WMRT: Knickerbocker Cup helps create U.S. match race series

by World Match Racing Tour media

The 27th Annual Knickerbocker Cup, hosted by the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, will take place on August 26-30, 2009. The Knickerbocker Cup is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to compete in the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. Twelve teams from around the world will be invited to compete in the 2009 Knickerbocker Cup.

This year the Knickerbocker Cup has joined with two other match racing events to form a series. The Chicago Match Race, Chicago Match Race Center, Chicago, Illinois, will take place on August 21-23, and the Detroit Cup, a qualifier for the Brasil Sailing Cup on the World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the Bayview YC, Detroit, Michigan, is on Sept. 2-6.

Manhasset Bay YC Commodore, Sue Miller, who has been the PRO for the Knickerbocker Cup for several years, said, “I am delighted that Manhasset Bay YC is hosting the Knickerbocker Cup this year, continuing a long and great tradition of match racing on Manhasset Bay. The caliber of the competitors for this prestigious event is something for which the Knickerbocker Cup is well known. It is a thrilling event with incredibly close boat to boat matches that make it a fabulous spectator event.”

The Knickerbocker Cup began in 1982 by the late Edward I. du Moulin and the late Arthur Knapp to bring high quality match racing to the east coast of the United States. Over the years, the Knickerbocker Cup has attracted racers from around the world, including Paul Cayard, Ed Baird, Russell Coutts, Terry Hutchinson, Peter Gilmour, Dave Perry, and Dave Dellenbaugh. Last year’s winner was Takumi Nakamura's Albatross Match Racing Team, from Japan.

For more information about the 2009 Knickerbocker Cup, to download the Notice of Race and request an invitation to the Cup, go to: www.manhassetbayyc.org and select Knickerbocker Cup.

Knickerbocker Cup
World Match Racing Tour