2003 Winners Return To Defend Titles

The Acura SORC which got underway yesterday will feature thrilling competition across all classes as some return to defend their Acura SORC titles, and others try to recapture the glory found in Key West.

The 63rd edition of the Acura SORC being raced off Miami Beach once again features racing on ocean courses with all shore side activities headquartered at the Miami Beach Marina.

Last year’s Acura SORC and Farr 40 World Champion Massimo MEZZAROMA and Nerone return to defend their class championship against the likes of 2004 Key West Race Week champion Peter de Ridder and Mean Machine, Key West runner-up James Richardson’s Barking Mad and 2003 Acura SORC Farr 40 2nd place finisher Hasso Plattner and Morning Glory.

Also in the Farr 40 mix for 2004 are perpetual strongholds John KILROY Jr.’s Samba Pa Ti and Steve and Fred HOWE’S Warpath. Lang WALKER’S Kokomo is set to feature Tactician Chris LARSON as well as Theresa diRocco. Peter STONEBERG’S Shadow Rock has slated Tactician Ed BAIRD, Liz BAYLIS, Bill Hardesty and John ZISKUND to be among its crew. ISAF President of Honour, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway will race N.N., adding further excitement to an inspiring Farr 40 class.

Tom COATES and Masquerade return to South Beach to defend the Acura SORC J/105 title and revenge the tie-breaker loss suffered in Key West to Richard Bergman’s Zuni Bear. Bergman captured the crown after winning the tie-break with more race wins.

Not to be taken lightly in the IMS class is returning champion George DAVID’S Idler and 2003 2nd place finisher Marco BIRCH and Talisman, Birch also comes directly from a class win in Key West. Dan MYERS and Numbers are certain to raise the bar with Tacticians Ken READ and Brad BUTTERWORTH set to compete.

Competition in the PHRF class heats up with Key West winner David HUDGEL and Bounder, and 2003 Acura SORC PHRF 2 winner Terrance SMITH and Raincloud.

The SORC was founded in the late 1930’s by a conference of Florida yacht clubs and a Bahamian club. As originally conceived, the SORC was a mix of long-distance overnight races plus local day racing. The series spread out over a six-week season that started in St Petersburg and took in Miami and Fort Lauderdale before finishing in Nassau.

Today, the series features multiple day races with an awards presentation each evening.

The Acura SORC is currently run by five of the founding clubs including the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, Lauderdale Yacht Club, Miami Yacht Club and Nassau Yacht Club.