The second half of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Race week at Newport promises high class racing action featuring IRC Class boats. The race would be spread over four days with the winner taking home the Rolex US-IRC National Championship, and the respect of their peers.

Rhode Island, the designated venue for the race, is characterized by even sea faring conditions, quiet picturesque locations, disturbed occasionally, by sea gulls swooping on the water for its feed, and vast stretches of cold water of aquamarine blue.   However, the conditions on the final day of the first part of the race week were exactly opposite, characterized by frothing ocean, raging wind, leading to the abandonment of the race, much to the consternation of fans, who were expecting yet another sunny day, clear blue skies, and world class sailing action.

That being said, the first week did offer some vintage sailing action; a pity that the race could not continue towards its logical end. Phil Lotz’s Arethusa took the class honors in the NYYC Swan 42 class, sailing aboard the Arethusa. Incidentally, last the Arethusa won on the basis of cumulative points after the race was terminated because of bad weather.

Like each year, the Rolex US-IRC National Championship attracts some of the best yachts in the business including Ron O’Hanley’s 50-foot Privateer, George David’s 90-foot Rambler, Richard Oland’s Southern Cross 52 Vela Veloce, Dan Meyers’s J/V 66-footer Numbers, and Ray Roberts’s STP65 Evolution Racing.

Ray Robert likens the Rolex US-IRC National Championship as the racing between designers rather than between sailors. Roberts likes the healthy rivalry between the Americans and the Australians in the Rolex US-IRC National Championship. The Evolution features some very experienced names in the world of sailing including boat builder Steve McConaghy, Australian strategist Jamie McFale, and chief sail designer Ben DeCoster and Andy Hudson, who chartered the Transfusion to its second placed finish in the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 Worlds.

IRC 2 will consist of seven boats including the Privateer, Vela Veloce, R/P 55 Rima 2, Farr 60 Captivity, the 52 footer Anema & Core, the 55 footer Sforzando, and the 50 Snow Lion.

The IRC 3 class will feature Phil Lotz’s Arethusa, the winner of the Swann 42 class. The Arethusa does not normally feature in the IRC 3 class; however, Phil Lotz is willing to try the yacht in this class, hoping that the luck holds. The IRC 4 class will feature 8 boats where as the largest fleet will be featured in the IRC 5 class that will feature 10 boats in all including the 48 foot Sloop that won the Newport Bermuda Race’s St. David’s Lighthouse Division.

The Rolex New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport ran into rough weather ahead of the final day’s sailing activities, forcing the organizers to curtail further the competition. The race was poised for an interesting finish when the skies opened up; the downpour that followed made the sea froth and rage, making it unsuitable for sailing activities.

Since the race could not be continued the organizers decided to announce the winners based on cumulative standing posted.  Damian Emery (Shoreham, N.Y.) skippering the J/105 Eclipse was straightaway catapulted to the top of the table, courtesy his good showing in the competition. Incidentally, he won the 2008 event in similar conditions, when a storm aborted the sailing on the last day. Reminiscing that day, way back in 2008, he said that the storm had come out of the blue and they were totally caught unawares. The raging storm had shredded their sail to bits; however, this time they had sufficient warning before the storm hit the bay, allowing them to take down their sails in time. However, Damian Emery was not complaining, as he took the awards in the Rolex Awards Ceremony, in perfect weather conditions characterized by blue skies and gentle sea faring conditions.

Robin Wallace, principal race officer for the White Course, said that initially it looked as if the storm would blow over; however, the condition only worsened with time, with winds blowing at more than 27 knots. Fortunately, the yachts had their radios turned on, and, were able to return to the safety of the harbor, before the storm hit the seas.

The Eclipse led by master tactician, Dan Neff, knew that the team needed two decent finishes to wrap up the competition they had dominated until then-posting four wins out of the six they had raced. However, they were wary of Joerg Esdorn’s KIncsem, which was perfectly capable of turning the table upside down in the remaining two races.

The 13 boat J/109 class featured closer competition with the Gut Feeling, skippered by Ted Herlihy winning by the narrowest of margins. Second place, Caminos, owned by Don Fillippelli, was just four points adrift of Gut Feeling and Ted Herlihy was worried about what could have happened. Commenting on the racing conditions, he said that breeze dropped to almost negligible, making it almost impossible for Gut Feeling to cross the line. Kristen Robinson, team-member of Caminos said that Gut Feeling out-raced them over six races and the top prize was richly deserved.

Elsewhere, Phil Lotz, skippering the Arethusa, trumped the 15 boat NYYC Swan 42 class, to become the class’s National Champion for the second year running.

The New York Yacht Club’s (NYYC) Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex is a split format biennial regatta offering One-Design, Classic, 12 Meter and PHRF racing in the beginning of the week followed by IRC racing and the Rolex US-IRC National Championship. This keenly awaited event by the sailing community begins in the month of July every year, providing thrilling sailing activity on the high seas.

Peter Cummiskey, race participant cum organizer, says that the event would feature some of the best talents in the world of sailing including those with experience in America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race and the winner of the Bermuda race that got completed very recently.  He also said that the format allowed boats with different configurations to compete. The first half of the week will feature One Design, PHRF and Classic classes, giving the owner the opportunity to switch over to the Rolex US-IRC National title.

The racing is very competitive with the teams separated by one or two boat’s length. The One Design fleets, comprising the NYYC Swan 42 Class, will feature 14 boats in all, including the defending champion Arethusa, owned by Phil Lotz, winner of the inaugural NYYC Invitational Cup in September, 2009. Roger Widman, who sails in the Quintessence, says that the sailing competition is extremely competitive, but the current form favors the Arethusa and the Blazer.  Blazer, owned by Chris Culver (New York, NY) and the annual regatta winner, faces stiff completion from the Hoss, owned by Glen Darden (Fort Worth, TX), runner up at the Regatta.

The J/109 class features 10 boats including the defending champion Storm, owned by Rick Lyall and 2008 champion, Gut Feeling, owned by Ted Herlihy.   The starting lining is also expected to feature class acts like the Beneteau 36.7.

The custom built 90 footer Rambler favorite for the overall IRC title is expected to face tough competition from Vela Veloce, owned by Richard Oland, winner of the IRC class at the 2010 International Rolex Regatta, Ron O’ Hanley’s Cookson 52, Privateer, winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 and Ray Robert’s STP65 Evolution Racing.

The Rolex US-IRC National Championship is constantly moved around the country in order to promote the growth of IRC fleet. The 2009 series was held in conjunction with the St. Francis Yacht Club’s Rolex Big Boat Series, the year before the series was co-held at the 48th Little Traverse Yacht Club Regatta. The inaugural series was held at the Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race week

As usual the Racing week will feature NYYC’s notable management skills, beautiful locales around the Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island, access to world class racing facilities in North America and excellent hospitality, courtesy New York Yacht Club’s membership and staff.

Determined to change the fortunes of sailing as a spot, Rolex has had a long standing relation with sailing al over the world. Forging a bond with US Sailing, Rolex aids this illustrious body in creating sailing events all across America. The New York Yacht Club has enjoyed the unwavering support of Rolex for a long time now. During this period the New York Yacht Club in association with Rolex has held a number of regatta challenges that illustrate the heritage and the glory of this historical association.

The most eminent and celebrated challenge of the New York Yacht Club is the Invitational Cup that is slated to begin on 15^th of September this year. A total of nineteen teams representing fourteen different nations will be competing at the revered Invitational Cup. Amidst the illustrious teams that will be competing at this years event are two teams that will be representing the New York Yacht Club and the St. Francis Yacht Club of California. Regarded as an institution, the New York Yacht Club is probably the oldest yacht club in the United States. With such a tremendous history to its name representing this eminent club at the Invitational Cup is a great honor for sailors.

Held over a period of four days, the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup has teams competing on the NYYC Swan 42s. Onboard the vessels the maximum crew that is allowed is 11 people who have to be a citizen of that particular country. The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is proud tradition in the sport of regatta and has been recognized as the proving ground for sailors everywhere. The rich heritage of this cup is one of the alluring aspects of this challenge. To compete in such a prestigious challenge is not only a great opportunity for sailors but also an immense honor. The team that is selected to represent the New York Yacht Club is determined on the basis of their performances in the matches that lead up to the Invitational Cup. This year Phil and Wendy Lotz from New Canaan onboard their vessel called Arethusa grasped the position of representing the club. After beating all the other rivals in an elimination series that comprised two regattas namely the NYYC Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, that was held from the 12^th to the 14^th of June and the Swan 42 National Championship that was held from the 16^th to the 19^th of July.

Beating out Andrew Fisher onboard the Bandit that was in the lead in the first race Phil and Wendy Lotz clinched the spot of participating on behalf of the club at the Invitational Cup. Even though a total of 20 boats were in competition for the spot Andrew Fisher’s team along with two other teams namely David K. Elwell Jr.’s team onboard the Conspiracy and Paul Zabetakis’s team with their boat called Impetuous that posed a threat to the Phil and Wendy Lotz team.

The close contested battle finally came to a close and saw a tremendous display of talent and technique. The New York Yacht Club team will be vying to bring home the trophy of the Invitational Cup and will be up against some of the best teams from around the world. As the Invitational Cup comes closer the anticipation to crown the champion is surging steadily.