December 6, 2009 (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, ISV) – Peter Holmberg, Maurice Kurg, Morgan Avery and Ben Beer (ISV) resorted to decades of experience to defeat Taylor Canfield, Max Nickbarg, Tyler Rice and Chris Rosenberg (ISV) in an all US Virgin Islands final at the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race. Holmberg took Canfield down with two straight wins in the best of two finals in the Grade 3 Match Race in which junior sailors and locals went head to head against America’s Cup skippers and sailors who have reached the top of the match race standings in their careers.

As he stepped ashore in front of the grandstand on Waterfront Street in downtown Charlotte Amalie, Holmberg admitted that “age and wisdom” enabled his team to defeat youth and exuberance. Holmberg, who headed up the VI Challenge years ago and welcomed other America’s Cup skippers to match race in Charlotte Amalie Harbor in the Little America’s Cup was, “happy to see this event take hold. It started a little smaller, but has a great future. We have great sailors here in the islands and these international sailors will tell you that we have the best sailing venue in the world for this kind of event.”

The match-racing bug bit Peter Holmberg (ISV) so hard that he inspired many Caribbean sailors to follow him on his way to America’s Cup competition. Many of the volunteers who have sacrificed untold hours to make the Carlos Aguilar Match Race happen were also involved in Holmberg’s efforts to have an America’s Cup challenger originate from the Virgin Islands. The VI Challenge may not have come to fruition but a match-racing foothold did take root.

Holmberg, Maurice Kurg, Morgan Avery and Ben Beer, a team that he has been sailing with for 20 years, found themselves pitted against a younger generation during the finals of the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race. Holmberg and his team don’t feel old; they’re gratified that match racing is so strong in this chain of islands. They are also happy that Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA) and all of their friends, sponsors and partners have gone to such great lengths to host such a highly competitive international match-racing event.

Taylor Canfield (ISV) was not only the defending champion at the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race he was the youngest Open Division skipper. Two Antilles High School seniors, Max Nickbarg and Tyler Rice are crewing for him. Nickbarg and Rice were on Canfield’s team last year. Joining their team at last minute and bringing up the average age was Chris Rosenberg, who has sailed against Holmberg for over three decades in everything from Sunfish to keelboats.
The young team put it all together during this regatta dominating their matches throughout the double round robins and the semi-finals.

Canfield had never taken the helm against Holmberg in a championship final before although they had practiced match-racing starts against one another. “I’m not sure who wants to win more, me or Chris (Rosenberg),” said Canfield before heading out for the exciting Finals matches in which Holmberg was in a controlling position throughout both of the races.

Final and Petite-Final Results at the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race

1. Holmberg (ISV)
2. Canfield (ISV)
3. Gram-Hansen (DEN)
4. Rathbun (IBV)

Spectators watch the finals of the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar from the shore of Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Photo by Lynn Fitzpatrick