#rya - The RYA has announced that following the conclusion of its selection trials over the bank holiday weekend (24-26 May), four teams have been selected to represent RYA Team GBR at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup 2014 in July, where Great Britain will aim to defend its 2012 title.
With RYA Team Scotland already announced in February, the RYA retained the potential to select up to three further teams. The remaining boats within the trials have looked to impress the RYA Selection Panel of Chris Mason, Chris Arscott and Jonathan Goring who have been on the water observing the boats and their crew work over a series of inshore and offshore events.
The selection trials started on 3 May with the RORC Cervantes Trophy across to Le Havre. The race turned out to be a very light wind race which favoured the smaller boats as the wind increased towards the end of the race.
Due to the cancellation of the Vice Admiral's Cup, which was due to be run between 9-11 May, to provide the inshore section of the trials, the remainder of the trials had to be re-organised swiftly to ensure that selections could be based on good, solid racing. This included organising a re-run version of the Vice Admiral's Cup and a specific offshore race run for the RYA by RORC, which were all squeezed into the bank holiday weekend.
Chris Mason, Chair of RYA Selection Panel, commented: "The RYA would very much like to thank Jo Chugg and her team at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes and Nick Elliott and his team at RORC for helping the RYA rearrange its trials at such short notice. I would also like to thank Stuart Childerley as Race Officer for the weekend and importantly all of the owners and crews for being so patient and forgiving in assisting the RYA in looking at alternative dates and formats of racing.
"In the end it turned out to be a great weekend's worth of racing that challenged the teams and gave us as selectors a good indication of form to pick the best combination of teams to sail to retain the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup. The conditions, whilst damp on Saturday, offered up a wide variety of conditions and it was good to pick up on where certain teams performed well and where others didn't."
Based on the results and performances across the trials, the following teams have been selected to represent RYA Team GBR at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup 2014;
RYA Team GBR Red
Iain Kirkpatrick; X 37 - Fatjax
Mike Blair; King 40 - Cobra
Robert Lutener; Ker 40 - Cutting Edge on Baraka
RYA Team GBR White
James Gair; Mills 39 - Localletterbox Zero II
James Neville; Corby 36 - INO
Ed Broadway; Ker 40 - Hooligan VII
RYA Team GBR Blue
David Aisher; J109 - Yeoman of Wight
Robert Stiles; J109 - Diamond Jem
Richard Patrick; Beneteau First 40 - Dusty P
RYA Team Scotland
Jamie McGarry; Swan 45 - Eala of Rhu
Rod Stuart; Corby 37 - Eos
Steve Cowie; Beneteau First 40 - Zephyr
Mason concluded: "It has proved to be a challenging series and we wish all of the competitors the best of luck in the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup."
Nigel King, RYA Racing Keelboat Manager and RYA Team GBR Team Manager, added: "It's great news that the selectors were able to pick four teams for the 2014 event. There is no other event like the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup on the calendar and I am very excited to have the chance to work with the British teams again. Now everyone can really start planning the defence of our title and I am really looking forward to working with the sailors as we try to achieve this goal."
The Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup 2014 will be held between 19-26 July 2014 at Cowes, Isle of Wight.
