Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup - Assembling a team

by RYA on 2 Oct 2015 Selection is now open for the 2016 Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup, with the RYA planning to send four teams of three boats to represent Great Britain at the prestigious event in Cowes (23-30 July 2016).

The Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup is a biennial team event organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). It was first held in 1992 and is the only international event team for national teams in big boats.

The RYA is seeking expressions of interest from owners and teams who would like to compete for Great Britain at the 2016 event. Teams comprise of three boats within the IRC rating 1.0 – 1.230. One team will be nominated by RYA Scotland and the other three by the RYA.

Chairman of Selectors and multiple Commodores’ Cup competitor, David Aisher, is looking for boats to win races: “The yachts we are looking for need to be well prepared with good sails and crews and set up to win races. The crews in each team need to be able to work closely together and help collectively raise the standards so that in the end the whole team is working to the best of its ability.”

“The Commodores’ Cup is one of the very few team events that involves competitive racing against other nations. To be able to represent your own country with a Corinthian crew is a rare opportunity,” Aisher concluded.

The seven day event consists of two offshore events within the English Channel and a number of inshore events in the Solent, pitting three-boat teams against one another to win overall team points. It is one of the most prestigious events in the international calendar and a fantastic opportunity to compete internationally at the highest level and to represent your country. It gives owners the opportunity to put together a campaign with an end goal.

Cutting Edge competed for the first time in 2014 and was the highest placed British boat. After a successful first event they are planning to be back for a second time, explained owner Robert Lutener: “We were attracted to the challenge of having to qualify to be selected to take part in such a prestigious amateur yacht regatta.

“To be selected and to finish top British yacht and second boat overall was a tremendous achievement, we certainly had a superb week of sailing against some great competition and are looking at our options with a view to compete in 2016.”

RORC will be hosting a 2016 Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup Reception at its London clubhouse on the 27 October. The reception is free for all interested parties to attend and provides an opportunity for owners to meet each other as well as RYA selectors and event organisers. Please contact house@rorc.org to confirm your interest in the Reception.

Nigel King, RYA Keelboat Manager and GBR Commodores’ Cup Team Manager for the last two years, is looking forward to starting the training: “The Commodores’ Cup is a great opportunity for the sailors to really focus on their personal development, work with other boats and develop a team ethos. This unique format allows the teams to flourish and I am really looking forward to working with the sailors.”

The selection process will begin in the New Year with a number of events defined as selection regattas. Full details of the selection policy can be found on the RYA Keelboat website.

The completed RYA selection Trials Entry Form and proposed crew lists for the Selections Trials of the GBR teams should be delivered to the RYA before 1700 on Friday 29 January, together with the entry fee. Entries after this date will be accepted up to Friday 25 March subject to a late entry fee.