Media Alert/Photo Advisory
For the first time, six World Champions, face-off to decide their fate for a shot at The Canada’s Cup
— Who will be the official Canadian Defender yacht – Lafayette, Gefion or Hollandia? And who will be the official American Challenger yacht – Aluette, Natural or Yquem? —
Toronto Ontario (June 8, 2016) –Modern, Grand Prix, 8 Metre yachts compete in a match-race elimination series for the honour to compete in the coveted Canada’s Cup competition www.canadascup.org . The Canada’s Cup, an America’s Cup style sailboat match-race, between Canada and the United States, attracts high performance sailors from across the region to compete in Great Lakes sailing excellence. The Canadian competitors for the defence include the International Eight Metre World Champion yachts; Gefion, Hollandia and Lafayette. They will partake in a two-part round robin series of match-races, a one-on-one style of sailboat racing, to decide who will represent Canada in the 24th Canada’s Cup on the 120th anniversary.
In Sodus Bay NY (Sodus Bay Yacht Club and the official challenger of record), the American’s race-off for the challenger series which includes the International Eight Metre World Champion yachts; Aluette, Natural and Yquem 1.
The Canadian Defender Series is a two-part round robin elimination series in which the first yacht to win sufficient points will become the official Defender for the Canada’s Cup Championship match series in September.
When: First Defender Series – July 1-3, 2016
Second Defender Series – July 15-17, 2016
First Gun 10:00AM
Who: Team Gefion (RCYC), is skippered by Richard Self crewed by Hugh Beaton tactician, Mike Malloy (trimmer), Mark Decelles (pitman) and Billy Gooderham (bow), Hamish Matthews, Taylor Self.
Team Hollandia (RCYC), is skippered Bryan Gooderham and crewed by Jen Provan, Erwyn Naidoo, Michael Rustom, Will Gyles, Rob Emery, Allan Megarry, and Mike Wolf
Team Lafayette(RCYC), skipper Terry McLaughlin and crewed by Dave Jarvis (main), Geoff Moore (primaries), Sandy Andrews(bow), Justin Barnes (pitman), Andrew McTavish (primaries), Tony Bowman (primaries)
Where: Lake Ontario Toronto
RCYC 150 Cherry St, Toronto, ON M5A 3L1
***To arrange transport on the water contact: Tory Crowder, Jumpstart Communications, [email protected] 416 998 9702****
The US Challenger Series is a round robin elimination series with the winner declared as the Challenger.
When: July 6 -10 2016
Who: Team Aluette (SBYC), Team Natural (SBYC), Team Yquem 1(Youngstown Yacht Club)
Where: Sodus Bay Yacht Club
Great Sodus Bay, New York http://www.sodusbayyc.org/canada-s-cup
The winners of the challenger/defender series will partake in the Canada’s Cup Championship series which will be held September 10-14, 2016 on Lake Ontario offshore from Toronto and hosted by RCYC.
www.canadascup.org
About the 24th Canada’s Cup
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) hosts the ultimate of North American match racing sailing events—the 24th Canada’s Cup challenge and the 120th anniversary of the cup. A historic event that celebrates excellence in sailing and the rivalry and comradery of Canadian and American sailors on the Great Lakes. This year the event officially marks the revival of the historic, classic and much-admired International 8 Metre (8mR) class, but in its most modern and developed form, called the Modern 8mR. The return of the 8mR to the Canada’s Cup has been longed for by Canadian and American sailors who have kept the class vibrant and alive since 1954—the 8mR’s last challenge for the Cup.
In the summer of 2016, the Canada’s Cup, sailed in the Modern 8mR, celebrates tradition and glamour along with a modern hi-tech look in head-to-head, match-racing-style competition for yacht-racing excellence of the Great Lakes.
Toronto’s RCYC is the current holder and defender of the Canada’s Cup. The defender is the yacht club who won the previous Canada’s Cup while the challenger of record is the yacht club who officially issues the challenge for the next regatta in hopes to win the coveted Canada’s Cup. The challenger for the 24th Canada’s Cup is the Sodus Bay Yacht Club from New York State. The trials, or qualification series, take place in July for both the Canadian and US teams. Gefion, Hollandia, and Lafayette are the Canadian contenders while Aluette, Natural, and Yquem 1 are the US contenders. The winners will compete in the 24th Canadian Cup in September.
About RCYC
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) offers both a down town city club and an island yacht club.
The RCYC’s Olympic calibre sailing facilities hosted the 2015 Pan American Games.
RCYC was founded in 1852 to serve both as a yachting recreational club and, in the British tradition, as an unofficial auxiliary of the Royal Navy in the defence of the waters of Lake Ontario. Two of the primary objectives of the club are to promote yacht architecture, building and sailing; and to promote excellence in competitive sailing.
About SBYC
SBYC was founded in 1893 on Great Sodus Bay on the south shore of Lake Ontario halfway between Rochester and Oswego NY. It has long been a favourite location for 8mR regattas and has hosted the World Championship as well as many North American Championships. It is a home port for both modern and classic 8mR’s and is leading the revival of interest in the class on the south shore of Lake Ontario.
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For more information contact: Tory Crowder, Jumpstart Communications, 416 998 9702
Tory Crowder
Jump Start Communications
416 998 9702
[email protected]
www.jumpstartcommunications.ca