Knickerbocker Cup Brings International Flair to Port

If you hear snippets around town of Portugese or Russian, or perhaps a New Zealand accent, the speakers may well be match racers competing in the 2010 Knickerbocker Cup. Hosted by Manhasset Yacht Club, the Cup has attracted 12 teams from around the world to Port Washington, and is running from Aug. 25 through Aug. 29.

The match racers, who attended a cocktail party and barbecue at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club on Wednesday evening, seemed to enjoy their stint in Port Washington. Though they spent the morning at crew weigh-in and registration, and the afternoon in practice sessions on Manhasset Bay, some of the teams, who are staying with host families, managed to see a little of the town and even some of Manhattan.

William Tiller, skipper of Full Metal Jacket, is here with his New Zealand team. "It's an old community, and really cool," Tiller said about Port, and its big trees and historic Main Street.

Right now, the racers have their eye on the competition. The cup is the final stop of the East Cast Match Racing Trifecta, which includes the CMRC Chicago Cup that ran on Aug. 13 through Aug. 15, and the Toyota International Match Race for the Detroit Cup, from Aug. 18 through Aug. 22.  Taylor Canfield, skipper of Team ISV, currently in first place. The trifecta winner will receive automatic entry into the Congressional Cup, the only Grade One Match Race in the United States, in Long Beach, California.

The Knickerbocker Cup is also a World Match Race Tour Qualifier. The winner will move on to the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda in October. 

"We've been sailing in Europe – Finland, Estonia and Sweeden," said Alexy Kulakov, of SYNERGY from Russia. In New York for the first time, Kulakov said he was able to visit the Empire State Building, from which he enjoyed the view. 

"We're focusing on the schedule for the race," said Mario Trindade of GIGA Racing Team in Brazil. "We trained a lot in Rio."

The competitors include two women's teams who are campaigning for a spot on the US Olympic Team in the London 2012 games. Sally Barkow's Team 7 Racing did not compete in the Chicago or Detroit Cups. Anna Tunnicliffe's team, Gus, did not compete in the Chicago Cup.

Live streaming video of the Knickerbocker Cup is available through Sailgroove.org from Aug. 26 through Aug. 29.