Got this in an email from Laura Sullivan:
America’s Cup spectators will have a special opportunity to watch additional multihull racing as the 2013 U.S. Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Trophy will race on the America’s Cup course on September 7 as a unique precursor to the opening race.
The Hobie 16, iconic to the world of multihull sailing, is ideal for this US Sailing Championship.
The Sausalito Yacht Club (Calif.) has put together an amazing team to make this an outstanding event with great competition and a special experience.
If you would like to race on San Francisco Bay during this historic sailing event please visit the event website for registration details and more information at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USMHChampionship.htm.

wow that's amazing

They are going to look REALLY slow!

The Sausalito Yacht Club is really working to make this a great event. We have sailed here on a regular basis and condition can be epic. The racing City front will be early in the day before the wind normally goes really high. Hopefully it is a flood or slack tide so there is flat water too. This is not an event to miss.

Yes but what isn't next to an AC45 or AC72? Makes a lot of sense to me to showcase a class that is very much in touch with the beach goers of the world, i.e a large portion of SoCal.

This is a pretty remarkable opportunity. I'm not going to miss it. :-)

Any small cat will look slow. Mega Props to the CA Hobie 16 class for stepping up and promising to support the US championships.

I'm probably opening a big ole can of worms here, but what makes this the Alter Cup?

Could we just say that Spring Fever is the Alter Cup? or Juana's Good Time Regatta? or pick a random open event?

Not looking for a can, just trying to answer your question...

US Sailing has a committee, led by Laura Sullivan, which selects the Alter Cup events. To have an event considered, there is a formal bid process and a list of conditions.

Your best bet is to visit the US Sailing website, review the conditions, and contact Laura to submit a bid.

Hope this helps.

Mike

EDIT: Also, it's far from random (this event was not an existing regatta) and currently is one-design or formula (not handicapped).

And technically, the regatta is not the "Alter Cup" - that's the name of the trophy.

The official name is, "The U.S. Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Trophy."

It's not even the name of the trophy. Does anyone know where the term Alter Cup originated? It's also not the shape of the trophy...

Mike

perhaps Hobie Alter?

"CUP" is the word in question...

Mike

"What is, is. What was, will be. What will be, was; but will be, again."

OK, I'll bite... What does Arnold know about the etymology of the term Alter CUP?

Mike

oh oh ohhh ohhhh ohhhh

Haha, that was funny JW

Already four former Alter Cup Champions registered, in addition to multiple class champs. If you watched ITA v NZL, you saw the sailing area. Seriously. Sign up and take part in history.

Mike,

Last year marked a change in formatting due to the loss of factory sponsorship. The boats have become so expensive that the old practice of leaning on generosity from NACRA and AHPC was deep - sixed.

US Sailing owns the Deed of Gift for the Hobie Alter Trophy, and that's that.

The name 'Alter Cup' most likely came about due to ease of expression. As Matt has said, the formal name is the Hobie Alter Trophy.

The US Sailing Championship Committee is the formal governing body, and when I was booted off last year, after securing Sausalito, the regatta was intended as a "stand alone" event.

If the winds are true this year and fate has its way, the event will be sharing a time frame with the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup racing.

Look out for a PM regarding some other business brewing Zhik might be interested in.

The victors write the history? Shouldn't have poked the worms. Bert's statement is inaccurate, though I personally believe him to be well-intentioned.

OK Arnold, why is it called a cup?

Trust me, I know the recent history, but no one at US Sailing seems to be able to answer this, either.

Mike