Building a better asylum for the inmates

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Established in 1957, the Admiral’s Cup was the unofficial world cup for offshore racing, with national teams coming to England with the latest designs for international bragging rights. But as escalating efforts to win increased, fewer people were willing to chase the rising bar, and the ultimate demise of the Admiral’s Cup came in 2001.

It is an example of the observations listed in The State of the Sport in 2020:

• When the cost in time and money to participate exceeds the pleasurable benefit, people seek alternative activities.
• Better isn’t always best, as the natural inclination for improvement slowly eliminates those that choose not to chase the rising bar.
• We are capable of evolving toward extinction.

But, as the Admirals Cup was so good when it was good, a revival is underway for its return in 2025. Hosted by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), the latest development is the organization of the Admiral’s Cup 2025 Advisory Committee. The group will be tasked with creating a framework to keep the competitors from screwing things up again.

Chaired by Andrew McIrvine, the group includes a number of people that know what works and aren’t hesitant to speak their minds when needed. I wish them luck:

Andrew McIrvine (GBR) – Secretary General of the IMA, Past RORC Admiral and Commodore. Chairman of the Admiral’s Cup 2025 Advisory Committee.

Dee Caffari MBE (GBR) – Six time round the world sailor, including the Vendee Globe and two Volvo Ocean Races. Double-handed UK National Champion 2020 and 2021, and Chair of the World Sailing Trust.

Stuart Childerley (GBR) – Winner of the Admiral’s Cup, two-time Olympic Finn sailor and two-time Etchells World Champion. Stuart is an International Race Officer and Principal Race Officer for the 2025 Admiral’s Cup.

Steve Cole (GBR) – RORC Racing Manager and Race Director for The 2025 Admiral’s Cup. Steve has been a senior member of the RORC Race team for six years and part of the Rolex Fastnet Race Start Team for 11 editions.

Stan Honey (USA) – World-renowned offshore sailor, Volvo Ocean Race winner and Jules Verne record breaker. Past competitor for The Admiral’s Cup and immediate past President of World Sailing Offshore Committee.

Andrew Hurst (GBR) – The editor of Seahorse magazine is a veteran of six Admiral’s Cups, winning in 1999 with the Netherlands. He has also competed for the UK, Japan and Germany and counts further wins in the Sardinia Cup (GBR) and Commodores’ Cup (GER).

Peter Shipway (AUS) – Participated in eight editions of The Admiral’s Cup, one as Team Captain. A life member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with 31 Rolex Sydney Hobart Races.

Géry Trentesaux (FRA) – Renowned offshore and inshore sailor, past Admiral’s Cup sailor. Overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. President of UNCL/YCF and past RORC Vice-Commodore.

Rob Weiland (NED) – Past Team Manager of winning Admiral’s Cup team, Admiral’s Cup sailor, construction manager for 18 Admiral’s Cup boats. Class Manager for TP52, Maxi 72 and IMA technical consultant.

“The primary purpose of the Admiral’s Cup 2025 Advisory Committee is to provide advice and guidance to RORC’s Race Management Team on delivering an interesting, varied, and attractive regatta,” commented RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton. “The Committee will focus on ensuring that participants enjoy a memorable world class event to a standard which befits the prestige of the Admiral’s Cup.”

Details: www.admiralscup.rorc.org