The US SAILING Center Sheboygan will host the Grand Final of the sixth edition of the ISAF Nations Cup. Competition will be held on Lake Michigan in the Sonar (with a crew of three) for the men's event and the Elliott 6m (with a crew of three) for the women's event.

Sheboygan, situated on the western shoreline of Lake Michigan, 150 mile north of Chicago, is the second US venue to host the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final, following on from San Francisco in 1995. Previous Grand Finals have been held in Porto Alegre, Brazil (2009); Crosshaven, Ireland (2006); Hoorn, The Netherlands (1993); and Barcelona, Spain (1991). The selection of Sheboygan as the Grand Final venue it another major boost for match racing in the USA, with the country also hosting the 2010 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship at the world-famous New York Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island from 20-25 September.

Match Racing In Sheboygan

Since the formation of Sail Sheboygan in 2004, Sheboygan has rapidly become a key centre for match racing in the USA. It has hosted the Lake Michigan Match Racing Championships for the past three years and in 2008 became a US Sailing certified center for the advancement and promotion of training in the sport of sailing. Since then the US SAILING Center Sheboygan hosted the first Buddy Melges Challenge, an ISAF Grade 2 women's match racing event, in 2009 and this year Sheboygan will also host the US Women's Match Racing Championship. With its fleet of Elliott 6m keelboats, the equipment selected for the Women's Match Racing event making its debut at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the US SAILING Center Sheboygan has become a popular based for members of the U.S. Sailing Team Alphagraphics (USSTAG) preparing their Olympic campaigns and this January hosted the USSTAG qualifier for the ISAF Sailing World Cup squad.

Sailing Conditions

Conditions on Lake Michigan during September are ideal for match racing, with steady breezes and warm weather. The cool water temperatures of Lake Michigan and the warm September days make for reliable and predictable thermal breezes with average wind speeds in the 5-17 knot range with temperatures around 24°C.