All Columns in Alphabetical Order


Monday, August 1, 2016

Olympic dreams for America's Cup stars Our Coverage Sponsored by Hallak Cleaners the Couture Cleaner


For fifty years, Hallak Cleaners the Couture Cleaner has been entrusted with Manhattan’s finest wardrobes. New York’s fashion boutiques have been recommending Hallak to their loyal customers for years. They understand the importance of quality fabric care and protecting their client’s investment. While Hallak is known for their expert handling of couture and other precious items, they also make it a point to give your more casual garments the same level of attention. Their representatives are always on the look out for the hard-to-notice stains, loose seams, missing buttons, etc. You can trust Hallak Cleaners with your entire wardrobe and then some. A sample of some of their specialized services: 

Tables & Bed Linens

Suede, Leather & Furs 

Couture & Casual Wear 

Custom Interior Services 



Expert tailoring department located at both locations.

Complimentary Pick Up and Delivery Service 6 Days a Week. 

Hallak Cleaners

1232 Second Avenue (near 65th)

New York, NY 10065 






If you have any questions or would like to schedule a pick up, please feel free to email us at info@hallak.com

***
With the best sailors in the world recruited to race for America's Cup teams, it shouldn't come as surprise that there is a crossover with the Olympic Games. 

The most decorated Olympic sailor of all time - Sir Ben Ainslie with four Gold medals and one Silver medals - is now the team principal at Land Rover BAR.

And Olympic medalists are sprinkeled throughout the fleet. Most however, have either put their Olympic careers on hold, or retired from competing in the Games.

But a handful of America's Cup sailors are still pursuing the Olympic dream in Rio next month, including prominent sailors from Artemis Racing, Land Rover BAR and Emirates Team New Zealand.

Artemis Racing skipper Nathan Outteridge and tactician/trimmer Iain 'Goobs' Jensen are the reigning gold medalists in the 49er class. Their goal should be simple - defend their title in Rio - but as Outteridge explains, it's not as easy as that.

"We don't feel like we're going there to defend the gold because since then, we haven't really posted a win at any major event," he explains. 

"We're going there to try and win the gold. Last time around our sole focus was the Olympics. Every day was about either improving our performance on the water, taking a rest when we needed it, our whole life was structured around being the best we could possible be. 

"But it's pretty obvious that in the lead up to Rio, we're not focused anywhere near as hard as we were in the past. Now, we have the America's Cup, which means Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series events and developing a boat for 2017.

"But we're excited to have about a six week period to focus on the Olympics... The special thing about the Games is that it is a one-off event that happens every four years... It is a true test of sailing ability. It's a special event. You have to earn your position there. I'm looking forward to taking on the challenge."

The main compeition for Outteridge and Jensen is another America's Cup duo - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke from Emirates Team New Zealand. 

The reigning Red Bull Youth America's Cup champions and World Sailors of the Year were Silver medalists behind Outteridge/Jensen in London. But since then, they are all but undefeated in the class, and must be seen as favorites heading into the Games.

In fact, their only loss came in the most recent event, the South American championships, where they finished third. But Blair Tuke says the setback won't dent their confidence next month.

"As we have out of all of our regattas whether we win or lose we always learn things," he told a New Zealand radio station. "We've already implemented some things so it's just charging on for us really.

"We've said all along we're not scared of losing it. It's just about trying to be in the best shape that we can for the big one in the next couple of weeks. We're excited with where we're at at the moment."

For Land Rover BAR sailor Giles Scott, the Rio Games provides an opportunity for the Finn class World Champion to emerge from shadow of his Cup boss, Sir Ben Ainslie. 

Giles was arguably the best - or second best - Finn sailor in the world heading into the last Olympic Games. But the Finn class was also Ben Ainslie's class, and with only one sailor per country allowed at the Games, Scott was relegated to a coaching and supporting role. Now, it's his time.

"Every single time I speak to anybody in the media, I am compared to Ben," Scott told BBC Sport recently. "I'm not Ben Ainslie, I just happen to be the guy that tried to beat him and failed.

"I'm not really sure I'll ever step out of his shadow because of everything he's done. It's not the reason why I'm trying to win the Olympics - it's more personal than that."

Now team mates at Land Rover BAR, Ainslie has given Scott the time he needs to prepare to win a medal.

"We get on really well," Scott said in the same interview. "There's a lot of mutual respect and Ben's just Ben.

"We've been fierce competitors in the past and I would have liked it to be my time in 2012, but it wasn't to be.

"I would like to come away with a gold medal. That is the campaign that my coach and I put together four years ago. Hopefully I can have my time."

The Finn regatta starts on August 9, while the 49er competition begins on August 12.


Follow us:

Twitter @AmericasCup

Facebook /AmericasCup

Instagram /AmericasCup

Back to TOP