| COWES, UNITED KINGDOM-(9-7-2003) Peter Harrison's Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and Cowes Corinthian Yacht
Club (CCYC) Sailability Admirals Cup Teams will line up against six other
teams from Australia, France, Spain and the UK this Saturday, 12th July, for
the start of one of the world's top international sailing events, The
Admirals Cup. Although competing against one another they are sailing under
one banner and cause, to raise awareness and funds for RYA Sailability, the
UK's leading charity in disabled sailing. This is unique to the Admirals
Cup- to have two teams entered under one name. It is also an historic
concept as around half of the 25 Cowes Corinthian team members are drawn
from disabled sailors.
The RORC Sailability Team are fully able bodies, including ten key members
of GBR Challenge, America's Cup team, are looking to become the first
British team to win the Admirals Cup in 14 years. The key challenge for the
historic CCYC Sailability Team is to prove disabled sailors can compete on a
level playing field against some of the top professional sailors in the
world.
Team Captain, Peter Harrison explained his thoughts for the Admirals Cup,
`I'm proud to have put these teams together and I am looking forward to some
competitive racing over the next two weeks, during the seven inshore and two
offshore races. Our teams' ultimate aims are to win the Admirals Cup for
Great Britain, whilst raising awareness and funds for a much deserved
charity - RYA Sailability.`
Heading the Sailability RORC Challenge on the Rodman 42 will be GBR
Challenge Skipper, Ian Walker and Olympic Gold Medallist, Ben Ainslie. This
will be the first time the two have sailed together and the first ever
Admirals Cup for Ainslie.
Marc Fitzgerald will skipper the Sailability RORC big boat, Peter Harrison's
Farr 52, Chernikeeff 2. Sharing the helm will be Ian Budgen and Chris Main,
supported by Jules Salter on tactics with Chris Mason on mainsheet.
`We have a fantastic team, with a blend of experience and youth. I'm
particularly excited about racing with Ben Ainslie for the first time,` said
Ian Walker. `The Admirals Cup always provides interesting racing with a
great mix of inshore and offshore races- the favourites don't always win and
there are always surprises,` he concluded.
Skippering the Cowes Corinthian big boat is Paralympic Gold Medallist, Andy
Cassell, who will steer the Farr 50, Chernikeeff with the support of GBR
Challenge sailors Richard Sydenham and Mo Gray on tactics and mainsheet.
Andy Green will steer the Cowes Corinthian, Sinergia 40 in the small boat
division along with Paralympic Team member, Hannah Stodel, who faces the
biggest sailing challenge of her life, as mainsheet trimmer. This will be
Hannah's first foray into big boat racing, having spent much of the past
three years as part of the RYA Youth Programme, competing at World level in
the 29er class.
Andy Cassell highlighted the importance such an opportunity holds for
disabled sailors `I really hope that the event will raise the profile of
disabled sailing and make fund raising in the future easier. RYA
Sailability's total emphasis is getting disabled people on the water and
with the help of Peter Harrison, `Sailability` has moved on the take on some
of the top professionals in the sailing world. Hopefully the Sailability
Admirals Cup Team will raise the profile of disabled sailing, as well as
raising funds for a great charity.`
As well as the racing, Peter Harrison will host the `Sailability Admiral's
Cup Team Party` on Thursday 17th July at The Royal Yacht Squadron. It is
hoped that substantial funds will be raised for the charity. Entertainment
will include live music, Gutter Racing and Star-studded Match Racing.
Notes to Editors
* The Admiral's Cup takes place in Cowes, Isle of Wight from the 12th
- 23rd July 2003
* A total of 16 boats will be competing representing four separate
nations, Australia, France, Great Britain and Spain.
* Event website www.rorc.org
* RYA Sailability website www.rya.org.uk/sailability
* For further information and tickets about the Sailability Admirals
Cup Team Party Telephone 01983 531465 or email sailability@main-sail.com
|
