World's top ranked for Nippon Cup

by Courtesy ISAF on 5 Nov 2004 The Pizza-la Red Lobster Nippon Cup 2004 International Match Race event, the fourth event of the Swedish Match Tour, begins on November 16, 2004 off the shore of Hayama Marina, Kanagawa Pref., Japan.

World top ranking sailors from four of the six teams from the America's Cup 2007 will contest the Nippon Cup.

Among those experienced contestants is the USA’s Ed Baird (Team Musto) - ISAF Ranking #1, and Australian Peter Gilmour (Pizza-la Sailing Team) -the former skipper of the Nippon Challenge who won the 8th Nippon Cup championship.

Gavin Brady (NZL) is leading the BMW Oracle Racing, one of the challenging syndicates in America's Cup 2007. He will be joined by BMW Oracle skipper, Chris Dickson and crew.

A successful sailor following in the footsteps of fellow countryman Russell Coutts, Dean Barker (NZL) is leading Emirates Team New Zealand.

Team Shosholoza of South Africa has entered into the Nippon Cup for the first time with Skipper, Geoff Meek (age 51). Philippe Presti and Team Le Defi from France, known for their stylish hull, will also be there, as will Sven-Erik Horsch from Germany and Michale Ivardi is from Team Luna Rossa Challenge.

Kazuto Seki, the Bronze medallist of Athens Olympic Games 470 class, joins the Nippon Cup with the recommendation from JASF.

Others, like Nippon Match Race ranked No.1, Takumi Nakamura, a young and most promising sailor in Japan will also be there along with Yasutaka Funazawa, Nippon Match Race ranked No. 2, makes his third challenge to the Nippon Cup. The three Japanese contestants will gain invaluable experience racing against the world top ranked sailors.

The Nippon Cup starts with Round Robin 1, with the top four team proceeds to semi-finals and finals to decide the rankings.

The battle starts at 9:30 a.m. on November 17, with the blow of a fog horn. Don't miss it!!

Event Website: hmyc.or.jp/nc2004/index.html