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After practice sessions at the regatta venue at Chicago YC's Belmont Station on Friday, Seahorse Magazine US Editor and noted match race sailor Dobbs DAVIS will give an overview on match race strategy and tactics at the club's Monroe Street clubhouse, starting at 1900 hours local time. Racing then starts the following morning at 1000 at Belmont and continues throughout the day, conditions permitting, and resumes at 0930 on Sunday until completion of the format. Prize giving ceremonies will follow racing on Sunday afternoon.

Coming to Chicago this year are several teams who bring a wealth of experience and success in match racing, along with a few who are accomplished at fleet racing but new to this game. Betsy ALISON (USA) will bring her talent which has seen her win two Yngling World Championships and numerous match race event titles. Currently she is number ten in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings. Former Soling World Champion and Olympian Bill ABBOTT (CAN) will have the experience of also having won three Richardson Cups, the traditional match race championship amongst clubs on the Great Lakes.

As both a skipper and tactician, Marie KLOK CRUMP (DEN) has competed in nearly every women's match race event in the world, and is an graduate of the highly-regarded Marselisborg Match Race Centre in her native Denmark.

Though he is currently living here in Chicago, Nathan HOLLERBACH (USA) has travelled extensively throughout the USA for the past ten years of his match race sailing, having won the Prince of Wales Bowl, the US National match racing title, in 2003, and most recently placed well in the Ficker Cup and Pacific Life Yacht Club Challenge. Justin HOOD (USA) is a two time Richardson Cup champion and has been a three time national champion in the MC Scow class.

The remainder of teams in the field are highly accomplished one-design fleet racers in search of their first title in match race sailing. Bruce MAHONEY (USA) has won the collegiate single-handed national championship, is campaigning a Melges 24 for this year's World Championship, and has a wealth of J/22 and J/80 experience. Justin DaMORE (USA) and his Team Apex brings considerable experience and success in the Melges 24, Mumm 30, and Farr 40 classes, as well as competition in past Prince of Wales and Pacific Life YC Challenge events. Finally, representing Chicago YC is Don WILSON (USA), whose runner-up performance in Charleston Race Week caps a string of success in the J/105, Tarten Ten, and Melges 24 classes.