rankings within the US team. Currently, Wisconsin native, Sally Barkow has a 1-point lead over 2008 Olympic Gold winner, Anna Tunnicliffe in the ISAF Sailing World Cup standings in Women's Match Racing. The US holds the top two positions with Barkow and Tunnicliffe in 1st and 2nd positions. US sailor, Genny Tulloch is also in the top twenty holding 18th position.

Daily Summary

Day 1

The first day of the USSTAG Qualifier started with morning fog. Racing began at noon and the fog held off long enough for the race committee to complete the first round robin.

Day 2

The morning fog burned off around noon and excellent racing began at 1:00. The petifinals and finals are planned for tomorrow.

Day 3

Congratulations to Sally Barkow, Alana O'Reilly and Elizabeth Kratzig-Burnham, USSTAG May Qualifier winners. Team Barkow's come-from-behind win over Team Tunnicliffe capped a very exciting day of racing in 28-30 knots of wind.

Final Results

1^st Sally Barkow
2^nd Anna Tunnicliffe
3^rd Genny Tulloch
4^th Becca Dellenbaugh