Cal Cup preview: Pac52's take the show to Marina Del Rey
by Julie Servais, Pac52 Media 29 May 2018 06:04 PDT
1 June 2018
David Team and Vesper © Mark Albertazzi
The second leg of the 2018 PAC 52 Series commences on Friday June 1st as the Grand Prix Yachts visit the California Yacht Club as part of the Cal Race Week.
The Yacht Club founded in 1922 has a rich history in the West Coast Yachting scene including hosting Star, six and eight meter Championships. The Club was also a key player in the 1932 and 1984 Olympic games. Household names such as Peter Isler, J.J. Fetter, Bill Peterson, Rod Davis, Jim Kilroy, and Roy Disney are among the list of sailors to have called The California Yacht Club Home.
Joining the fleet for three days of tight course racing will be David Team and his recently acquired 52' Vesper. Despite her 10 year vintage, Vesper is well known for her quality pedigree, especially in lighter air. Originally built as a med boat for Quantum, she was later sold to Jim Swartz who had campaigned her internationally with great success. A Botin design and built by Longitude 0, she has been impeccably maintained and boasts all the latest systems. She put on a great showing earlier in the season at the San Diego Yacht Club where she turned heads finishing in the top three in three races with nine boats competing before suffering some rigging issues.
David Team brings with him a crew well attuned to the 52's, his previous whip was Rebel Yell which competed throughout SoCal trading jabs with Victor Wild's Bud on a regular basis. It was at the 2011 Big Boat Series, competing in IRC A where he witnessed Vesper's power and speed. "I was amazed at the time of how she quickly separated herself from the fleet" David recalls.
After sailing as guest with the Pac52's last season, David was sold and the hunt was on. Vesper provides a quality platform at a much-discounted price compared to a new boat, and there is no wait.
Vesper now resides in Dana Point with RIO 52' as her stable mate, enabling boat on boat training opportunities. David looks forward the Cal Sailing Week Competition and is keenly aware of the weather's deposition... It can blow hard, or less hard....
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