The action at this year's Pro Am begins on October 30 and continues through November 6. All junior division racers will compete on Bitter End's fleet of Hunter 216s, masters on Freedom 30s.

This yea's confirmed participants include:

o Russell Coutts, three-time America's Cup winner
o Peter & JJ Isler, former America's Cup sailors & co-authors of Sailing for Dummies
o Peter Holmberg, Match Race World Champion & America's Cup helmsman
o Andy Burdick, perennial top Inland Lake Yachtsman
o Betsy Alison, five time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
o Keith Musto, the U.K.'s biggest name in sailing
o Lowell North, founder of North Sails and Olympic gold medallist

2004 Pro Am Regatta Schedule (October 30 - November 6):

o Saturday, October 30 - Welcome Wine Cruise aboard Corinthian
o Sunday, October 31 - Pro Am practice and Scuttlebutt Sailing Club preliminaries
o Monday, November 1 - Defiance Day
o Tuesday, November 2 - First "Pro Am Racing" day
o Wednesday, November 3 - Lay day
o Thursday, November 4 - Pro Am racing in the morning
o Thursday, November 4 - Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championships in the afternoon
o Friday, November 5 - Pro Am racing all day
o Friday, November 5 - Awards party and dinner in the evening

For those interested in more than just sailing, the Pro Am week includes a full social schedule of informative seminars, snorkeling excursions, diving trips and other activities. The lay day, for example, is entirely devoted to an offshore excursion. In the evenings guests can join the sailing luminaries for cocktail parties, dinners and other activities. At a rousing awards banquet on the final night, the top teams receive trophies and prizes shared with the crews, and everyone leaves with great nautical gifts.

About the Author

Bitter End, the 2004 Pro Am Regatta, and/or would like to speak with John Glynn, the regatta chairman, please contact me at (312) 988-1270 or via e-mail at lobring@mcphilimy.com.