Sheboygan, Wis., (September 13, 2009) -- New Zealand’s Samantha
Osborne today bested Canada’s Jen Provan in a thrilling five-race
final that came down to the last leg of the series to win the
inaugural Buddy Melges Challenge hosted by the US Sailing Center
Sheboygan.
Provan finished the round robin with 8 points, tied with Peru’s
Tania Zimmerman, who was seeded first going into the semifinal
knockout series because she had beaten Provan in the round robin.
Zimmerman faced Osborne in the semifinal knockout series, with
Osborne winning both races to advance to the final. Likewise, Provan,
who faced the other New Zealand team, led by Stephanie Hazard, won
both semifinal knockout races to head to the best-of-five final
Racing was close in the final, with both Provan and Osborne being
aggressive in the pre-starts. Osborne won the first race and in Race
2, Provan came back strong, but was assessed a penalty in the pre-
start. However Osborne was over early at the start and Provan took
advantage of the lead to immediately do her penalty turn, but hit the
start mark in the process, clearing her initial penalty but copping
another penalty for having contact with the mark. She wasn’t able to
get a big enough lead on Osborne to complete the second penalty turn
and finish ahead, putting Osborne up 2-0. Provan beat Osborne in Race
3, and in Race 4 passed Osborne halfway down the final leg to tie the
series and set up an exciting final race in which Osborne passed
Provan on the final leg to win the regatta.
In the petit-final series, Hazard won the first and third races to
beat Zimmerman for third place in the regatta.
The consolation round saw two American teams battle it out for fifth
place and honors as the best-finishing American entry in the regatta.
California’s Sandy Hayes faced off against Cleveland, Ohio’s Maegan
Ruhlman. Ruhlman was over early in the first race, forcing her to
take the less favored side of the course. In Race 2, Ruhlman was
again over early, but this time managed to consolidate with Hayes and
gain a penalty on her at the leeward mark, to win the race and set up
a tie-breaker race. Hayes came out on top again to secure fifth place.
The Buddy Melges Challenge, the first race in Olympic class Elliott
6m’s outside of Europe, was plagued with light air. However, Sunday’s
fresh west wind allowed Principal Race Officer Rich Reichelsdorfer to
finish the round robin before moving the course out to a steady sea
7- to 8-knot southeast sea breeze for the rest of the day.
Results:
1. Samantha Osborne, Jenna Hansen, Raynor Smeal (NZL)
2. Jen Provan, Martha Henderson, Katie Abbott (CAN)
3. Stephanie Hazard, Susannah Pyatt, Mirand Powrie (NZL)
4. Tania Zimmerman, Natalie Zimmerman, Cristina Arribes Harten (PER)
5. Sandy Hayes, Cindy Olsen, Sue Reilly (USA)
6. Maegan Ruhlman, Emily Pulos, Erin Schanen (USA)
7. Linur Kliger, Limor Leshem, Yael Peled (ISR)
8. Liz Hjorth, Karyn Jones, Stine Cacavas (USA)
9. Kristen Lane, Jackie Schmitz, Carla Murphy (USA)
10. Anne Marie Shewfelt, Denise Cornell, Kim Orlebeke (CAN)
For more information, go to
www.ussailingcentersheboygan.org.
Photos are available free for editorial use only and are copyright
Walter Cooper. For high resolution photos, please send e-mail to
executivedirector@ussailingcentersheboygan.org.