December 16, 2009 – For
Immediate Release
Northern Temperatures Falling – Key West Heating Up
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“No Better Place to be in the Middle of January”
Key
West, Fla – Serious racing sailors from across the U.S. and around the
world are heading to the southernmost point in the United States –
beautiful, tropical Key West.
Key West
2010, presented by Nautica will be the 23rd edition of this
prestigious international regatta.
The
first entry deadline is not until December 18 and over 130 IRC, One
Design and PHRF boats from more than 20 US states and 12 different
countries are currently represented. While the global recession
continues to impact the overall fleet numbers for this and other travel
regattas, the quality of the competition and the enthusiasm of the Key
West participants is as strong as ever.
Terry
Hutchinson, tactician for reigning Farr 40 World Champion Jim
Richardson, is eager to get to Key West. “Race Week provides Barking Mad
with the chance to check in with our competition prior to our 2010 world
championship in the Dominican Republic. At this event last year we set
a plan in place to be successful in Porto Cervo. Having a playing field
like Key West quickly helps us identify areas of strength and weakness
to improve on before April.” The 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the year added:
“It is a great way to start the New Year!”
With
Farr 40s from Italy, Monaco, Germany, Denmark, Canada, California, the
U.S. East Coast and Great Lakes, this Grand Prix class boasts more
entries this year than last.
J/105s
and J/80s are also seeing an increase in their numbers. Defending J/105
Key West Champion Brian Keane’s Savasana (Marion, Mass) will face
Key West regulars and new comers alike. The J/80 Mid-Winters at Key West
are the beginning of their East Coast tour, which will culminate in
their worlds in October. Class President Kristen Robinson credits much
of this class’ successful turnout to the fact that all are truly friends
who enjoy seeing each other at the events. There is great
competitiveness on the water, but also camaraderie ashore.
Other
strong classes are the always highly competitive Melges 24 and 32
classes. The Melges 32s just completed their Gold Cup and with at least
15 of those boats joining others in Key West, there will be plenty of
opportunities for southernmost rematches and changes in podium
positions.
A new
multihull handicap class with feature the Key West debut of the Corsair
Sprint 750, the 2007 Sailing World Sportboat of the year. The Corsair
28Rs, which first participated in Key West in 2002 as a one design
class, will be represented as well
IRC 1
racing will prove interesting again this year. Sir Irvine Laidlaw’s new
Wally 82 Highland Fling XI (Monaco) and Hap Fauth’s
well travelled Reichel Pugh 69 Bella Mente (Newport, RI) are the
big boats in class along with four highly competitive TP52s.
The new Mark Mill’s designed Summit 35 is making its Key West debut.
Charlie Milligan and Bill Titus’ Act One (Newport, RI) is a
Sailing World Boat of the Year nominee in the performance-oriented
models category.
This is
John Chick’s 15th pilgrimage from Chicago and he stated “There is no
better place to be in the middle of January”. He and his partners Jeff
Diemand and Mike Elam have shared four different boats over the years.
They’ll be racing their Mariah 27 Bad Dog in one of Key West’s
traditional mainstays – PHRF, which will have three classes.
“With
virtually no local boats at this event, it’s a travel regatta for nearly
all of our entrants,” said event director Peter Craig. “Given the
ongoing uncertainty and instability with the global economy, there are
many racing owners that understandably were unable make the Key West
commitment this time around, as was also the case last January.
Fortunately, there are more than enough to provide great class racing in
a venue that offers what racing sailors around the world are looking
for.”
All the
pieces are in place – top tier competition, professional race
management, reliable breeze, warm temperatures and a unique post-racing
social scene. It’s all on for the 23rd edition of this
mid-winter classic.
Premiere Racing is pleased to present this year’s Key West sponsors. The
roster includes: Presenting Sponsor Nautica, with
Nautica Watches the Official Timekeeper; and Day Sponsors
Lewmar, Official Marine Hardware, Mount Gay®
Rum, Official Rum, and Sperry Top-Sider, Official
Footwear. The Supporting Sponsors are B&G, Official Marine
Electronics, Marlow Ropes, Official Rope; and SLAM,
Official Technical Gear.
Key
West Race Week is also supported by The Florida Keys & Key West
Tourism Council, which recognizes the importance of having a
world-class, international regatta in Key West every year. The
Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight is the Official Site.
The Ocean Key Resort
and Spa is the
Official Hotel.
Thirty Four Industry
Partners
bring their
support through a program that is now in its 9th year.
Learn more about the
Industry Partners and the Program on the event web site.
"We are very grateful to our loyal race week sponsors and
industry partners. They all present high quality products and exemplify
the best in business practices and customer satisfaction,” said Craig.
"We encourage all racing sailors to show their appreciation and
patronize these outstanding companies that participate in our sport and
provide vital support to events."
Key West 2010
and the
2010 Miami Grand Prix are
US SAILING
sanctioned events.
For more information on Premiere Racing, Key West 2010, presented by
Nautica
and its Sponsors and Partners:
Premiere Racing, Inc.
67B Front
Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945
Tel: (781) 639-9545 Fax: (781) 639-9171
Email:
Peter@Premiere-Racing.com
October 21, 2009 – For Immediate Release
Key
West Race Week Fleet Takes Shape
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From Small and Sporty to Large and Luxurious - All Sizes Hailing from
All Over
Key
West, Fla – From Sir Irvine Laidlaw’s new 80 foot Wally Highland
Fling to 20 foot sportboats, Key West Race Week participants are
gearing up for another week of exciting “winter racing” in tropical,
South Florida conditions.
The
fleet grows daily as IRC, PHRF and one design entrants make their
intentions known. Key West 2010, presented by Nautica
racing begins January 18, 2010.
IRC
classes will see the debuts of Laidlaw’s latest Fling and at
least one new Mills designed (and Sailing World Boat of the Year
nominee) Summit 35. The competition under this global handicapping
system has been first rate in recent years and 2010 promises to be no
different.
Over
the past decade the trend towards one design racing has been obvious.
For 2010 the Farr 40, Melges 32 and J/80 classes are all projecting
strong turnouts.
Key
West Race Week and the Miami Grand Prix later in March will ensure that
the Farr 40 crews prepare, and then peak, in time for their April World
Championship in the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo. World Champions
Jim Richardson (Barking Mad – 2009, 2004, 1998), Vincenzo Onorato
(Mascalzone Latino - 2006-2008) and Massimo Mezzaroma (Nerone
- 2003) are all bound for Key West. Nerone most recently
prevailed in the 2009 European Championship last July in Cagliari,
Italy.
The
Melges 32 has become a featured class at this mid winter classic.
Since their Key West debut in 2006, the numbers have grown each and
every year. The quality and size of this popular sportboat class now
rivals any in Key West. Their southern winter circuit begins with the
Gold Cup in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (30 boats expected) followed by their
Mid Winter Championship in Key West and concluding with the Miami Grand
Prix. “This could be the toughest Key West fleet to date,” remarked
defending champion and Melges 32 Class President Jeff Ecklund (STAR
/ Ft Lauderdale, FL). “The numbers will be there again and so will the
talent, which will include a strong European contingent.”
The
J/80 class - with the third largest class in Key West last January - are
projecting up to 20 boats next January. Their recently announced 2010
East Coast Tour will kick off in Key West with their Mid-Winter
Championship. The tour finishes with their World Championship in
Newport, RI next October.
For a
decade now the Melges 24 crown has been one of the toughest gets in Key
West. The biggest class each year is also routinely one of the most
talent-laden. Franco Rossini and his Blu Moon crew (Lugano, SUI)
return looking for that elusive crown after finishing a mere 3 points
out of first last year.
Other
invited one design classes include the J/105, Swan 42 and Farr 30.
Corsair 28Rs and 750s will race as a multihull handicapped class.
“Given
the cautious outlook towards the economic recovery, we’re really pleased
to hear about so many owners making plans to race with us in Key West,”
said Event Director Peter Craig. “Premiere Racing is fully committed to
providing the professional race management and unique shoreside fun that
racing sailors around the world have come to expect.”
PHRF
entries, a mainstay in Key West over the years, are beginning to show
their intentions. Long time Key West veterans Bruce Gardner (Annapolis,
MD) and partners John Chick and Jeff Diemand (Illinois and Florida) have
entered their boats - the Beneteau10M L’Outrage and Mariah 27
Bad Dog.
New
this year is a 20 foot sportboat class. At press time, seven different
designs had been approved for participation. The
K-650, Laser SB3, Audi Melges 20,
Open 570, Open 650, Ultimate 20 and Viper 640 classes have all expressed
interest in competing in Key West. Final numbers will determine whether
they will race one design or together as a handicapped fleet.
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