New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup Comes to Newport

The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, presented by Rolex, will take to Newport's waters this fall. The amateur race will host 19 yacht club teams from 13 countries.

“There are many returning as well as new entries,” said Event Chair John Mendez, “and they are coming from as far away as South Africa, Portugal and Argentina.  Just like in the halcyon days of the America’s Cup, competitors must be non-professional (Corinthian) sailors and members of the yacht clubs they represent; they must also be nationals of their countries.”

Teams will race on Rhode Island Sound and Narragansett Bay, with headquarters the at the NYYC's Harbour Court clubhouse which overlooks Newport Harbour.

Sperry Top-Sider and Nautor's Swan will also sponsor the race. 

"The inaugural event was tough and demanding, allowing yacht club teams from around the world to display the competitive skills of their best sailors,” said Mendez.  “And with the help of our sponsors and the enthusiasm and patriotism shown by the teams, it was an experience for the contenders that cannot be duplicated by any other event in the world."

High profile skippers will return to the competition this year, including Makoto Uematsu (Japan Sailing Federation); Leonardo Ferragamo (Nyländska Jaktklubben); Anthony O’Leary (Royal Cork Yacht Club); and Mark Watson (Royal Bermuda Yacht Club).

 “It would be difficult to imagine a venue more evocative of the great sailing challenges than Newport, Rhode Island, where the America’s Cup was held from 1930-1983,” said Ferragamo. “The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is an innovative event focused on fair and gentlemanly competition, outstanding organization and high-caliber international exposure. It is difficult to find a parallel event in the world of sport, and I believe it has already become a lighthouse in the world of international sailing competitions.”

For more information on the 2011 New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup contact John Mendez, jmendez@nyyc.orgor visit http://nyyc.org/2011InvitationalCup/