STARK RAVING MAD, Bow # 08, Royal Cork YC, Skipper: Anthony O’Leary, Tactician: Nicholas O’Leary, Pictured at the 2013 Edition of The Cup. Photo Daniel Forster
The time has now come for the start of the fourth NYYC Invitational Cup to be sailed in Swan 42’s. Yet again the Royal Cork Yacht Club team is being led by Anthony O’Leary with son Nicholas as Tactician
The Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is a regatta for yacht clubs from around the world and their sailors. It has become an important Corinthian (amateur) sailing competition. The racing is in NYYC Swan 42s: the eighth one-design class created by the New York Yacht Club since 1900.
In the inaugural NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex in 2009, 19 yacht club teams from 14 countries, from four continents competed. The second Invitational Cup in 2011 included 22 yacht club teams from 16 nations from six continents. Twenty teams sailed in 2013. The Royal Canadian Yacht Club crew, skippered by Terry McLaughlin, won both the 2011 and 2013 events; the New York Yacht Club with skipper Phil Lotz won the 2009 event.
Competitors must be Corinthian (non-professional) sailors and members of the yacht clubs they represent; they must also be nationals of their countries. The 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup welcomes competitors from the following yachts clubs: the Royal Yacht Squadron (GBR), Japan Sailing Federation (JPN), Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (ESP), Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN), Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL), Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (HKG), Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR), Yacht Club Argentino (ARG), Yacht Club Italiano (ITA), Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (AUS), Royal Swedish Yacht Club (SWE), Eastern Yacht Club (USA), Itchenor Sailing Club (GBR), Middle Harbour Yacht Club (USA), Newport Harbour Yacht Club (USA), Seattle Yacht Club (USA) and New York Yacht Club (USA).
The U.S. Qualifying Series (USQS) is held in even-numbered years and serves as the opportunity for three yacht club teams from the United States to earn an invitation to the following year’s Invitational Cup. Larchmont Yacht Club won the 2012 USQS and finished a close second to RCYC in the 2013 Invitational Cup. Newport Harbor Yacht Club won the 2014 USQS and will be competing in the 2015 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup.
The first race is scheduled for 1100 each day starting tomorrow. (Tues) Racing is scheduled to take place on Narragansett Bay, north of Gould Island, or on Rhode Island Sound, south of Brenton Point Park. The racing location will be picked each morning. The regatta is hosted out of the New York Yacht Club at Harbour Court.
The NYYC Invitational Cup Fleet in 2013. Picture Daniel Forster
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