UBS TROPHY -- AC RACING RETURNS TO NEWPORT IN JUNE



If this follow-up event to the one OBR hosted for Alinghi in San Francisco last September is even half as exciting, it will be more than worth the price of admission (regardless, it's free!).

Racing will be inside Narrangansett Bay -- starting off Fort Adams (at the very left of the picture above), then out to Castle Hill where the Bay meets Rhode Island Sound, then back to the finish line off Fort Adams. The viewing from shore should be every bit as spectacular as it was for the Moet Cup which was run off the SF city front between Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. (Photo below from an earlier post shows the two OBR yachts in SF Bay for the Moet Cup last September.)

Following is one of the press releases that went out this evening after the press conference in Newport earlier today that announced the event....

UBS Trophy is the First America's Cup Class Event in 2004
ORACLE BMW Racing Previews the Duel With Alinghi in Newport

MUNICH, Germany and NEWPORT, R.I., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- "This venue is absolutely perfect -- from an historical as well as from a sporting point of view. As the host city of the America's Cup from 1930-1983, Newport has witnessed many thrilling duels off its shores. I am sure that the UBS Trophy in almost two months will offer exciting sailing at the highest level. The conditions here on the American East Coast surely are among the best anywhere."

Gavin Brady, helmsman of the ORACLE BMW Racing team, is looking forward to the UBS Trophy in Newport, Rhode Island. From 19 - 26 June 2004, the America's Cup Challenger of Record will face-off with the reigning America's Cup champion Alinghi. The one-week match-race series presents the last opportunity to test on American waters this year before the teams go to Europe for the first of the Pre-regattas for America's Cup 2007.

CEO Chris Dickson is convinced that the spectators will experience
spectacular match racing. In Newport he can call upon Gavin Brady and --
amongst others -- John Kostecki, Craig Monk, Ross Halcrow and Robbie Naismith. At the last meeting against one another in September in San Francisco, the ORACLE BMW RACING team defeated the Swiss team with Jochen Schuemann by 4:3.

Speaking about the goals of his team, Dickson said: "This year, Newport is the first opportunity to compete against the best crew of the last America's Cup. We will see where we stand in our training preparations."

Even today ORACLE BMW Racing is directing their vision towards France. In Marseille, from 5-11 September, the first of three America's Cup Pre-regattas this year, with the disciplines of fleet racing and match racing in the
program.

SOURCE ORACLE BMW Racing
Web Site: http://www.oraclebmwracing.com

Let me know if anyone interested in joining us then in Newport for the regatta.