New York Yacht Club wins Cumberland Cup

London, UK (May 4, 2014) – The final day of racing for one of the oldest trophies in the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) collection, the 2-on-2 team race Cumberland Cup, proved to be another testing day for competitors and Race Officials. With the wind rolling right through 360 degree shifts, and the schedule showing that 12 races needed to be completed in order for a fair result to be established, the pressure was on.

When races did get underway, competitors’ power of concentration was tested to the limit with the breeze barely strong enough to fill a spinnaker.

In Race 29 RTYC lost to Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), which proved to be a fatal error, and offered fresh hope to New York Yacht Club (NYYC), who then went on to beat RTYC in race 31. Race 37 saw NYYC and YCCS go head to head, and whilst the Italians had beaten the Americans in Race 13 it was the Italians who proved to be the stronger team, in their final battle, New York were able to use the fickle breeze to their advantage and seized Race 37.

NYYC and YCCS were now tied on points, and with RTYC just 2 race wins behind, the top 3 teams were all vying for first place, and all would have been very worthy winners.

However, with the wind and the mark layer moving in endless circles, there was no time for a final to be sailed, and the overall results were taken from the first 40 races, with two ties having to be broken on count back.

Final results:
1. New York Yacht Club
2. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
3. Royal Thames Yacht Club
4. Yale Corinthian Yacht Club
5. Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead)
6. Cumberland
7. Royal Perth Yacht Club
8. Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans)

There were also some social winners whom should be mentioned, as the Saturday night dinner entertainment comprised of ditties performed by each team, the umpires, and the race officials. Whilst RTYC paid homage to their Commodore and sang a particularly active rendition of ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’, New York challenged teams to a rather aggressive game of musical chairs, and Costa Smeralda offered their thoughts on the entire event in limerick version (find the full rendition of this below). But, it was the ever lively Royal Perth team who stole the show with their version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ to the updated lyrics of ‘Royal Thames Team Racing’.

Overall, a fantastic event was had by all, with world class team racing taking place alongside fantastic umpiring and unrivalled socialising of the highest standard. Many thanks to all of those who took part including; the competitors, umpires, race officials, Queen Mary staff and the caterers. The Royal Thames looks forward to welcoming teams back in 2016 for what is set to be another premier event.

Report by event media.

The Cumberland Cup Limerick

The sailors of R Tee Y Cee
Are best if kept to the lee
If you let them ahead
You’re as good as dead
They won’t let you pass them, you see!

Queen Anne’s geese are making the calls
Not the umpires, and rain also falls
Their flapping of wings
Don’t produce enough wind
Are we sane to have come here at all?

Ms Mary McLeod MP
We couldn’t unfortunately see
We knew she was single
And were ready to mingle
Dashed hopes for the Italian team!

So that this years wrongs may be righted,
We’d return to the Race if invited
And be back to Westminster
So she shan’t die a spinster
Please tell her next time not to fight it!

As the Cumberland cup comes to a close
We are happy to be amongst those
Who received the invite
To enjoy day and night
All the fun and the sailing proposed.

– Antonio Winspeare, Costa Smeralda