Kiwi team win Knickerbocker Cup

Laurie Jury's team claims historic match racing event

Laurie Jury, Zoke Kiwimatch (NZL), with crew Logan Fraser, Michael Edmonds, Jarl Brothwick and Matthew Stevens has won the 2011 Knickerbocker Cup. Sally Barkow, Team 7 Match Race (USA) was second, followed by Nicolai Sehested, TRE-FOR Match Racing (DEN).

Due to light wind on both days and lightening storms interrupting racing on Thursday, the regatta ended before the completion of the round robin, forcing the results to be calculated on a percentage basis. For his efforts, Jury and his team will have his name permanently affixed to the Knickerbocker Cup along with other match racers such as Dave Perry (USA), Ed Baird (USA), Terry McLaughlin (CAN), Paul Cayard, USA, Peter Gilmour, (AUS), Russell Coutts, (NZL), and the newer hot match racers Reuben Corbett NZL) and Phil Robertson (NZL). They also receive an automatic entry into the Argo Bermuda Gold Group Cup at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton, Bermuda in early October.

Racing at the Knickerbocker Cup is by invitation only, but Mother Nature must have missed that email and sent Irene to leave her calling card. By end of day Friday, the local Office of Emergency Management had closed to bay to all activity and began evacuating residents with homes on the perimeter of the bay. The officials in New York City announced plans to shut down airports, subway and bridges by 2:00 pm on Saturday. Manhasset Bay YC, the Organizing Authority, pulled the plug on racing Friday night and held the Awards Ceremony immediately after scores were made available.

Race Committee tried valiantly to catch some wind on Manhasset Bay on Thursday; but with light wind, then a 2-hour thunder and lightening storm delay, they were lucky to have completed the first 11 flights. Everyone had high hopes for finishing the 22-flight round robin, but again the wind was light, and shifting all over the bay. Those who were able to catch the win were rewarded with crossing the finish line first. Lucky for us, this year the Knickerbocker Cup had the Swedish Match 40’s with their huge mains that helped in the light wind.

Though it was unfortunate that all competitors didn’t get a chance to have a go at all eleven team, such is the nature of sailing. At the end of the day, it was Laurie Jury who played the wind shifts and had a stellar performance. He is one of the four teams who will move onto Oakcliff to compete for the Grand Slam Series. At this point, he is in the lead with two second-lace wins in Chicago and Detroit. With his win here at the Knickerbocker Cup, it will be interesting to see what the other three teams – Nicolai Sehested, William Tiller and Taylor Canfield have in store for Jury. Whoever takes the prize, they will be rewarded with an automatic entry into the 2012 Congressional Cup out in Long Beach, CA.

Special thanks to Dawn Riley, Executive Director, Oakcliff Sailing Center, for loaning their Swedish Match 40s to the Knickerbocker Cup.

2011 Knickerbocker Cup Final Scores

1. Laurie Jury - NZL
2. Sally Barkow - USA
3. Nicolai Sehested - DEN
4. William Tiller - NZL
5. Shawn Bennett - USA
6. Taylor Canfield - ISV
7. Jon Singsen - USA
8. Reuben Corbett - NZL
9. Olli-Pekka Lumjarvi - FIN
10. Robbie Allam - GBR
11. Jordan Reece - AUS
12. Bruce Stone - USA