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

NEWPORT, RI, September 7, 2012 – After seven races in a brilliant sunlit sea breeze, preliminary scores show little light between the top seven teams in the Gold fleet vying for three Invitational Cup slots. Though Seattle and San Francisco yacht clubs had been distancing themselves from the group in the first five races, each swallowed a bottom half score in the last two races to allow the fleet to catch up. St. Francis had been tied for second until a DSQ in race five dropped them to fourth.

Beneficiaries of the top group's misfortune were Larchmont, the winners of the final race of the day moving them into third, and Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, a team that was finally on the positive side of the subtle shifts and strong current lines on Narragansett Bay Course ending with a 1,5,5 score line. There is no throwout for the Gold and Silver series, putting more pressure on each race.

For fellow Texans in the Gold fleet, Fort Worth Boat Club, just one too many bottom half places put them at the bottom of the fleet despite several top five finishes. Only ten points separated them and the next four places, roughly the same difference between first and seventh.

"It's a very tight fleet and you can't make any mistakes," said Fort Worth skipper Glenn Darden after the long day of racing. "They're all good and somebody is going to get a twelfth in each race."

The sailing wasn't any easier in the Silver series as boats rounded the weather mark bow-to-stern and most overlapped at the leeward gates. Four points separate the top three and an invite to the next qualifying series in 2014 is on the line. Though American, Nantucket and Southern yacht clubs have a point cushion at the top, anything can happen in tomorrow's predicted strong southerlies.

With one more day of racing, race officials are confident whoever ends up on top by Saturday afternoon will be hungry to win the 2013 Invitational Cup.

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 Cup. And though only one Silver fleet team gets a guaranteed invite to the Qualifiers in 2014, all the sailors are racing for the pride of their clubs. And with a large contingent spread out on the array of spectator boats with burgees flying, that's just as important as a trophy.

Full results (PDF)

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 22' and 65' 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.