Send-Off Reception for SYC’s America’s Cup team, OneWorld Challenge

Well-wishes and inspiration set the stage for the reception held September 10, to send SYC’s America’s Cup team, OneWorld Challenge and their families back to New Zealand for the summer practice season “down under.”  SYC members were treated to an experience that offered an opportunity to hear from Peter Gilmour, Skipper and Sailing Director for OWC, along with other syndicate leaders and OWC team members, as well as a singing performance from the children.  We wish them all the best as they endeavor to challenge for the Cup.

America’s Cup Jubilee - 2001

It was nothing short of the greatest celebration of the sport of sailing, ever.  J-Boats, 12-meters, IACC boats, Classic boats from the 1800’s through the early 1900’s.  All of these spectacular emblems of maritime technology converged this August for a date with history in Cowes, Isle of Wight, U.K.  It was the 150th anniversary of the America’s Cup – or more specifically the anniversary of the “100 Guinea Cup” that the schooner “America” won in 1851, and renamed the America’s Cup when it arrived in the United States. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all present.

The event opened at the hand of the Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal Yacht Squadron pulled out all the stops in cooperation with New York Yacht Club to make this event on the water and ashore impossible to surpass.  There were daily races for the 250 boats entered on three separate courses (in one area vintage/classic, J-Class boats, modern boats, in another the 12-meters, and the last course featured the current America's Cup class boats - IACC).  Peter Gilmour and Ben Ainsle of  OneWorld Challenge helmed “Leopard,” a maxi in the modern class.

The big story was the race on Tuesday, August 21, where all entries sailed around the Isle of Wight.  This was the commemorative race that duplicated what was done 150 years ago as the "100 Guinea Cup" race.  Featuring a reverse start commencing at the same time of day as the race the event honored.  All those afloat and onshore were treated to the grandest parade of boats ever assembled.  With further activities afloat and onshore the event concluded with HRH Princess Anne presiding.

Chris Otorowski entered the "modern boat" class with his Swan 46, "Aphrodite."- a broad class of contemporary boats up to Maxi’s, comprised of members from yacht clubs that have sponsored a challenger or defender in the America’s Cup of the past.  “Aphrodite” was one of a class of 48 Swans entered, with SYC members Ken Kellogg, Don Roose, Evan Schwab, Rick Meslang and Sue Kruller aboard.  All have a story to tell.  There will be a presentation September 21, at 7 p.m. featuring video from this event and the Fastnet.

MATCH RACING - OneWorld Challenge’s Gilmour wins Knickerbocker Cup; On to the next World Match Race in Bermuda

Twelve professional teams were invited to compete in 20th Anniversary Knickerbocker Cup for the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) World Match Race championship. This was an international event with sailors from six countries, featuring many America's Cup skippers.

Long Island Sound was crowded with spectators on September 3, as Peter Gilmour and his crew, Kazuhiko Sofuku, Tatsuya Wakinaga and Yasuhiro Yaji won the 20th International Knickerbocker Cup, hosted by the Knickerbocker YC in Port Washington, New York.

Ed du Moulin, Past Commodore of the Knickerbocker YC and the founder of the Knickerbocker Cup, awarded first prize to the Gilmour team.  Peter Gilmour said he was, "delighted to have won the second time, as the series was close, with four America's Cup skippers in the finals."

Overall Results: 1 Peter Gilmour, USA 2 Ed Baird, USA 3 James Spithill, USA 4 Ken Read, USA 5 Cameron Appleton, New Zealand 6 Andy Horton, USA 7 Morten Henriksen, Germany 8 Mathieu Richard, France 9 Jes Gram-Hansen, Denmark 10 Lars Nordbjerg, Denmark 11 Andrew Arbuzov, Russia 12 Gustav Nilsson, Sweden

Gilmour will next compete in Bermuda .  America’s Cup skippers from all over the world make up the list of top sailors named as seeded contenders for The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC ) Colorcraft Gold Cup in Bermuda this October.

The Colorcraft Gold Cup is raced in 33-foot International One Design sloops on short windward-leeward courses inside Hamilton Harbour. It is the third event on this year’s Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour. The event gets under way on October 14, with qualifying rounds for the 16 unseeded teams. The finals will be sailed on Sunday, October 21. 

 “Most of these major Cup players will go straight from Bermuda to Auckland to begin their summer practice season there, said RBYC Commodore Somers Cooper.  “We’ll have a unique opportunity to view them in full match race mode.”

 The eight seeded skippers are: Ed Baird (United States), Dennis Conner (United States), Peter Gilmour (United States), Jes Gram-Hansen (Denmark), Andy Green (United Kingdom), Magnus Holmberg (Sweden), Peter Holmberg (US Virgin Islands) and Bertrand Pacé (New Zealand).

Louis Vuitton Cup Schedule

The New Zealand Herald reports that 10 challenging syndicates are down to the fine details in determining the racing schedule for the Louis Vuitton Cup – an elimination series established to select the challenger for the America’s Cup competition in 2003 against Team New Zealand.  The Louis Vuitton Cup will begin in Auckland on October 1, 2002.

America's Cup racing between Team New Zealand and the winning challenger will start on February 15, 2003.

The Louis Vuitton Cup will be held as two round-robins, in which all
teams race each other for one point a win. There will be a break of
seven days between the two round-robins. 

The final two that emerge will race in a best-of-nine series in January, 2003 for the right to challenge Team New Zealand in a best-of-nine series for the America’s Cup.