![]() “This is important for competitors and gives us all a belief that we are as close to a ‘level playing pitch’ as is possible for an event of this nature.” “The standard of competition goes without saying, but what we really have great confidence in is the ability of the Technical Committee to prepare boats of equal standing for each competing team at the Invitational Cup,” said O’Leary, who has helmed the Royal Cork entry at each previous event. And two sailors in this year’s fleet have also raced in each edition of the Invitational Cup: Royal Cork helmsman Anthony O’Leary and Royal Canadian Yacht Club crewmember John Millen. Two of the 17 returning clubs, New York Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL), have raced each edition of the Invitational Cup. The two first-time entrants are the Corinthian Yacht Club (USA) and Yacht Club Punta del Este (URU). Of the 19 teams entered this year, 17 have previous experience in the regatta. ![]() You don’t have to win every race, but if you have good results eventually it comes your way, I think.” Most important, you have to be consistent. You have to be good sailors you have to have a great team. We haven’t done any sailing as a team since 2019. If you can do that, you’ll be in the game.”īelgiorno-Nettis added, “We’re very rusty. Hitting the start line at full speed within three to four meters of the start line and being able to sail straight for two minutes is critical. “I think our crew work is pretty good, but time and distance is what we’ve been struggling with and working on. “We’ve been working the kinks out the past couple of days,” said Lovell. The two teams are returning the same helmsmen from 20, Lovell for Southern Yacht Club and Belgiorno-Nettis for Royal Sydney, and each crew has been on the water in advance to practice in the IC37s. So, when racing for this year’s regatta begins, the Invitational Cup will in effect have two defending champions. Then the talk stops and the action will begin.” But I know that reality will set the record straight when we turn up at the start line. “Sitting on the couch, my team were sure we could’ve given the 2021 competing teams a good run for their money. ![]() “We watched the 2021 Invitational Cup with fascination, jealousy, and frustration,” said Belgiorno-Nettis. Instead, Southern Yacht Club, helmed by 2004 Olympic Silver medalist (Tornado) John Lovell, posted a 10-point victory for its second title in three editions. Yearning to defend their historic title-Royal Sydney was the first team from the Southern Hemisphere to win the coveted trophy-in 2021, helmsman Guido Belgiorno-Nettis and crew were “very disappointed” when they were denied the opportunity due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic. Two years later, in 2019, it was Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s turn to win its first Invitational Cup, posting a four-point victory that went down to the final day of racing, while Southern Yacht Club placed fifth. The two teams’ run of success began six years ago, when Southern Yacht Club posted a 12-point victory over Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron for its first victory in the prestigious regatta. One of the two has placed first and/or second in the past three editions, dating to 2017. With 14 nations represented, of the many illustrious clubs that have previously competed, two have most consistently demonstrated the necessary boatspeed and crew handling that are the hallmarks of winning one-design crews: Southern Yacht Club (USA) and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (AUS). As the premiere Corinthian big boat regatta in the USA, equally matched IC37s will provide the platform for this biennial championship. The eighth edition of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup gets underway in 2023 when 19 teams line-up on September 12-16 in Newport, RI.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |