International
Catamaran Challenge Trophy:
Olympic Tornado Sailor John Lovell Ups the Ante
NEWPORT, R.I. (July 25, 2003) -- The International
Catamaran Challenge Trophy’s (ICCT) heat
got turned up another notch when U.S. Olympic
Tornado sailor and five-time Tornado National
Champion John Lovell of New Orleans showed up
earlier this month to compete in the F-18HT class
at Sail Newport’s 2003 Newport (RI) Regatta
presented by Volkswagen. While in the City-By-the-Sea,
Lovell confirmed his plans to return to Newport
this September 28-October 3 to sail the fast,
high-tech F-18HT catamarans again—in the
much anticipated ICCT, better known as "The
Little America’s Cup." He also proved
he would be a serious threat by showing how unstoppable
he was in a boat he’d never tried before.
In the Newport Regatta’s seven-race F-18HT
series, Lovell outsailed 10 other teams, including
one skippered by Olympic Medallist and multiple-time
World, North American and National Tornado Champion
Randy Smyth of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., considered
one of the ICCT’s most formidable contenders.
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Lovell's
team at speed. Photo by Peter McGowan
|
"I
had a blast," said Lovell, explaining that
he learned a lot in a short time on a borrowed
boat. "Randy and I both had an edge on the
fleet and traded off first- and second-place finishes.
If he had won the last race, he would have won
on a tie-breaker. Instead, I won the race and
so the regatta by two points."
Smyth said the competition served up some "nice
surprises on the water." With the Little
America’s Cup designed to be a match racing
competition, Smyth and Lovell put into play the
pre-start maneuvers and typical one-on-one moves
that make the America’s Cup itself so intriguing.
"There are some interesting quirks when you’re
match racing catamarans," said Smyth, noting
that mutihull sailboats are much faster and feistier
than monohulls but don’t turn as quickly.
"It’s like sailing a big dinghy with
two hulls," he added. "We even flipped
a few times."
Lovell’s analysis was a bit more technical:
"These cats have no jib, so the match racing
judges are going to have a tough time determining
when a boat has gone past head-to-wind. That’s
important in things like the dial-up."
As for match racing experience, Lovell--a past
Prince of Wales Match Racing champion and recent
competitor in several other match racing events—might
have an advantage, but according to Smyth, "sailing
the ICCT in F-18HTs is a great equalizer."
"Johnny has the most match racing rules knowledge,
which will be beneficial," said Smyth, "but
there is no one signed up who really specializes
in both catamaran sailing and match racing. It
will be a real challenge."
Smyth sailed with W. F. Oliver of Virginia Beach,
Va., who is slated to crew in the ICCT for Matt
Struble of Bay City, Mich. Struble is a three-time
Alter Cup champion and, with Oliver, the current
F-18HT European Champion. Oliver is the current
F-18HT North American Champion. Lovell sailed
with crew Howard Cromwell of New Orleans but in
September plans to team with Charlie Ogletree
of Kemah, Texas, his crew for the last two Olympics
and for his 2004 campaign.
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Lovell's
team in foreground. Photo by Peter McGowan
|
The
International Catamaran Challenge Trophy was donated
by Deed of Gift in 1961 by the Sea Cliff Yacht
Club, Sea Cliff, New York, to promote friendly
international catamaran match-racing competition
between nations. This September’s ICCT will
be the 23rd competition for the Trophy and the
first sailed in the F-18HT catamaran. The first
22 matches were sailed in "C" Class
catamarans and more than seven years have elapsed
since the last match.
"The C Class cats became the ultimate boat
but also had the ultimate price tag to build and
campaign," said Smyth, a veteran of several
ambitious Worrell 1000 campaigns. "Sailing
in the F-18HTs will put the fun back into the
event and opens it up to a lot more people."
A new format involves a maximum of 10 foreign
"challenger" teams from outside the
United States and 10 "defender" teams
sponsored by yacht clubs in the United States.
The two groups will sail a series of match-racing
round robins to determine the final challenger
and defender for the Trophy. Among the challenger
skippers are Italy’s Alberto Sonino, Paolo
Bassini and Egidio Babbi, formidable sailors who
have both Lovell’s and Smyth’s respect.
The defender pool, however, is the first concern
for these two champions. "Lovell will be
one of the top players," said Smyth as Lovell
shared his own perspective: "Smyth will definitely
be one to watch."
One thing is certain. The story begun at the Newport
Regatta still has an ending to be written in September.
For entry information and complete ICCT details
go to www.icct2003.org
or www.littleamericascup2003.org.
