Knickerbocker Cup Hosts Teams from around world

by Paula Davis on 5 Aug 2008 For the first time in many years only two American teams will be competing in the local International Match Race event on Manhasset Bay sponsored by the Knickerbocker Cup Foundation. This 26 year old event is now a World Match Tour Qualifier Event, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to compete in the Bermuda Gold Cup in the fall.

Twelve teams will be converging at the Knickerbocker Yacht Club on August 20th to race in Colgate 26’s provided by local boat owners, and Steve and Doris Colgate.

In addition to last year's Cup winner Chris Van Tol (USA) who is returning to defend his title, the contenders will include top-ranked Andrey Arbuzov (Russia), followed by Keith Swinton (AUS), Sergey Muskihin (RUS) Evan Walker (AUS), Juan Ignacio Grimaldi (ARG), Phil Robertson (NZ), Takumi Nakamura (JAP), Robbie Allam (GBR), Francesco Bruni (ITA), and a female skipper: Elizabeth Baylis (USA). Ms. Baylis recently took first place in the Mayor’s Cup in Long Beach, USA.

The Knickerbocker Cup was founded by the late Edward du Moulin, who was a past Commodore of Knickerbocker YC, a member of the New York YC and the Storm Trysail Club, and an inductee into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame, and his late friend Arthur Knapp. 26 years ago, the two friends had just returned from the Congressional Cup in California and thought it would be a good idea to bring match racing to the east coast. Since that day, the Cup has grown in prestige and in recent years has become a platform for launching many match racing careers.

The 2007 winner, Chris Van Tol’s name was engraved on the perpetual Knickerbocker Cup. This year’s winner will be in good company with previous winners: Ed Baird, Peter Holmberg, Peter Gilmour, Paul Cayard, Russell Coutts, Terry Hutchinson, Ian Williams, and Long Island Sound sailors, Dave Dellenbaugh, Dave Perry and Rich du Moulin.

Spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend the event. For more information, see www.kyc.net