SORC Gains New Sponsor
    From March 3rd to March 7th the 58th annual
Southern Ocean Racing Conference will be sailed on
Miami FLA's Biscane Bay.
    This year the Acura division of Honda America
will be the main sponsor.
    Dennis 'Buck' Gillette event chairman said:
"Acura's commitment to excellence and top class customer
service makes it a perfect fit with the traditions
of the SORC." Further, "We work very hard to find
unique ways to interact with Acura's target customer,
said Richard Colliver, Executive Vice President of
both Honda and Acura divisions. This prestigious
event will certainly help us in that regard."
    Last year's fleet of 172 boats from around
the country and abroad was a record for the event
in its new form. This year as many as 200 entries
are expected to sail on up to four courses, two on
the ocean and two on Biscayne Bay.
    One Design racing continues to increase in
importance at the SORC and this year will see
growth in the Farr 40 and Mumm 30 classes as well
as the debut of the new One Design 35 class. All
these boats will race on the ocean courses, along
with One Design 48s, Corel 45s and IMS and PHRF
handicap classes. Small PHRF boats will race on
the Bay, together with Melges 24s, Hobie 33s,
Etchells 22 and Multihull Classes.
    Special trophies to be raced for include:
the SORC Trophy for the best performance by a
series yacht, the Mark H. Baxter Perpetual Trophy,
for the best IMS yacht, the Florida Governor's
Perpetual Trophy for the best PHRF yacht, the
Hobie 33 World Cup, the Schoonmaker Cup for the
best Etchells and the Melges 24 Midwinter Series Trophy.
    The notice of race is located at:
http://www.regattas.com.
    Ocean course race entrants can make their
berth reservations at the Miami Beach Marina via
the Internet at:
http://www.miamibeachmarina.com.