|
February 6, 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Acura
Miami Race Week Begins March 9
---
SORC Renaissance to Host 2006 Rolex TP52 Global Championship
Sailors
from across the country and around the world have begun their preparations
for Acura Miami Race Week 2006. Re-matches and second chances will be the
order of the day when the 2005 and recent Acura Key West 2006 class
champions defend their titles next month.
The TP52
class will hold its first ever global championship at Premiere Racing’s
Miami event. The 2006 Rolex TP52 Global Championship will feature an
expanded racing format over 6 days and includes both a distance and
coastal race.
Stuart
Robinson’s Stay Calm II (London, UK) coming off a hard fought win
in Key West looks to be the boat to beat. Tactician Adrian Stead and eight
other members of GBR Challenge crew for Robinson, who took delivery of his
TP52 in early January.
The
competition in these high tech, thoroughbreds will be fierce. The
challenging Gulf Stream will factor in during the distance races ensuring
that the 2006 global champion is a deserving boat and crew.
Swan
45s, Farr 40s, J/105s, Mumm 30s, and Melges 32s are the other one design
classes invited to compete on the Ocean Courses in the waters off Miami
Beach. Handicap racing will return next month under both the IRC and PHRF
rules.
The Farr
40 class will be back at full strength with more than 20 of the
owner/driver boats projected. Steve and Fred Howe’s Warpath, a mere
3 points out of first in the 25-boat Key West fleet, is seeking a class
win with John Kostecki back as tactician.
“Having
the Swan 45 World Championship in Key West now the Rolex TP52 Global
Championship in Miami has added a lot of buzz,” said Event Director Peter
Craig. “We’re looking at two consecutive regattas with some of the very
best sailing talent out there. It should be another great week of racing.”
Key
West set the stage for the Acura Grand Prix Trophies, to be awarded
at the conclusion of Acura Miami Race Week. These prestigious awards
debuted in 2005 and recognize the boats with the best combined score from
both Key West and Miami Race Weeks. The TP52, Swan 45, Farr 40, J/105,
Mumm 30 and Melges 24 classes are currently eligible.
The
defending J/105 Miami champion Masquerade, is a clear pre-regatta
favorite coming off a command performance in a 29-boat Key West class.
Thomas Coates skippered the San Francisco entry to a resounding 18-point
victory in the Midwinter Championship and will be looking to repeat as
combined champion.
Handicap
racing is certain to be intense with the Ker 55 Aera and Swan 601
Moneypenny continuing their remarkable week-long Key West duel. The
two boats traded the lead time and again with Aera ultimately
prevailing. James Madden’s R/P swing keel Stark Raving Mad will
debut in Miami, adding intrigue to the big boat class.
Biscayne
Bay racing will be hosted at the modern Shake-A-Leg facility in Coconut
Grove. The Melges 24s, Etchells and J/24s will race at this venue. As many
as 25 Etchells will compete in the 3-day competition in the final event on
their winter circuit.
Melges
24 Acura Miami Race Week 2005 Champion and Boat of the Week winner,
Riccardo Simoneschi (Nautica - Genoa, Italy) will defend against a
strong international and national fleet.
Iker
Belausteguigoitia (LaCalaca – Mexico and Florida) will defend his
hard fought
J/24 title against second and third place Peter Benziger (Gotta Go
– Miami) and Jonathan Luscomb (Pick Up Styx, West Plan
Beach).
The
first entry deadline is February 10. Entries can be completed online or
with the entry application available on the race week web site.
Title Sponsor Acura
is the Official Vehicle. Supporting Sponsor Mount Gay®
Rum is the Official Rum. Rolex is the Official
Sponsor and Official Timekeeper for the 2006 TP52 Global Championship.
Twenty-eight Industry Partners
bring their
support through a program that is now in its 5th year.
About Acura
Acura offers a full line of luxury performance vehicles through a
nationwide network of more than 260 dealers. The Acura lineup features six
distinctive models including the exotic NSX supercar, the RL luxury sedan,
the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the race-bred RSX
sports coupe and the award-winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle. For
more information about Acura vehicles, please visit
www.Acura.com.
For media inquiries, please go to
www.AcuraNews.com.
Event details,
entries and past results are available at
Premiere-Racing.com
Event Media Advisory
and Registration (pdf)
Royalty
Free Photographs are available to qualified media.
Please
email:
Jeanne@premiere-racing.com
For more information on Premiere Racing, Acura Miami Race
Week 2006, and its Sponsors and Partners:
Premiere Racing, Inc.
67B Front Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945
Tel: (781) 639-9545 Fax: (781) 639-9171
Email:
Info@Premiere-Racing.com
Web
Site:
www.Premiere-Racing.com
With the support of the
Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County
Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the
Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
|
