New York Yacht Club
Newport, Rhode Island
As the host club, the New York Yacht Club has competed in every Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup since 2009, making 2019 the Club's sixth IC within the decade. NYYC won the IC in 2009, placed second in 2011 and 2015 and finished fourth in 2017.
John Cox Stevens and eight other progressive New York yachtsmen founded NYYC in 1844. In 1898, NYYC Commodore J. Pierpont Morgan donated three lots on West 44th Street in New York to build a new clubhouse. The club acquired Harbour Court, in Newport, R.I., the former summer home of Commodore John Nicholas Brown, in 1987. It serves as an on-the-water clubhouse. The club was the keeper of the America's Cup from 1851 to 1983.
Team Profile
NYYC's team for the Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup was chosen through a three-event Selection Series.
In the 2019 IC, the NYYC team will be skippered by Ray Wulff (far left) and Andy Fisher. The former J/70 rivals partnered up to charter an IC37 for the inaugural season of racing in the class. While the Invitational Cup wasn't their first priority, after a strong start to the season in the Annual Regatta, the team turned its focus toward qualifying for the New York Yacht Club berth and was able to do so, holding off a number of strong challengers, including Vice Commodore Chris Culver's Blazer team. Wulff and Fisher a true partners in this team, swapping the helm regularly during each race. Wulff is responsibile for the starts and manuevers while Fisher handles the straight line speed. It's a unique arrangement, but has proven very effective as the team has been the most consistent on the water this summer. Each skipper's wife—Jen Wulff and Melissa Fisher—sail on the boat as well.
Doing the tactics for the Club team in this year's IC will be Brad Read (right). Read is a longtime Newport-area resident who grew up sailing on Narragansett Bay. He was a stand-out collegiate sailor at Boston University, winning the Sailor of the Year honors his senior year. He's since won numerous national and world championships, including three in the J/24 class. Read sailed as the tactician for the New York Yacht Club team—skippered by John Hele—in 2017.
