Will they reach double figures?

We talk to RORC about the prospects for next year's Admiral's Cup

At present RORC believe they are set for a bumper turn out for next year's Admiral's Cup, a sign hopefully that after it was cancelled due to lack of interest in 2001 and the subsequent debacle of moving it to Ireland and then not moving it to Ireland, the world's premier inshore/offshore international team competition may be back on its feet.

RORC have now published their Notice of Race (available for download at the bottom of this article) for the 2005 Admiral's Cup which, to recap, will be held as usual out of Cowes over 9-17 July. The time frame of the event has been tightened so the event now runs over the course of a week with a weekend at either end. Despite this the ratio of inshore and offshore courses culminating in the high scoring Wolf Race will remain as before.

The event is to be raced in three boat teams comprising on this occasion a Mumm 30, a Swan 45 and a big IRC boat with a minimum rating of 1.3, roughly equating to a Farr 52 or bigger. "Obviously with the Mumm 30 they will be going offshore, but they probably won’t be doing the full Wolf Rock race. We’ll design their own offshore race specifically for them," says Race Director Janet Grosvenor.

There has been concern from some quarters over the choice of the Swan 45 as the medium-size boat. The Swan 45 is an owner-driver class it is argued and thus hardly 'grand prix'. The counterargument is - where do you see the biggest gathering of the world's top sailors outside of the America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Olympics? The answer: the Farr 40 and Swan 45 owner driver classes. Whether we see the likes of Coutts and Cayard descending upon Cowes next July will be the acid test.

But the million dollar question is over the entries. As RORC have learned the hard way, if there are no entries there is no event and since 2001 they have worked hard to ensure firstly they get the programme of the event right and secondly that they make the right choice when it comes to boats.

At present the only confirmed entry is from Australian Bob Oatley who is returning to defend his title on his new Wild Oats CBTF boat. Aside from this the following line-up is from teams which RORC General Manager Peter Wykeham-Martin describes as having "made expressions of strong interest":

Australia: possibly one in addition to Bob Oatley's team
France: probably two, one led by RORC stalwart Gery Trentesaux
Germany: one, possibly two
Holland: one, possibly two (including possibly Piet Vroon's new 56 footer)
Irish: one, possibly two.
Italy: possibly one
US: one, possibly two
UK: definitely one or more

The US team is believed to have had a meeting and a number of TP52s, which could race as the IRC big boat, are known to be coming across the UK to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race. "There are a lot of American Swan 45 owners and Mumm 30s, so I think it is not unrealistic to hope we get two American teams," says Wykeham-Martin.

Aside from this Wykeham-Martin also says he has been contacted by serious individuals in Japan, Russia and Israel wishing to compete. "I’ll put it no stronger than that: there have been approaches and correspondence."

Spain have been contacted but it is believed that the Admiral's Cup conflicts with a major IMS regatta there.

Peter Wykeham-Martin says that it is interesting having two new classes in the event. "There is no doubt that the boats have appealed to people and to a wide selection of people. For the Mumm 30 guys, this is something completely new for them. And it appeals to the Swan 45. The selection of those boats have tended to create their own momentum. We are genuinely delighted by the genuine interest being shown."

Of particular interest to sailors will be the modification of Class Rules for the Swan 45 and Mumm 30. Only the Swan 45 will be able to change helms from the owner to “previously approved Relief Helmsman” from one hour after the start of the short and long offshore races. The Mumm 30 sees no modification to the Class Rules concerning who can steer the boat, or crew, so it will remain an amateur driver affair.

Dispensations in the NOR include what sails the two one design class can use. They are allowed a number of new sails for the event outside their annual Class allocation.

Whats your view on the NOR email us here.