Charity bid gives skipper big opportunity

by Rich Roberts on 11 May 2005 There is a new player in the fleet of big, fast, world-class sailboats scheduled to thrash around the race course in the inaugural First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta from May 19-22 at Newport Beach.

David Team, skipper-for-the-week of Scout Spirit, winner of overall honours in the Marina del Rey-to-Puerto Vallarta Race in February, bid on behalf of his company, LNR Property and won the privilege to sail the Newport Sea Base's Reichel/Pugh 78 with a bid of $30,000.

The event's chief beneficiary, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, will receive a $25,000 share and the Newport Sea Base receives $5,000.

Newport Harbour and Balboa Yacht Clubs are managing the event which will feature a lineup of 20 boats from 48 to 90 feet unique to Southern California.

Team said, ‘I'm a member of Newport Harbor Yacht club, [and] as a sailor it was exciting for the company to get involved in a sailing event as well as to support a couple of great causes.

‘We are already a supporter of the Boy Scouts and other charities, so when the opportunity came up to support this regatta for Hoag and Scout Spirit in particular, that was attractive to us.’

Team, 44, is no novice. He has owned an Etchells, sailed as crew on various 70-footers and the Farr 40 Persephone, although this will be a step up in competition.

‘Obviously, I've never driven a Reichel/Pugh 78,’ he said. ‘I'm hoping to steer a lot, but I'm pretty realistic on the fact that [when it comes to] trading tacks or a starting sequence with Robbie Haines, I am not a professional sailor.

‘I did helm [the Reichel/Pugh 68] Taxi Dancer in a couple of regattas when [former owner] Mitch Rouse was unable to steer, but I'm just a weekend sailor.’

Haines will be aboard Roy Disney's maxZ86 Pyewacket, one of the fastest boats entered, along with Randall Pittman's Dubois 90, Genuine Risk, from San Diego. Scout Spirit will compete with part of its usual professional crew, complimented by a few of Team's sailing cronies.

‘I'm going to rely on the pros who are on Scout Spirit and hope we get a couple of folks from my company and a couple of buddies from the club,’ Team said.

‘Jim Moxham in San Diego sails Etchells down there, and Rick Kern from our L.A. office grew up sailing in the Newport area.’

First Team Real Estate is the title sponsor, playing a key role in the event preparation and sponsorship support. Silver Sponsors include Bank of America, Daily Pilot, Hewitt, LNR Property Corporation, Mellon, Merrill Lynch and MKA Capital.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Event proceeds will benefit Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

About Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute

Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, a designated Centre of Excellence at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif., is Orange County’s highest-volume, highest-rated cardiovascular program and one of the pre-eminent cardiovascular centers on the West Coast.

Specialties of Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute include diagnostic cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, endovascular diagnosis and treatment, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, electrophysiology, cardiac rehabilitation, disease management, prevention services, and research.

In 2001, Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute received Southern California’s highest rating in the state’s first public report evaluating hospital performance of heart bypass surgery, the California Report on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: 1997-1998 Hospital Data.

About First In Our Hearts Foundation

In 2004, First Team Real Estate established the First in Our Hearts Foundation as a company wide philanthropy created to maximize the charitable efforts that have been an integral part of the company since its founding almost 30 years ago.

Because their work brings them so close to homes, families, and neighborhoods, the tradition of giving back to the community runs deep among the sales associates and employees at First Team.

Now, through the focused efforts of the First in Our Hearts Foundation, their impact is greater than ever. And, in its inaugural year the Foundation is proud to announce its two-year commitment in support of Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

Entries to date:

America's Challenge (Volvo 60), Neil Barth, Newport Beach.

Bolt (Nelson/Marek 55), Craig Reynolds, Newport Beach.

Chayah (1D48), Oscar Krinsky, Long Beach.

Flash (Transpac 52), Mark Jones, San Francisco.

Genuine Risk (Dubois 90), Randall Pittman, San Diego.

Grand Illusion (Santa Cruz 70), Ed McDowell, Lahaina, H.I.

It's OK (1D48), Lew Beery, Glendora, Calif.

Magnitude 80 (Andrews 80), Doug Baker, Long Beach, Calif.

Margaritaville (Andrews 52), Jay Steinbeck, Los Angeles.

Medicine Man (Andrews 61), Bob Lane, Long Beach.
Peligroso (Dencho 70), Mike Campbell/Dale Williams, Long Beach.

Pendragon IV (Davidson 52), John MacLaurin, Los Angeles.

Pyewacket (Reichel/Pugh maxZ86), Roy E. Disney, Los Angeles.

Rosebud (Transpac 52), Roger Sturgeon, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Scout Spirit (Reichel/Pugh 78), David Janes, Newport Seabase Syndicate, Newport Beach.

Skylark (Reichel/Pugh 77), Doug Ayres, Newport Beach.

Stark Raving Mad (J/145), Jim Madden, Newport Beach.

Taxi Dancer (Reichel/Pugh 68), Paul Sharp, Newport Beach.

Trader (Transpac 52), Fred Detwiler, Detroit.

Vicki (Andrews 68), Al and Vicki Schultz, Long Beach.