The 2004 ICCT, commonly referred to as the Little America's Cup, starts October 18th in New Orleans, La. The defending champions, Johnny Lovell and Charlie Olgletree, are fresh from winning their Olympic Silver Medal in the Tornado Class and represent the Southern Yacht Club (SYC). The SYC is America’s oldest yacht club and has an extremely competitive racing program. Vying for the right to defend the coveted “Little America’s Cup” will be two teams from the USA. Bob Hodges and W.F. Oliver, the defending 18HT North American Champions, are representing the Pontchartrain Yacht Club (PYC). The PYC is a big rival of SYC, so bragging rights are on the line! Multi-time national catamaran champion and 2003 ICCT veteran, Mark Murray will help the U.S.A. in our quest to keep the LAC on American soil in 2004.
Representing the Challengers will be three 2004 Olympic teams from the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and Great Britain. Mitch Booth and Herbie Derchsen (NED), in addition to being a top Tornado team, have won many world and national titles on their F-18 Tiger. Enrique Figueroa and Jorge Hernandez (PUR) are a top rated Tornado and Hobie Cat team. Enrique is a multi-time World Hobie Cat Champion. William Howden (GBR) is a highly respected Tornado sailor from Great Britain and coached the US and Dutch Olympic teams this year. Rounding out the five Challengers will be two top Italian Teams, including Daniele Saragoni and Teo di Battista. Daniele and Teo are the current 18HT European Champions and finished runners up in the 2003 ICCT.
Watch the 18HT website (
www.f18htclass.com) for daily updates during the LAC.
At no time in the history of the Little America’s Cup has so much sailing talent been assembled for the challenge!
