New kids on the block for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup

Swan 42s lined up for the start at the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup © Rolex / Daniel Forster

When the competitors representing 11 nations gather next month in Newport for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, September 12-19, 2015, there will be some new faces among the 17 entered yacht club teams. Testing the talents of amateur sailors, the fourth edition of this regatta will feature one of the most competitive fields thus far in event history: almost half of the entries are competing for their fourth consecutive time. The only new kids on the block will be the Middle Harbour Yacht Club team from Mosman, Australia, about 20 minutes north of Sydney.

While Middle Harbour Yacht Club is new to this event, it brings a wealth of experience. At the team's helm will be 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Guido Belgiono-Nettis who is familiar with the challenging conditions found on Rhode Island Sound and Narragansett Bay from having raced here many times, including during the 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship.

Belgiorno-Nettis has stacked the deck with several members of his 2011 world championship-winning crew, including Sam Williams (trim), Pete Sheldrick (pit) and Chris Cook (offside trim), who all raced together in the 2014 world championship as did 2004 Etchells World Champion Julian Plante, who will handle tactics. Katie Spithill, the 2014 Australian Women's Match Racing Champion, will be the team strategist. Rounding out the 11-strong crew is Matt Stenta, the current MC38 Australian Champion, 2010 Australian Match Racing Champion Jack Hubbard, James Bury, Michael Dunstan, and Australian Youth Championship silver medalist Ryan Wilmot.

Coaching the Middle Harbor team is Bob Wilmot, who represented Australia in the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea, father of Ryan Wilmot and a member of one of Australia's most well-known sailing families. Wilmot explained how the team was preparing for the 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup: "We are continuing Farr 40 racing through the Aussie winter and have borrowed a boat with similar layout to the Swan 42 to get used to wheel steering and asymmetrical spinnakers. As the winter breezes in Sydney are mainly in the early morning, we are doing our Swan 42-type training sessions at 0700.

"The team will arrive in the evening of September 10 and will use the 11th to see the wonderful sights of Newport before getting into the sailing on the 12th," continued Wilmot. "Newport is one of those special places and I want the crew who have not been to Newport to really get a good look of the place before we go sailing."

Wilmot also confirmed that Belgiorno-Nettis was the driving force behind Middle Harbour Yacht Club entering the competition. "Guido has competed in two Farr 40 regattas in Newport and loved the people and the place. He prefers one-design racing and was really excited at the club challenge concept of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup."

The popularity of the biennial Invitational Cup, which was run for the first time in 2009, directly correlates to it being a one-design regatta for large boats. The New York Yacht Club Swan 42s used for the regatta are identical; sails and running rigging are provided; the boats are identically equipped; and the rigging tension is standardized throughout the fleet; all of which ensures that no team has an equipment edge, as is evidenced by the extremely close racing.

The crew composition for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is strictly limited to non-professional sailors. This promotion of Corinthian sailing, which rewards preparation, teamwork and tactical expertise, aligns perfectly with the core values of Rolex, title sponsor of the event, and partner of New York Yacht Club since 1994. The event forms a proud part of its association with yachting and the world's most prestigious yacht clubs.

Off the water, the team's collective passion for the sport is celebrated. Rolex and New York Yacht Club provide the competitors and their supporters with a unique, first-class social experience at Harbour Court where they can renew old acquaintances, make new ones and relive the day's action. Daily videos, live regatta coverage and an active social media presence allows anyone interested in top amateur competition to follow the event in real time, from no matter where in the world they might be watching.

For more information visit nyyc.org/yachting/invitational-cup