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America's Cup Race 1 Racing Abandoned Monday for Wind - Next Try
Wednesday BMW Oracle Wins Coin Toss, Will Enter on Starboard Court Date Set for "Constructed in Country" Feb 25 in NY Bertarelli to Helm Defender Yacht Feb 6: Docs: |
2 kts windspeed, Valencia Notes:
Press Conferences: Press Releases: |
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33rd Defense of the America's
Cup Television: Europe, New Zealand,
Australia, and other countries will have live coverage.
There will be no US TV Broadcast: Watch Racing CupInfo Race Chat: Press Releases:
Alinghi: May the Best Team Win
Valencia Notes:
One Week to Go: |
America's Cup 2010 Match
begins Today in Valencia, Spain! |
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Results: Race 1: 20 nautical miles to
Windward and Return Preview: 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 there for inshore racing. 79 miles of straight line racing, today's 20 nm to Windward and Return, plus Wednesday'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. Recent Stories for Monday 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 Recent Stories Sunday 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." 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." 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." 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." 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." Show and Tell With the 33rd Defense of the Americas Cup now only a couple of days away, both teams held press conferences here in Valencia tonight. The event side of the match now has some visibility in the Darsena. The 33rd Americas Cup flags are flying, the bands are playing, and one can feel the anticipation build. Though current forecasts for Monday are more favorable, Valencia on Friday enjoyed fresh breezes of around 30 knots. Both yachts were tucked safely away.... |
Race 1: 20 nautical miles to
Windward and Return Schedule:
Valencia
Notes: John Crisp 5:00 pm Chris Bedford, BMW
Oracle Met Expert: 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 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: The dock is empty of boats, but filled with expectation. The hands of the clock march
inexorably round. Showtime is not far away. Opening Ceremonies, One Day to Go John Crisp: View from the dock.... 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
Alinghi Art
Artist Carlo
Perosino - Image: ©2010 Cultwork 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 |
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Feb 4: Rascals at the Wheel:
Audi will sponsor Mascalzone Latino Audi for Louis Vuitton
Trophy, other racing: Feb 3: Valencia Two-Step:
Better Sport, More Speed, but "From
the point of view of the event, the public and the sponsors, yes
there has been a very big step backwards," says Alinghi CEO
Ernesto Bertarelli: Feb 1: Official America's Cup
2010 site goes live: Jan 29: The America's Cup
arrives in Valencia: Jan 25: Umps Named: ISAF announces Bill Edgerton (GB), Gerard Bossee (FR), John Standley (AUS), and Roger Wood (NZ) as Umpires for the 33rd Defense of the America's Cup: See story at sailing.org for bios, and also enjoy CupInfo's interview with John Standley for the 2007 America's Cup Jan 25: Classic Yacht
Symposium in Bristol, RI, and Mystic, CT, April 9-11.
Registration and Program Details at: Jan 22: Deal reached to
broadcast America's Cup Match in Europe on TV and web: Jan 18: Russell Coutts talks to Valencia Sailing Blog Jan 17: Louis Vuitton Trophy and
announces Dubai as the Middle East venue for November 2010
regatta: Jan 14: Alinghi sail tent in
Valencia destroyed in high winds; crew narrowly escapes injury: Jan 14: BMW Oracle adopts Catch
the Wind sensor to detect breeze 1000 meters ahead of race yacht: Jan 11: Alinghi tests manned
ultralight amphibious planes to help track wind speeds for their
yacht: Jan 10: Talks Tuesday hope to
bridge critical America's Cup impasses with Match dates looming
next month: Jan 5: Alinghi's Yacht is now
unloaded in Valencia: Jan 4: Defender and Challenger
to talk? Golden Gate YC expects to meet with Société
Nautique de Genève on January 12th in Singapore to resolve
issues. GGYC asks SNG to include Jury Chair and ISAF
representatives, amend the NOR as required by the court, and
enable the Jury to begin work: Jan 4: The America's Cup
Yachts are Here: Challenger and Defender arrive in Valencia
aboard transport ships: Dec 22: Golden Gate YC wants
construction country of origin questions about the race
yachts to be settled before upcoming America's Cup Match; GGYC
may ask the International Jury to issue an interpretation: Dec 17: Britain's TeamOrigin is
searching for a city to host the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta
in the United Kingdom in 2010 or 2011: Dec 16: Louis Vuitton Trophy
dates in Auckland, March 7-21, 2009, as part of a nearly
month-long regatta triple play with the Omega Auckland Match Race
Regatta and BMW World Sailing Cup Final: Dec 15: Cory E. Friedman,
yachting and legal analyst, assesses the Appellate ruling: "Much
has been written about how the Deed needs to be updated, but New
York’s courts have demonstrated that the Deed is just fine as it
is. The body of precedent this litigation has created has applied
the Deed in a thoroughly fair and modern way. Given the behavior
of ISAF and many of the challengers who filed amici in the
Court of Appeals, it is hard to see what sailing organization
could do a better job of overseeing the America’s Cup than the
Courts of New York.": Dec 15: BMW Oracle's challenger
yacht leaves San Diego aboard the cargo ship Oceanlady,
outbound for Valencia on a three-week transit: Dec 12: Memorial to Sir Peter
Blake opens in Auckland, featuring 1995 America's Cup winner
Black Magic, NZL-32: Dec 8: Optimism? About the
America's Cup? Alinghi and BMW Oracle talk about a seven-race
match instead of three: Dec 7: After the Match: Mark
Chisnell ponders the future of the America's Cup:
"Personally, I’m starting to think that if the new challenger
agreement provides for no lasting change, then maybe it’s time
for Sir Keith and all the other potential teams to think about
walking away from the Cup, just letting that ugly old silver ewer
go...": Dec 2: Captured British
yachtsman released by Iranian authorities: Nov 30: Iran seizes racing
yacht and five British crew. The yacht, from a group
associated with Team Pindar, is not directly involved with
America's Cup activities, but the incident may play into fears
previously raised about staging an America's Cup defense on
waters near RAK: Nov 30: "Small breakage" for
Alinghi in RAK, details not disclosed. Boat will be
"...will be checked over and repaired": Nov 29: Cory E. Friedman reports
on the appeal hearing, and the likely outcomes: Nov 28: BMW Oracle testing
concluded in San Diego, monster multi-hull to be shipped to
Valencia: Nov 27: Historian John
Rousmaniere takes a look at the ins and outs of measuring the
load waterline length of America's Cup yachts: Nov 24: A fascinating technical
interview with Dimitri Despierres, a designer of BMW
Oracle's unprecedented wing (now translated in English):
Tribormat.fr November 19: Alinghi cat
still testing bigger rig in RAK, more modifications of
defender yet to come: Nov 18: America's Cup
challenger BMW Oracle multi-hull breaks bowsprit in
testing: November 15: Cory E. Friedman
works on unraveling the America's Cup legal appeals. Did SNG name
Valencia? Did GGYC agree? Why does SNG have new lawyers? When
will a decision come?: Nov 10: Let it be?: Alinghi says
that the America's Cup match will be held in Valencia, in
February, unless Golden Gate YC comes to agreement with them on
one of two Australian locations by November 13: Nov 8: Golden Gate YC characterizes weekend talks about venue issues with SNG as "cordial but inconclusive" and says negotiations are still ongoing. Nov 4: No Stay: NY
Appellate Court refuses to issue a stay in regard to last week's
venue decision rejecting RAK as non-compliant with the Deed of
Gift. The court did grant an expedited appeal. Legal analyst Cory
E. Friedman in
Scuttlebutt #2966 sees a hearing likely to be held in the
second half of November. The first race in February is
barely three months away. Oct 28: GGYC/BMW Oracle
say they would be receptive to racing the America's Cup in
Valencia, ask that otherwise the defender name a legal venue
soon, and express their willingness to hold discussions to
resolve match terms: Oct 27: In a New York SC
Minute: Leading yachting/legal analyst, Cory E. Friedman
surveys the aftermath of Tuesday's Supreme Court appearance: Oct 27: From Alinghi to Germany
to France, now with All4One Challenge competing in the Louis
Vuitton Trophy, Jochen Schümann interviewed at: Oct 21: With an October 27 court date approaching, the location of the 2010 America's Cup defense remains an issue and legal documents are accumulating from all sides. GGYC questions the legality and safety of the venue, Alinghi responds that the venue is legal and safe, Cory E. Friedman takes stock.
Shosholoza team member Mike
Coburn fights against Leukemia, and fights to help others. |
Feb 3:The New York Supreme Court will hear arguments February 25th on the issue of whether the Defender's sails comply with the rules regarding national origin of racing yachts in the America's Cup. Since that date is, weather permitting, after the likely conclusion of racing in Valencia, yet could determine the validity of the match, an element of uncertainty exists as to race results. Less so if Golden Gate YC and BMW Oracle Racing prevail on the water, in which case claims of disadvantage would be effectively moot, and, although definitively settling this aspect of the rules could be helpful in future matches, GGYC would almost certainly drop their case. GGYC Statement (excerpt): The Deed of Gift, the ruling 08document of the America’s Cup, requires the competing yachts to be powered by sails and constructed in the country they represent. “Since we have been unable to get them to sign the agreement negotiated in Singapore, the best way to resolve this issue is for our yacht USA to beat Alinghi 5 on the water,” added Ehman. “Race 1 is imminent. With normal sailing breezes, we like our chances in the coming Match.”
Read Golden Gate Statement (pdf) Feb 3: "I think I am at a sufficient level (of skill and experience) to steer the boat..." the Alinghi CEO told Spanish newspaper Las Provincias.
Read more at Agence-France Presse Wind Limits? Left to the Race Officer Wind-Detection? Allowed Friction-Reduction? Allowed Start Time? Unchanged Except for the movable ballast issue, BMW Oracle mostly gets what it sought. Golden Gate YC: “This brings some degree of common sense back to the rules,” commented GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman. “The pinnacle event in our sport, contested by the world’s best sailors, ought to allow racing in conditions that even kids in the Optimist trainer class would say were too light to be any fun.” Alinghi: "We welcome the Jury's involvement and decisions for the sport. We are confident racing will go ahead as scheduled on Monday -- weather permitting -- and we are looking forward to finally getting this competition on the water," said Alinghi team skipper and tactician Brad Butterworth. Read Text of Jury Decisions (pdf) Cory E. Friedman's Traveling Law
Review: Also See: Jury Decides Measurement Question Defers Ballast Shifting to Official Measurer The America's Cup International Jury has issued one ruling in the redress proceedings before them, deferring to the Official Measurer the discretion to determine permitted distribution of water ballast during measurement as compared to in racing trim. One of Challenger Golden Gate YC's concerns is that depending on how rules are applied, ballast could be used to cause a boat to meet the Deed of Gift's requirements only during measurement yet be shifted at race time to achieve a longer load waterline waterline (LWL) than the 90 feet permitted. Measurement rules traditionally seek to have yachts measured floating "on their lines", implying a nearly upright position, but by shifting ballast fore-and-aft, waterline measurements could be manipulated, and GGYC was looking to prevent this possibility, but did not get a ruling from the Jury that would control the measurer's interpretation. Other issues before the International Jury may still be decided late tonight in Valencia or tomorrow. Golden Gate YC Statement
(complete): This verdict of the International Jury was made tonight following a hearing in Valencia. “It puts the onus on the measurer to guarantee that the amount and location of ballast aboard for measurement is solely to enhance performance, not circumvent the waterline requirements of the Deed of Gift,” said GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman. The Deed of Gift sets an absolute limit of 90ft on the load waterline (LWL) for single-masted vessels. “This means Alinghi might squeeze under the 90ft limit for measurement, release the ballast and then may race a boat longer than 90ft LWL,” Ehman said. “We don’t fully agree with the decision, but GGYC accepts it, and are ready to race.” Alinghi Statement
(complete): “We are pleased that the jury
upheld the New York Supreme Court and expert panel decision of
November 2009. This is a positive step towards the
America's Cup -- we are glad that measurement can go ahead as
scheduled and that the challenger's request for redress has been
denied. With just a few days to go before the first race of
the 33rd America's Cup, the team is fully focused on race
training and preparations,” said Grant Simmer, Alinghi design
team coordinator. Teams for Louis Vuitton Trophy in Auckland The Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta runs March 9-21, in Auckland, NZ. The eight teams that will compete have been confirmed: Teams, Nationalities, and
Skippers: A change from last year's Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is that the host, ETNZ, will not automatically advance to the final.
Read LVT Auckland Press Release Jury Hears Redress Requests; Rulings Expected Tuesday Feb 1: The America's Cup International Jury heard presentation Monday on five issues where the Challenger, Golden Gate YC/BMW Oracle Racing, is seeking redress for what it believes are improper or unfair imposition of rules promulgated by Alinghi for the America's Cup Match scheduled for next week. GGYC believes that these rules created in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions may violate the America's Deed of Gift or the orders of the NY Supreme Court that enforce the Deed, and potentially provide undue advantage to the Defender. The jury is expected to release rulings on these questions beginning Tuesday. At least one additional issue will be heard tomorrow. Golden Gate YC Statement
(complete):
"'The fact the hearing lasted from 1100 to 1730 proves that the issues being considered are significant and that the Jury gave the challenger and defender full opportunity to present their cases,' said Ehman. "The meeting was adjourned.
International Jury Chairman David Tillett indicated that the
findings of his panel will be released tomorrow afternoon.
A further hearing concerning GGYC’s request for redress over
measurement will also be heard tomorrow at 1900." NY Court Does Not Delay America's Cup Match; Hearing Not Expedited 1/29: From Alinghi: "Justice Kornreich of the New York Supreme Court informed the America's Cup defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève, and the challenging Golden Gate Yacht Club today via telephone conference that she will not hear the American challenger's complaint regarding the 'constructed in country' requirement of the Deed of Gift before the 33rd America's Cup Match which is scheduled to begin on 8 February." Golden Gate YC Statement
(complete): "It is unfortunate that the legality of Alinghi’s American-made sails probably will not be decided before the Match. However, it will be decided eventually." Update 1/31: Legal Analysis: Fluids, Less Friction, and More Anger Between the Yacht Clubs Jan 28: Fred Meyer, Vice-Commodore of the America's Cup Defending yacht club Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), issued a strongly worded response to the latest round of legal and public relations documents published by the challenger. Calling the latest statements issued by Golden Gate YC a "tirade", SNG threatened to forfeit the America's Cup Thursday if SNG does not prevail in court. Excerpt from SNG Statement: "We have been clear: if BMW Oracle succeeds in disqualifying the Defender’s sails then there will be no Match, Russell Coutts will have won the America’s Cup for Larry Ellison without sailing." Meyer also accused the challenger's yacht of breaking rules by releasing a friction reducing fluid into the water from their yacht as it sails. GGYC Response: Golden Gate YC Responds To Alinghi Documents Jan 28: Golden Gate YC has replied to recent legal documents filed by Alinghi. The seven affidavits GGYC includes from Bill Koch, Russell Coutts, and others dispute SNG/Alinghi's application of the rules and the recently cited interpretations of the historical circumstances. GGYC's affidavits go on to document the degree of work performed on 3DL sails in the US factory, along with detailing the efforts that BMW Oracle took to make their vessel comply with "Constructed-in-Country" requirements, and raising issue with features of the Defender's yacht that were not made in Switzerland, most notably the engines that power the systems. Press Release (Excerpt): "The Deed of Gift does not say that only the hull of the defender’s vessel must be constructed in the defender’s country. Neither does it carve out an exemption for the vessel’s sails – the component that propels the boat and one of the major determinants of a vessel’s competitiveness. Nor does it say that yachts may be constructed in pieces abroad so long as they are “assembled” or “finished” in country. This fundamental part of the Deed of Gift has shaped the character of this great sailing competition for nearly 130 years." Read GGYC Press Release and Affidvaits Also: The Fog of Law Cory E. Friedman, NY attorney and discerning analyst for Scuttlebutt News, tries to pierce the fog surrounding the fleet of recent legal filings by both sides in reference to the "Construction In Country" issue set for an appearance this week in the NY Supreme Court. Despite some dazzling camouflage applied to the arguments, a basic outline emerges: Friedman says that any resolution before the scheduled first race in two weeks is not likely, and that although much of the arguing centers on points that appear irrelevant to the court even if interesting to sailors, there are plenty of legal fish in need of frying before matters are settled. From Scuttlebutt: "Considering the motions requires remembering the basics. First of all, it is the words within the four corners of the Deed that count. On these motions, nobody has argued that any of the relevant words are ambiguous, so the only way that practice in 1887 is relevant is if there is any dispute about the definition of the words." Alinghi Files Legal Responses on Construction Origin SNG and Alinghi filed legal documents Friday in response to GGYC charges that their defending yacht does not meet the national origin requirements of the America's Cup Deed of Gift. In general summary, their extensive memoranda of law contend that it is improper for GGYC to raise the issue in court, that the requirement does not apply to sails, and that their sails in any case were assembled in Switzerland. Alinghi also includes a review by historian John Rousmaniere documenting instances in America's Cup history where materials and equipment, including sails, were used by defenders and challengers without regard for national origin, supporting the argument that any such restrictions were intended by the Deed of Gift to apply only for the hull. Alinghi's filings also contain counter-charges as to whether GGYC's equipment is in compliance with such nationality requirements, whether their yacht is "sloop-rigged", and the degree to which the team has used foreign yacht designers.
Read press release and see the documents GGYC and BMW Oracle Object to Notice of Race Changes and Sailing Instructions Will Ask America's Cup Jury for Redress Golden Gate YC has stated objections to the Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions that Defender SNG and Alinghi released Tuesday. Calling the documents "riddled with errors" and part of a continued pattern by SNG to make rules favoring their entry and harming the chances of the Challenger, Golden Gate YC says that they will take the matter to the America's Cup International Jury for redress.
Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions Issued for America's Cup Match SNG and Alinghi have issued an amended Notice of Race (NOR) and newly issued the Sailing Instructions (SI's), which outline many aspects of the detailed rules for conducting the event. Together with the Racing Rules of Sailing and, of course, the original 1887 Deed of Gift, these documents will shape the specifics of the upcoming match. Letter from SNG to GGYC: Read the (amended) America's Cup 33 NOR (pdf) Read the America's Cup 33 SI's (pdf)
Read letter to GGYC from SNG
(pdf) USA Goes Sailing
The Challenger for the America's Cup launched their challenging yacht today with a significantly modified and enlarged wing sail, and being known as BOR 90 during development, has now been christened USA. She now carries sail number USA-17 in a nod to Larry Ellison's racing history with that number.
Read Press Release and Public Confrontation Between Teams Escalates; Offer to Sign Singapore Agreement Expires Monday Night After simmering all last week, the accusatory atmosphere that came out of the Singapore talks has boiled over into direct public confrontation as both Commodores of Société Nautique de Genève and Golden Gate YC exchanged strong letters condemning the other side for bad faith, and on GGYC's part demanding a formal retraction. The America's Cup Challenger has offered again to sign the agreement, which would halt legal actions, with a deadline of Monday evening 1900 CET for the Defender to accept the deal. GGYC formally requests
retraction and unreserved apology, says SNG Representatives acted
in bad faith: SNG Commodore says accusations
unfounded, GGYC reps acted in bad faith and the legal filing led
to SNGT's withdrawal: GGYC reasserts that SNG reps
balked at signing, were aware of pending legal action delayed by
GGYC before meeting, and extends offer on Singapore Agreement
provided SNG accepts by 1900 CET Monday. Offer would rescind
legal motions and clear path to race. BMW Oracle Yacht Launched in Valencia
Read more at BMW Oracle Racing Blog Alinghi Yacht Sails in Valencia
Ernesto Bertarelli: "All the pieces are in place for the event to begin, we have an agreement with the City of Valencia to run the shore based side of the 33rd America's Cup, and we are just waiting for the blessing of the central government in Madrid.” Jury Chairman Expects Settlement Daivd Tillett, Chairman of the recently appointed America's Cup International Jury, told the Associated Press that despite the conflict that has boiled over in the last few days he expects the teams to come to agreement shortly, in time for the planned February 8th starting date. Tillett also says that talks between the Defender and Challenger in Singapore appeared to be proceeding well until late in the negotiations.
Read brief AP story at New York Times Golden Gate Files Motion to Enforce Construction Requirements Jan 13: Challenger Golden Gate YC has filed a legal motion in the New York Supreme Court regarding the "Constructed in Country" requirement of the America's Cup Deed of Gift. An initial hearing is scheduled for January 28th in Manhattan. Aside from what the court might rule, whether they might rule before the planned February 8th race date, along with the impact of an adverse ruling for Alinghi are major unknowns at present. Read the GGYC Memorandum of Law (pdf) Legal Analyst Cory E. Friedman
at Scuttlebutt News: "While GGYC has claimed that Alinghi 5
has several CiC problems, the motion only concerns Alinghi 5’s
sails. GGYC claims that they are 3DL sails constructed by
North in Minden, Nevada and, therefore cannot be CiC in
Switzerland. SNG previous response is that sails are not
part of the 'vessel,' and that, if they are, they were
constructed in Switzerland." Singapore Talks Fail Fury and Frustration as Accusations Fly Jan 13: A two-day meeting between the Defender Société Nautique de Genève and the Challenger Golden Gate YC has ended without an agreement. BMW Oracle is said to be "furious" while SNG is accusing the Challenger of trying to win in court. GGYC Statement (excerpt): "On three separate occasions during the two days talks there was a final draft of an agreement. GGYC was ready to sign. SNG’s negotiators were prepared to sign, but it seems they were not given permission." SNG/Alinghi Statement
(excerpt): "They have completely disregarded the jurisdiction of the ISAF America's Cup Jury, which they sought so hard to have instated, and have instead reverted to the New York courts where they clearly feel they have a greater chance of success," he added. Read full statements from both teams Read the GGYC Memorandum of Law (pdf) Russell Coutts Press Conference at Valencia Sailing Blog: "...the very same persons that wrote the draft, rejected it again "at the 11th hour", when they were about to board the airplane on their way back!!! According to Coutts, it was again orders from Geneva that led to the rejection of the final draft." Brad Butterworth at Alinghi Team Site: "The meeting ended and the ISAF guys left for the airport. During the course of the afternoon, I was initially instructed that BMW Oracle were keen to sign the deal, but by the time I got hold of the guys in Valencia to discuss it, Oracle had withdrawn from the agreement." News Stories: Stuart Alexander at The
Independent: "More than one draft had been written at the talks
in Singapore by an Alinghi representative but had been blocked by
‘higher authority', which could only mean the Alinghi boss,
Ernesto Bertarelli." Drafts of NOR and Sailing Instructions Released by SNG Jan 8: Draft versions of Sailing Instructions (SI's) and a revised Notice of Race (NOR) for the 33rd Defense of the America's Cup have been made public by the Defender, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG). Representatives of SNG and Challenger Golden Gate YC will meet in Singapore on January 12 to continue discussions on these documents and a number of related concerns that still need to be resolved before the first race, currently planned to start one month from today. Read the Documents: Golden Gate and SNG Agree to Meeting on Construction Origin Issues Update 12/31: Alinghi Proposes Three-way Talks GGYC Statement: "The Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing intend to meet with Société Nautique de Genève as soon as possible in an attempt to remove the question mark hanging over the legality of Alinghi’s yacht they will use to defend the forthcoming 33rd America’s Cup. "Foremost is the nationality clause in the America’s Cup Deed of Gift document which governs the event and requires the yachts of the Challenger of Record and the Defender to be constructed in the country of the yacht club they represent (“CIC”). "Last week SNG was informed by GGYC of the obvious illegality of its yacht’s USA-built sails. Yesterday SNG responded and agreed to meet on the matter." GGYC has concerns about Alinghi 5's sails and other elements, and may raise the issue with the America's Cup International Jury. Update 12/31: Defender proposes meeting with Jury, Defender, and Challenger to address issues. "SNG anticipates all issues to be resolved through discussion....": See Statement at Alinghi site and Read SNG Letter (pdf) Also see: Report: Agreement in Principle to Delay America's Cup to Feb 12th and Extend Match to Best of Seven See Update 12/19: Agreement Now In Doubt Dec 18: According to a report at the Independent Online of South Africa, quoting a source at BMW Oracle Racing, the Challenger and Defender have reached an agreement in principle to move the start of the match back by four days, from Monday February 8th to Friday 12th, and to extend the series from Best of Three races to Best of Seven format. No formal agreement announced yet, so these changes are not confirmed, but they are in line with previous discussions. Given time constraints, expect more information about any changes to the format of the Defense shortly. UPDATE
Dec 19: Provisional Agreements Could be Collapsing:
Article by
Richard Gladwell at Sail-World throws the possibility of
reaching mutual agreement between Defender, Challenger, and
Valencia into doubt. Gladwell reports that the negotiated
terms have been rejected by high-level Alinghi management.
If so, recently proposed schedule and format changes would be
dead, and possibly even broadcast rights and cooperation of the
port authorities could fail to materialize. Louis Vuitton Regatta Plans Announced for 2010 and 2011 The Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas for 2010 and early 2011 have been announced. Planned dates and host cities are: Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland: Louis Vuitton Trophy La
Maddalena, Sardinia: Louis Vuitton Trophy Middle
East: Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong: The Middle East location will be made public January 15, 2010. The eight teams that raced in the Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta in Nice, Côte d’Azur, France, are expected to compete in the upcoming events, with the exception of BMW Oracle who will not race in Auckland while the team concentrates their preparation on the challenge for the America's Cup.
Four Cities Announced: Read the Press
Release 33rd Defense Will be in
Valencia: Dec 15: The New York Appellate Court has denied the appeal filed by SNG and Alinghi, which hoped to re-establish RAK as the location of the defense of the America's Cup this February. Saying that the Supreme Court order regarding the venue, first drafted in 2008 by Justice Cahn but only taking effect in April 2009, does not explicitly state that the Deed's restrictions do not apply, the Appellate ruled that the Deed must be respected. To quote the court: "Accordingly, the order should be read as carving out an exception to the Deed's hemisphere requirements in the case of Valencia, and the phrase 'or any other location selected by SNG' should be read as 'or any other Deed-compliant location selected by SNG.' RAK, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, is not a Deed-compliant location for a February race." SNG has accepted this decision, see statement below. Also, the Appellate Court agrees that the Supreme Court correctly decided that the external rudders are not to be counted in the measurement of Load Waterline Length. From the decision: "...the court properly relied on undisputed extrinsic evidence, including New York Yacht Club rules extant at the time the 1887 Deed was settled, showing that length on load water-line is typically measured 'exclusive of any portion of the rudder or rudder-stock.' " Read the Decision at NYSC web site News Stories (short): GGYC Statement
(complete): “This is a big stride forward,” commented Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club spokesperson. “In place of doubt and delay, the sailing world wants certainty. It wants to see this contest to go-ahead soon and be contested under fair rules.” The New York Supreme Court ruled on October 30th that Ras al Khaimah did not comply with the Deed of Gift, a decision upheld by the Appellate Division in a unanimous verdict. The Court also turned down SNG’s second attempt to have rudders included in the crucial Load Water-Line measurement calculation. This has never occurred in the 32 previous America’s Cup matches and won’t happen in the 33rd. “With the International Sailing Federation re-drafting the previously unbalanced and unfair agreement it struck with Société Nautique de Genève, and discussions continuing to normalize the Notice of Race, the common-sense approach to the remaining issues in this America’s Cup is prevailing,” added Ehman. SNG Statement (complete): "Once again BMW Oracle's
strategy to try to win the America's Cup in court instead of on
the water has been successful. For the first time in the history
of the America's Cup the Defender has been stripped of its
fundamental right to select the venue. Société Nautique de Genève
accepts this decision and Alinghi is looking forward to racing
for the America's Cup on the water in Valencia, Spain, in
February 2010," said Fred Meyer, SNG vice-commodore. Provisional Agreement to Cover Staging America's Cup Match in Valencia Defense Could Expand to 5 or 7 Races Dec 10: Representatives of the Defender, Challenger, and the Valencian authorities have reached a basic agreement on the logistics of holding the upcoming America's Cup match in the Spanish port city. Bases and adjacent space will be made available, marketing and television arrangements will be pursued, and other cooperation required to host the event is planned. These activities are for now provisional since Alinghi has not yet conceded anything regarding the legalities of the venue decision nor have they committed to whether the match will actually take place in Spain or RAK. With no court decision to date on Alinghi's legal appeal, the advancing race date may force their hand to go with Valencia anyway.
Read details and hear Press Conference audio at Valencia Sailing
Blog Longer Bowsprit for Alinghi The Defender shows an extended bowsprit on their giant catamaran, expecting to test the larger pole on the water starting this weekend in RAK. Grant Simmer, Alinghi: The longer bowsprit gives us the opportunity to add more sail area and change the balance of the boat downwind. It won't have any effect on the upwind sailing; only on the downwind performance of the boat. Court: Water Ballast Part of Measurement, Other Expert Opinions Adopted Based on findings by the panel of experts convened by the NY Supreme Court, Justice Kornreich has issued final orders on the immediate five questions under consideration. Most prominently, water ballast, if any will be used, must be aboard, evenly distributed, and not shifted during measurement. Addressing the objection SNG raised about Valencia being too dangerous a location to hold a defense in February, and noting that SNG named Valencia as the location for the defense in their Notice of Race on November 10, the court says "This issue is now moot." The expert panel also recommends that an International Jury appointed by ISAF may administer the ISAF Rules independently and objectively, free from interference by SNG, but also directs that the parties attempt reach an agreement to cover these issues. Read the Supreme Court Order (pdf 10 pages) Also see: Alinghi/SNG Statement: (in full) "New York Supreme Court Justice Kornreich has brought a degree more certainty to the 33rd America's Cup today. It is good to at last have her decision on some of the pending issues. Alinghi continues to focus on its training programme ahead of the Match for the 33rd America's Cup against BMW Oracle on 8 February 2010." GGYC Statement: (Excerpt) "This
is victory for fair rules and common sense,” said Tom Ehman, GGYC
spokesperson. “Once again SNG’s attempts to bias the rules in
their favor have been rejected.” BMW Oracle Makes First Voyage with New 190-foot Wing Mast
Jimmy Spithill, Helmsman: "When
you think about what we did today -- that wing was sitting here
in the tent in the early hours this morning and to move it, get
it on the boat, get it in position, move the boat off the dock,
get the wing vertical and then to go out and sail around in a
tight harbor like this one and to fly a hull… That's a
fantastic day!"
More Photos (in high resolution) at: BMW Oracle Reveals Wing Mast for Monster Multi-hull Long rumored to be under construction, but kept under wraps until today, the rigid wing sail is 190 feet tall, and is 80% larger than the wing of a Boeing 747. It is expected to be stepped and sailing this week.
From BMW Oracle Racing: The wing will be tested as an option to increase performance compared with a traditional soft sail rig as previously sea-trialed on the BOR 90, the 90-foot trimaran the team has built for the 33rd America’s Cup. The construction of the wing took place at Core Builders, the team’s boatbuilding facility in Anacortes, Washington, with finishing work completed at the team base in San Diego. “This was a massive undertaking,” said Tim Smyth (NZL), who, along with Mark Turner (NZL), has been overseeing the wing construction team in Anacortes and in San Diego. Also see: Meeting Over Weekend May Help Settle Venue Questions Nearly in unison both SNG and Golden Gate YC offered statements Friday that promise the venue and timing issues for the 33rd Defense of the America's Cup may be resolved over the weekend. Progress might coalesce around SNG's offer to defend the Cup in Australia. In any case, the harmony of their statements is unprecedented in the conflict of the last 28 months and gives reason to think a solution to at least these issues could be found. If the parties reach mutual consent on location or timing, then they are free to hold the match when and where they determine without the restrictions the court orders otherwise impose. GGYC's reference to timing suggests that a shift in schedule might be considered. GGYC Statement from Tom Ehman: "Today's hearing at the New York Supreme Court was productive. Both sides -- Golden Gate Yacht Club and the America’s Cup defender Société Nautique de Genève -- have agreed to meet on the venue and timing issues over the weekend and report back to Justice Kornreich on Monday. We are hopeful an agreement can be reached." SNG Statement from Lucien
Masmejan: "Today's hearing before Justice Kornreich was
productive. Our yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève, the
America's Cup Defender and the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the
challenger, have agreed to meet in New York over the weekend to
discuss the venue for the 33rd America's Cup. We are due to
report back to Justice Kornreich on Monday and are hopeful an
agreement can be reached." Alinghi Offers Possibility of Australian America's Cup Match Venue No Specific Location Yet Other Than "East Coast" Alinghi Press Release (Nov 5): Ahead of tomorrow's hearing at the New York Supreme Court, the Swiss Defender has proposed a solution to the legal impasse brought about by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC). While the Defender's first choice for the Deed of Gift Match is Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, in order to achieve a Match in February SNG proposes to stage the 33rd America's Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, in compliance with the Deed of Gift. This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of BMW Oracle is to race for the America's Cup on the water. A specific race course in the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Australia, with weather conditions suitable for racing in February, will be announced promptly should GGYC accept this offer and cease their legal strategy. The east coast of Australia offers several locations with ideal sailing conditions for the best-of-three match. A venue in this region would be approximately two-and-a-half weeks away by ship from BMW Oracle's base in San Diego, while Alinghi's voyage from Ras Al Khaimah would take approximately three weeks. SNG is hopeful that this offer
will be accepted and that the competition will resume on the
water rather than in court. BMW Oracle Dismasted Nov 3: Per a short report on the BMW Oracle Racing Blog, the rig came down during testing this morning while testing 20-30 miles off of San Diego. All crew are reported safe. Upon returning to shore, James Spithill stated for the BMWO blog that the conditions were light and the seas were flat, and that further investigation would be needed to identify the factors causing the loss of the rig. Bernie Wilson at the Associated Press describes the mast as falling backwards, possibly due to a failure involving the forestay, and then the mast itself breaking when it landed on the aft cross-member. The damaged mast is believed to have been the tallest of the three masts tested so far. See AP story at sfgate.com Photos: Alinghi to Appeal Venue Decision Nov 2: Defender Société Nautique de Genève will contest the recent New York Supreme Court ruling that the America's Cup may not be held in RAK in February unless the defender and challenger agree. Justice Kornreich's decision was based upon reading the courts earlier order to allow Alinghi to select any location, which the court interpreted in the context of the Deed of Gift, which provides the north and south hemisphere limitations. Alinghi believes that the order alone should control in this situation.
Read more at Alinghi team site NY Supreme Court: Appoint Expert Panel to Weigh Technical Issues Justice Shirley Kornreich has asked defender and challenger to help nominate jury members to consider some of the yacht racing arguments currently before the court. Assembling next Wednesday, November 4, the jury will provide the court with input on issues including movable ballast, suitability of racing venues, effect of defender's intended rules modifications, and questions about equitable regatta administration that are being contested. Also, the issue of the method for measuring load-water-line has been resolved by the court, and rudders will not be included in the calculation.
Read GGYC Press Release (pdf) Update 11/3, Jury Members: All three members served on the Jury for the 32nd America's Cup from 2004 onward. Willis has served on four America's Cup Jury panels, chairing the last three. Tillett umpired in the America's Cup starting in 1992, and was also a Jury member for the 2003 Defense in Auckland: See Bio Also, commentary: Valencia to Host America's Cup Match between Alinghi and BMW Oracle? Oct 29: According to a report on Valencia Sailing Blog, Alinghi is in discussions with the government of Valencia and an agreement has been reached in principle to possibly hold the giant multi-hull match race there in February. Alinghi may also be currently negotiating with other cities. NY Supreme Court Says No to RAK Defender will have to select new location for America's Cup match next February Valencia is still a possibility, or else a southern hemisphere location will need to be selected to conform with the requirements of the Deed of Gift that a February match may not be sailed in the northern hemisphere. Tuesday's NY Supreme Court decision is that Alinghi's selection of Ras al Khaimah is not compliant with the Deed for a February match. Stories: Team Statements: From Golden Gate YC: "We’re pleased with the court’s decision today that Alinghi’s choice of the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup was not allowed under the Deed of Gift. We look forward to Justice Kornreich’s decision later this week regarding two additional issues."
Read full text of both statements Breach of Fiduciary Duty Complaint Filed Against America's Cup Trustee With a court hearing already scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, on October 26th Golden Gate YC (GGYC) and BMW Oracle have filed a request with the New York Supreme Court to have Société Nautique de Genève removed from their role of Trustee for the expected upcoming America's Cup match. GGYC says that SNG's conduct violates their legal responsibility to conduct a fair competition and alleges that the trustee's selections of Valencia and RAK were motivated by personal financial interests. From GGYC: "Reckless and repeated disregard in its stewardship of the America’s Cup by the Société Nautique de Genève has prompted the Golden Gate Yacht Club to ask the New York Supreme Court to remove the Swiss yacht club from its position as Trustee in a Breach of Fiduciary Duty complaint filed today." Read the Complaint (pdf) Alinghi Statement: |
Jan 25: Press Release: The Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), trustee of the America’s Cup, has delegated the responsibility for organizing the media and event activities for the 33rd America’s Cup to Consorcio Valencia 2007. The 33rd America’s Cup promises to be a regatta unlike everything which has been seen so far. The two fastest boats in history will fight for the America’s Cup over race courses that are up to six times bigger than the ones used in the 32nd America’s Cup. For this reason, the TV coverage of the racing will be key. For the first time in history, the races will be broadcast live and free of charge through americascup.com to reach the biggest, widest possible audience, including all the fans who will not be able to be in Valencia to witness live this historic competition. Also: BMW Oracle Presentation Day
James Spithill on sailing the beast: "We’ve sailed in up to 40 knots of wind speed –- not on purpose! We were out there one day and we got stuck in a squall. We had a little bit on, but we got through it and lived to tell the tale. We obviously learned a few things that day. These boats, though big and powerful, can be sailed in the higher wind speeds.”
Read
CupInfo's talk with helmsman James Spithill Russell Coutts: “Everyone on the team is doing something that’s never been done before.”
Read CupInfo's talk with Russell Coutts
Tuesday, August 11: BMW Oracle Racing, the challenger for the 33rd America's Cup, held an elaborate public and media event at the team's base in San Diego. Activities include formal presentations; discussions with Russell Coutts, Larry Ellison, and actor Harrison Ford; a boat parade that will include BOR 90 and a replica of 1851 Cup winner America; and the chance to see the giant trimaran in action. Diane Swintal was onsite for CupInfo to bring you reports on the festivities.
Larry Ellison, BMW Oracle: "We are pushing ourselves to our limit and we’re discovering what the boat can do and what we can do as a team. If we’ve done our job well, we’ll go out and race this boat and the win the America’s Cup." Read Press Release (pdf) Portions of the presentation are available as a video re-broadcast from the BMW Oracle Racing web site The main crew announcement so far is that James Spithill will be the primary helmsman for the match. The team also acknowledged that given the state of the rules, the demands of competition will eliminate eight onboard crew positions to be replaced by engine-driven equipment. The team plans to continue training in San Diego until mid-November. Also see: Les Voiles de St. Tropez
See more
photos at martin-raget.com and
Read Les Voiles de St. Tropez updates at RegattaNews Emirates Team New Zealand Wins the Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Brave, Big, and Famous In the midst of the ongoing hijinks that bring little pleasure to America's Cup fans, it is encouraging to have a reminder of what make this sport fun, and to poke a little bit of fun at the rest of it, too. John Rousmaniere's great speech accomplished both these goals at the America's Cup Hall of Fame induction dinner held recently in the New York YC's most hallowed room. We hope you will enjoy it.
Read John Rousmaniere's speech Open Letter from the 5 Previous America's Cup YC's to the Current Defender and Challenger Previous trustees seek multi-challenger regatta We write to encourage you to negotiate together for a fair and equitable multi-challenger competition for the thirty-third defense of the America’s Cup. We believe that such an event, as opposed to a “Deed of Gift” defense, is in the greater interest of the sport of sailing in general and of members of the broad America’s Cup community, who have invested their time and resources to make the event a true international competition of the highest order. We hope that the current challenger and defender will work together to find a way through their differences to bring about such an event for the good of yachting and the America’s Cup.
The Lord Iliffe, Commodore Royal Yacht Squadron Stuart Alexander story at The Independent
Decision in NY Court of Appeals: Golden Gate Yacht Club
re-instated Quoting from the Court's 6-0 Decision: "Today, we are called upon to reexamine the Deed of Gift to determine the eligibility criteria for a Challenger of Record -- specifically whether the phrase "having for its annual regatta" requires a yacht club to hold an annual regatta on the sea prior to issuing its challenge (Deed of Gift, October 24, 1887, ¶ 4). We conclude that it does." "Since CNEV has failed to show that at the time it submitted its Notice of Challenge it was a "[c]lub fulfilling all the conditions required by" the Deed of Gift, it does not qualify as the Challenger of Record for the 33rd America's Cup competition and Supreme Court was correct in declaring GGYC to be the valid Challenger of Record." "It has been posited that the right to act as trustee of the America's Cup should be decided on the water and not in a courtroom. We wholeheartedly agree. It falls now to SNG and GGYC to work together to maintain this noble sailing tradition as "a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries" (Deed of Gift, October 24, 1887, ¶ 3). Accordingly, the order of the Appellate Division should be reversed, with costs, and the orders of Supreme Court reinstated." Read the complete decision (pdf) The Court of Appeals is New York State's highest venue, and no further appeals are possible. In theory the lower court orders which are re-instated in this ruling lay out the basis for the when and where portions of the equation, the Challenger's Notice of Challenge starts a 10-month clock for the defense while the Defender decides the location of the races, though the selected location must conform with the seasonal requirements of the Deed as to northern or southern hemisphere. The specifics of when the match must be sailed by are somewhat murkier. A 10-month clock appears to have been running previously, though the participants may differ in when it began and when, if ever, it might have tolled (stopped). Olin J. Stephens II One of yacht design's greatest minds, a man who brought innovation and integrity to the sailing world for over eight decades, passed away September 13 at the age of 100. Most famous were his efforts in the defense of the America's Cup, where his boats won sailing's most famous and hard-fought trophy an incredible eight times between 1937 and 1980. Stephens himself sailed on Ranger in 1937 as well as later 12-Meter defender Columbia, and along with his late brother Rod, Olin Stephens played a vital role in many subsequent defenses well beyond being the winning designer. His more than 2000 designs found enduring success on virtually every stage in sailing, with Stephens' boats winning the Fastnet Race seven times, the Bermuda race eleven times, and even the Whitbread Round the World race twice, just to name a few major races. A list that begins with the famous trans-Atlantic winner Dorade, Bolero, Stormy Weather, Carleton Mitchell's Finisterre, the influential 6-Meter Goose, and Mike Vanderbilt's pre-war 12-Meter Vim only hints at the scope of Stephens' work. One-design classes, luxury and cruising yachts, and a progression of yacht racing measurement systems also fill his resume. Olin Stephens' company, Sparkman & Stephens, was the towering naval architecture firm of the 20th century, and leaves a legacy not simply of a fleet of yachts with impressive sailing performance, but of memorable beauty as well. Admired as much for his personal character as for his design genius, Stephens was also a generous mentor to generations of yacht designers, and anybody who has even read slightly of him will not forget the modesty, fairness, and kindness that those who knew him often remarked upon. Essentially self-educated, despite a half-year's study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stephens brought a careful and critical eye to his work. While Stephens received much-deserved credit for the scientific and intellectual dimensions he contributed to yachting, those who worked with him recognized that just as important, if not more so, was an intuitive sense that came from attentive observation and a life-long determined curiosity. One S&S designer, Jay Paris, commented "He's designed more 12-Meters than anyone ever has or will, yet I've seen him stare at the wake of a 12-Meter for hours." Olin Stephens made the following comments at the conclusion of his autobiography All This and Sailing, Too. He was referring to a confusion he felt, among other things, about the nature of sailing as a pleasure and, for some, as a business, but perhaps here Stephens also communicates a small part of the wisdom that he leaves us on broader topics: "I come back to the confusion, the contrast, and in the end I feel doubt whether our technological and scientific learning has given us a better sport or a happier world. I fear we have lost, if I am a pessimist on the big issues of our life today, yet I have to reflect on the goodness I have seen in individuals. I see great goodwill every day and kindness beyond description. And I have recalled, in my reviewing my own story, the many friends who have helped me on my way. I have lived well with the hope that it is the activity that must count, the process, the doing. The result is only what happens. We press on but we can't control the end. The poet Rilke speaks of 'the many-digited sum that sorts into zero.' Enough said." Read Stories: Excerpt from John Rousmaniere's entry in the Encyclopedia of Yacht Designers: New York YC Thoughts from Dave Pedrick, Steve Van Dyck, T.J. Perotti, and others: Scuttlebutt Blog Short Interviews
with close friends: Obituary from:
New York Times Comment from Rolf Vrolijk at: Alinghi.com Olin Stephens
Tribute:
Sparkman and Stephens Louis Vuitton Trophy: From Louis Vuitton: The facilities in Nice are being readied, the race boats are being tested, equalized and prepared for racing, and some of the teams spent some time on ACC yachts last week, working out the kinks ahead of the first race day, November 7. In Valencia, the site of the last Americas Cup where several teams still maintain a base of operations, the four ACC boats that will be used for the racing in Nice have been set-up for the November regatta. New J-Class Rainbow Begins Construction
Press Release: The J-Class Rainbow, designed by Dykstra & Partners for a repeat client, has started building at Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw. When the hull will be ready, Rainbow will be transported to be finished at Holland Jachtbouw (HJB). The re-build of this originally William Starling Burgess designed yacht will be under supervision of Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects, who also have been responsible for the re-builds and refits of the J-Class yachts: Shamrock V, Endeavour, Velsheda, Ranger and the soon to be sailing new J-Class Hanuman (Endeavour II project). Winged Keel Custody Dispute Returns Dutch Designer Claims His Role Breaking decades of silence on the issue, Dutch yacht designer Peter van Oossanen has responded to recent discussion of the relative roles that he and his team played in the development of the winged keel used by Australia II in their historic 1983 winning America's Cup challenge. The naval architect is admitting that he and his team designed the famous keel. His claim is a response to recent defenses of Australia II designer Ben Lexcen, who died in 1988. Lexcen, by all accounts a brilliant inventor, is a national hero to Australians for his role in their America's Cup triumph. The issue of keel-fathering has been explored (and argued) since the summer of '83, before AusII even met up with the defender Liberty and defeated her 4-3 in the match of the century, ending 132 years of America's Cup success for the US. Articles in recent years have drawn out some degree of Dutch involvement, which was partially admitted and then denied in '83, but defining where the inspiration began (with Lexcen? with others?) and where the analysis took over and what constitutes "design" has always been difficult. A recent letter diminishing the Dutch contribution apparently prompted van Oossanen, ironically now an Australian citizen, to re-declare his staff's role in public. Lexcen was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2006, 18 years after his death, and for his part is unable now to provide his perspective, but Lexcen's passionate fans and friends are sure to stand up for him, too. Does it matter now? Is the implication that Australia II violated the rules and could have or should have been disqualified from the match? Even if so, the New York YC largely perceived van Oossanen's involvement to be the case by the fall of '83, but at that point was in no position to call off the defense without damaging the reputation of the America's Cup. Australia II won for reasons other than just the keel, though the radical design was sometimes an advantage in racing conditions. History won't exactly be re-written if more light is shed on the conception of Australia II, but at least it might become better understood. Read more: Peter van Oossanen's
presentation of the historical correspondence and patent
application: John Longley, Australia II
Project Manager, presents archival correspondence from the
Western Australian Maritime Museum, home of Australia
II: Scuttlebutt News: Remarkable Ben Lexcen Guardian: "Success has many fathers," says John Bertrand, AII skipper, while calling Lexcen Australian Leonardo Da Vinci. Read more Last Words? Louis Vuitton Regattas Adds Origin and Azzurra Britain's Team Origin will compete in the Louis Vuitton regatta to be held November 7-22 in Nice, France, the team announced October 5, and the team plans to compete in the LV series that will be held around the globe in 2010. Origin has also become a shareholder in the WSTA, the consortium of teams which controls the event. Read Team Announcement Italy's Azzurra, representing YC Costa Smeralda, will also compete in the events, with crew announced Monday. Read Azzurra story at Sail-World
Updated October 7: Louis Vuitton World Series Details Announced Events: Teams: Plus four additional teams vying for the remaining two spots, Desafío Español likely to be one of the two. The Independent reports that Team Origin's presence is doubtful. Story Yachts: Potential future events:
Read Louis Vuitton World Series Press
Release Also see: Louis Vuitton World Series Announced 2009 Races Expected -- More in 2010 Press Release: Some of the best professional sailing teams, grouped together under the name WSTA (World Sailing Team Association), and Louis Vuitton, a key player in the world of top-level sailing for more than 25 years, today announced the creation of an international regatta circuit. The WSTA (World Sailing Team Association) groups together the participants in previous Louis Vuitton Cup regattas (K-Challenge (France), BMW Oracle Racing (USA), Emirates Team New Zealand, Mascalzone Latino (Italy)) and welcomes newcomers such as Team Artemis (Sweden), Team Synergy (Russia), Joe Fly Italia (Italy) and Team French Spirit (France). Other teams will join the association in the coming weeks. Entitled the Louis Vuitton World Series, these regattas are a first in the world of sailing and follow on from the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series organized in Auckland, New Zealand, last February. The global success of this exceptional competition persuaded all the partners in this adventure to create a dynamic and ambitious new race program based on the same concept and format. Ten teams will be invited to confront each other in successive duels over a fortnight on two pairs of identical boats chosen by lot. The racing boats were sailed in the 2007 LV Cup. This concept, which demonstrates the desire to return to the original spirit of "match racing", provides an exhilarating show and is easy for spectators to understand. The WSTA and Louis Vuitton plan to organize several regattas a year. Many cities of which Nice, Hong Kong, Auckland, New York and several other European venues have shown their interest. A press conference will be held
in Paris on Tuesday, September 8th. More details about the
first events to be organized in 2009 and 2010 will be disclosed
during this conference. Journalists Discuss Cup Management Issues James Boyd (UK), Tatjana Pokorny (GER), Loic Le Bras (FRA) and Emilio Martinelli (ITA) discuss the America's Cup in advance of the World Yacht Racing Forum this December, excerpted in the WYRF Newsletter: Loic Le Bras (FRA), Voiles & Voiliers: "I think that in an exceptional situation such as this one, with two competitors unable to agree on anything, ISAF can play a role in making the duel as equitable as possible. It should be the Federation's role to name the Race Committee, the on-the-water judges and the Jury. Every team should have a right of veto applicable once against a member of this panel. This would guarantee some equity." |
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CupInfo's Main
Coverage: 2007 America's Cup The 32nd Defense 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup -- Challenger Selection
Louis
Vuitton Acts 2004 to 2007 2007 Teams:
Defender of the America's Cup: Challengers: |
Results:
Comparing the Best
Boats
ETNZ's Kevin Hall: Dinghies and Cup Yachts
Talking with Peter Isler Teams, Photo
Gallery, Stories, RR1 and 2, More: 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. Looking Ahead
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
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. 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
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. 2007: Alinghi Defender Trials
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
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Visiting Dogzilla
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.
Photo Galleries and more below: BMW Oracle
Multi-hull on TV: Also, unrelated to BMW Oracle, enjoy this vintage Walter Cronkite interview with Ted Turner, circa 1977: CBS News Video
Oct 20: Two weeks of San Diego testing complete: BMW Oracle web site Inside the BMW Oracle compound:
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
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 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?
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
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 ! |
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Inquires please contact: Last update: Monday February 08, 2010 |
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Some of the features on CupInfo : |
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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 Peter
Holmberg Interview J-Class
Revisited
Coutts/Alinghi 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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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 and will defend it in the upcoming 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 represents SNG, and BMW
Oracle Racing represents GGYC. When?
February
8th, 10th, and 12th, 2010 (see important note below). 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 could be subject to change by legal action or by the agreement of the two sides. IMPORTANT NOTE: Legal
obstacles to the Feb 8th race date appear to have been set aside.
Still, this is not a normal America's Cup match. Make
travel plans at your own risk.
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 raise the possibility that the series could be extended to best of five or seven races. What yachts? BMW Oracle has been testing 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 has been announced for Europe, along with a live Internet feed. Outside of Europe, the internet feed is the only live coverage announced as of February 4. ESPN 360 is the US partner for the Internet feed. TV Broadcast in the US and Canada is not expected. More tv and web coverage info |
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Columbia: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit
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