Opening Ceremony Tickets on Sale

(June 17) This July 4 will be the date for the opening ceremonies of the 2013 America's Cup.  The America's Cup Park on Piers 27/29 will welcome the public for celebrations, interactive family activities, and cultural programs from the participating teams.  Tickets for the pavilion are $10, with 90% of that fee going to the Healthy Ocean project.  Also kicking off that day in the cruise ship building is the America's Cup Sports Bar, serving food and beverages daily throughout the summer.

Read more from America's Cup Event Authority
 

Barclay Asks Corrections to Reports

(June 14) Stephen Barclay, CEO America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA), has taken the step of writing to the New Zealand Herald asking that they correct reporting that Barclay says is not accurate.  The NZ Herald has run several stories recently that characterize disagreement over how to modify the Louis Vuitton Cup schedule as dismissive and obstructive on the part of Artemis Racing. 

In general the Herald appears to have been presenting opinions sympathetic to hometown challenger Emirates Team New Zealand.  Barclay points out that the schedule adopted so far was repeatedly supported by ETNZ in meetings between all teams, and that other proposals, unaccepted by multiple parties, would lead more or less directly to Artemis being eliminated from competition.  ACEA has also published the text of Barclay's letter on Americascup.com
 

Regatta Director Asks Teams to Supply Structural Data

(June 14) As part of the response to safety issues, Iain Murray, Regatta Director for the 2013 America's Cup, has issued a request that teams provide America's Cup Race Management (ACRM) by Monday June 17 with documentation of design load assumptions, structural testing results, and measurements of actual loads during service for both the AC72 platforms and wings.  Also sought are details of maintaining ongoing structural integrity, and the reliability of the systems that control daggerboard rake to manage angle of attack.  ACRM will have the data reviewed.

Details: Read Regatta Notice 185 (pdf)
 

ACEA Refunds Some Tickets in Consideration of Modified Schedule

(June 10) The America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA) will refund grandstand tickets purchased for July 5 to August 5 in light of the schedule modifications adopted last week as a result of the Artemis Racing accident.  Fewer races are planned for the Rounds Robin, and despite a schedule published last week that showed pairings with Artemis included, the Swedish team announced the same day that they don't expect to be ready to race until late July.

Once a new racing arrangement is confirmed, some ticket buyers will have priority to re-purchase for the Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals.

Read ACEA Press Release
 

Schedule Revised, Plans Disputed

(June 7) ACRM has published a revised schedule for the Louis Vuitton Cup, reducing the planned races in the Rounds Robin, and slightly changing the Semifinal schedule.  The reduced schedule responds to team input that they need a better balance of maintenance time to racing time, one of the safety recommendations in the wake of the Artemis Racing accident last month.

Artemis Racing reiterated that they will have their new boat launched next month, but not in time to participate in the early racing, meaning that they will miss most of the LVC Rounds Robin races against Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand.

See Modified Schedule and Read ACRM Press Release

Grant Dalton, CEO of ETNZ, is unhappy with the arrangement, favoring a different schedule and believing that the situation is playing out unfairly for his team and Luna Rossa, and not in the best interests of the event.

Grant Dalton, talking to the NZ Herald: "We haven't lost sight of the tragedy and we have said we are in favor of the safety recommendations but Artemis can get away with this because there are not enough teams in the America's Cup.  If there were five teams, they'd be goners; they wouldn't be here.  But because there aren't enough, the regatta will have to meet their needs and Luna Rossa are paying the price."

Read more at NZ Herald
 

Heritage: Last of the Wooden 12-M's

(June 1) Charley Morgan is one of the few people to design, build, and sail his own boat in America's Cup racing.   The last wooden US 12-Meter yacht built for the America's Cup, his 1970 design Heritage is also one of the largest, longest, and heaviest Twelves ever launched, and a memorable sight in any harbor, double-planked in Sitka spruce set off against a mahogany sheerstrake.  With her generous width on deck and long waterline, Olin Stephens told Morgan, "Charley, that's a horse of boat," a quote all the more remarkable considering Stephens' own 1970 boat, Valiant, was even heavier.

Morgan crewed on Columbia, and after defending the Cup in 1958, and being eliminated by Weatherly in 1962, he was bitten by the Cup bug.  His enthusiasm led him to field his own defender candidate, building Heritage at his company in Tampa, Florida, before she was sailed to Newport on her own bottom.

In the June issue of WoodenBoat magazine, Charley Morgan, now 83 years of age, talks about designing his first 12M without any 12M lines plans for reference; the decision taken by the teams to go big; surviving a near catastrophe at launching when the crane nearly fell over; and lessons learned in the pursuit of the Cup that year. 

 Though Heritage, Valiant, and Weatherly lost out in 1970 defender selection to Intrepid, by the end of the season Morgan's boat was matching up favorably with Intrepid in both light and fresh wind.  Intrepid went on to defend the Cup 4-1 against Australia's Gretel II, though the challenger is widely believed to have actually been the faster boat that year.

In the next match, aluminum became the material of choice for 12-Meters, and the wood boats found it harder to compete.  Heritage spent years as one of the best-looking fixtures on the racing scene in Chicago and San Diego before returning to Newport in the 1990s, where she currently races against the classic 12 fleet and hosts charters.  The article does not appear to be online for free, but the digital issue can be purchased at Woodenboat.com or in hardcopy on the newsstand.
 

ETNZ First Sail in SF

Click image to enlarge and see more.
Photo:©2013 Chris Cameron/ETNZ

(May 23) The Louis Vuitton Cup is coming soon, and what more exciting evidence than to see Emirates Team New Zealand's AC72 sailing for the first time on San Francisco Bay, joining Luna Rossa at times.  The big cat regatta on the bay is really going to happen, and the two Oracle Team USA boats, and the pending launch of Artemis' second yacht, will make five America's Cup boats tuning up this June.

Grant Dalton, CEO of ETNZ: "It was perfect.  Oracle was out there; Luna Rossa was out there.  The boys got straight into it – foiling across the face of the Golden Gate Bridge – something we have had in mind for a couple of years. So now we get into it properly tomorrow."

See photos from Chris Cameron
Also: Read ETNZ Press Release plus
Watch Video at YouTube (3:36)
 

Rare Starling Burgess Drawings to Auction

(May 21) Somewhere in-between making seaplanes and introducing Olin Stephens to creating J-Class yachts, prolific America's Cup yacht designer and all-around genius W. Starling Burgess collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller to design the ultra-modern Dymaxion automobile prototype in the 1930s.  The car never made it into production, only one original survives, but a replica was recently commissioned by British architect Sir Norman Foster.  A rare set of blueprints for the Dymaxion have been discovered, apparently forgotten in a Connecticut attic for the last 80 years, and will make their way to auction on June 6. 

Read more at Hemming Motor News Blog
 

Luna Rossa First Sail on SF Bay

(May 18) Italian America's Cup challenger Luna Rossa took their AC72 yacht out onto San Francisco Bay for the first time ever Saturday.  The cat, the team's only yacht for the 2013 America's Cup, has sailed previously in Auckland, NZ.  Conditions are described as being the lighter end of the scale, which Luna Rossa felt was ideal for a shakedown outing.  The team also cited the psychological need to get sailing again.

Read more and see photos at Luna Rossa site
 

Expert Panel to Review Artemis Accident

Report Likely in Weeks, Racing on Track as Planned

Update, May 14: Iain Murray, Race Director and CEO of the America’s Cup Race Management organization, and Tom Ehman, Vice Commodore of Golden Gate YC and longtime senior official with Oracle’s yacht racing campaigns, worked today to help clarify the status of the America’s Cup and the investigation into the fatal accident that claimed the life of Artemis Racing crew member Andrew Simpson last week.

Read Report from CupInfo
 

Press Conference on Review Panel

(May 14) The America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA) will today name an independent investigation panel for the Artemis Racing accident, and better define the inquiry's scope of work: Read More

A Press Conference on the matter was streamed live online today beginning at 2:00 pm PT from the America's Cup site.  A reply can be seen here
 

Nathan Outteridge: Reports Attributed to Father Don't Represent What Happened

(May 13, 5:00 pm PT) From Nathan Outteridge, via Artemis Racing: "The description of the accident in the Newcastle Herald while quoting my father is not correct and does not reflect the facts.  Unfortunately it has been relayed by other media.  Right now, we are all still mourning and working to understand what happened.  I hope everyone can respect this and I thank all those who have expressed support."
 

Artemis Statement on Accident Investigation

(May 11) Statement from the Team: "Artemis Racing is in the process of conducting a thorough review and analysis of this week's accident. 

"As a part of this review, Artemis Racing is sharing and exchanging data and information with concurrent work being performed by America's Cup and the San Francisco Police Department.

"Until this process is complete, any conclusions being made about the events that led to the boat's capsizing and its tragic outcome are pure speculation. 

"Out of respect for Bart's memory and his family, we ask that the broader sailing community and others reserve judgment until all the facts are known, and not persist in unnecessary rumor.  We again thank everyone for their continued support and thoughts during this difficult time."
 

Iain Murray to Lead Investigation

(May 10) Iain Murray, Regatta Director of the 2013 America's Cup, will lead an investigation into the circumstances of the tragic events that claimed the life of Artemis Racing's Andrew Simpson on Thursday.  In addition to his current role conducting the racing side of the event, Murray was an America's Cup skipper, head designer, and team leader himself while still in his 20's.  Murray will be chief liaison to the San Francisco Police Department, who are investigating under their own jurisdiction, and the US Coast Guard.

Read ACEA/ACRM Press Release
 

Statements on Artemis Racing Capsize

(May 9) From Paul Cayard, CEO Artemis Racing:
It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crewmember Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson today in San Francisco.  Andrew, a British double Olympic medalist, was one of the 11 man crew aboard Artemis Racing’s AC72 catamaran which capsized during training on San Francisco Bay ahead of this summer’s America’s Cup.  All other crew are accounted for. Simpson however was trapped underneath the boat and despite attempts to revive him, by doctors afloat and subsequently ashore, his life was lost.

“The entire Artemis Racing team is devastated by what happened,” said CEO Paul Cayard. “Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew’s wife and family.” --statement ends

Cayard spoke to the media at 5:00 pm PT, adding: “Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson’s family, his wife and kids, and also the rest of my teammates.  It’s a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody’s well being." 

Additional Statements:

From Oracle Team USA:
"Today is a sad day for all of us in the sailing community. Andrew Simpson was a great person, a terrific sailor, and a good friend to all of our team.  Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Artemis team.  He will be dearly missed."

From the America's Cup organization:
"The thoughts of everyone involved with the America’s Cup are with the family of Andrew Simpson and the members of Artemis Racing.

"Andrew was an immensely popular and respected member of the sailing community, and his two Olympic medals were testament to his talent.  His easy-going personality made him loved by many; always friendly, always smiling and always supportive of others."

From CupInfo:
It was with great sadness we learned of the death of Andrew Simpson of Artemis Racing.  Sincere condolences from all of us at CupInfo to Andrew's family, friends, and teammates.  The Cup family is lessened by this loss.
 

Jewett, Robins, and Simmer Named to Hall of Fame

(May 8) Lucy Jewett, Noel Robins, and Grant Simmer have been named to the America's Cup Hall of Fame Class of 2013.  An induction ceremony and celebration dinner will take place August 5th in San Francisco, as the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals begin.

Jewett was a key organizer and sponsor for the Cup campaigns of Dennis Conner and then Paul Cayard, and now serves on the San Francisco America's Cup Organizing Committee.  Robins sailed and coached in multiple Australian challenges that culminated in Australia II's 1983 victory, and then managed preparations for the 1987 America's Cup in Fremantle.  Simmer, to date a three-time Cup-winner -- once as navigator on Australia II in 1983, twice as Design Team Coordinator/Managing Director for Team Alinghi -- is now General Manager of Oracle Team USA for their 2013 Defense.

Read America's Cup Hall of Fame Press Release
 

Catching up with Tom Slingsby

(May 3) Tom Slingsby took the helm of Oracle Team USA's AC45 in the recent Naples regatta, stepping in where James Spithill, Russell Coutts, and Darren Bundock have been at work previously.  Writer Michelle Slade chatted with Tom, a six-time World Champion, about his Naples experience and his role with the Defender for the America's Cup this summer:

Question: Oracle now has three excellent helmsman--how do you feel about being the bridesmaid and not the bride when clearly you’re capable?

Tom Slingsby: "It’s OK--I was given an amazing opportunity. I was hired as a tactician with the strongest team in the America’s Cup, and I’m still pretty young and going to run with it. I know I wasn’t hired as a helmsman, but I’ve now had a lot of support since Naples. People now know that I’m there if Ben or Jimmy gets injured or sick, I can fill in."

Read interview at Sailing World
 

Book: Oracle and Golden Gate YC Teaming Up to Win the Cup

(April 29) The Billionaire and the Mechanic, a new book from author Julian Guthrie, tells the story of Larry Ellison's Oracle racing efforts in partnership with Norbert Barjurin and the Golden Gate Yacht Club, to be published in late May.  Guthrie, who had inside access to the team for her writing, recounts the sage of Ellison's America's Cup challenges of 2003, 2007, and 2010, portraying the sailors and designers as they chase yachting most famous trophy.

Bob Fisher, America's Cup Journalist:  "This is one helluva great read.  Larry and Norbert -- beautiful dreamers both, men with faith in their ability to convert them to reality.  This book is fascinating; it informs, educates and entertains about the longest continuously contested trophy in all sports."

Julian Guthrie, Author: "I am now completely in love with this race.  I find the sailors to be wonderful and down to earth, though as intense as a team of Navy SEALS.  I find the engineers and builders to be brilliant, obsessive, and perfectionists.  The sport is visually stunning, with breathtaking backdrops and cutting-edge boats.  I also love it that for the first time in 160-plus years, the America’s Cup is going to be accessible to all."

Read Q-and-A with the Author

Pre-order at Powells Books

Also: Barnes&Noble and Amazon and Independent Bookstores
 

Oracle Boat #2 Debuts

Judith Sim of Oracle Corp. opens up on Oracle Team USA's new America's Cup cat. Photo:©2013 Chuck Lantz

(April 23) Oracle Team USA unveiled their new AC72 yacht to the media today, expected to be the boat that defends the America's Cup next September.  The second of two multihulls each team is permitted to build, on-the-water testing and development efforts will soon be in high gear.  Restrictions on sailing AC72 yachts expire after April 30th and it appears that Oracle will be the first team sailing two of their own boats at the same time.  Judith Sim, Chief Marketing Officer for Oracle Corporation, christened the boat.  Winds were too high to allow other than a short trip away from the dock.

Read Team Press Release
 

Click image to view more photos.
Photo:©2013 ORACLE TEAM USA/Guilain GRENIER

More social media photos:
Sail Racing Magazine: Twitter
Oracle Team USA: Instagram
Genny Tulloch: Instagram
 

America's Cup on Australian TV:

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke praises Alan Bond for Historic Win

(Apr 8) "I think Alan Bond is owed a great deal of gratitude by the Australian people.  The way he helped to lift the Australian spirit as a result of that great historic victory of 1983 was great for our country," Mr. Hawke said.

'The Story of Australia II and the America's Cup' will be featured on Australian Story, also includes interviews with John Bertrand, Alan Bond, Grant Simmer, Tom Slingsby, and James Spithill.

See News Story 'Hawke Praises Bond' plus Read more about the program and Watch Interview excerpt at YouTube
 

Pack and Go: ETNZ Leaving Auckland

Click image to enlarge and see more.
Photo:©2013 Chris Cameron/ETNZ

(Apr 4) Emirates Team New Zealand sailed their AC72 for the last time in Auckland before shifting operations to San Francisco for the 2013 America's Cup.  ETNZ will set up and start sailing on the Bay following the upcoming ACWS Naples April 16-21.

See photos of last NZ sail from Chris Cameron.
 

Powerboats of the America's Cup

(Mar 25) Demands for Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup support craft include chasing AC72's at 50 mph; setting and holding the race course to the precision of centimeters; and putting Race Officials, computer jockeys, and VIP's in the right places at the right times. These requirements have spawned a custom fleet of powerful new tenders sporting GPS station-keeping, high-efficiency diesel outdrives, and literally the best seats available.

Mark Reid at Bay & Delta Yachtsman reports in depth on the powerboats of the 2013 America's Cup, plus some of the history and traditions of tenders and chase boats in the famous regatta.

Read article at Bay & Delta Yachtsman online viewer starting on page 12 (requires Adobe Flash).
 

New Team for Naples, And Korea Withdraws from 2013 America's Cup

(Mar 21) America's Cup organizers announced today that a new America's Cup World Series team will compete in Naples, Italy, this April, led by experienced multihull sailors Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher of Austria.  Competing as HS Racing, with support from Oracle, and flagged as a US entry, the pair will race an AC45 yacht in the final World Series regatta before the Louis Vuitton Cup begins in July.  Hagara and Steinacher are twice Olympic Gold-medalists in the Tornado class, and were once rumored to be exploring an America's Cup challenge for 2013.

The news comes coupled with official confirmation of the withdrawal of Team Korea from America's Cup 2013 activities.  Team Korea now intends to return for AC35.

Read ACEA Press Release
 

Luna Rossa Leaving Auckland, Headed to Naples

(Mar 20) Luna Rossa Challenge is packing up their AC72 activities in Auckland, NZ, in advance of moving operations to San Francisco following April's America's Cup World Series in Naples.  The Italians commemorate the move in Prada style with a nice photo gallery, plus video and commentary from skipper Max Sirena. 

See photos and video at Luna Rossa site
 

Winging it: Driving a Big Truck

(March 16) Glenn Ashby, Trimmer for Emirates Team New Zealand, has his hands full trimming the wingsail on the team's AC72 cat.  Constantly needing to make fine adjustments to changing conditions, he compares his onboard task to driving a truck with a 32-speed transmission, requiring continual upshifting and downshifting to keep the engine in the power band:

“Dean Barker, James Dagg, Ray Davies and I work closely on boat speed -- effectively managing the speed and angle of the boat. It’s a team effort for best round-the-track speed and we all need to be on the same page."

“It’s like sailing a double-handed dinghy in a way -- the forward hand controls the mainsheet and the helm steers and they work together to extract maximum speed. It’s a bit like that on the AC72, but with a lot more buttons and strings to play with."

Read more at ETNZ Blog
 

San Francisco Looks Forward to Cup Benefits

(March 16) The City of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors held discussions this week to consider the impact of updated financial studies for the event this summer.  Fewer teams than originally intended have lowered some revenue projections, but along with more realistic planning and preparation expenses have been reduced, too.  While some criticism was voiced by Supervisor John Avalos, among other, the net takeway is that the America's Cup is expected to deliver a positive result for the Bay area.

"The bottom line is this is going to be a great event at zero cost to the city," said Supervisor Mark Farrell. "We're talking about (an estimated) $900 million in economic activity and (a potential) 6,500 jobs. A lot of cities would pay a lot for that."

 "World-class cities put on world-class events," he said. "And I think our city is going to shine."

Read more at SFGate.com
 

Racing Rules for America's Cup Updated

(Mar 7) With the Louis Vuitton Cup less than three months away, and the final America' Cup World Series of the season coming next month in Naples, America's Cup Race Management has released an update to the Racing Rules of Sailing for the America's Cup (RRSAC), currently in version 1.14.  Most of the changes are small and technical, and clarify or refine requirements.

Most noticeable in practice will be the initial placement of the penalty line, doubling the penalty distance to two boatlengths, and the orientation of the penalty line is now perpendicular to the true wind angle and not the axis of the leg (see Rule 44.2).  Additionally, the calculation of VMG for the motion of the penalty line now includes wind direction and current (also Rule 44.2).  Changes in wording in Giving Room at an Obstruction (Rule 20.2), and the definition of Finish have been made, and it's is explicitly stated that errors in navigating the course cannot be corrected after finishing (Rule 28.1 (c)).  The Race Committee is now required prior to the start only to name the course to be sailed, not provide bearing and distance (Rule 27.1).

Download the RRSAC version 1.14 (pdf 1.7MB)
 

A Bowman in the AC72 Age

(Mar 3) Brad Webb is a bowman for Oracle Team USA, but what does that mean in a competition where the boats are over-powered, under-manned 72-foot multihulls, going 40-plus knots with no place anywhere near the bow to stand?  Webb explained the brave new world to Sail Racing Magazine.

Brad Webb:  "If you look back to the IACC days, we were starting the boat upwind and just having that jump of a meter or two could make a huge difference.  Now in the AC72's, because they are traveling so fast, getting a good start is more to do with your position on the line and your trajectory to the next mark than it has to do with ‘boat relative’.  You can actually be a meter or two behind your competitor but have a better angle to the first mark and go smoking by.  The other thing is that there is really no bow to speak of on these boats so you are not going to send somebody up on the spine to call the line."

Read more at Sail Racing Magazine
 

NZL5 Sails into March

Click to enlarge and view more.
Photo:©2013 Chris Cameron/ETNZ

With barely more than 120 days until the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand's AC72 catamarn #2, NZL5, looks good sailing strong in Auckland.  See photos from team photographer Chris Cameron
 

No Safety in Numbers

(Mar 1) Kimball Livingston: "Never before has the red-hot favored team to win the next America’s Cup been in such a dicey predicament. Some claim that Emirates Team New Zealand has already won the Cup in the design department, but even if that proves true (and frankly, it’s a stretch), it makes the team no less vulnerable to the fortunes of war."

Read more from Kimball at Sail Magazine
 

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

(Feb 26) New Building for America's Cup Village delivered by City to America's Cup Event Authority.
Read Press Release
 

Red Bull Youth America's Cup Teams

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

(Feb 25) Youth teams have been chosen to compete next in San Francisco prior to the start of the America's Cup September 7:

Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Teams

Selection Series Teams advancing to Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
Australia Objective Australia
Germany STG/NR/NRV Youth Team
New Zealand Full Metal Jacket Racing
Portugal ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team
Switzerland Team am Tilt

Youth crews supported by America's Cup World Series Teams
France Energy Team/Name TBC
New Zealand Emirates Team New Zealand/Name TBC
Sweden Artemis Racing/Swedish Youth Challenge
USA Oracle Team USA/American Youth Sailing Force
USA Oracle Team USA/USA45 Racing

Read Red Bull YAC Press Release
 

Cost and Politics in San Francisco

(Feb 20) Amid volleys from the Board of Supervisors that characterize the city's promised support for the America's Cup regatta as subsidizing an event for the wealthiest people in the world, Stephen Barclay, head of the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA), objected to that sort of reductive viewpoint.

“I struggle with that,” Barclay said. “Name any other event like this that is free to the public?  You can grab your family, grab your lunch, make your way to the Marina Green and enjoy the races and it does not cost you a cent.  Why is that a yacht race for the rich?”

The America's Cup Organizing Committee, formed to help raise money to offset some of the city's costs, has not met financial targets to date, raising concerns from city leaders regarding how to meet the city's direct expenses for hosting the upcoming event this summer.  Though the total economic impact for hosting the America's Cup is a projected as a net positive for the region, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars or more, the city will still incur immediate costs for providing required services such as security, emergency, sanitation, and public transportation.

Read more at San Francisco Business Times
 

A (Cold) Day with the Swiss Youth Team

Click image to view at YouTube.
©2013 Jürg Kaufmann/go4image.com

(Feb 13) Sailing catamarans in Switzerland in February?  When it's 0 degrees C and snowing?  Team Tilt, the Swiss Youth Team, is serious about getting ready.  Photographer Jürg Kaufmann captured a day of images with the dedicated young guys and shared this slideshow.
 

Red Bull Youth AC Trials Begin

(Feb 13) Selection trials are taking place in San Francisco this month, featuring a dozen teams of young sailors hoping to be one of at least four selected to compete with others next September 1-4 in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup event taking place before the start of the actual America's Cup Match itself.

The hotshot youngsters are racing on the actual AC45 cats that the official teams have been using in the America's Cup World Series, a big step up in speed and complexity from the smaller dinghies most of the youth athletes have been honing their skills on until now.

“Yesterday in the big breeze, around 17 knots, it was more difficult than I expected,” said Philip Buhl of STG/NRV, a champion Laser sailor.  “Every time we completed one maneuver we had to prepare for the next, there was no time to catch your breath.”

Ben Ainslie, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and now with Oracle Team USA, holds out the idea that this new event may help rising talents at an earlier age.  “The Olympics used to be the avenue to get into professional sailing and the America’s Cup,” said Ainslie.  “But now the Cup is becoming more accessible for youth sailors, and that’s great for the sport.”

Read RBYAC Press Release
 

NZL5 Gets First Sail

Boat 2 lifts off.  Photo:©2012 Chris Cameron/ETNZ

(Feb 12) Emirates Team New Zealand got their second catamaran, NZL5, off the tow rope and underway to begin the 45-sailing-day testing period lasting until April 30.  The first team to sail an AC72, they are the first team to launch boat #2.

See photos from Chris Cameron
 

AC72 Launchings

Meet the new boat. Click image to enlarge and view more. Photo:©2012 Chris Cameron/ETNZ

(Feb 4) Emirates Team New Zealand revealed their second AC72 and Oracle Team USA plans to re-launch their first boat on Monday, February 4th.  The Kiwi boat, NZL5, was ceremonially named and ready to get wet, but high winds postponed the actual launch and sailing.  Last Friday, February 1 marked the beginning of the second AC72 sailing period, 45 days per boat until the end of April, with no restrictions after that.  ETNZ plans to work up their second boat over the next two months in Auckland before shifting operation to San Francisco mid-April.  Oracle's unveiling event, for their repaired first boat and second wing sail, began at 10:00 am Monday morning in San Francisco.

Emirates Team New Zealand:
ETNZ: Press Release and Photo Gallery, plus Video.
Video and more photos: Richard Gladwell at Sail-World
Stuff.co.nz: ETNZ Second Boat and Cat Unwrapped

Oracle Team USA:
Back on the Bay: Press Release and Photos and Team Video at Youtube (4:45)
Team photos on Instagram: Oracle 17 rolls out for load testing and launching and afloat
San Jose Mercury News: Ellison's Team Back on Water

The Return of 17. Click image to see more photos at Pressure-Drop.us forums. Photo:©2013 Erik Simonson/h2oshots.com
 

Reggatta de 2013: Sting Performs for America's Cup Fans June 2

(Jan 22) The musician born as Gordon Sumner, who first came to fame as a member of the rock group The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers in the 1970s and early 80s, is the first headline performer named in an outdoor concert series to be held this summer at the America's Cup Pavilion on Piers 27/29 in San Francisco.  In partnership with promoters Live Nation Entertainment, additional acts will be presented over the course of the Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup Regattas.

Read ACEA Press Release
 

ETNZ Second Boat

Click image to watch video. Image:©2013 ETNZ

(Jan 15) Emirates Team New Zealand's second of their two AC72 catamarans travels from builder Cookson's to the team's base for assembly, preparing for a launch in early February.

Nick Holroyd, Technical Director: "Hopes for the campaign are founded on this one, I guess.  With any luck, if she works well, then we never have to pull Boat 1 out of the cupboard again."

Grant Dalton, CEO: "This is it, we not getting any better.  We'll make it faster obviously, but we're not going to change shape, and we'll find out whether we got it right or not in September this year."

Watch video at Team YouTube site
 

May ACWS Regattas Dropped

(Jan 8) America's Cup organizers announced Tuesday that they will focus on preparations for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup in July, dropping plans for May 2013 regattas that were under discussion for either New York City or San Francisco.  The decision leaves the America's Cup World Series in Naples, Italy, as the last AC45-based event before Challenger Selection for the 2013 America's Cup begins with the Louis Vuitton Cup July 4th. Read ACEA Press Release

Stephen Barclay, CEO, America's Cup Event Authority: “New York was always going to be expensive,” Barclay said [....] “We didn’t go into that thinking New York was going to pay us a whole lot of money.  They are not in position to pay us a lot of money and we didn’t ask them to.  We felt that maybe this was not the best time to be spending the money."
Read AP story at Washington Post
 

Cayard Looks to 2013

(Jan 3) Despite a good showing in the AC45-based regattas, Artemis Racing has had a slow start in the transition to the new AC72 cats.   An early broken wing, a damaged platform, and a later launch date than the other teams mark some of the frustrations for the Swedish challenger.  Michelle Slade caught up with Paul Cayard, CEO, to see how Artemis is advancing toward being ready for the Louis Vuitton Cup this summer.

Question: Is it disappointing to go through all this knowing you’re not going to have the time to get up to speed on these boats?

Paul Cayard: "You could say it’s disappointing, but it’s the nature of this race.  Even if we had another year, it’s a fundamental fact when you change a class of boat that you’ll always be leaving something on the table, it’s part of the game.  You’re never going to get to 100 percent, so the strategy and tactics have to revolve around the fact that you acknowledge that you’re not going to get everything done and have everything perfect.  It depends on the path that you take on that will get you the farthest up the ladder, which is an interesting part of the game.  It’s frustrating on the one hand, but we plan and train for that.  If you identify the scope of work that you can realistically take on, then you won’t feel that pressure because you would have designed a good game plan."

Read more at Sailing World
 

Oracle Wing On Its Way

Image:©2013 François Chevalier

Youth America's Cup Taking Shape

 Click image to enlarge and read more
Photo:©2012 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

“One of the requirements is that these are non-professional sailors,” says Murray.  “So if some of the young guys who are active members or sailors on the Cup teams were interested, they’d be regarded as professional sailors, so they’d have to quit their jobs.”

For a 20-year-old offered the chance to sail and race their own AC45, that might be a real easy decision-making process.

Read more at CupInfo

Also see:
Youth AC Trial Scheduled: ACEA Press Release

J-Class Regatta in Newport

Walking on water in Newport. Click image for Day 4 gallery.
Photo:©2011 Daniel Forster go4image.com

Race Results:

(Jun 15) Ranger, a replica of the 1937 America's Cup winner, and Velsheda, one of three original survivors, are racing head-to-head this week in Newport, RI, historic yachts in a setting to match.

Ranger took Race 1 by just one second on corrected time, won Race 2 by 27 seconds corrected, won Race 3, and won Race 4 by 3:19 corrected.  Velsheda won Race 5 by 2:00 corrected.  Racing finished Sunday June 19.  Each race starting at 1 pm, conditions permitting, and sailed in sight of spectators on shore.
See Day Photo Galleries from Daniel Forster

Visit Official Event Website
 

Ranger leading Velsheda. Click image for Day 2 gallery.
Photo:©2011 Daniel Forster go4image.com

Home Again in Newport

America's Cup Returns to the Bay. Click image to enlarge and see more photos. Photo: ©2010 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing

July 1, 2010: The America's Cup returned today to Newport, Rhode Island, the scene of America's Cup history for much of the famous regatta's life, including the 12 Defenses held there from 1930 to 1983, along with the construction and trials of Cup defending yachts stretching back to the 19th century.  A day filled with  public display of the trophy, a harbor cruise, and a Victory Luncheon culminated in a team presentation for over 400 young sailors from the Narragansett Bay community.  The celebration wrapped up the East Coast Victory Tour for the America's Cup-winners that also included a visit with President Obama.

See Photo Gallery and
Read BMW Oracle Press Release and
See Video at BMWO Blog

Also:
Read Report by Stuart Strueli at Sailing World and Providence Journal: America's Cup Trophy in Newport

Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri: "At the end of the day, Rhode Island is the Ocean State, Newport is the sailing capital and we've got to get that Cup so it just doesn't visit here." turnto10.com
 

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

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

Results:
Teams, Photo Gallery, Stories, 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 gets." 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

From Mothballs to Match 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 story at CupInfo
 

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.