Southern Yacht Club
New Orleans, Lousiana
This year will be SYC's second Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, following their victorious debut in 2017.
SYC was founded in Pass Christian, Miss., in 1849. In 1919, America's Cup celebrity Sir Thomas Lipton donated a trophy to SYC for an Interclub Challenge among Gulf Coast yacht clubs, sparking the reorganization of the Gulf Yachting Association.
SYC prides itself on being home to a long list of Olympic sailors; in 1932, Gilbert Gray and Andrew Libano won the United States' first-ever gold medal in sailing; in 1968, G.S. "Buddy" Friedrichs and his crew won gold in the Dragon Class; in 1992, Flying Dutchman sailor Steve Bourdow and Paul Foerster won silver; from 1996 to 2008, Skipper Johnny Lovell and crew Charlie Ogletree dominated the US Tornado Class, winning multiple national and international championships. Their greatest success came in 2004 when the pair won the silver medal at the Athens Games. Unfortunately, SYC's clubhouse was destroyed by a fire during Hurricane Katrina, destroying many historic trophies and priceless artifacts. However, after two years of construction, SYC's fourth West End clubhouse opened in 2009.
Team Profile
The SYC team for this year's Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup was selected through tryouts and previous experience on the winning 2017 IC team. Most of the current team members came up through the SYC youth program sailing Optimists. In preparation for the 2019 IC, the team has practiced in the Melges 32 on the Gulf Coast and in the IC37 in Newport in June and July.
In this year's Invitational Cup, the SYC team of returning IC champions will be led by a pair of brothers: Andy and Johnny Lovell from New Orleans. Skippering for the team will be Andy Lovell (left). Andy was a two-time All America selection while at the College of Charleston and won the InterCollegiate Sailing Association's College Sailor of the Year award in 1991. He's also received the Buddy Friedrich's Award at GYA Challenge Cup, finished second in the Olympic Trials in both the Laser and the Star and has won the Laser National Championship and the Star Boat Western Hemispheres. Together with his brother Johnny, he won the Melges 32 Nationals.
Johnny Lovell (right), the SYC tactician, is a 4-time Olympian 1996-2008, 4-time collegiate All-American, and 11-time US Tornado Champion. He won an Olympic Silver Medal in 2004 and the Little America's Cup. As a tactician, he has won the Melges 32 Nationals.
