© Paul Todd/Outside Images
One of the best ways to track the intensifying competitiveness of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is the number of teams taking time to train in Newport, RI in advance of this year’s edition, scheduled for September 6-13 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport.
Over half of the twenty teams entered in the Invitational Cup have traveled to Newport this summer to sail in at least one IC37 class regatta. Each of the four U.S. teams has made the journey, as have three from Ireland and one each from Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Sweden.
After winning the inaugural edition in 2009, the New York Yacht Club has been a regular at the sharp end of the results, finishing second in 2011 and 2015 and fourth in 2017 and 2023, but hasn’t won a second time. This September, the host club’s entry will be led by skipper Hannah Swett, main trimmer Dave Scott and tactician John Alden Meade.
The team, selected via resume earlier this year, has pursued an aggressive training program. Coming together as a team and learning to sail the boat in the full range of conditions is a primary goal, but it’s not the only one. “A couple people on our boat haven’t done such a long campaign before,” says Swett, a former Olympic hopeful in multiple classes, America’s Cup sailor and the 2003 US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. “It’s really fun introducing them to the campaign process.”
A live broadcast on Facebook and YouTube, starting on Wednesday, September 10, will allow fellow club members, friends, family and sailing fans from around the world to follow the action as it happens. The 2025 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is brought to you by title sponsor Rolex and regatta sponsors Helly Hansen, Safe Harbor Marinas, and Peters & May. More info at nyyc.org/2025-rolex-nyyc-invitational-cup. ■
© Paul Todd/Outside Images
NYYC Communications Director Stu Streuli contributed to this report.
