Hamilton Island Yacht Club confirmed as Challenger of Record for AC35

ORACLE TEAM USA are presented with the America's Cup in San Francisco © Gilles Martin-Raget / ACEA

Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC), located on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, has challenged for the 35th America's Cup. HIYC's challenge has been accepted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which remains the Defender and Trustee of the world's oldest international sporting trophy after its team, ORACLE TEAM USA owned by Larry Ellison, won the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco last Wednesday.

For the past three decades HIYC has run Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, which has become the largest annual regatta in Australia with some 200 offshore yachts competing in recent years.

HIYC is led by Australian winemaker and sailing legend Bob Oatley, whose succession of yachts named Wild Oats have dominated ocean racing in Australia for years, including having won six of the last eight Sydney-Hobart races. An Australian team led by Mr. Oatley won the last Admiral's Cup, widely regarded as the world's top prize in ocean racing.

The challenge was filed by Mr. Oatley and his son, Sandy, on behalf of HIYC shortly after ORACLE TEAM USA won the thrilling deciding final race in the 34th America's Cup against Emirates Team New Zealand on San Francisco Bay on September 25th.

"We are delighted to have Hamilton Island Yacht Club and the Oatley's leading Australia back into the America's Cup for the first time since 2000," said GGYC Vice Commodore and America's Cup liaison Tom Ehman. "Hamilton Island's challenge was filed on the day Australia was celebrating the 30th anniversary of Australia II's historic win in the 1983 America's Cup off Newport, RI, which ended New York Yacht Club's 132-year reign as the Cup's defender."

"Given Australia's previous success in the America's Cup, the Admiral's Cup and Olympic yachting, and as proud Australians, we think it is time for our nation to be back in our sport's pinnacle event," Mr. Oatley said. "The recently completed America's Cup in San Francisco has revolutionized the sport for sailors and fans, and we were excited to see how many Australians played key roles on the teams and in the regatta organization."

Vice Commodore Ehman added, "The dates, type of boat, format and rules are subject to negotiation between the Challenger of Record and Defender following consultation with prospective challengers, venues, sponsors and other stakeholders. Both Clubs are keen to have multiple challengers, as has been the norm since 1970, and to cut campaign costs for all teams. But first we must determine the venue, which, under the America's Cup Deed of Gift, is decided by the Defender."

GGYC and HIYC expect to have a Protocol Governing the 35th America's Cup, including dates, venue, boats and other details, agreed and published in the first few months of 2014.

www.americascup.com

Yachting Australia congratulates Hamilton Island Yacht Club on America's Cup challenge (from Craig Heydon, Yachting Australia)

Yachting Australia would like to congratulate the Hamilton Island Yacht Club on being announced as the official Challenger of Record for the 35th America's Cup.

Hamilton Island Yacht Club announced this morning that they had challenged the Golden Gate Yacht Club and Oracle Team USA for the America's Cup following the American's win in San Francisco last week.

The Hamilton Island Yacht Club, led by Bob and Sandy Oatley, will work with their American counterparts to plan the 35th America's Cup.

Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones welcomed today's announcement, saying that it came at a great time for Australian sailing.

"On behalf of the Australian sailing community I'd like to congratulate Bob and Sandy Oatley, and the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, on being announced as the Challenger of Record for the next America's Cup," said Jones. "The most recent America's Cup was incredibly exciting for old and new sailing fans and we look forward to seeing an Australian boat compete for the oldest trophy in sport once again.

"Australia has a proud sailing history and it's great to see Hamilton Island Yacht Club and the Oatley family announce their challenge less than a week after an Australian skippered Oracle Team USA to victory and we celebrated the 30th anniversary of Australia II's win," he said. "We look forward to working with the club to create a pathway for Australia's young sailors to compete at the top level.

"This challenge will help to inspire Australia's next group of champion sailors as the dream of racing for the America's Cup on a boat with an Australian flag will now be within reach," said Jones.

Australia was the most represented country in this year's America's Cup, despite the country not having its own boat. Australians featured heavily on both Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand, with James Spithill, Tom Slingsby, Kyle Langford and Joe Newton racing with the Americans, and Glenn Ashby and Adam Beashel with the New Zealanders.

The 35th America's Cup will be the first time that Australia has had an entry in the event since the 30th edition in Auckland in 2000, when James Spithill skippered the Young Australia entry.

The Oatley family has been heavily involved in Australian sailing for decades, including owning Wild Oats XI which has won line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart six times, and the handicap trophy twice.

Bob and Sandy Oatley are also patrons of the Australian Sailing Team, with Hamilton Island a long-standing major co-sponsor of the team.