Looking at the teams

Entry deadline passed for Rolex Commodores' Cup

Whilst there is still activity behind the scenes, at close of business on Monday 21st June (the entry deadline), ten teams had submitted formal challenges.

A strong team on paper would appear to be the Irish, with Eamon Crosbie's year old Ker 32, Voodoo Chile (1st IRC 2 Red Funnel Easter Challenge/2nd IRC2 MeesPierson IRC Championships), Colm Barrington's latest Glove - the brand new Ker 39 Flying Glove (2nd IRC SZ/Z MPIC) and Fidessa Fastwave, the DK46, sailed by Chris Brown and Peter Harding.

Following its successful venture in 2002, the French are returning with three teams under the management and leadership of Gery Trentesaux. A repeat of their success from two years ago is not out of the question. The make up of each team will be finalised after the Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race starting on 2nd July.

The Netherlands bring one team comprising J. Horrevoets' Grand Soleil 44R, Holmatro (winner IRC1 Rolex Fastnet Race & Skandia Cowes Week '03), Peter de Ridder's BH41 Checkmate 3 (in its fourth RCC) and M. van der Heijden's HOD35 DaikIn Airco (a winner at RORC North Sea Race and the North Sea Regatta Super Cup).

Belgium enters the fray with Francois Goubau's First 47.7 Moana, Bertrand Struyts First 40.7 Liesl and Breeze an ILC 30 owned by Christian Muyls.

Although each of the British teams are given equal billing, it is hard to ignore the compelling results of GBR Red, comprising Kit Hobday & Tim Louis' Farr 52 Bear of Britain (1st Overall MPIC), Jerry Otter's IMX 40 Exabyte II (3rd IRC1 MPIC) and the J-109 Jeronimo of Jonathan and Lisa Goring (1st IRC2 MPIC).

GBR Blue sees past RORC Commodore Peter Rutter returning to Rolex Commodores' Cup competition in his Elan 37, Quokka. Rutter will undoubtedly be hoping it is third time lucky following on from his participation in 1998 and 2000. Joining him in GBR Blue is the IMX 40, Magnum II, owned by Andrew Pearce who started his campaign for selection at last year's Rolex Fastnet Race and Nick Hartshorn's Ker 11.3 El Gringo.

For a more detailed look at the British teams click here.

Negotiations are underway for an eleventh team made up of yachts from Russia, Belgium and France. If this comes to fruition, it will be the first time an East European boat has competed at the event.

The Rolex Commodores' Cup will be held off Cowes, Isle of Wight, from 25th July to 1st August.

COUNTRY	CLASS	BOAT NAME	TYPE	OWNER/CHARTERER
FRANCE	1	CODIAM ENSP dh	IMX 45	JEAN-CLAUDE NICOLEAU
(Holders)	1	PRETEXTE	IMX 45	GONZAGUE DUBOIS
	1	COURRIER D'ILE DE FRANCE	GRAND SOLEIL 45R	GERY TRENTESAUX
	2	PAPREC RECYCLAGE	SINERGIA 40	STEPHANE NEVE
	2	FASTWAVE	IMX 40	JEAN-YVES LE GOFF
	2	L'ANGE DE MILON	X 43	JACQUES PELLETIER
	3	PENAZEN	J-109	PHILIPPE DELAPORTE
	3	GUYADER	JPK 9.60	ERWAN DUBOIS
	3	MUSIX	X 362	PHILIPPE BAETZ
BELGIUM	1	MOANA	FIRST 47.7	FRANCOIS GOUBAU
	2	LIESL	FIRST 40.7	BERTRAND STUYTS
	3	BREEZE	ILC 30	CHRISTIAN MUYLS
UK	GBR RED
	1	BEAR OF BRITAIN	FARR 52	KIT HOBDAY/TIM LOUIS
	2	EXABYTE 2	IMX 40	JERRY OTTER
	3	JERONIMO	J-109	JONATHAN & LISA GORING
	GBR BLUE
	1	EL GRINGO	KER 11.3	NICK HARTSHORN
	2	MAGNUM II	IMX 40	ANDREW PEARCE
	3	QUOKKA	ELAN 37	PETER RUTTER
	GBR BLACK
	1	EXABYTE III	IMX 45	SHAUN FROHLICH
	2	YES!	FIRST 44.7	ADAM GOSLING
	3	FAIR DO'S VI	KER 32	JOHN SHEPHERD/ALASDAIR RISK
	GBR WHITE
	1	MINX	CORBY 41	ANDREW RITCHIE/ALEX THOMSON
	2	TARKA	FIRST 40.7	NICK JONES
	3	CIVILS WITH FLAIR	ELAN 37	JIM MACGREGOR
IRELAND	1	FIDESSA FASTWAVE	DK46	CHRIS BROWN/PETER HARDING
	2	FLYING GLOVE	KER 39	COLM BARRINGTON
	3	VOODOO CHILE	KER 32	EAMON CROSBIE
NETHERLANDS	1	HOLMATRO	GRAND SOLEIL 44R	J.M.M HORREVOETS
	2	CHECKMATE 3	BH 41	PETER DE RIDDER
	3	DAIKIN AIRCO	HOD 35	M.VAN DER HEIJDEN