Torresen Sailing News 3/6/97

The Torresen Sailing News

March 6, 1997

WELLINGTON WEATHER WINS FIRST AMERICA’S CUP ROUND

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, March 6, 1997 – Young America, the New York Yacht Club’s America’s Cup Challenge, faced its first major obstacle in its bid to regain the trophy today - and had to concede defeat. Wellington’s notorious wind forced the cancellation of a planned practice sail day as the crew prepared for a three-day series of races against Team New Zealand.

Today’s strong winds and driving rain prevented the NYYC/Young America crew from getting much tune up time. For this invitational series, the NYYC/Young America team will race in one of the closely-matched America’s Cup class
yachts which were built for New Zealand’s 1992 challenge in San Diego. The two IACC yachts, NZL 10 and NZL 12, have been completely refurbished and provided with new sails for the event.

The Wellington regatta is the first of the "Road to the America’s Cup 2000 Regattas" to be held in New Zealand leading up to the America’s Cup competition that starts in late 1999 in Auckland and climaxes with the 30th
America’s Cup Match in February, 2000.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger today welcomed the team’s arrival in Wellington as providing a "tremendous start to the America’s Cup build-up." The prized America’s Cup trophy was on display at a reception in the New
Zealand capital. "We know that retaining the Cup is going to be very tough indeed and none of us will be the least bit complacent about the task ahead," Prime Minister Bolger said. United States Ambassador to New Zealand Josiah Beeman, one of the guests of honor, displayed a deft diplomatic touch for the occasion by wearing odd socks - one with a stars and stripes motif supporting NYYC/Young America and the other a plain red model representing Team New Zealand.

NYYC/Young America Challenge President John Marshall said New Zealand was one of the most deserving defenders of the America’s Cup, exemplifying tough competition, fair play and sportsmanship. "Team New Zealand set an example in San Diego that we’re all going to have to live up to." With at least 15 expected Challengers, the Cup defense will be the largest in terms of participation and undoubtedly the most closely contested, Marshall added.

Weather permitting, the racing begins Friday, March 7 with the course located in the inner reaches of the deep-water harbor close to a recently developed waterfront recreation complex to ensure maximum spectator appeal. The Wellington event concludes March 9.

The next stop on this year’s Road to the Cup is Auckland. The NYYC/Young America crew, skippered by top-ranked U.S. match racer Ed Baird, will compete there in a second invitational one-on-one event against Russell Coutts and Team New Zealand March 25-30 and a Mini-America’s Cup with three other challengers March 31-April 6. Daily race reports from New Zealand will be made available to the media through the Young America News Bureau and will be posted to the Young America web site (www.youngamerica.org).

Young America, the New York Yacht Club’s Challenge for the America’s Cup, is dedicated to winning the America’s Cup through technological innovation, teamwork and a total commitment to success. Its effort will represent the entire country through an alliance of distinguished Partner Yacht Clubs and by enhancing the scientific literacy of America’s students with the innovative Young America National Education Program.