Winter match racing

RYA announce this years JPMorgan Asset Management Challenge weekends

Following the outstanding success of the 2004/2005 JPMorgan Fleming Winter Challenge Match Racing Series the RYA and JPMorgan are pleased to announce they will be running another series this winter consisting of both JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Weekends and Development Squad Weekends.

“The Winter Challenge Series is one of the few match racing events held during the winter months and therefore attracts some hot talent,” Dave Atkinson, RYA Racing Services Manager explained. “It’s great to be working with JPMorgan Asset Management to put on such a top level event.”

Held at Queen Mary Sailing Club near Staines, in the RYA J80’s, the weekends are open to the top 50 ISAF Ranked Match Racers and are expected to attract top Match Racing talent from around the world who will knuckle down to compete for slots in the three-day Final, held on 10-12 March 2006.

The Winter Challenge Weekends will be open to nine teams, four of which may be foreign. Each weekend will consist of a round robin, semi-finals and final, weather permitting.

Two Development Squad Weekends open to the top 20 British ISAF ranked Match Racers will also be held in conjunction with the Winter Challenge. The winners on each of the Development Squad Weekends will earn a place in one of the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Weekends.

David Campbell James, Winter Match Racing Coordinator, enthused about the upcoming series: “We have four America's Cup teams who have expressed interest with two of those teams confirming their entry already. I believe this year will be another excellent series and look forward to it all getting started in November.”

JPMorgan Winter Challenge Dates
Qualifier 1 19-20 November 2005
Qualifier 2 3-4 December 2005
Qualifier 3 17-18 December 2005
Qualifier 4 14-15 January 2006
Qualifier 5 28-29 January 2006
Qualifier 6 18-19 February 2006

Development Squad Dates
Weekend 1 26-27 November 2005
Weekend 2 4-5 February 2006

JPMorgan Winter Challenge – Women’s
25-26 February 2006

JPMorgan Winter Challenge Final
10-12 March 2006

For further race information and entry forms please contact:
David Campbell James, Winter Match Racing Coordinator:
Email campbelljames@btinternet.com
Telephone 01243 641175
Mobile 07714 872008