2004 Patriots Cup at Newport, Rhode Island
by Chris Hill 5 Oct 2004 16:28 BST
25-26 September 2004
The Hamble River Sailing Club team retain the Patriots Cup © Chris Hill
Hamble River Sailing Club have retained the Patriots' Cup team racing trophy sailed in Shields One-Design 30-footers at Newport, Rhode Island (25-26 September). Sailed annually since 1996 (excluding 2001) the events attracts teams from the USA, UK, Ireland and Canada.
Skippered by Jonty Sherwill, Ian Southworth, and Shaun Barber the Hamble River Sailing Club team were the first overseas victors in 2003, also winning this year the newly awarded Russell Hoyt Memorial trophy presented by the Storm Trysail Club in honour of one of the founder members of the Patriots' Cup event.
More from Rich du Moulin:
The racing was aggressive and the parties lively at the eighth running of the Patriot’s Cup Team Race, held in Newport, Rhode Island on September 25-26 and co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club and Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Seven teams from the UK, Canada, and the U.S.A. renewed their rivalries in borrowed Shields Class sloops equipped with identical mains and jibs donated by well known sailor and friend to the regatta Russell Hoyt (Newport) who passed away a month ago.
The Hamble River Sailing Club, which calls the Solent home, successfully defended the Patriot’s Cup against strong pressure from the Storm Trysail Club team. Both teams sported 9-1 records but the double round-robin could not be completed due to a fading breeze on Sunday. The series, therefore, was based on the scores from the windy first round where Hamble had beaten Storm Trysail.
Unfortunately, Storm Trysail never got its second shot at the British sailors. Ida Lewis edged out New York Yacht Club for third, while Royal Victoria of Vancouver Island, Canada and two Sigma Class teams, representing the Scottish and English fleets, rounded out the pack.
In addition to winning the Patriots Cup--an old tea mug supposedly salvaged from the Boston Tea Party--Hamble also won the first Russell Hoyt Memorial Trophy, donated by Storm Trysail Club to recognize the best overseas competitor.
The sister regatta to the Patriot’s Cup is the Sigma Class Team Race Championship, which takes place annually in May and was first run in 1987. The Storm Trysail, Ida Lewis and New York Yacht Clubs always are invited to compete in the regatta, which alternates between Hamble and Dublin and includes British and Irish teams. Great friendships have been built over the years, and sportsmanship and humor have balanced the tight racing.
Overall Results:
Hamble River Sailing Club, Jonty Sherwill, 6-0
Storm Trysail Club, Rich du Moulin, Larchmont, N.Y., 5-1
Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Andy Burton, Newport, R.I., 4-2
New York Yacht Club, Heather Gregg, Boston, Mass., 3-3
Royal Victoria, Mike Turner, 2-4
Sigma Red 1-5
Sigma Blue 0-6