Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
Kirribilli, Australia
This year will be the second Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup for the RSYS, after the Club's very successful debut in 2017, in which they placed second.
The RSYS was established in 1862 and has had a clubhouse on the north shore of Sydney Harbour since 1903. Standing as one of Australia's premier clubs, the RSYS offers world class boating facilities and other member amenities including immaculate grounds, dining and function rooms, and cellar and accommodation. The Club boasts an extensive year-round sailing program, ranging from learn-to-sail, youth development, match racing, one-design dinghy, keel boats, inshore yacht racing and cruising activities. The Club also regularly hosts world championships and other events. The RSYS has been represented by members at numerous Olympic Games, has won world championships in a variety of classes, and has mounted several challenges for the America's Cup dating back to 1962.
Team Profile
A RSYS team originally came together for the 2017 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup through members suggesting that the regatta would be a great challenge well-suited for the RSYS. The team for the 2017 IC were chosen from members who had sailed together on Farr 40 Australian and international regattas. Most team members for the 2019 team sailed in the 2017 IC, with the exception of one new team member chosen from the RSYS youth program. Fundamentally, the team is made up of sailors who like to sail with the proviso that most of the team must be a cyclist, part of the team's shared passion. In preparation for this year's IC, the core crew regularly sails together in Sydney and will take advantage of training on the boat prior to the regatta.
After scoring second in the 2017 IC—and fourth in 2015, representing Australia's Middle Harbour Yacht Club—RSYS skipper Guido Belgiorno Nettis (left) returns intent on taking home the top trophy for his team in the 2019 edition of the Cup. Belgiorno Nettis comes from Sydney, NSW, Australia, and in 35 years of racing, he has won the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, scored second at the 2016 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, and has been President of the Australian Farr 40 Class.
Sydney is also the home to Tom King (right), RSYS team tactician for the 2019 IC who in his 30 years of racing, has many first-place titles to his name. In his role as a crew/tactician, King took home the gold medal in the Men's 470 at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and won both the 2000 470 Worlds and the 2012 Etchells Worlds.
