American cat heroes head for Rimini

An update on this year's International Catamaran Challenge Trophy

In addition to John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree another duo of champions from USA are scheduled to be competing in the 2005 International Catamaran Challenge Trophy (ICCT), to be held in Javelin 18HT catamarans from the Rimini Marina during the BLURimini 2005 event on 26-31 May.

Helmsman Brian Lambert, a 40 year old architect from Fort Walton Beach, Florida and his crew Jamie Livingston, a doctor from Miami Beach, promise to make it a hard battle.
Brian Lambert and Jamie Livingston are part of a small number of non-professional USA sailors that are famous outside their sailing environment. In 2003 Brian Lambert was awarded the title ‘Athlete of the Year’ by the equivalent of the CONI in Florida goes to prove this following their wins in the two final runnings of the Worrell 1000, long distance coastal catamaran race.

In 2001, during the hardest of the 19 Worrell 1000s due to the horrific conditions, Lambert and Livingston won with an impressive three hour lead. They following year, they not only own but set a new record for the 975 mile course of of 71.5 hours at an average of 13.6 knots - in a 20ft catamaran!

However Lambert and Livingston are also accomplished round the cans racers, having won numerous American championships in the Hobie 17, Hobie 20 and Nacra 6.0 classes, etc. They ranked second on the Bimare Javelin 2, which was chosen for the 2003 edition of the Alter Cup regatta where champions from the most important USA catamaran classes assemble.

However they have never competed for the ICCT before. They were selected to compete wearing the colours of the Sea Cliff Yacht Club in Newport for the 23rd ICCT - the edition where Lovell/Ogletree won against Saragoni/Di Battista - but couldn’t take part due to serious family problems.

This year they are greatly awaited for the series in the Marina of Rimini. “We’ll be able to see them at work," comments Lallo Petrucci of Bimare. "They are two great champions, lauded in the USA; it’ll be fascinating to see them race against Lovell/Ogletree and against our ‘cutting-edge’ Daniele Saragoni. Let’s hope strong winds make for an optimal show”.

Sky Sports cameras will be on the Little America’s Cup this year with special coverage also of the program of regattas at BLURimini 2005.