42 THE BOULEVARD · SEA CLIFF · NY · 11579 · USA
INTERNATIONAL CATAMARAN CHALLENGE TROPHY
Voice & Fax: (516) 908-7880 · www.icct2003.org · E-mail: info@icct2003.org
PRESS RELEASE
Release # 1-2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Phone & Fax-: (516) 908-7880
E-Mail: info@icct2003.org
Web Site: www.icct2003.org
or
www.littleamericascup2003.org
F-18HT Hotline: icct@f18htclass.com
INTERNATIONAL CATAMARAN CHALLENGE TROPHY TRUSTEES
ANNOUNCE
CALL TO DEFENDERS AND CHALLENGERS
Boats To Be Provided to Challengers and Defenders
Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Sea Cliff, NY. March 6, 2003. The Board of Trustees for the
International Catamaran Challenge Trophy (ICCT) has announced a call to Defenders and
Challengers for the ICCT to be held at the Sail Newport Sailing Center in Newport, Rhode Island
September 27 through October 2, 2003. The match race format will be held in F-18HT’s. Up to
10 Challengers (non-US) and 10 Defenders (US) will be accepted. The Defenders and the
Challengers will sail a round robin elimination series over the first three days of the event with
the winner of each series competing in a best four out of seven series for the Trophy.
“Little America’s Cup”
The ICCT, historically referred to as the Little America’s Cup, was last sailed in 1996 when the
US won the Trophy back from Australia. Since it has been 7 years without a defense the Trophy
has reverted to the custody of the Sea Cliff Yacht Club. John B. Dawson, Jr, Chairman for the
ICCT Trustees stated that, “The time has come to revive the trophy and to promote friendly
international match racing competition as called for in the Deed of Gift. Catamaran classes have
grown dramatically - we want to increase the reach to a broad field of Cat sailors and emphasize
skill and strategy on the water.”
TRUSTEES
John B. Dawson, Jr.
Chairman
Fred Bauerschmidt
Bryan Dougherty
Daniel Grande
Michael Martorella
Dennis Richard
Steve Shepstone
Douglas Wefer
SEA CLIFF YACHT CLUB, LTD.
42 THE BOULEVARD · SEA CLIFF · NY · 11579 · USA
INTERNATIONAL CATAMARAN CHALLENGE TROPHY
Voice & Fax: (516) 908-7880 · www.icct2003.org · E-mail: info@icct2003.org
Release # 1-2003
Page 2
2003 ICCT to be sailed in Bimare F-18HT’s
The ICCT trustees have chosen the F-18HT Class as the boat for this year’s competition. The
Bimare F-18HT is the 2003 Sailing World Boat of the Year and has been selected for this year’s
US Sailing’s Multi-Hull Alter Cup as well as the XXI Worrell 1000 in May. Bryan Dougherty,
ICCT Trustee said that, “We are delighted that the F-18HT will be the boat for this year’s
competition. It is sailed internationally and is readily accessible to crews. The great news is that
we will have brand new Bimare F-18HT’s in Newport for the challengers and defenders. In
essence, once the challengers and defenders have satisfied the requirements, all they will have to
do is show up. Fully equipped boats and sails will be waiting for them”.
June 1 Deadline for Entries
The Deadline for Entries is June 1, 2003. The ICCT is very much like the America’s Cup in that
the winner will bring the Trophy to their country and yacht club and host the following year’s
event. Bimare F-18HT’s will also be provided for the 2004 ICCT to ensure the event’s
continued success and consistency from year to year. The Trustees expect more entries than the
available 10 Challenger (non-US) and 10 Defender (US) spots; therefore a critical factor for the
entrants will be their sponsoring club’s ability to host the next defense should they win.
There is an all inclusive entry fee of $6,000 per team that provides for the boat & sails for the
event as well as access to the boats for the week preceding the event. Michael Angelo Petrucci,
Chairman of Bimare said, “We are proud and excited to be involved in the ICCT. Italy had twice
before challenged for the Little America’s Cup. Additionally Bimare and the F-18HT Class have
established a ‘buy, charter, borrow, steal hotline’ for sailors who wish to compete but do not
currently have an F-18HT. We will coordinate with our class’s world-wide network as well as
fellow builders to assist qualified competitors to gain access to F-18HT’s in the months leading
up to the event.”
The International Catamaran Challenge Trophy was created in 1961 to stimulate international
catamaran racing. Sea Cliff Yacht Club, established in 1892 on the North Shore of Long Island,
New York organized the first match race for the trophy in 1961 and commissioned the creation
of the trophy. For additional information including applications, a history of the ICCT, a copy of
the Deed of Gift and more on F-18HT’s go to www.icct2003.org or
www.littleamericascup2003.org .