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May 10, 2004 --
For Immediate Release
Miami Beach
Race Week Dates Announced
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SORC Legacy Continues --- Dual Racing Venue Reestablished MIAMI,
Fla - 60+ years of South Florida racing tradition will resume March
10-13, 2005.
Premiere Racing announced their Miami Beach Race Week dates and a Biscayne Bay
component to the 2005 event today. The Miami Beach Marina is the Official
Site, hosting the two ocean courses, while the new Shake-A-Leg sailing
facility in Coconut Grove will be the host site for racing on the bay.
"The response from racing boat owners, the performance sailing industry, and the
greater Miami community has been overwhelmingly positive," reports event
organizer Peter Craig. "We took a lot of time to poll interested parties before
setting the dates and are confident that March 10-13 is the most favorable
timeframe."
One design interest in Miami Beach Race Week is strong. At press time, the
following classes are invited: Farr 40, Mumm 30, J/105,
Melges 24, J/80 and the International Etchells. The Melges 24s
and Etchells will race on the Biscayne Bay course over three days, March 11-13.
Numerous other one design classes have expressed interest and will be announced
on the event web site as 2005 racing schedules are finalized and classes are
accepted.
Handicap racing will be a major component of the 2005 regatta. Renewed PHRF
and IMS interest has been expressed by past participants and PHRF
organizations. PHRF handicapping and class assignments will follow the highly
successful models developed by Premiere Racing as part of its renowned
Terra Nova Trading Key West event.
There has been significant progress with boat logistics and planning
issues. Premiere Racing representatives recently completed a Miami tour and
planning trip. Logistical issues including dockspace, boat storage, mobile
marina operations, deep draft slips and crew housing are being addressed with
ample, affordable options coming available. The event web site will present a
comprehensive menu regarding event logistics later this spring.
Founded in 1941, the SORC enjoyed a rich history and created sailing
legends over the years. The founding yacht clubs recently discontinued their
management of the SORC event and reached an agreement with Key West event
organizer Premiere Racing to produce a new event that will continue the
tradition of great racing in this popular South Florida venue.
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April 7, 2004
-- For Immediate Release
ACURA SORC TO PREMIERE RACING
Key West Organizer Takes Over Storied South Florida Regatta |
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MIAMI, Fla -- The Southern Ocean Racing Conference - a Florida
corporation known to racing sailors around the world as "SORC" - has announced
that it has reached an agreement with Peter Craig and his Premiere Racing
organization, which will step in and produce the Miami event beginning in March
2005. The Marblehead, MA based company has built Terra Nova Trading Key West
into the top annual keel boat event in North America and one of the elite race
weeks on the international racing calendar.
"SORC has had an remarkable run," said spokesman Bob Meagher. "However, the
business of regatta management has changed over the years and it's become too
much for the clubs to handle themselves. Premiere Racing is a proven event
management company - the best in the business. They are capable of taking this
Miami regatta to another level, which is good for racing sailors, the
performance sailing industry and our sport. We're very pleased that the legacy
of ACURA SORC will live on."
The consortium of five Yacht Clubs was formally established in 1941, founding a
series of five point-to-point races that included stops in Nassau, Key West and
Havana, Cuba during the first "Southern Circuit". Over the years the SORC has
been a condensed history of American ocean racing with the circuit ultimately
growing to 6 races spread over 4 weeks. It's popularity would peak in
1973, before changes in offshore racing designs and increasing demands on the
leisure time led to waning interest in distance racing. The current popular
format of an intense week of windward / leeward day racing off Miami Beach
made its debut in 1990. Acura has been the title sponsor at SORC since 1999.
The Miami Beach Marina will remain the Official Site for this mixed-class event
(One Design / PHRF / IMS). Premiere Racing is in the process of polling boat
owners, class organizations and the industry to determine the ideal racing dates
going forward. The Thursday to Sunday racing format will continue with the 2005
regatta dates to be announced later this month. Information and details on the
Miami regatta will be posted on the Premiere Racing web site:
www.Premiere-Racing.com.
"I first raced in SORC back in 1982 and was back again to compete this year,"
said Premiere Racing's Peter Craig. "This legendary event has played a
meaningful role in our sport over the years. Going forward, we're committed to
growing this Miami based regatta and delivering high quality to our clients,
both on the water and shoreside."
The early response from boat owners and one design classes has been very
positive. "I'm excited about this news for what it provides one design
classes," said Mumm 30 owner and Class President Nelson Stephenson. "Announcing
two Premiere Racing events should create an excellent Winter schedule for
visiting overseas owners as well as the many North American owners who travel
south for the winter season. A Premiere Racing event means the highest quality
racing and shoreside activities along with their commitment to resolve important
logistical issues for trailered boats."
"Key West Race Week presented some serious logistical challenges for the Melges
24 class which Premiere Racing resolved, enabling us to have a 60-boat
fleet every year - I'm confident they can do the same in Miami," said Harry Melges. "Miami Beach is a popular venue and will be great for our class."
"There are some obvious synergies with our Key West event," said Craig.
"Premiere Racing will capitalize on these as we turn our immediate attention to
3 critical issues - professional race management, attracting more top level one
design and PHRF competitors and resolving all boat and class logistics issues.
Two of the very best Principal Race Officers in the business, Dave Brennan and
Ken Legler, will ensure the race committee work is up to our Key West Race Week
standards."
For more information on ACURA SORC contact:
Bob Meagher
Tel: (954) 462-3695
Fax: (954)
767-0076
Email:
sail
ACURA, a division of the American Honda Company, Inc., has been the proud title
sponsor of SORC for the previous 5 years.
For more information on Acura visit
www.Acura.com.
Southern Ocean Racing Conference participating clubs:
Biscayne Bay Yacht Club
Coral Reef Yacht Club
Lauderdale Yacht Club
Miami Yacht Club
Nassau Yacht Club
SORC HISTORY
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