US team for the Rolex Commodores' Cup

US Sailing and US-IRC Foundation call to owners

US Sailing and the US-IRC Foundation have announced they are to join forces to organize a three-boat US team for the 2010 Rolex Commodore's Cup in England next August. The event is to be held in Cowes from 15-21 August, 2010.

Bill Heston and Steve Travis from Seattle, Washington are the first to have voiced interest in putting together a 2010 US team. US Sailing and US-IRC welcome others who might be interested in participating or forming a Team to represent the USA.

As usual the event is open to three boat teams comprising one boat in the each of the following IRC TCC rating bands:

Class 3 – 1.025 – 1.074 (Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) not exceeding 215)
Class 2 – 1.075 – 1.119 (DLR not exceeding 200)
Class 1 – 1.120 – 1.230 (DLR not exceeding 200)

For speed comparison purposes only, below is a list of representative boat designs rated in the USA that fall within the selected racing brackets:
Class 1: Farr 395*; J125; King 40*; Swan 45; Farr 40; J133; Melges 32; Swan 42
Class 2: Farr 395*; First 40.7*; J122; King 40*; Farr 30; J120; J44; Sydney 38
Class 3: Express 37; First 40.7*; First 36.7; J109
* Boats from these designs fall into two of the TCC brackets.

The three bands proved successful in 2008 and will remain the same for 2010. This arrangement promotes close racing on the water, while still ensuring that competing teams have a sufficiently large pool of yachts from which to choose. RORC will be making available shortly a list of boats in Europe that would be available for charter for this event.

The race format is broadly similar to 2008 except that the regatta will finish one day earlier so that teams will have the Sunday to travel home.

The last Cup attracted 15 highly competitive teams from six nations including: Spain and Hong Kong along with multiple challenges from France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. The RORC is confident that in 2010 even more teams will be participating. The US is not limited to a single team.

Those wishing to express their interest, please contact Eric Baittinger at US Sailing here or Luiz E Kahl at US IRC here.