Fiji's premier yachting trophy, the President's Cup arrived safely at the new host club, the Royal Suva Yacht Club (RSYC).
The President's Cup, Fiji's biennial international yacht racing series will be held in the waters off Suva, Fiji in June of 2005.
Over 800 hours of work went into the making of the President's Cup trophy, which will be presented to the overall winner of the race. The trophy, which was handcrafted by Alby Stuetzle, a master of fine art pewter foundry and engravings and designed by Dick Smith and Robi Wilcock. is a scale model 50 times smaller of a proper drua (canoe) built at the turn of the century and housed at the Fiji Museum.
The inaugural President's Cup was held at the end of June in 1997 to coincide with the arrival of New Zealand yachts in the Auckland to Denarau Island Ocean Race and the Auckland to Vuda Marina Regatta. The then President of the Republic of Fiji, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, consented to the use of his name adding credence to the integrity of the series.
Royal Suva Yacht Club will host the fifth President's Cup and preparations are well underway as the President's Cup series coincides with the 50th anniversary commemorative Auckland to Suva yacht race, out of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Auckland.
The RSYC is working very closely with the Fiji Yachting Association, the Fiji Visitors Bureau as well as Destination Suva to stage the race and provide memorable sailing in Suva Harbour and the waters between Suva and Kadavu and a pleasant time on land for all competitors.