Defender Series Begins for Canada’s Cup

The program for the 2016 Canada’s Cup got underway on July 1-3 as the defender selection series began its two-stage format on Lake Ontario off the Toronto Island, hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC). Three teams, competing in 8 Metre Class yachts, are vying for the right to represent the RCYC.

Winning all six of their matches was Team Lafayette skippered by Terry McLaughlin with crew of crewed by Dave Jarvis, Geoff Moore, Sandy Andrews, Justin Barnes, Andrew McTavish and Tony Bowman. Team Hollandia, skippered by Bryan Gooderham, stands at 3-3 while Team Gefion skippered by Richard Self is winless at 0-6.

“It has been a good start to the series for Team Lafayette,” remakred McLaughlin. “The crew has worked very hard on the boat this spring and it is nice to see all that hard work translate into results on the water. Lafayette has performed well in a variety of wind conditions. We look forward to the second round of racing.”

The teams will return to the water for the final stage on July 15-17. Scoring for the first stage awarded one point per win, increasing to two points for each win in the next series. Three round robins are scheduled.

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 and Taylor Self.

Team Hollandia (RCYC) is skippered by Bryan Gooderham and crewed by Rob Emery, Will Gyles, Allan Megarry, Erwyn Naidoo, Jennifer Provan, Michael Rustom, Peter Wickwire, Mike Wolfs

Team Lafayette (RCYC) is skippered by Terry McLaughlin and crewed by Dave Jarvis (main), Geoff Moore (primaries), Sandy Andrews(bow), Justin Barnes (pitman), Andrew McTavish (primaries) and Tony Bowman (primaries)

In Sodus Bay, New York (Sodus Bay Yacht Club and the official Challenger of Record), the Challenger competition takes place July 6-10 at Sodus Bay Yacht Club, with Team Aluette (SBYC), Team Natural (SBYC), and Team Yquem 1 (Youngstown Yacht Club) vying for the right to challenge.

The winners of the challenger/defender series will partake in the 2016 Canada’s Cup Championship series which will be held September 10-14 on Lake Ontario offshore from Toronto and hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Event details – Defender trials – Challenger trials

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. It is an 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 Canada’s Cup on September 10-14.

About Royal Canadian Yacht Club
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 Sodus Bay Yacht Club
Sodus Bay Yacht Club (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.

Report by Event Media