Race Management at the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup 2011

This year ZUCKER & PARTNER undertook race and crew management for the participation of the Norddeutschen Regattaverein (NRV) [North German Regatta Association] in the 2nd Invitational Cup of the New York Yacht Club in New Port, Rhode Island. The regatta was sailed by Swan 42 yachts from 10th to 17th September. The NRV team achieved 15th place and had by far the youngest helmsman in Johannes Polgar, 34, former Star European Champion. As Team Captain, Niels Hentschel from ZUCKER & PARTNER was responsible for the smooth running of the Hamburg team’s participation; on board he ensured optimum mainsail trim. The 11-man NRV team was among the youngest of the 22 teams from 16 countries. However, it was hard to compete against the concentrated offshore expertise of the North American and Canadian yacht clubs. “We must simply do more sailing on boats like this!” confirmed tactician Florian Spalteholz. Perhaps the opportunity for this will present itself by 2013, which is when the next Invitational Cup of the New York Yacht Club takes place. The 2011 regatta was won by the crew of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, skippered by Terry Loughlin.