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INTERCLUB COMPETITION
CYC BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR INTERCLUB COMPETITION
BY BRIDGET GROBLE
The Chicago Yacht Club team’s fourth-place finish at the prestigious Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup against a field of elite global competitors shows the promise of a revitalized interclub racing program at Chicago Yacht Club. U.S. match racing champion Peter Holz helmed an all-member team for the event at California’s Long Beach Yacht Club, sailed from May 31 to June 5. Many of the world’s best match racers competed in Catalina 37 sailboats for three days of round-robin racing. Competitors included teams hailing from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Norway. After being eliminated in a semifinal race against the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the CYC team won third place in petits against the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, securing an overall fourth-place result. The CYC team of Alex Curtiss, Gordon Lamphere, Raymond Groble IV, Graham Eger, Bridget Groble, and William Curtiss sailed together for the first time at the event and revealed the quality of our club’s sailing and racing. Our sailors consistently improved boat handling and speed; learning from each other and admirably representing our membership to a global audience. The historic and storied Seawanhaka Cup is the oldest yachting trophy originated in the United States that is still in active competition. The first challenge was sailed in Oyster Bay, New York in 1895. The interclub, match-racing event is held at the venue that hosts the Congressional Cup, known as the “gateway to the America’s Cup”. Competition is between international teams comprised of regular members of the yacht club they represent, and team members must be a national of the club’s country. Our competitors reported the host club to be hospitable and welcoming and the team built friendships with their regatta hosts and race competitors over the two formal dinners and two casual evenings at the club. While CYC has participated intermittently in a number of these challenges over the years, we have never had a formalized Challenge Program as do peers such as the St. Francis Yacht Club, Annapolis Yacht Club and New York Yacht Club. An InterClub Competition Committee led by Past Commodore Leif Sigmond is working to change that and the club is developing sailors and teams for this season and coming years. Please help us understand your interest in this developing area of member participation with a survey. ✶
