GBR Challenge to Sail Against Stars and Stripes

GBR Challenge to Sail Against Stars and Stripes

5 November 2002: Peter Harrison's GBR Challenge will be up against Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes for the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series Quarterfinal. The best of seven series starts on Tuesday 12th November 2002.

In their two encounters to date the score is one all, so the racing promises to be very close. Mr America's Cup, Dennis Conner, has won the 'auld mug' four times and has the most experienced team in the competition.

“It’s going to be a very tough match for us against Team Dennis Conner and all their design and campaign experience accumulated over the last 35 years. However I’m confident that, although we’re challenging for the first time in 15 years, the high skill and competency of our teamwork will see us through," commented syndicate head, Peter Harrison. “This is a very symbolic draw for GBR Challenge as it revives one of the oldest rivalries in sport. The New York Yacht Club has been an adversary of a number of British yacht club challenges since they first won the trophy in 1851.”

Ian Walker, skipper of GBR Challenge, commented: "We have great respect for Stars and Stripes but we have beaten them once already, so we know we can do it. To eliminate them would be a great achievement but only our best performance from our team will suffice. This has the potential to be a seven match thriller!"

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