Columbia Wins in Newport!

Columbia wins the 2012 North American Championships!  

The three day competition started last Friday and Columbia came out with a bang!  On day one Team Columbia stunned her competition winning 3 of 3 races.  After winning 2 of 3 races on day two she had all but sealed her victory.  Congrats Team Columbia!

Conner Races with Midshipmen in Newport

Dennis Conner is racing again in Newport!  Conner is competing in the 12 Meter North American Championships aboard 12 Meter, KZ-7 Kiwi Magic.  KZ-7 is currently owned by the United States Merchant Marine Academy.  Conner's team is comprised of veteran America's Cup sailors and midshipmen from Kings Point.  

From the 12 Meter Class website - 

Conner, a four time America's Cup Winner (1974, '80, '87, '88), will have an impressive crew aboard KZ-7 (Kiwi Magic), which is currently owned by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Foundation. Whidden, one of the most experienced America's Cup sailors in the world, has campaigned with Conner for three of Conner's America's Cup victories (1980, 1987 and 1988), while three other crew members have also sailed with Conner during various America's Cup campaigns: Jerry Kirby (2003), Dave Kulver ('92, '95) and USMMA Foundation President Ralf Steitz ('92, '95). (Also sailing with the team will be Michel Maeder, who sailed with Baron Marcel Bich in 1980.)

"This will be Kiwi Magic, powered primarily by Stars & Stripes," said Steitz, recognizing the irony that during the Louis Vuitton Challenger series held in Fremantle, Australia during 1986/'87, Conner had challenged the fairness of KZ-7's fiberglass hull against the slower aluminum hulls being used at the time. "We will, of course, also have five USMMA midshipmen sailing as part of the 15-man crew. It's great to give these young people an opportunity to sail with these great legends in our sport, these America's Cup notables who also are truly among the greatest sailors in the world."

Come to Newport this weekend and see Conner back on the 12 Meter race course!  

Let the Racing Begin - 12 Meter Style!

Photo by www.georgebekris.com

The 12 Meter North American Championships will start today and end on Sunday, September 23 in Newport!  Eight 12 Meter yachts (complete list below) will compete in the regatta with big name sailors on board including Ted Turner and Dennis Conner.  The boats will be dock at Bannister's Wharf through Sunday so come on down to Newport and check out the America's Cup greats.  We know who we will be cheering for - Go Team Columbia, US 16!

2012 12 Meter North American Championships Competitors

Grand Prix - yachts built for the 1987 America's Cup


KZ-5 ~ KZ5, Kip Curren, Newport, R.I. 

KZ-7 (Kiwi Magic) ~ KZ7, Dennis Conner, San Diego, Calif.
 

USA ~ US 61, Andy MacGowan, Middletown, R.I. 



Modern - yachts built between 1967 and 1983


Courageous ~ US 26, Ralph Isham, New York, N.Y. 

Intrepid ~ US 22, Jack Curtin, New York, N.Y. 

Victory '83 ~ K 21, Dennis Williams, Hobe Sound, Fla.

Traditional - yachts built between 1958 and 1966

American Eagle ~ US 21, Ted Turner, Atlanta, Ga. 

Columbia ~ US 16, Alain Hanover, Weston, Mass. 

 

Columbia Gets Race Ready at Bannister's Wharf!

 Columbia is getting ready for racing action!  The grand finale of the 12 Meter racing season, the North American Championships, will be held in Newport later this week.  Columbia's sails are being changed, her bottom is getting cleaned and her crew tuned up for racing.  Good Luck Team Columbia!

 

 

Columbia gets race ready!

The battle flag is up and Columbia is getting ready for racing in Newport this weekend.  Our America's Cup winner will be competing in the 12 Meter North American Championships.  Go Columbia!

 

  

Good Luck Team Columbia!

Later this week Columbia will compete in her final regatta of the season, the 12 Metre North American Championships.  Good luck team Columbia, sail fast and continue in your winning ways!