| TERRA NOVA TRADING KEY WEST 2003
/ JANUARY 20-24
www.Premiere-Racing.com
Oct. 29, 2002
For Immediate Release
FALL COLORS SIGNAL TUNEUP TIME FOR KEY
WEST
Entries Building from Across U.S. and
Abroad
KEY WEST, Fla.---When the autumn weather turns the
leaves to flame, sailors have no time for the waiting game.
Across North America and around the world, they're making preparations
for Terra Nova Trading Key West, the premier winter regatta.
Among the early entries, which are on pace to see a
third consecutive 300+ boat fleet, is Dr. Wolfgang Schaefer
of Kiel, Germany, who has blood in his eye.
"I am coming back," said Schaefer, whose
Farr 40, Struntje light, came on strong with first and second-place
finishes in the last two races last January to place third in
the marquee class. Farr 40 owners must drive their boats, but
Schaefer has added impressive brainpower to his afterguard:
Iain Percy of Britain, the new Star class world champion and
2000 Olympic gold medallist in the Finn class.
"We did the European circuit and the European
championship in Porto Cervo where we finished second,"
Schaefer said, "losing the championship in the last race."
Struntje light will try to wrest the title from the
three-year grip of Greek banker George Andreadis' Atalanti XI.
The Farr 40s should be on their games following their world
championship in the Bahamas in November. Always an outstanding
tacticians' showcase, Key West's Farr 40 class will feature
the likes of Paul Cayard on John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti and Andreadis'
Robbie Haines.
They'll be joined by Holland's Peter De Ridder, the
longtime "Mean Machine" campaigner in many classes
making his Farr 40 debut.
Schaefer, who operates a medical clinic in Lueneburg,
near Hamburg, also is a member of the management committee of
the Offshore Racing Council and the Offshore Committee of the
International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
Others coming from abroad include Italy's 1-2 finishers
in September's Mumm 30 Worlds, Guiseppe Abba's Alina and Paolo
Cristofori's Printel Wind, and Britain's Jamie Lea, Rob Smith
and Stuart Rix, currently the top three in the Melges 24 world
rankings.
Domestically, a flood of boats will be hitting the
Interstate highways east and south. The J/105 class, led by
Robert Johnstone's two-time defending champion, Tern 7, from
Charleston, S.C., will need extra parking space for 30 or more
trailers.
Invited one-design classes include the 1D35, Farr 40,
J/105, J/80, J/29, Mumm 30, Melges 24 and Corsair 28R trimarans.
J/120's and Tartan Ten's are working to build their numbers
to one-design class status this year. The current entry list
is available on the event web site.
Corsair Marine is offering special incentives. The
company will pay the entry fee for a 28R ordered before Nov.
30 and also buy new sails for the first two of those orders.
Handicap racing promises some great matchups.
Mike Campbell's dark blue Victoria 5 is one of three
Transpac 52s, along with Roger Sturgeon's Rosebud and David
Janes's J-Bird III, making their East Coast debut and bent on
showing the rest of the world the reason for all the West Coast
excitement about the new class.
Britain's Markus Fiala, who will be racing Tazo, one
of the new Farr 36s. Two have been built---Farr International's
President Geoff Stagg owns No. 1---and both are entered. Two
more may race at Key West if they're built in time.
Sponsors include Terra Nova Trading L.L.C., Mount Gay
Rum, RealTick(r), Lewmar Marine, Nautica Watches and Eyewear,
Pearson Yachts, Samson Rope Technologies, Saucony and the Florida
Keys & Key West Tourist Development Council. The Historic
Seaport at the Key West Bight is the Official Site.
The Performance Sailing Industry Partner Program is
in its second year, with 22 members at press time. Members and
details are on the event web site.
Racing is scheduled Monday through Friday, Jan. 20-24,
on four circles off the south shore of the island. Registration
is on Sunday, Jan. 19. The regatta is open to entries in PHRF,
one-design and IMS classes of 24 to 85 feet LOA. PHRF entries
must have a rating of 175 or lower. The entry limit is 350,
and the first entry deadline is Dec. 11 at 1700 EST.
CONTACTS
PREMIERE RACING, Inc. 67B Front Street, Marblehead,
MA, 01945,
Tel: (781)639-9545, Fax: (781) 639-9171
Event Email: KWInfo@Premiere-Racing.com
Event Web Site: www.Premiere-Racing.com
Terra Nova Online: www.TerraNovaOnline.com
PRESS OFFICER
Rich Roberts
(310) 835-2526
richsail@earthlink.net
High-resolution action photographs taken by Official
Photographer Walter Cooper at last January's regatta are available
to qualified media for pre-event coverage. Please contact Rich
Roberts.
Media event registration information is available on
the event web site.
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