Acura SORC Partners with Fisher Island Club: Partnership to Deliver Competition and Comfort

MIAMI BEACH, FL (October 23, 2003) – As part of its on-going effort to provide its competitors with world-class sailing and hospitality, the Acura Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC), North America’s premier winter ocean racing regatta, is pleased to announce a partnership with Fisher Island Club, one of America’s foremost resorts, located just off the southern tip of Miami Beach on the deep-water seagoing lane to Miami.

Competitors at the 2004 Acura SORC, Wednesday, February 25 – Sunday, February 29, will enjoy discounts on their stay at Fisher Island Club as well as dock space in either of Fisher Island’s two deepwater marinas that accommodate yachts up to 250’ (76.2 meters) in length and 10’ (3.33 meters) in water depth.

To learn more about lodging, marina facilities or to make a reservation, contact Anne Posschelle at Fisher Island, 305.535.6070; aposschelle@fisherisland.com or visit www.FisherIsland.com.

About Fisher Island
Fisher Island, a mere seven-minute ferry boat ride from Miami and Miami Beach, is just twenty minutes by expressway from Miami International Airport. Around-the-clock, a heli-pad, seaplane ramp and sophisticated auto-ferry system link Fisher Island to mainland shops, nightlife, theaters and cultural events.

Guests of the Fisher Island Club reside in faithfully restored Vanderbilt-era Cottages, luxurious one-bedroom Villa Suites with sitting rooms, private patios and hot tubs and spacious one- and two-bedroom Seaside Villas overlooking the Atlantic near Fisher Island’s Beach Club. All registered guests also receive a complimentary golf cart for use during their stay.

In 1925, William Vanderbilt created a winter estate on a 220-acre island bound by Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic. Through the years, the Vanderbilt’s estate enjoyed a celebrated history of entertaining the luminaries of its time. Their storied retreat was named Fisher Island, in honor of Miami Beach’s pioneer developer, Carl Fisher.

Today, it has been restored to its former grandeur as a luxurious private club and community with the finest residential and recreational amenities to be found anywhere. From its lovely tile-roofed Vanderbilt Club, its Oceanside Beach Club and intimate gourmet restaurants and its gracious circa 1925 cottages and guest houses, to its P.B. Dye-designed golf course, eighteen court tennis center and nearly one-mile of sugar soft sand Atlantic beach offers a first class experience to all who visit.

About the Acura SORC
The 2004 Acura SORC will be raced on ocean courses off Miami Beach, FL, with all shore side activities headquartered at the Miami Beach Marina. Entries for the 2004 Acura SORC will be welcomed from boats racing under handicap rules, IMS, and PHRF, as well as one-design classes such as the Farr 40, Mumm 30, Melges 24, J/105, J/80, Multihulls, Swans and any class with more than five entrants.

Registration queries for the 2004 Acura SORC can be addressed to Wendy Hinman, Octagon, Tel (203) 352-5217 or (877)-520-2508, or via email at wendy.hinman@octagon.com.

The SORC was founded in the late 1930's by a conference of Florida yacht clubs and a Bahamian club. As originally conceived, the SORC was a mix of long-distance overnight races plus local day racing. The series spread out over a six-week season that started in St Petersburg and took in Miami and Fort Lauderdale before finishing in Nassau. Today, the series features multiple day races with an awards presentation each evening.

The Acura SORC is currently run by five of the founding clubs, the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, Lauderdale Yacht Club, Miami Yacht Club and Nassau Yacht Club and is managed by global sports marketing company Octagon.

Additional event and registration information is available at www.acurasorc.com