Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup – GBR line up completed

by Matt Carter on 23 May 2012 The Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup 2012 is being held from 21st July to 28th July. The GBR line up has been completed today, Tuesday 22nd May, with the announcement of four teams representing RYA Team GBR this July in one of the most prestigious events on the international yachting calendar.

The 11th biennial event gives crews the opportunity to compete for their country as part of a team event and is always an extremely competitive regatta. In 2008 RYA Team GBR won the Commodores' Cup and narrowly missed out to Ireland in 2010. This year, the RYA's selectors have sought to ensure the best possible combination of boats and crews to ensure victory this summer, and also help develop strength in depth for future years.

After the largest and most competitive trials in years, ranging from a challenging Morgan Cup race (5 May) in bitterly cold conditions to three days racing in the Vice Admiral Cup this weekend (18-20 May), the Royal Yachting Association can confirm that RYA Team GBR Red, White, Blue and Black are as follows:

RYA Team GBR Red : Dignity (Mills 39), Eaujet (Archambault 35), Keronimo (Ker 40).
RYA Team GBR White: Joopster (J/122), Magnum III (Ker 40), Philosophie (Beneteau First 40.7)
RYA Team GBR Blue: Incognito (Beneteau 40.7), La Reponse (First 40), Premier Flair (Elan 410).
RYA Team GBR Black: Cobra (King 40), Salvo (Corby 33), Yeoman of Wight (J/109).

The top boat emerging from the trials process was Plymouth based Dignity which will be representing RYA Team GBR Red on the quest for victory out on the Solent this July. Andrew Williams, the owner and helm of the Mills 39, and his crew have impressed across both offshore and inshore events, finishing fourth at the Morgan Cup and then rounding off the selection process in empathic style by clinching a first at the Vice Admirals Cup this weekend to secure their place in RYA Team GBR Red.

Stacey Clark, Chairman of the RYA Council and Chairman of the Commodores' Cup Selection Committee, commented: 'The selection trials have been extremely competitive with just seconds between the boats on both the inshore and offshore races. We were very impressed by the standard of racing and have decided to enter four teams for the Brewin Dolphin Commodores Cup, the maximum number allowed.

'The Red, White and Blue teams will be very competitive against the other national teams and newly appointed team manager Nigel King will be working with the teams to try and ensure a GBR victory this summer. Our Black team contains relatively new boat and crew combinations that we expect to get increasingly competitive over time and have the potential to perform well,' concluded Clark.

John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager/Performance Director, added: 'The RYA has already achieved one of its objectives and that was to maximise the number of boats entering the trials process. Our next objective is to win the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup and I believe that the teams selected have the potential to do this. I would particularly like to thank both RORC and the Royal Corinthian YC who have worked with the RYA to both allow and modify their events to enable the trials process to simulate the type of racing we expect at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup itself.'

A tough mix of inshore and offshore racing, the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup 2012 is an intense seven-day programme for IRC (endorsed) rated yachts that will take place in and around the Solent from Saturday 21st July – Saturday 28th July 2012.

For further information on the event please visit the event website.

RYA website