New York Canoe Club International Challenge Cup 2005

Weymouth, England

The UK team received a challenge from USA for the New York Cup, a team race with 3 boats in each team. This trophy, a magnificent silver jug, was first presented in 1886 and is the oldest international yachting trophy after the America's Cup. The Cup is awarded for the best of 3 short races, with sausage-triangle-sausage courses being used on this occasion.

The young American team were put under some pressure during pre-start manoeuvres, and in the 18 knot wind, two American boats capsized enabling the UK team to get a clean getaway to lead the race from start to finish with newly- crowned World Champion Mark Goodchild taking the gun followed by Phil Robin and Simon Allen, resulting in a race win for UK.

Race 2 saw a close start with American sailor Oliver Moore, probably the fastest sailor in the conditions, being sailed to the left hand side of the course and beyond the layline by Phil, which allowed team mate Simon to lead at the first mark. Oliver rounded the leeward mark just after Simon, who kept a close cover on him up the next beat. The race was effectively decided at the windward mark, when Phil just crossed Oliver on port tack approaching the mark. Oliver had to put in a tack to make the mark, and in his haste capsized, immediately followed by Phil capsizing as he fell out of the boat as he tacked for the mark (the pressure of team racing!). This allowed Mark to sail into second place and although American. Karl Wittnebel pushed hard, he was unable to challenge and was overtaken by Phil before the finish, giving another 1, 2, 3 to the UK. With two races won, the Cup had been defended by the UK until the next challenge, which will take place at the next World Championship to be held in Melbourne, Australia in 2008.

GBR team – Simon Allen, Mark Goodchild, Phil Robin

USA team – Willy Clark, Oliver Moore, Karl Wittnebel