NYYC Invitational Cup U.S. Qualifying Series to feature new J/70

by New York Yacht Club on 18 Jan 2012 New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Invitational Cup U.S. Qualifying Series (USQS) is being held in Newport, RI from 4th to 8th September 2012. Today the NYYC announced that the new J/70 will be featured at the event. The J/70 will join the NYYC’s fleet of Sonars when 24 of the nation’s most competitive yacht clubs compete in the NYYC Invitational Cup USQS. The top three finishers will earn the right to compete in the 2013 NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex.

The USQS will continue the successful format from 2010 in which teams compete in two fleets of one-design keelboats. By utilizing the J/70, a modern high-performance planing keelboat 22.7’ in length with an asymmetrical spinnaker – along with the 23’ Sonar with its symmetrical spinnaker - the NYYC is raising the bar for competitors by testing their versatility across different boat designs as well as allowing the final decision to be made in a boat closer in philosophy to the NYYC Swan 42 - the yacht used in the international event.

The J/70 is J Boats’ ramp launch-able keelboat, making its world debut this spring in Newport, RI. It is designed as an easy-to-own, high-performance one-design that is stable enough for the family and built to last. Notable features include a high-aspect carbon rig, vertical-lifting keel, manageable three-sail inventory (fat-head main, roller-furling jib and masthead-asymmetric spinnaker) and large cockpit to accommodate a racing crew of three or four. 'We’re excited to have the J/70 involved in this prestigious event,' said Jeff Johnstone, president of J Boats. 'The teams will find the boats well-balanced upwind and down and a blast to sail.' The J/70 is being built in the USA, by CCF Composites of Bristol, RI, builder of the J/95 and J/111.

Both the Invitational Cup and the USQS are for Corinthian (amateur) sailors who represent their yacht clubs. 'The 2012 USQS will provide teams with some of the most challenging sailing possible by continuing the dual-fleet format and testing sailors in both traditional one-designs (Sonars) and modern high-performance keelboats (J/70),' said Will Crump, event co-chair, who added, 'We expect to announce the invited clubs soon.'

In the inaugural NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex in 2009, 19 yacht club teams from 14 countries, from four continents competed. The winner was the team from the host NYYC. In the 2010 USQS, 24 yacht club teams from the U.S. competed. Eastern Yacht Club won the USQS followed by Annapolis Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club (Calif.). The second biennial Invitational Cup presented by Rolex in 2011 saw 22 yacht club teams from 16 nations from six continents compete. The winner was the team from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
NYYC Invitational Cup website