Lafayette sweeps a 6 – 0 victory in Part One of the Canada’s Cup Defender Series
July 08 2016
— Hollandia takes second and Gefion third —
Round One of the 24th Canada’s Cup (#CanadasCup #yearofthe8) Defender Series consisted of nine races over three days, in diverse weather conditions. Lafayette was undefeated with six wins and zero losses. Hollandia trailed behind with three victories and four losses. Gefion struggled with zero wins. The three-day competition presented itself with a variety of conditions: light wind (no wind), heavy wind and thunder storms. The race committee managed to host nine races in these difficult conditions.
“It has been a good start to the series for Team Lafayette. The crew has worked very hard on the boat this spring and it is nice to see all that hard work translate into results on the water. Lafayette has performed well in a variety of wind conditions. We look forward to the second round of racing starting on July 15”, says Terry McLaughlin, skipper of Layfayette.
The races took place in the Modern Grand Prix 8 Metre yacht. Part One of the match-race elimination series scores one point per win. Part Two of the series will score double points per win. The high point winner will have the honour of competing in the coveted Canada’s Cup competition www.canadascup.org or https://rcyc.ca/Canadas_Cup/Canadas_cup_results/Defence_Trials_Results_1.aspx
The Results
The Canada’s Cup, an America’s Cup style sailboat match-race, between Canada and the United States, attracts high performance sailors from across the region to compete in Great Lakes sailing excellence. Layfayette, Hollandia and Gefion will face-off again July 13-15 to decide who will represent Canada in the 24th Canada’s Cup on the 120th anniversary.
The Canadian Defender Series
A two-part round robin elimination series in which the first yacht to win sufficient points will become the official Defender for the Canada’s Cup Championship match series in September.
The Teams
Team Gefion (RCYC) is skippered by Richard Self crewed by Hugh Beaton tactician, Mike Malloy (trimmer), Mark Decelles (pitman) and Billy Gooderham (bow), Hamish Matthews and Taylor Self.
Team Hollandia (RCYC) is skippered by Bryan Gooderham and crewed by Rob Emery, Will Gyles, Allan Megarry, Erwyn Naidoo, Jennifer Provan, Michael Rustom, Peter Wickwire, Mike Wolfs
Team Lafayette (RCYC) is skippered by Terry McLaughlin and crewed by Dave Jarvis (main), Geoff Moore (primaries), Sandy Andrews(bow), Justin Barnes (pitman), Andrew McTavish (primaries) and Tony Bowman (primaries)
The winners of the defender series will partake in the Canada’s Cup Championship series which will be held September 10-14, 2016 on Lake Ontario offshore from Toronto and hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club, RCYC.
About the 24th Canada’s Cup
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) hosts the ultimate of North American match racing sailing events—the 24th Canada’s Cup challenge and the 120th anniversary of the Cup. A historic event that celebrates excellence in sailing and the rivalry and comradery of Canadian and American sailors on the Great Lakes. This year the event officially marks the revival of the historic, classic and much-admired International 8 Metre (8mR) class, but in its most modern and developed form, called the Modern 8mR. The return of the 8mR to the Canada’s Cup has been longed for by Canadian and American sailors who have kept the class vibrant and alive since 1954—the 8mR’s last challenge for the Cup.
In the summer of 2016, the Canada’s Cup, sailed in the Modern 8mR, celebrates tradition and glamour along with a modern hi-tech look in head-to-head, match-racing-style competition for yacht-racing excellence of the Great Lakes.
Toronto’s RCYC is the current holder and defender of the Canada’s Cup. The defender is the yacht club who won the previous Canada’s Cup while the challenger of record is the yacht club who officially issues the challenge for the next regatta in hopes to win the coveted Canada’s Cup. The challenger for the 24th Canada’s Cup is the Sodus Bay Yacht Club from New York State. The trials, or qualification series, take place in July for both the Canadian and US teams. Gefion, Hollandia, and Lafayette are the Canadian contenders while Aluette, Natural, and Yquem 1 are the US contenders. The winners will compete in the 24th Canada Cup in September.
About RCYC
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) offers both a down town city club and an island yacht club.
The RCYC’s Olympic calibre sailing facilities hosted the 2015 Pan American Games.
RCYC was founded in 1852 to serve both as a yachting recreational club and, in the British tradition, as an unofficial auxiliary of the Royal Navy in the defence of the waters of Lake Ontario. Two of the primary objectives of the club are to promote yacht architecture, building and sailing; and to promote excellence in competitive sailing.
