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America's Cup 2010 Headlines:
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BMW ORACLE RACING and GOLDEN GATE YC WIN THE AMERICA'S CUP!

Monday, Mar 7:
Russell Coutts Debates Role in next Cup: NZ Herald

Tuesday, Feb 23:
CupInfo: Talking with Russell and Jimmy

Sunday, Feb 21:
America's Cup Welcomed Home in San Diego: CupInfo Story and BMW Oracle Press Release

Saturday, Feb 20:
America's Cup is Home in San Francisco: Photos and Story at BMW Oracle Blog

CupInfo Feature Story:
Talking with America's Cup Photographers

Thursday, Feb 18:
Schedule: Trophy in SF, SD, Friday-to-Sunday

Feb 17:
J-Class Regatta in 2012:
Falmouth, Solent, and Round-the Island

Monday, Feb 15:
GGYC officially announces Club Nautico di Roma, represented by Mascalzone Latino, as Challenger

Monday, Feb 15:
Press Release: The America's Cup Comes Home This Friday
Press Conference:
Watch Video

AC34: 2011? 2013?
Next Defense: The Basics


Louis Vuitton Trophy
Racing Begins March 9 in Auckland

Live Streaming web coverage will be available at Louis Vuitton Trophy site


America's Cup On TV
 Watch free streaming Race Replay at ESPN360 until March 12 and highlights at Americascup.com
BMW Oracle Racing
: Read Guide to America's Cup Video


March 2: America's Cup skippers and hopefuls begin competing today in Omega Auckland Match Race Series, prelude to Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta Auckland, Mar 9-21:
Omega Auckland Event Site

Feb 18: Photographer Carlo Borlenghi's best shots of America's Cup 33, gallery at:
carloborlenghi.net

Feb 16: Mutiny on the Med? Harold Bennett, Principal Race Officer for the 2010 America's Cup, talks about SNG Race Committee's attempted strike to prevent Race 2 from starting:
Q: Does this stray into Rule 69 territory. Would you normal write a report for ISAF?
"Yes I do have to and obviously that's going to be included in any report. That's what you do, you've got outline what's going on on the boat, whether it's good or bad":
Story by Stuart Streuli at Sailing World and more at NZ Herald

Bruno Troublé Says America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Trophy could cooperate in next defense: Story at Sport Telegraph

Valencia Notes:
from John Crisp

3 days to go:
 Both teams host Pre-Race Media Presentations

One Week to Go:
It's Coming, and Fast

 


3 days to go:
Press Releases:
Owner's Press Conference

BMW Oracle:
"We had a very good sail," said team CEO Russell Coutts (NZL). "We're excited to get out on the race course tomorrow." Read More

Alinghi: May the Best Team Win

Feb 6: Regatta Rules
Amended by SNG: Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions released (pdf)

BMW Oracle Racing and Golden Gate YC Win the America's Cup!


Louis Vuitton Auckland Pairings

Racing Starts March 9 in Auckland

Day 1 pairings:
 First team sails NZL 92, second team sails NZL 84

Mascalzone Latino Audi Team vs. All4One
Azzurra vs. TeamOrigin
 Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Artemis
Aleph vs Synergy Russian

Mascalzone Latino's Gavin Brady: "The race course for this event is fantastic.  Most Cup sailors know it as the area they tow through behind the tender on the way to racing in the Hauraki Gulf.  But it’s great.  It provides passing lanes and you have to engage with your competition.  It’s either that or hit the rocks at the harbor‘s edge."

Read LVT Press Release
 


Russell Coutts Debating his America's Cup Future

Mar 7: The New Zealand Herald reports that Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW Oracle Racing and a four-time winner of sailing's most historic trophy, is taking time to decide on his future role in the America's Cup.  A redefined or reduced role, including retirement, is a possibility as Coutts helps plan the next edition of the famous competition.

From the NZ Herald: "I'm still deciding what to do in the future. I don't want to rush things on that," Coutts said. "I've got a young family now and that's definitely a consideration."

When pressed as to whether that might mean leaving Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing team before defending the trophy won in Valencia, Coutts said: "Honestly, I'm really not sure.

"Right now I'm just doing the best job I can for Oracle and trying to speak to some of the other teams to create some good processes [for the next America's Cup], but I haven't made a decision on my future yet."

Read more at NZ Herald
 


Coutts and Spithill: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead

Feb 23: As San Francisco, San Diego, and the BMW Oracle Team celebrated a magnificent victory over the weekend, Diane Swintal checked in with men of the hour Russell Coutts and Jimmy Spithill as they reflected on their stunning win and began to plot the course ahead.  From Diane's report:

Russell Coutts: "We liked our chances but honestly, I didn’t expect to win it like that.  I thought it would be a little closer than what it turned out to be, but it just shows that the team we put in place worked very hard to get the best out of the technology and, really, the technology that was created was pretty special.  We’re really proud of what was achieved."

"Right now, we’re going to take some time off [from sailing] to get some of these other things resolved and at least give the America’s Cup community a timeline of when the major decisions will be made.  We’re committed to independent management of the on-the-water event, rules, etc.  I think that will help teams a lot, and help bring back sponsors.  We have to decide with the other teams how that will be done, whether it’s a mutually elected group, a regatta director -- we have to decide how that’s going to be done."

Read more from CupInfo
 


America's Cup Welcomed Home in San Diego

Feb 21: Take San Diego, the schooner America, and the most famous and historic trophy in yachting.  How to have the perfect evening? Throw in a harbor cruise, a beautiful sunset, dinner for hundreds of your closest friends, and some very bright plans for the next defense.

Diane Swintal reports: In 1995, Russell Coutts sailed up to the San Diego Yacht Club and claimed the America’s Cup for New Zealand.  Sunday, he brought it back. 

Larry Ellison: “We want a defender series -- and we want Dennis to get involved.  And we think there could be as many as 16 teams.”

James Spithill: "We have to make people stop and take notice, make it exciting to watch.”

Ellison reiterated the theme of this tour and his mantra since winning Auld Mug -- and made a bold promise for a whole new future for the Cup. 

“The next Cup will be governed by an independent body, not dominated by any one team, including the defender.  The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the New York Yacht Club, the San Diego Yacht Club -- we want to get everyone involved and have a fair set of rules we can collectively agree on. 

Read CupInfo report from San Diego

Also see:
BMW Oracle Racing Press Release

and Kimball Livingston's report from San Franciso: "America's Cup in America"

 


Celebration in SF

Feb 20: The America's Cup arrived back in America Friday afternoon, landing in San Francisco after being held by other countries for 15 years.  Friday night saw a festive reception at the Golden Gate YC clubhouse, and Saturday the trophy will be on public display at SF city hall before going to San Diego for a party on Sunday.

From BMWOB: Mike Drummond, design director, was asked what the top speed of the USA would be. He said while it would be hard to get to 50 knots, he would expect in perfect conditions, you could approach that number. The fastest the USA has been sailed by the team is 42 knots, in about 15 knots of wind.

Read more at BMW Oracle Blog
 


Mariette and the Herreshoff Schooners


Schooner Mariette.  Photo:©2010 Nigel Pert

Feb 18: Capt. Nathanael Herreshoff, the most innovative and successful of American naval architects, won the America's Cup six times, crafted the lines of over 400 yachts, and built more than 2000 in his career.  Yet, at a time when the Schooner was the pinnacle of the undisputed genius of American yachting built only 15 schooners in his lifetime. 

A forthcoming book from yacht historian Jacques Taglang explores the 1915 schooner Mariette, beautifully restored and a rare Herreshoff survivor. With the help of many contributors including Maynard Bray, Luigi Lang, and Llewellyn Howland III, this book documents Mariette's own history, along with the stories of her built and unbuilt sisters, on the way to illuminating the evolution of Capt. Nat's design process over the course of his career.

Read more at LT Yachting
 


Picturing the America's Cup


Stars&Stripes in Fremantle.
Photo:©1987 Daniel Forster/go4image.com

Photographers Jürg Kaufmann and Daniel Forster have teamed up for the 33rd Defense.  CupInfo talked to them about what they've seen at the America's Cup over the years, plus how they approach the art and technique of sailing photography.

CupInfo: You have both been to many America’s Cups, Daniel going back to 1977. Which was your favorite as a photographer?

Daniel: My favorite one as a photographer was the 1987 Cup in Perth/Fremantle. Every day by 11:00 am the “Fremantle Doctor” arrived: 25-30 knots of wind with big waves and bright sunshine and the 12mJI yachts sailed, unlike here!

Read Interview at CupInfo
 


Rest Day Stories for Tuesday Feb 9

BMW Oracle Skipper Jimmy Spithill's heads-up display glasses: "The 30-year-old Australian hides behind a pair of sunglasses but not to deflect any glare from the Mediterranean Sea or to hide any pre-race fear from Oracle's bitter rivals aboard Alinghi 5. The sunglasses house a futuristic fighter pilot-style heads-up display to supply the Sydneysider with vital wind and sail load information aboard Oracle's 90x90-foot trimaran USA-17." stuff.co.nz
 

When USA's wing is up, the yacht wants to sail, 24 hours a day.  So she has a skipper and crew around the clock, even at her mooring: Magnus Clarke, relief skipper, BMW Oracle: "We keep her on a short leash otherwise, on a normal long line, it's easy to get to a situation when the boat starts to swing and you end up sailing at 20 knots! Sometimes it feels like keeping a leaping stallion in the paddock." Yachting World
 

Bob Fisher's Day Off: Bruno Troublé, Louis Vuitton Trophy, laser wind measuring, and a showdown on the Race Committee boat about GGYC's representative; but first things first: "The mandatory rest day after the cancelled race provided a wonderful opportunity for a decent lunch." Sail-World.com
 

Especially Recommended, as usual:
Kimball Livingston, Sail Magazine, on What Happens Next: "...from my side of the Rubicon, I see only two versions of the next reality:

1) Alinghi wins and bids the venue, and we won’t be surprised if we’re off to a small country east of here that is radically different, culturally, and more known for minarets and camels than for tapas and sangria—but like Valencia is eager for international attention. Yes, there probably would be pre-events in other locations.  Technically, of course, the winner is La Société Nautique de Genève, but we already know what that means.

2) BOR wins and the good old days of Louis Vuitton return.  I see little interim difference whether Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, for example, becomes Challenger of Record or Mascalzone Latino Audi’s Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia.  There would be pre-events in select locations, and by holding eliminations along the way it would be possible to structure the finals so that a compressed America’s Cup match could be held in San Francisco Bay."
Read more at Blue Planet Times
 


Stories for Monday Feb 8

Analyzing Design Details: Yacht Designer and America's Cup winner Dave Pedrick: "In virtually any sailboat design, stability buys sail-carrying power, and sail power buys speed. Stability in multihulls comes primarily from the distance from the athwartships center of weight to the leeward hull—true of a proa, a catamaran or a trimaran. Subject to diminishing returns of construction weight, more beam is good. Both of the AC33 multihulls have chosen essentially square proportions of overall breadth to waterline length..." Sailing World
 

Cory E. Friedman in Valencia: "The International Jury has finally handed down its final decision on measurement and it is not hard to see why it took so long.  Indeed, when I saw the Jury driving out of their headquarters on Saturday, I was surprised they were not still holding their noses.  The bottom line is that, although Justice Kornreich ruled, based on the recommendation of three of the Jury members, that the boats had to be measured with water ballast on board, the Jury has ratified an absurd measurement procedure that turns Justice Kornreich’s decision on its head." Scuttlebutt News
 

ETNZ Will Not Sail VOR: Grant Dalton, ETNZ CEO, says the New Zealand team will not enter the Volvo Ocean Race, as was earlier rumored.  Speculation is that they may have an eye on becoming America's Cup Challenger of Record depending on the match outcome.  And about the match, Dalton says "I just want it to be over with. But I will predict that it will probably be a trouncing. I mean there won't be a half-knot difference between these boats." stuff.co.nz
 


Stories Sunday Feb 7

About Harold Bennett, Principal Race Officer (PRO): "He is an Alinghi appointment," said Emirates Team NZ boss Grant Dalton. "Things like wind speed will be a quandary and everyone knows he was appointed by Alinghi because of historical things - and the eyes of the yachting world will very much be on that guy."
"Kiwi in a Whirlpool" at NZ Herald

Ernesto Bertarelli: "If the wind comes from the shore, which is what it is looking like, then the start is going to be almost half way between here and Ibiza.  I think everyone should be careful, especially spectators who are on the water.  Remember we are not in the summer, but in the winter."
Owners Press Conference

Kimball Livingston, Sail Magazine, on the work-up to the Match: "Perception versus reality versus perception versus infinitum": Blue Planet Times

Decided by Sailing: "If you're looking for a golden moment, I think it will be two minutes before the gun when the boats have to turn and come back to the startline."  Read more at NZ Herald

Rolf Vrolijk, Principal Designer, Alinghi: "...a large part of the development process has been driving home the point that the crew need to sail within the limits for which the boat has been designed."
Story by Matt Sheahan at Yachting World

Peter Lester at NZ Herald: "At long last we are going to see some racing in the America's Cup. With a couple of court cases still pending, next week's one-on-one showdown between Alinghi and BMW Oracle may not bring an end to the whole sorry saga, but make no mistake - this is progress."
Read story by Peter Lester at NZ Herald

Dave Pedrick, America's Cup-winning Designer: "This 33rd edition of the famed event is sure to be the most spectacular match of sailing machines ever staged. Other than a basic waterline length limit of 90 feet under the Cup's Deed of Gift, there has been no limit on the competing teams' imagination about performance, design and engineering—nor, evidently, on expense"  "Amazing Race" at Sailing World

Stuart Streuli: "USA's wing sail is the largest ever built, by far.  How to put it in perspective:  "There's countless ways provide a sense of the size of this sail. It's longer, for example, than the wing span of the Airbus A340 on which I flew from Boston to Spain. All come up short, however, when compared to seeing it in person. IT. IS. HUGE."
Story at Sailing World
 


Opening Ceremonies, One Day to Go

John Crisp: View from the dock....

(Feb 7) It was great to see such a good turnout around the Veles e Vents building for the Opening Ceremony.  The Darsena once again had the feel of yesteryear.  The Valencians turned out to see what all the fuss was about. Any excuse is good for for a party, beer, and massive Paella, and this one certainly counted..

Somewhere among the music, dance, light, dramatic video footage, and stunning hyper-fireworks explosions of the mascletá, the teams were introduced on stage (though both boats were out training so the core figures were not here) and the America’s Cup itself trotted into view.

A ceremonial coin was tossed, BMW Oracle drew first blood and chose starboard for the start.  The gloves are off, the lawyers on holiday, and battle is about to commence.

You can really feel now that this battle is on.  The stunning videos on the big screen accompanied by music at a heart-thumping volume set the pulse racing, and despite the media packaging it delivers a sense of just what an awesome achievement these boats really are.

They are unique, a testament to engineering, the result of two years mad scramble to design the ultimate with no holds barred.  It's a shame that the ordinary man on the street does not really understand how far these teams have pushed, and won't get the opportunity in person to see them go through their paces. 

Even in the media, focus on the politics has sometimes obscured a magnificent achievement.

But never mind all that now.  The clock is inexorably ticking down to Armageddon.  Who got their design right, and who got it wrong?  Not long now until we find out.  I, for one, can't wait.
 


BMW Oracle Music


Magnificent video by John von Seeburg, from BMW Oracle BlogFor best enjoyment, view full size.
Video:©2010 BMW Oracle Racing
 


33rd Defense of the America's Cup

Best-of-Three Series

USA wins the America's Cup!

Pts

 Team 1 2 -

0

  Alinghi SUI 0

0

-

2

  BMW Oracle USA - Winner 1

1

-

Challenger wins 2-0

America's Cup Race 2 Results:

Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing Win Race 2 by 5:28!

Quotes:
Larry Ellison says: "It's Absolutely Awesome!"   "¡Valencia, Muchas Gracias!"

Larry Ellison: “It was really tough on the first beat because they got the right hand side, did a bit of a split and we covered a little late.  They got some leverage, we hit the layline perfectly, just dipped him, got underneath him, sailed in front of him, rounded the weather mark first, and sailed away on the reach.”

Jimmy Spithill: "This is the best part, coming in to see your teammates, seeing how they react. The guys just put in so much work. It’s been such a really, really, hard campaign, so to come back in and share it with the rest of the team is just awesome.  Full credit to the engineers and boat builders and designers to get through those races with no issues at all. My hat is off to them. They won it for us. This is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. I started 10 years ago -- I thought it would never come."

Larry Ellison: "I am so proud of this team, proud to be a part of this team – and I’m proud to bring the America’s Cup, after a long absence, back to the USA!"

Read more Quotes

USA Wins Race 2, Feb 14:
Quotes of the Day and Comments and
BMW Oracle Press Release

Defender Alinghi and Ernesto Bertarelli Defeated
Alinghi Press Release

 

Race 2 Results (Feb 14):
Update 4:14pm
: Race is on!  Postponement flag down at 4:14, warning signal 4:19, start at 4:25. Wind 6 knots at start. Sunset in Valencia today is 6:37pm.

Triangular Course, 39 miles total: 13 miles to Windward, 13 miles to Reaching mark, 13 miles to Finish
Alinghi (starboard tack) enters from the right, BMW Oracle (port tack) enter from the left.

Race 2 Recap
Penalty to Alinghi at the Warning Gun for not being outside the designated area!  BMW Oracle into the box alone, crosses for starboard side of box.  1 minutes 30 to go, BMW lines up for left, Alinghi slow behind the line.  BMW Oracle gets a good jump at the gun, heads left.  Alinghi heads right.

Early 230m lead to BMW Oracle, but they are in different breeze.  Out to 360m, down to 300, and BMWO tacks, losing only 50m.  Both now on starboard.  475M lead to BMW. Then breeze favors first Alinghi, then BMW out to 676m as left shift comes in.  Breeze building past 8 knots.  Alinghi tacks, first cross of the match coming.  Alinghi on starboard.  Wind helps them, Alinghi gains and BMW Oracle has to tack before they cross.  AL5 in 70m lead.  Loïck Peyron is now helming.  Alinghi to 190m lead. 245m.  Breeze appears to be filling from the right. 490m lead. 550m, but wind may be coming back left.  Out to 600m and then BMW starts closing on the shift to 300m.  Alinghi raises protest flag, reasons unclear.  BMW Oracle tacks and the boats come together for a close cross.  VERY close cross, Alinghi ahead by 50m, Alinghi goes past, tacks, BMW Oracle rolls them before Alinghi can get accelerated.

Top mark nearing, 195m lead for BMW Oracle.  Round the Windward Mark with a 28 second delta -- 59 minutes after start.  Bearing off for reaching leg.  BMW Oracle extends for 450m lead.  575m. 750m. 1000 meters.

Halfway down the 2nd leg, 1445m lead to BMW Oracle.

BMW Oracle wins the America's Cup by 5:28 and 15:28 in two straight races!

Alinghi withdraws protest.

Race 2 Preview:
 The America's Cup is on the line today.  Unlike Friday when no one knew what to expect, the match has become a question of whether Alinghi can find a mode or a point of sail where they are faster than the challenger.  After BMW Oracle wolfed down A5's 600m lead in a matter of minutes in Race 1 upwind, and extended to a matter of kilometers downwind, the biggest variable in Race 2 will be the two reaching legs of the triangular course where out-pointing the opposition won't be the solution.  Reports say that Alinghi changed out the engine that powers their hydraulic systems, and they may be hoping against hope for the super-light conditions that could even the performance gap against BMW Oracle.

If not, this is a best-of-three series, and the Challenger, Golden Gate Yacht Club, Larry Ellison, and their team, could today win the storied silver trophy that has obsessed yachting's best for 159 years!
 


Race 1
America's Cup

 Race 1 Results (Feb 12):
Course: 20 nautical miles to Windward and Return.  Course set at 180 degree.  BMW Oracle (starboard tack), enters from right, Alinghi (port tack) enters from the left

2:35: Racing underway
Penalty on Alinghi in the Pre-Start. BMW Oracle stalled, both OCS, Alinghi gets out first. Early jump to a lead for Alinghi as BMWO has to return. 

Up the course, wind building to 8 kts. BMW gains on Alinghi, cutting into lead, Alinghi swaps foresails, BMW Oracle still gaining. USA pointing higher, going faster, gets ahead into 250m lead. Now 400m lead. BMW Oracle drops headsail. Out ahead to 425m. Then gaps closes, both head right, but down to 160m lead. Speeds about 20 knots upwind. 

Halfway up the Windward leg, BMW Oracle extends again 300m. 500m. 630m. Wind at 9 kts. Getting toward the layline. Alinghi tacks first.  BMWO about 2 minutes later. Lead 900m to BMW Oracle. To 1200m. Nearing the Windward Mark. Wind at top dropping from 10 kts to 7, at 175 degrees. BMW Oracle tacks for the mark. Rounds at 4:04pm.

Return Leg:
BMW Oracle heads downwind. Alinghi rounds, 3:21 delta. BMW Oracle leads by 1598m. 2100m. 2700m.  Speed downwind about 25 knots for BMWO.
 Alinghi gybes. Distance 3300m to BMW Oracle.  Alinghi still carrying a penalty. USA heading lower, speed to 28.5 knots. Wind 8 kts. More than halfway along the return leg. Still huge lead to BMWO. Finish coming up. BMW Oracle wins Race 1! Alinghi takes penalty turn, Apparent finish delta of 10:04, problem with turn, has to return above the line, final delta 15:28.

Quotes of the Day:

Jimmy Spithill, Skipper, BMW Oracle: “I always thought if we were able to fly a hull we'd be faster upwind, but I was genuinely surprised downwind."

Dirk de Ridder, Wingsail Trimmer, BMW Oracle: "Over probably 9-10 knot breeze it’s more efficient without the headsail, and the wing is working at maximum efficiency at that windspeed, and there was no surprise we were better upwind against Alinghi with the wing only....Once we get to over over 10 knots we’re at our absolute best and probably more wind we’d even be better. So good to see in the lighter wind up the first beat we were actually going quite well -- we were very very pleased"

Larry Ellison, Owner, BMW Oracle: "I would have sailed today if they weren’t about to call a race in three-and-a-half knots. If it’s very very light, we’ll sail with minimum crew again.  I had intended to sail today and I intend to sail Sunday but not if the breeze is three knots of breeze."

Ernesto Bertarelli, Owner, Alinghi: "The wing seems to be quite a weapon."

Brad Butterworth, Skipper, Alinghi: "What do you want me to say, they sailed from behind us to in front of us."

Jimmy Spithill, Skipper, BMW Oracle, on the pre-start: "I was approaching it pretty aggressively because the wind was quite light -- we did a great job on the entry. We were able to get a piece of ‘em and a force a penalty which was good, but then pretty soon after -- we’re sort of learning all the time -- we had a hard time sorta stopping the boat.  We ended up rolling forwards and getting overlapped to windward....

"We sort of had a hard time to try and stay out of irons. We got stuck in irons.  We had an issue with one of the winches, we couldn’t get the sail on ‘em, and obviously we couldn’t get the bow down.  So it was a bit frustrating, you know, as we really had him on the back foot there."

Question: As you came across the line, how did you feel when you started chasing Alinghi down?
Spithill: “Pretty fired up, we pushed the boat harder than I’ve ever pushed it before –- I mean right on the edge.....the boat really took off."

Read more quotes plus Race Summary Report

BMW Oracle: Race 1 Crew List
Alinghi:  Race 1 Crew List

America's Cup Match Preview:
  Preview?  There's been 33 months of back and forth, asking a court to decide who is the rightful challenger of record, what boats may race, and where they can or can't race, and every permutation of rule has been twisted and examined.  Sides have been chosen around the America's Cup world, and this may be the least friendly competition among nations for yachting's great prize to ever slide down the ways.

Offset by race boats that are as beautiful, high-tech and quite literally lethal as any ever built, the sailing portion of the match takes over today from the designing and building.  And nobody has ever built boats like these for inshore racing.  79 miles of straight line racing, today's 20 nm to Windward and Return, plus Race Two's 39 miles around the Triangular course, as the crow flies, and some issues could finally be settled.

Not the least of these issues is the Battle for the Soul of the America's Cup that has raged increasingly hot since July, 2007.  The near future of the event, if not its entire future, may ride on the outcome.

There are some who think there is something wrong with a match between the two most advanced sailboats on the planet, two yachts indeed conjured into being just for these few races and cast into shape according to a spell written in 1887 by George Schuyler.  The truth is that this is the closest the Cup has come in some time to what it was originally. This is not a pageant, this not a participation event to satisfy sponsors, it's not intended to be done on the cheap or for the thrill of competing, and there are no intentions of parity for the sake of entertainment. 

 This is about winning.  It's about excellence and pushing the limits to get there, and this is what made the America's Cup big, brave, and famous in the first place.  It is serious, serious, sport.  It's taken imagination, some real guts, and cubic money to get to this point, nearly unlimited except by constraints of time.  Win or Lose, this match could well be the last time we ever see the America's Cup unleashed to this degree.  This is a match race in the original sense, the boats at mythic proportions, the competitors have real anger, the stakes beyond mere pride.  The America's Cup sails into history today, and Cup fans everywhere should hope it comes out a winner.

 


BMW Oracle Space Launch


From BMW Oracle BlogFor best enjoyment, view full size. Video:©2010 BMW Oracle Racing
 


Race Day 1 Postponed: Monday

Valencia Notes: John Crisp

Feb 8: 5:00 pm Chris Bedford, BMW Oracle Met Expert: With a fleet of five boats equipped with 6m masts, updating data every 15 seconds, and a team of local observers as well, Chris Bedford still has one of the toughest jobs around.  Namely making the vital call on weather for his team.

Get it wrong, and 100 million dollars worth of high tech is worthless.  Get it right and you are the road to riches, and he has been there before, twice winning the America's up.

Today was a tale of two breezes with the PRO stuck in between.  The conflicting winds cancelled one another out in the middle of the course.  Bedford felt that even had the course been laid further north or south in either of the two wind bands, setting a course would still have been difficult.

His forecasting information for the boat is quite different from normal Cup matches, where the call is normally to go right or left.  Here, the racing is more coastal in nature so what he sends over is more of a routing plan, telling the team where they need to be on the track at different points.  This might mean ignoring tactical sailing and heading deeper off in search of better breeze.

The PRO asked both teams today if they felt it was prudent to call the race off today.  Unusually in this America's Cup match, there was an outbreak of both common sense and mutual agreement, with neither side wanting to play the Beaufort lottery. Long may it continue.

2:00 pm: Racing Abandoned
 The organization was completed. The boats were ready. The teams were ready. The press were ready. The online feeds were ready. The assembled crowd was ready. The chat rooms were full.

But someone forgot to book any wind. Despite all of the best forecasts (even RepCast was a little out!), the predicted breeze failed to arrive and eventually at 2:00 pm the PRO decided to call it a day and enjoy a leisurely trip home in the drizzle.

With all the money that has been spent on this edition of the Cup, it's refreshing to know that there is at least one thing left in life that billionaires' money can't buy?

6:00 am First Light:
 Dawn slowly lightens the grey lead-lined skies over the Darsena this morning. There is a little drizzle of rain. The air is still and heavy, the flags unwilling to move. The wind seems as unwilling as I was to get up this morning.

The dock is empty of boats, but filled with expectation.

The hands of the clock march inexorably round. Showtime is not far away.
 


Alinghi Art


 

Artist Carlo Perosino - Image: ©2010 Cultwork
From an original photo ©2007 Thierry Martinez

Jan 29: The beauty of the 32nd and 33rd America's Cup depicted in limited edition prints, photographs, and original artwork.  For the debut of the Alinghi Fine Art Collection see more images at AlinghiArt.com
 

 
Older News: 


2007 America's Cup:

CupInfo's Main Coverage:
Results, Feature Stories, and more day-by-day for:

2007 America's Cup The 32nd Defense

2007 Louis Vuitton Cup -- Challenger Selection

Louis Vuitton Acts 2004 to 2007
 


2007 Teams:

More Team Info

Defender of the America's Cup:
Team Alinghi

Challengers:

BMW Oracle

+39 Challenge

Team Shosholoza

Emirates Team New Zealand

Luna Rossa Challenge

Areva

Victory Challenge

Desafío Español

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

United Internet Team Germany

China Team
 



Louis Vuitton Pacific Series


Team Origin slicing through Auckland Harbor.
Photo:©2009 Juerg Kaufmann

Results:
Results, Photos, Boats, Entries, Skippers, and more:
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Main Page

Comparing the Best Boats
 Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg are the only helmsmen in the world who have raced the current yachts from three of the top America’s Cup teams.  Holmberg and Baird have now had their hands on all three pairs of boats.  What did they learn?  What can they reveal? Read More

ETNZ's Kevin Hall: Dinghies and Cup Yachts
"
I almost quit at my very first event in Holland -- it was really windy and it turned out I picked my stiffest mast, had my centerboard all the way forward and I had a light sail -- I didn’t have a clue that that was about as hard as it get
s." Read More

Talking with Peter Isler
"There’s a difference in being a good match race starter and being able to do it in an AC boat because they’re so big."  Peter Isler on Team Origin

Teams, Photo Gallery, Stories, RR1 and 2, More:
 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Page at CupInfo


From Mothballs to Match Racing


 Photo:©2009 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing

Providing two race-ready Cup yachts on short notice on the far side of the world wasn’t smooth sailing, so to speak.  "It was a bit of an epic," admits Grant Davidson, of BMW Oracle.  Mothballed yachts had to be shipped round the globe, set up to be nearly identical, and now need to be maintained that way day after day of close quarters match racing under ten different teams.

Read more at CupInfo


Looking Ahead


Team Origin skipper Ben Ainslie at the Congressional Cup.
Photo:©2009 Rich Roberts

Ben Ainslie, Terry Hutchinson, Rod Davis and others were in Long Beach last weekend for some hard fought match racing in the Congressional Cup.  How are top America's Cup sailors (and some who aspire to be) dealing professionally and personally with the uncertainty and conflict surrounding the Auld Mug?

Read Diane Swintal's report at CupInfo
 


Captain Sarno Returns


Captain Sarno in his home town.
Photo: ©2008 Di Meek

The leader of South Africa's America's Cup challenger brings his team back home to his own birthplace, a small Italian town in the hills above Pompeii.

Read the Press Release


NYYC Annual Regatta

The New York Yacht Club's annual regatta will sail with a sprinkling of history in the fleet, including 12-meter America's Cup defenders Columbia, Intrepid, and Courageous along with other famous yachts such as the newly restored Dorade.

 Read more: NYYC Press Release and Regatta Site


Italian Style


Shosholoza RSA-83 against the backdrop of the Naples skyline at the Velalonga.  Photo: ©2008 Di Meek

South Africa's Shosholoza and their ACC RSA-83 stood out among the assembled 200-boat fleet.  The team's strong ties to the Italian city were in evidence in the warm welcome they generated at this exhibition event.

Read the press release
 


2007: Alinghi Defender Trials


Photo: ©2007 Th. Martinez/Alinghi

CupInfo Visits the Defender

Alinghi recently wrapped up their second round of trials in the Gulf, pitting SUI-91 against SUI-64, Ed Baird versus Peter Holmberg as skippers, to hone their preparations for the upcoming defense.   Our man in Oman (or is that our guy in Dubai?) was there, talked with the top sailors, and brings you the story.   Are there A and B teams?  What's going on with the bowsprits?  And what's it like when they are all out to beat you?

Read Vaughn Woodfield's Alinghi Report

More CupInfo Articles:

Geordie Shaver's perspective on the America's Cup

Talking with Mascalzone's Cameron Dunn

Also: CupInfo's Allianz Cup Page

And be sure to see the Features Page for many more articles, interviews, history, and fun stuff for Cup Fans

 


CupInfo Features:

Visiting Dogzilla


Flying Squadron: Biplane meets trimaran as Sean D. Tucker's Oracle-sponsored aerobatic wonder visits BMW Oracle's massive multi-hull in San Diego before sea trials ended for the fall 2008.
Click image for more photos
Photo:©2008 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing

Our West Coast correspondent dropped by the BMW Oracle base in San Diego to check up on giant multi-hull progress and provides this report:

Naturally the "dognormous" boat, using nearly every square inch of something that can't really be called a slip, is the focus of the morning's activity.  Sails are loaded onto the boat with halyards and pulleys and cables -- cables of a size that get everyone's attention and mean no one has to be told to get out of the way.  Even with the sails and sailors onboard, the boat sits elegantly on the water, with very little wetted surface.

Read the story at CupInfo

Photo Galleries and more below:
 
Scroll down or click here

BMW Oracle Multi-hull on TV:
BMW Oracle's monster multi-hull was featured on CBS News Sunday Morning, December 14, Read text version at CBS News and See Video at YouTube, and on ABC's Good Morning America, December 13: See ABC Video

Also, unrelated to BMW Oracle, enjoy this vintage Walter Cronkite interview with Ted Turner, circa 1977:  CBS News Video


Photo:©2008 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle's monster at sea off San Diego.

Oct 20: Two weeks of San Diego testing complete: BMW Oracle web site

Inside the BMW Oracle compound:
Neat visit for Brian Camet at SailKarma.com

It's interesting to note some comparisons between BMW Oracle's boat and the giant new 131-foot ocean racing trimaran Banque Populaire V.  See Banque story and photos by Lyn Hines at Sailing World

See more photos at the BMW Oracle Racing photo bank


First Flight


Up on one hull, BMW Oracle Racing, 9/3.
Click image to enlarge and see more.
Photo: ©2008 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing

9/15 Why San Diego? "Warm weather, the right wind, sea conditions that will give us a good picture and a lot of room." : SignOnSanDiego.com

9/10 Monster Watching: "While sailing upwind in no more than 9 knots of breeze, they heeled the boat enough to sail on only the leeward float, making even speed with our media boat at roughly 26 knots": Scuttlebutt News

 9/10 James Spithill: "We're not even at 50 percent yet and it's already pretty impressive.": Seattle Times

9/10 Training moving to San Diego: IHT

9/8 Sailing World podcast with James Spithill

9/3 John Kostecki: "...There isn't anything like this, a multi-hull like this..." Read more at NZ Herald

9/1 First Sail Press Release
Also spy photos and video at
Dogzillabuzz Blog

8/30 Bob Fisher: 5300 sf mainsail, 3700 sf foresail, and 7500 sf spinnaker to be raised Saturday

8/29 Testing Begins

8/28 First sail Labor Day weekend?


Click image to enlarge and see more.
Photo: ©2008 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing

See First Sail Photos

See Launching Photo Gallery

James Spithill: "It's awesome, mate. The first time you see it in real life it's a shock factor, to be real honest."  Read more at International Herald Tribune

Read Launching Press Release


Spy Shots showing BMW Oracle multi-hull preparation and launching.  See spy photo gallery
Photo: ©2008 Mo Fuzz/dogzillabuzz.blogspot.com

Step-by-step coverage of launch and rigging nearly live Monday afternoon: Dogzillabuzz Blog

Read Unveiling Press Release at BMW Oracle Site
 


CupTracker 2007

CupInfo CupTracker is a powerful tool to analyze team results in the Louis Vuitton Acts, follow changes in the Louis Vuitton Rankings, check head-to-head results between teams at a glance, and track scoring through the Louis Vuitton Cup finals and the Big Match itself !

Download CupTracker
 

Inquires please contact:     Last update: Monday March 08, 2010

 


 

Some of the features on CupInfo :

 
 
From the 2003-2007 America's Cup Cycle:
Schedule
The basic Louis Vuitton Acts, the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the America's Cup: events, places, and dates.  Plus a detailed schedule including protocol deadlines in addition to background on the Louis Vuitton regatta plans and how they evolved. 

Recent America's Cup Class Racing: Information about the UBS Trophy, the Moet Cup, the ACC worlds, plus other vintage and exhibition events that took place between America's Cup Defenses.

UBS Trophy Racing: Photo Gallery and Racing Recap.

CupLog, our chronology of news stories about America's Cup topics since racing ended in Auckland, with links where possible, through 2005.

Valencia:  Correspondent Félix García, covered some America's Cup related stories from the regatta's new Mediterranean home, providing a perspective on the event and the city that only a Valenciano can.

Shosholoza Interview
The 2004 season proved an inspiring start for the challenge. Despite being newcomers to America's Cup racing, Shosholoza showed great character in their matches with the established teams.  In 2005, CupInfo interviewed Paul Standbridge and Geoff Meek about the team’s inspiring past, very busy present, and ambitious future.
Read the Interview

Peter Holmberg Interview
CupInfo talks with the top match racer, former Team Dennis Conner and BMW Oracle sailor, brought in to add a key dimension to Alinghi.  Catching up with him at his home base in the Virgin Islands, he provided his perspective on the work and play of sailing, America's Cup and otherwise.  Read the Interview

J-Class Revisited
The great yachts of the 1930s (and, in some cases, the 21st century). J-Class Information

Coutts/Alinghi
Russell Coutts was fired by Alinghi in July 2004.  A sequence of news stories and quotes about the Coutts/Alinghi split: Read selected stories on the issue

Our earlier content remains on line for your reference, too, including the 2007 Challenger Details Page: All the specifics we knew about the various teams and hopefuls (and some of the guesses) in one place; "Make Your Point"  (a look at ACC bow design in the 2003 AC); and our Guide to the Host City Finalists

Cheers!

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Congratulations to Golden Gate YC and BMW Oracle Racing for Winning the 33rd Defense of the America's Cup!


The Next America's Cup:

Who: Golden Gate YC (GGYC) holds the America's Cup as trustee, and has accepted a challenge from Club Nautico di Roma (CNdR).  GGYC will be represented by BMW Oracle Racing, and CNdR will be represented by Mascalzone Latino.  Both team first raced for the America's Cup as challenger candidates in 2003 in Auckland, NZ.  Read Challenger of Record Announcement

When: Undecided/Undisclosed.  Rumors range from 2011 to 2013.  Ellison told USA Today on February 16: "If we can get agreement with (San Francisco) for space on the Bay, we will defend it here within four years."

Where: Undecided, though rumors favor Newport, RI; San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; and Valencia, Spain.  Newport and San Francisco are the most likely cities; the second is most obvious since GGYC is located there and the SF bay is a dramatic location for sailing.  Newport was the Cup's long time home after the NYYC moved it there in 1930, until the Cup was lost to Australia in 1983.  Notably, too, in 2003 two race series were hosted in those cities, the regattas consisting solely of the America's Cup defender and challenger, with the Moët Cup in SF, and the UBS Trophy in Newport. Larry Ellison, while making his home near SF, recently purchased a fabled Newport "cottage", suggesting he is looking forward to spending some time in the Rhode Island area.  Ellison said that part of the decision to select a venue will depend on the best feasibility for accommodating the needs of teams and spectators.

Yachts:  Ellison said following BMW Oracle's victory that the yacht class for the America's Cup would be determined by a consensus among the America's Cup community.  Expectations are that a design rule for monohulls that represents an evolution from today's America's Cup Class yachts, faster boats with more high-tech features, is the most likely direction.  Whether there will be the excitement of scaling up the yachts to the proportions of the fabled J-Class, and what sort of technology will be involved, are questions that will be explored in the decision-making process for the new class.

Some more ideas of the approach that GGYC and BMW Oracle intend to take with the next Defense can be found by watching the Day After Press Conference from February 15

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About the 33rd Defense of the America's Cup:
 

 
 

Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), represented by Alinghi Challenge, defeated the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Emirates Team New Zealand (5-2) in June and July 2007, successfully defending the America's Cup.  SNG retained the Cup to defend it again in the following match. 

Spain's Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV), represented by Desafío Español, was accepted by SNG immediately following Race 7 as the Challenger for the America's Cup, commonly referred to as the "Challenger of Record".  America's Cup Management (ACM), a separate authority formed for AC32 by SNG, was expected to again administrate the event itself.

The rules and regatta structure that the defender selected met with objection from several former challenger candidates, as did the selection of CNEV.  Issues regarding the balance of power in the event were raised, and the eligibility of CNEV to even participate in the America's Cup was called into question.  A contentious court case ensued, as documented in stories listed above, particularly in the news archives from the 3rd quarter of 2007 forward.  The New York State Court of Appeals issued their ruling in early April, 2009, declaring Golden Gate Yacht Club the rightful and legal challenger under the Deed of Gift.

What's Next for the America's Cup?

The Basics:  The Thirty-Third Defense of the America's Cup

Who?  Société Nautique de Genève is the Defender and Golden Gate Yacht Club is the Challenger.  Alinghi represented SNG, and BMW Oracle Racing represented GGYC. 
Read more about the Challenger and Defender

When?  February 8th, 10th, and 12th, 2010 (see important note below). 
Read more about Race Dates and Times

This date was determined by the Deed of Gift's 10-month notice period as applied by the Supreme Court of the State of New York.  The 10-month notice period should have normally begun when the Notice of Challenge was submitted by the Challenger, but the intervening court activities lead the court to define the notice period as running from the date that their decision had become final and taken legal effect.  When the New York State Court of Appeals settled the issue of which Yacht Club was the proper and legal challenger, the order was entered April 7th, 2009, and ten calendar months leads the next possible race date (Sundays and legal-holidays excepted) to being February, 2010.  Though not intended to be flexible, this date was subject to change by legal action or by the agreement of the two sides.
Read more about the schedule

Where?  Valencia, Spain.

On August 6, 2008, Alinghi named Ras Al Kaimah (RAK), in the United Arab Emirates as the location for the match between the two clubs.  The Defender was required to select a location conforming to the Deed of Gift and the Orders of the New York Supreme Court, and to name that site before August 8, 2008.  The challenger, BMW Oracle, after evaluating the site and the legal issues, contested the legality of Alinghi's selection and on October 27, 2009, the court sided with BMW Oracle that RAK, being in the northern hemisphere for a winter match, was not permitted under the Deed of Gift unless both teams agreed, and threw out the selection.  Alinghi appealed the court's decision.  Alinghi meanwhile offered two locations in Australia as substitutes, and though the teams talked about these options, they did not reach any conclusions and the dwindling time frame until the match made going to Australia difficult.

Following October's Supreme Court ruling, Alinghi issued a Notice of Race (NOR) on November 10, 2009, naming Valencia as the location for the match.  No sooner did Alinghi and BMW Oracle appear to agree on Valencia, though, than Alinghi stated that if they won their appeal, they would hold the match in RAK.  On December 15, 2009, a unanimous decision by the Appellate Court on the appeal rejected Alinghi's appeal and a statement was issued later that day by SNG stating that that the club accepts the decision and looks forward to racing in Valencia.

How?  Best of Three Races. 

To quote the Deed of Gift: All such races shall be on ocean courses, free from headlands, as follows: the first race, twenty nautical miles to windward and return; the second race an equilateral triangular race of thirty-nine nautical miles, the first side of which shall be a beat to windward; the third race (if necessary) twenty nautical miles to windward and return. Discussions between the teams in mid-December 2009 raised the possibility that the series could be extended to best of five or seven races, no agreement was ever signed by both sides.

What yachts?  

BMW Oracle tested a giant multi-hull yacht, a trimaran, conforming to their Notice of Challenge, which first sailed in September, 2008.  Alinghi built a catamaran boat in Switzerland, launched in July, 2009.  The Deed of Gift requires that both boats must be constructed in the competitors' home countries.  The Deed was modified in 1956 to no longer require a challenging yacht to sail to the site of the match on her own bottom, so the challenger can be transported by cargo ship.  Both boats arrived in Valencia the first week of January, 2010.

Where can I watch it?

What television network is going to broadcast the match?  Live television was announced for Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries, along with a live Internet feed. In the US, Canada, and several other countries, the internet feed is the only live coverage. ESPN 360 is the US partner for the Internet feed.  There was no live or delayed TV Broadcast in the US and Canada.  More tv and web coverage info

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Disclaimer: CupInfo and this site Cupinfo.com are not associated with America's Cup Properties Inc., the official America's Cup organizations, Société Nautique de Genève, Alinghi Challenge, America's Cup Management,  the Louis Vuitton Cup, or other official America's Cup organizer groups or web sites.

Photo Credits:
Columbia: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection

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