Expansive field for 2018 Resolute Cup

The entry list for the fifth edition of the Resolute Cup, the premier national interclub keelboat competition, will expand beyond the boundaries of the contiguous United States for the first time this September. Shouldering the pride of a Caribbean island with a rich sailing heritage will be the crew representing the Club Náutico de San Juan from Puerto Rico.

“Although well known for its International Billfish Tournament, Club Náutico de San Juan has, since its founding in 1930, a long sailing tradition,” says Jose Cartagena, Commodore of the CNSJ.

“In addition to several Olympic sailors, the Junior Sailing Program has produced several one-design world champions and outstanding college sailors. We think that our sailors can compete well with sailors from other yacht clubs around the nation. The Resolute Cup is the one venue where we can certainly test ourselves.”

The Resolute Cup, which was previously known as the U.S. Qualifying Series for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, was first run in 2010 and is held every other year at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, RI.

The regatta pulls together some of the best amateur sailors from around the United States, each representing their home yacht club. The provided-boat format ensures as level a playing field as exists in the sport of sailing with the skill and preparation of each team determining the final outcome.

In 2018, 28 teams from all three major U.S. coastlines, plus the inland lakes, will converge on September 12-15 for intense one-design racing in the Club’s fleet of identical Sonar keelboats. The winning team will earn its club an invitation to sailing’s premier amateur big-boat competition, the 2019 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup.

The Club Náutico de San Juan is one of a handful of yacht clubs that will be sailing in the Resolute Cup for the first time. Also on that list are Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club (Blue Hill, ME), Houston Yacht Club (La Porte, TX), and Sachem’s Head Yacht Club (Guilford, CT).

Historically, the Resolute Cup hasn’t been kind to first-time competitors, but soon enough it will be apparent how the rookie clubs will measure up to what was put in by the 24 teams from clubs with prior Resolute Cup experience. The final two days of the regatta will be live streamed via Facebook.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook