2012 New York Yacht Club U.S. Qualifying Series
Selection for three U.S. yacht clubs to join the 2013 NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex

NEWPORT, RI, September 5, 2012 - What started with 15-18-knot planing conditions for the quick J/70s came to an end when the final rain squall killed the breeze by mid-afternoon. What did not change throughout the day at the U.S. Qualifying Series was Newport Harbor Yacht Clubís grasp on the top spot of the red fleet.

One point ahead of San Francisco and Seattle yacht clubs, Payson Infelise and his crew of Chris Raab and John Fuller have put up nearly all top-five finishes save a ninth in the sixth and final race of the day. The red fleet started the day in Sonars and swapped with the blue fleet after four races.

One of the most impressive performances of the day was given by the gentlemen from Jacksonville and the Florida Yacht Club. Posting a 3,2,6,2,2,1, skipper Greg Griffin and teammates Andy Culver, Will Newton and David de Camp were fast in both fleets of boats. Two points behind is the team from Indian Harbor Yacht Club.

"The first half of the day we just played the pressure on the left," said red-fleet leader Payson Infelise of Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Defending that side allowed them to stay in the top five until a focus on current caused them to falter in the last race.

Infelise's tactician added that their ninth place in race six reminded him that they can't be too confident. "You should never be a frontrunner in this event," said Chris Raab, referring to US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Bora Gulari and his Bayview Yacht Clubs fall from grace after dominating the first half of the 2010 Qualifier Series. "Anything can happen. We're happy we had a good day today."

Event co-chair Will Crump said the two fleets of boats made for great spectating and were a welcomed challenge for the teams. "It was great to watch these boats," said Crump who raced in the inaugural Invitational Cup with his wife and fellow co-chair Marie Klok Crump. "We asked the competitors last night if in the future they would prefer just one fleet of the same boat and they all said no."

With three more days of racing, organizers expect by Friday to move the top six from the red and blue fleets into a Championship series in J/70s with the remaining 12 racing in a Consolation series. The winner of the Championship series will not only hold a berth along with second and third place finishers for the 2013 Invitational Cup but will also win the Resolute Trophy.

Results after six races and one throw out:
Red Fleet
1 Newport Harbor Yacht Club 2,1,1,3,4,(9) 11pts
2 San Francisco Yacht Club (7),4,3,2,1,2 12 pts
3 Seattle Yacht Club 1,2,4,(5),2,3 12 pts
4 Little Traverse Yacht Club 5,5,2,1,(7),7 20 pts
5 California Yacht Club 6,6,7,(10),3,1 23 pts
6 Texas Corinthian Yacht Club 8,3,(11),4,5,4 24 pts

Blue Fleet
1 The Florida Yacht Club 3,2,(6),2,2,1 10 pts
2 Indian Harbor Yacht Club (11),3,2,1,1,5 12 pts
3 Carolina Yacht Club 2,5,3,3,(9),2 15 pts
4 Eastern Yacht Club 4,(6),1,4,5,3 17 pts
5 Ft. Worth Boat Club 1,1,5,(8),7,8 22 pts
6 Pequot Yacht Club (8),8,4,5,3,6 29 pts

U.S. Yacht Clubs represented this week include American Yacht Club, Bay Head Yacht Club, California Yacht Club, Carolina Yacht Club, Eastern Yacht Club, Edgartown Yacht Club, Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Florida Yacht Club, Fort Worth Boat Club, Grand Maumelle Sailing Club, Grand Traverse Yacht Club, Indian Harbor Yacht Club, Larchmont Yacht Club, Little Traverse Yacht Club, Nantucket Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Pequot Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Seattle Yacht Club, Southern Yacht Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club, Texas Corinthian Yacht Club and Youngstown Yacht Club.

About 2012 U.S. Qualifying Series sponsors Atlantis WeatherGear and J Boats:

Atlantis WeatherGear produces performance sailing apparel and sailing-inspired sportswear for all of the things active people do on and around the water. Based in the New England seaside town of Marblehead, MA, Atlantis is owned and run by passionate sailors, and their designs incorporate a unique combination of no-compromise performance and style inspired by decades of sailing experience and close collaboration with some of the best sailors in the world. www.atlantisweathergear.com

Founded in 1977 with the J/24, J Boats continues to design fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that are enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. Today, 13,000+ J Boats between 22í and 65í sail in 30+countries, ranging from one-designs to racers, cruisers and daysailers, including the J sprit models - J Boats' 1992 innovation (J/105) for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits. J Boats has been distinguished with 15 Sailing World / Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards and three ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, and J/80). www.jboats.com

Media seeking more information contact Chris Museler This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Michael Levitt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.