READY FOR ACTION!
The match for the 33rd America’s Cup is scheduled to get under way tomorrow (Monday).
The stage is set. The preparations are complete. The two protagonists, the 33rd America’s Cup Defender Alinghi (SUI) and the Challenger, BMW ORACLE Racing (USA), completed their final testing and tuning off Valencia this afternoon in relatively benign winds, in final preparation for the Race 1 of the best-of –three series.
The two giant multihulls, with their towering rigs, seemed to defy the laws of physics as they moved swiftly across the seas off Valencia in, at times, next-to-no breeze.
If ever there was a stark reminder of how great the jump in technology and potential boat speeds ushered by this 33rd edition for the world’s oldest sporting trophy, then it was evident this afternoon while tens of thousands visitors enjoyed the inauguration festivities ashore.
The clash of these giant multihulls promises to be one of the most memorable in the history of the America’s Cup.
The time signal for the first race, which will comprise one 20 mile beat to windward and a 20 mile run to the finish, is scheduled for 1000hrs (local time), six minutes before the start gun.
The wind forecasts are promising: light to moderate breezes which would be enough to get Race 1 under way
BMW ORACLE Racing gain starboard tack entry. America’s Cup Park full of life.
The America’s Cup Park was thronged full of life this afternoon, as tens of thousands of local Valencians and many visitors turned out for the inauguration festivities.
On the toss of a coin between the commodores of the Defender yacht club, Switzerland’s Société Nautique de Genève, and the Challenger, the USA’s Golden Gate Yacht Club BMW ORACLE Racing, the priority to enter the start area for Race 1 with right of way, on Starboard tack, went to BMW ORACLE Racing.
The Challenger American trimaran, USA, the first to be seen racing in the history of the America’s Cup, will be steered by James Spithill (AUS) and will be using a rigid wing sail of around 70 metres high.
The Swiss Defender’s catamaran, Alinghi 5, will be steered by team president Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) and Loïck Peyron (FRA), as the team bid to win the America’s Cup for the third consecutive time.
This multihull match is all new territory for the America’s Cup. The craft can sail at two and a half to three times the wind speed. No one can predict exactly what will happen when the two giant protagonists square up in the start area. In conventional match racing the immediate goal is to inflict a penalty on the opposition.
Such penalty turns, if the opposition is sailing away at 20 knots, could be doubly expensive.
Security measures are in place to maximize the safety on the race course. The start line is expected to be somewhere around 800 metres long, depending on the wind strength.
Visitors to the inauguration festivities this afternoon enjoyed a display of local mascletá firecrackers.
Funds were raised for Haiti with proceeds from the sale of a huge Spanish paella for 5000 people, Swiss raclette and American hamburgers all combining to help.
Quotes:
Harold Bennett (NZL) Principal Race Officer:
His thoughts on the weather for Race 1 day:
“At the moment it looks like a very light offshore breeze early, which will fade away and begins to look like coming from the south. That was an earlier forecast and so we don’t have a straight answer on that just now.
Does he have clear ideas in his mind about what the wind limits might be?
“We will take the day as it comes and work it our from there.”
Is there any step change in technology they are using for race management since 32nd Americas’ Cup:
“I think probably there is no much of an advance in terms of technology in what we are using, we use the same methods as before.”
What does he think we will see at the start?
“At the start? I hope we see two boats get in, entered and get away from the start cleanly and have a race. That is what I am hoping to see. Whether they mix it up or not I don’t know.”
Alain Gautier (FRA), Alinghi, on the start:
“The priority boat will try to put a penalty on the other. And on these boats that can be very expensive.”
“It is less important to break the start line on the gun than to start well launched with speed and without a penalty.”
James Spithill, (AUS), BMW ORACLE Racing:
“It is all new to us. The boats have completely different characteristics and obviously we only have the one boat each and so we have not really been able to go out there and try as hard as we usually do. I think it will be interesting. I think they have tried to set up the start line so there will be no ‘dial-up’. I think we will see the boats turn back quite early and really try to fight for the side. The first cross is so important in match racing, however I think this time you really want o be going the right way. To do any manoeuvre in a multihull is quite expensive. I am quite excited myself, because I just can’t wait to see what happens. "
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
TWO DAYS TO GO!
Photo of Alinghi, Courtesy of Alinghi
Photo of USA, Courtesy of BMW Oracle
Two days to go, I think we're there! Mutual consent withstanding, counterpart
Commodore's Fred Murray from the Societe Nautique de Geneva (SNG)and Marcus Young of the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) continue to trade letters espousing their desires for an amicable America’s Cup, but contentions aside on who built what, where; the first race is still scheduled/ordered to start on February 8th in Valencia, Spain
With the utmost sincerity feeling that they are both somehow on the side of might and right the yachts in question this time around are not narrow, 80 ft. monohulls (1 hull) grasping to reach 20 knots, but behemoth multi-hulls 90 ft. by 90 ft on the load waterline, with carbon fiber masts that tower 200 feet into the sky. With more than 7,000 square ft. of sail area these boats can be expected to sail at more than 40 knots!
Pulling the purse strings are billionaires Larry Ellison, representing the GGYC in combination with his team BMW Oracle and Ernesto Bertarelli with Alinghi, holding sway over SNG. The sailors on board for the most part pay penance to their bosses and the legal teams involved are presumably the best and certainly the most expensive in the world.
BMW Oracle launched their trimaran (3 hulls)a 1 1/2 years ago in Anacortes, Washington and last July, Alinghi put a gargantuan catamaran (2 hulls) into the emerald waters of Lake Geneva, Switzerland and then into the mine laden Persian Gulf, for several additional months of training, before being ordered by the New York Supreme Court to pack up and relocate in Valencia.
These high tech wonders will ensure that the next America’s Cup will be the most spectacular design fest in history......if the warring factions can ever escape their escapades in the courtroom.
With all the ruminations over the choice of the venue,and now; sparring on issues over the "constructed in country" (CIC) provisions in the Deed of Gift, which will probably leave the NY Court little alternative but to say; "come back and see us when the racing is done."
The issue itself is relatively mute with an interesting array of factions lined up on both sides of the fence. With former Stars & Stripes teammates; and executives with North Sails John Marshall(BMW Oracle)and Tom Whidden (Alinghi) submitting affidavits of opposite opinions, the 33rd version of the America's Cup has become a terrible Civil War which will undoubtedly land back in court after the races are over.
For the last 2 1/2 years BMW Oracle has championed the Challenger's cause in more ways than even they would have dreamed possible. After Alinghi's poorly thought out Defender's power grab in 2007, the holder of the America's Cup has been left on the ropes with little or nothing left but to win on the water at all costs. The loser next week will be left with a bitter legacy and a trip back to court.
What we are left with is the possibility of the greatest spectacle in "yacht" racing! Again, who doesn't wants to see these foiled multihulls rip it out over the Mediterranean!
By Mark Wharton Reid
Photo of USA, Courtesy of BMW Oracle
Two days to go, I think we're there! Mutual consent withstanding, counterpart
Commodore's Fred Murray from the Societe Nautique de Geneva (SNG)and Marcus Young of the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) continue to trade letters espousing their desires for an amicable America’s Cup, but contentions aside on who built what, where; the first race is still scheduled/ordered to start on February 8th in Valencia, Spain
With the utmost sincerity feeling that they are both somehow on the side of might and right the yachts in question this time around are not narrow, 80 ft. monohulls (1 hull) grasping to reach 20 knots, but behemoth multi-hulls 90 ft. by 90 ft on the load waterline, with carbon fiber masts that tower 200 feet into the sky. With more than 7,000 square ft. of sail area these boats can be expected to sail at more than 40 knots!
Pulling the purse strings are billionaires Larry Ellison, representing the GGYC in combination with his team BMW Oracle and Ernesto Bertarelli with Alinghi, holding sway over SNG. The sailors on board for the most part pay penance to their bosses and the legal teams involved are presumably the best and certainly the most expensive in the world.
BMW Oracle launched their trimaran (3 hulls)a 1 1/2 years ago in Anacortes, Washington and last July, Alinghi put a gargantuan catamaran (2 hulls) into the emerald waters of Lake Geneva, Switzerland and then into the mine laden Persian Gulf, for several additional months of training, before being ordered by the New York Supreme Court to pack up and relocate in Valencia.
These high tech wonders will ensure that the next America’s Cup will be the most spectacular design fest in history......if the warring factions can ever escape their escapades in the courtroom.
With all the ruminations over the choice of the venue,and now; sparring on issues over the "constructed in country" (CIC) provisions in the Deed of Gift, which will probably leave the NY Court little alternative but to say; "come back and see us when the racing is done."
The issue itself is relatively mute with an interesting array of factions lined up on both sides of the fence. With former Stars & Stripes teammates; and executives with North Sails John Marshall(BMW Oracle)and Tom Whidden (Alinghi) submitting affidavits of opposite opinions, the 33rd version of the America's Cup has become a terrible Civil War which will undoubtedly land back in court after the races are over.
For the last 2 1/2 years BMW Oracle has championed the Challenger's cause in more ways than even they would have dreamed possible. After Alinghi's poorly thought out Defender's power grab in 2007, the holder of the America's Cup has been left on the ropes with little or nothing left but to win on the water at all costs. The loser next week will be left with a bitter legacy and a trip back to court.
What we are left with is the possibility of the greatest spectacle in "yacht" racing! Again, who doesn't wants to see these foiled multihulls rip it out over the Mediterranean!
By Mark Wharton Reid
THE TEAMS
DEFENDER
ALINGHI 5
Yacht Club Societe Nautique de Geneva
Location Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Boat Name Alinghi 5
Launch July, 2009
Dimensions 90 X 90’ ft. length/width
Mast 180’ height
Builder Decsion Corsier
Location Villeneuve, Switzerland.
Designer Rolf Vrolijk
President Ernesto Bertarelli
Team Manager Grant Simmer
Helmsman Brad Butterworth
Skipper Ed Baird
Trimmer Warwick Fleury
Tactician Murray Jones
Free Agent Loïck Peyron
Training Genoa, Italy; RAK, UAE
CHALLENGER
USA
Yacht Club Golden Gate Yacht Club
Location San Francisco, California
Boat Name USA
Boat Type Trimaran of carbon composite construction
Built Core Builders, Anacortes, WA, USA
Overall Length 100-feet / 30 meters
Waterline Length 90-feet / 27 meters
Beam 90-feet / 27 meters
Mast Height Up to 185-feet/55 meters
Built Hall Spars, Bristol, RI, USA; Core Builders, Anacortes, WA, USA
Wing Sail
Height: 223 ft / 68 m (compared to 102 ft / 31 m length of a Boeing 747 wing and 143 ft / 43.5 m length of an Airbus 380 wing)
Chord: 10 to 45 ft / 3 to 14 m
Width: 2 to 6 ft / 0.5 to 2.0 m
Surface area: 7,000 sq. ft / 650 sq. m (profile)
Weight: 7,700 lbs / 3,500 kg (approx)
Sails
Mainsail: 6,800 square feet; (630m2)
Genoa: 6,700 square feet; (620m2)
Gennaker: 8,400 square feet; (780m2)
Notes on the wing
The wing sail consists of two main components: the main element and the flap element. The main element is one single piece that rotates around the mast step. Nine flaps rotate around the trailing edge of the main element. Both elements are separated by a small gap and linked together by hinges.
The wing sail is primarily constructed from carbon fibre and kevlar with a light, shrinkable aeronautical film material used as an overall skin over the frame.
From BMW Oracle
President Larry Ellison
Design Team Director Mike Drummond
Principal Naval Architects VPLP (Van Peteghem and Lauriot Prévost)
CEO Russell Coutts
Skipper James Spithill
Tactician John Kostecki
Navigator Matteo Plazzi
Bowman Simeon Tienpont
Training San Diego, California
ALINGHI 5
Yacht Club Societe Nautique de Geneva
Location Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Boat Name Alinghi 5
Launch July, 2009
Dimensions 90 X 90’ ft. length/width
Mast 180’ height
Builder Decsion Corsier
Location Villeneuve, Switzerland.
Designer Rolf Vrolijk
President Ernesto Bertarelli
Team Manager Grant Simmer
Helmsman Brad Butterworth
Skipper Ed Baird
Trimmer Warwick Fleury
Tactician Murray Jones
Free Agent Loïck Peyron
Training Genoa, Italy; RAK, UAE
CHALLENGER
USA
Yacht Club Golden Gate Yacht Club
Location San Francisco, California
Boat Name USA
Boat Type Trimaran of carbon composite construction
Built Core Builders, Anacortes, WA, USA
Overall Length 100-feet / 30 meters
Waterline Length 90-feet / 27 meters
Beam 90-feet / 27 meters
Mast Height Up to 185-feet/55 meters
Built Hall Spars, Bristol, RI, USA; Core Builders, Anacortes, WA, USA
Wing Sail
Height: 223 ft / 68 m (compared to 102 ft / 31 m length of a Boeing 747 wing and 143 ft / 43.5 m length of an Airbus 380 wing)
Chord: 10 to 45 ft / 3 to 14 m
Width: 2 to 6 ft / 0.5 to 2.0 m
Surface area: 7,000 sq. ft / 650 sq. m (profile)
Weight: 7,700 lbs / 3,500 kg (approx)
Sails
Mainsail: 6,800 square feet; (630m2)
Genoa: 6,700 square feet; (620m2)
Gennaker: 8,400 square feet; (780m2)
Notes on the wing
The wing sail consists of two main components: the main element and the flap element. The main element is one single piece that rotates around the mast step. Nine flaps rotate around the trailing edge of the main element. Both elements are separated by a small gap and linked together by hinges.
The wing sail is primarily constructed from carbon fibre and kevlar with a light, shrinkable aeronautical film material used as an overall skin over the frame.
From BMW Oracle
President Larry Ellison
Design Team Director Mike Drummond
Principal Naval Architects VPLP (Van Peteghem and Lauriot Prévost)
CEO Russell Coutts
Skipper James Spithill
Tactician John Kostecki
Navigator Matteo Plazzi
Bowman Simeon Tienpont
Training San Diego, California
OWNERS PRESS CONFERENCE. FROM AC MEDIA CENTER
33rd America’s Cup Owners Press Conference
Today’s owners press conference in Valencia’s Port America’s Cup heard Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli highlight that safety and reliability need to be key issues to be borne in mind during what promises to be an enthralling 33rd America’s Cup, scheduled to start on Monday.
The two times America’s Cup winning team owner, who will helm the giant catamaran Alinghi 5 along with Frenchman Loick Peyron, re-stated the need for a measure of prudence after the start gun goes for Race 1 of the best of three series.
The winter conditions need to be taken account of. As well as getting the balance right, trying to ensure the maximum reliability of Alinghi 5, Bertarelli also warned that spectators on the water need to remember that this is winter and the conditions off Valencia can change quickly.
Bertarelli said that pre-regatta nerves are an essential part of his psychological drive to be successful, and that many of the feelings of excitement are the same as July 2007 when Alinghi triumphed.
The level of media interest, he underlined, is comparable to the 32nd America’s Cup Match, with some 600 media accredited already.
Over 100 media attended the press conference in the Port America’s signature Veles e Vents building.
Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) owner and helmsman Alinghi:
“The weather is quite different from when we left in July 2007, but I think the excitement is the same. I think there is about 600 accreditations which is just as much as last time and so there is a certain interest in this historic race.”
“ We are all at the Alinghi team looking forward to the regatta putting forward our best.”
On the need for nerves: “Every time you go to battle you have to feel nervous. Anytime I have gone casual to anything I was not my best,. I think adrenaline and a bit of excitement is good, for anything you do and especially for a competition like this.”
On BMW ORACLE Racing: “BMW ORACLE Racing is a formidable team. They have brought an impressive yacht with impressive technology. It is going to be very interesting to see two very different yachts trying to achieve the same thing.”
On the need for reliability and safety: “ In order to win you have to finish. Both teams over the last few weeks have been able to gauge our reliability. We have had problems. It is a bit like the beginning of the season in the Formula 1 grand prix. All is very good when the teams are here testing in Valencia. You go round the track once or twice and you put a good time. But on the Sunday of the first race you have to go around the track 72 times. It is a bit the same thing. We have completed the course a few times. It is a long course, 40 miles, we have done it in between two and half to three hours which is a lot of ground to cover. 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.”
On why he is helming Alinghi: “Some other reasons are those that brought me to sailing, multihull sailing, speed and perfecting these boats on the lakes. My contribution this time has been very different. Possibly I have had more involvement with this campaign than ever before. My steering I think is a good thing.”
“ It happens that I can steer a multihull, and I have brought on board since we have clear indication that we were going to sail multihulls those which we have competed against on the lake, those who I felt were the strongest competitors Alain Gautier and Loïck Peyron.”
On this America’s Cup: “ I think this America’s Cup will be remembered for whatever reason. I hope for the good reasons and it is going to be a formidable America’s Cup because of the boats and the technology and possibly because it is a DoG match and once in a while you have one. The other thing is that we should be careful in not discouraging other people who want to participate.”
Official opening ceremony tomorrow
Sunday 7th February sees the official opening ceremony of the 33rd America’s Cup, starting at 1300hrs in the heart of Port America’s Cup, by the Veles et Vents building.
Today’s owners press conference in Valencia’s Port America’s Cup heard Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli highlight that safety and reliability need to be key issues to be borne in mind during what promises to be an enthralling 33rd America’s Cup, scheduled to start on Monday.
The two times America’s Cup winning team owner, who will helm the giant catamaran Alinghi 5 along with Frenchman Loick Peyron, re-stated the need for a measure of prudence after the start gun goes for Race 1 of the best of three series.
The winter conditions need to be taken account of. As well as getting the balance right, trying to ensure the maximum reliability of Alinghi 5, Bertarelli also warned that spectators on the water need to remember that this is winter and the conditions off Valencia can change quickly.
Bertarelli said that pre-regatta nerves are an essential part of his psychological drive to be successful, and that many of the feelings of excitement are the same as July 2007 when Alinghi triumphed.
The level of media interest, he underlined, is comparable to the 32nd America’s Cup Match, with some 600 media accredited already.
Over 100 media attended the press conference in the Port America’s signature Veles e Vents building.
Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) owner and helmsman Alinghi:
“The weather is quite different from when we left in July 2007, but I think the excitement is the same. I think there is about 600 accreditations which is just as much as last time and so there is a certain interest in this historic race.”
“ We are all at the Alinghi team looking forward to the regatta putting forward our best.”
On the need for nerves: “Every time you go to battle you have to feel nervous. Anytime I have gone casual to anything I was not my best,. I think adrenaline and a bit of excitement is good, for anything you do and especially for a competition like this.”
On BMW ORACLE Racing: “BMW ORACLE Racing is a formidable team. They have brought an impressive yacht with impressive technology. It is going to be very interesting to see two very different yachts trying to achieve the same thing.”
On the need for reliability and safety: “ In order to win you have to finish. Both teams over the last few weeks have been able to gauge our reliability. We have had problems. It is a bit like the beginning of the season in the Formula 1 grand prix. All is very good when the teams are here testing in Valencia. You go round the track once or twice and you put a good time. But on the Sunday of the first race you have to go around the track 72 times. It is a bit the same thing. We have completed the course a few times. It is a long course, 40 miles, we have done it in between two and half to three hours which is a lot of ground to cover. 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.”
On why he is helming Alinghi: “Some other reasons are those that brought me to sailing, multihull sailing, speed and perfecting these boats on the lakes. My contribution this time has been very different. Possibly I have had more involvement with this campaign than ever before. My steering I think is a good thing.”
“ It happens that I can steer a multihull, and I have brought on board since we have clear indication that we were going to sail multihulls those which we have competed against on the lake, those who I felt were the strongest competitors Alain Gautier and Loïck Peyron.”
On this America’s Cup: “ I think this America’s Cup will be remembered for whatever reason. I hope for the good reasons and it is going to be a formidable America’s Cup because of the boats and the technology and possibly because it is a DoG match and once in a while you have one. The other thing is that we should be careful in not discouraging other people who want to participate.”
Official opening ceremony tomorrow
Sunday 7th February sees the official opening ceremony of the 33rd America’s Cup, starting at 1300hrs in the heart of Port America’s Cup, by the Veles et Vents building.
Friday, February 5, 2010
USA Press Conference
BMW Oracle Racing gave their first live webcast press conference today from Port America's Cup in Valencia, Spain. With Tom Ehman, emceeing the event BMWO CEO Russell Coutts, Owner Larry Ellison and Skipper James Spithill were in attendance, along with the usual worldwide yachting press participants.
With the first race less than three days away, all concerned seemed to be remarkably relaxed considering what is involved. The entire future of the America's Cup is at stake.
"This will be the greatest spectacle in sailing history," said Ellison. "Think of it as the X-Games version of the America's Cup. These are extreme machines."
For the first time in many years this America's Cup will be a showcase for technology. The last time America specifically has been able to have an upper hand in a technological aspect in this regatta was in the last court driven America's Cup in 1988 when Dennis Conner and Team Stars and Stripes raced a fixed wing catamaran against New Zealand.
Today Coutts called their trimaran USA, "an evolution of Stars and Stripes 88."
When asked about whether the two multihulls were going to mix it up, Coutts was quite animated in characterizing this match as compared to a Formula One race, when if you asked the competitors whether they were going to be concerned about hitting each other or racing too close, "they would look at you like you were crazy."
That said, like auto racing, a collision between these two yachts would be catastrophic, with a likely loss of life.
Though given the press conference's few moments of shrill, one has to ask themselves whether either side completely trusts the other when it comes to sanity.
When asked to comment whether he would be attending the owner's press conference tomorrow, Ellison was quite candid; "they have explicitly excluded Russell Coutts by name and because of this I won't be able to find the time myself to attend."
Ellison added when asked, if anyone from BMWO would attend, he categorically replied,"no one for our team;" as spoken by the man where clearly the buck stops at his boat.
Weather is going to play a huge role in this regatta and with the possibility of the spectacular, comes the risk of spectacle. A breakdown or collision would likely mean the end of the America's Cup for either team.
Harold Bennett will again reprise his role as the race official in charge of running the regatta and most assuredly the New Zealander has the respect of both sides.
Again, Monday February 8 will be potentially the most spectacular day in sailing history or not and the beauty of it all is that the world will be able to enjoy back to back Super Bowls!
With the first race less than three days away, all concerned seemed to be remarkably relaxed considering what is involved. The entire future of the America's Cup is at stake.
"This will be the greatest spectacle in sailing history," said Ellison. "Think of it as the X-Games version of the America's Cup. These are extreme machines."
For the first time in many years this America's Cup will be a showcase for technology. The last time America specifically has been able to have an upper hand in a technological aspect in this regatta was in the last court driven America's Cup in 1988 when Dennis Conner and Team Stars and Stripes raced a fixed wing catamaran against New Zealand.
Today Coutts called their trimaran USA, "an evolution of Stars and Stripes 88."
When asked about whether the two multihulls were going to mix it up, Coutts was quite animated in characterizing this match as compared to a Formula One race, when if you asked the competitors whether they were going to be concerned about hitting each other or racing too close, "they would look at you like you were crazy."
That said, like auto racing, a collision between these two yachts would be catastrophic, with a likely loss of life.
Though given the press conference's few moments of shrill, one has to ask themselves whether either side completely trusts the other when it comes to sanity.
When asked to comment whether he would be attending the owner's press conference tomorrow, Ellison was quite candid; "they have explicitly excluded Russell Coutts by name and because of this I won't be able to find the time myself to attend."
Ellison added when asked, if anyone from BMWO would attend, he categorically replied,"no one for our team;" as spoken by the man where clearly the buck stops at his boat.
Weather is going to play a huge role in this regatta and with the possibility of the spectacular, comes the risk of spectacle. A breakdown or collision would likely mean the end of the America's Cup for either team.
Harold Bennett will again reprise his role as the race official in charge of running the regatta and most assuredly the New Zealander has the respect of both sides.
Again, Monday February 8 will be potentially the most spectacular day in sailing history or not and the beauty of it all is that the world will be able to enjoy back to back Super Bowls!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
LVC WORLD SERIES AUCKLAND
Eight teams to compete at Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland in March
Story by LVC Media.
In just six weeks time, during the Southern hemisphere Summer, eight of the best sailing teams in the world will race a Louis Vuitton Trophy match race regatta in Auckland New Zealand.
© Sally Collison | Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d'AzurJust over a year ago the inaugural regatta was sailed in Auckland, the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Ten of the best sailing teams in the world, including the current Challenger and Defender of the America’s Cup, competed over two weeks in a match race regatta in two pairs of supplied boats. The boats used were ACC yachts from the 2007 America’s Cup and all teams rotated through the four boats.
The formula was renewed at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice regatta in November last year, a regatta whose provisional media return resulted in a value of over nine million Euros gathered from over 1200 articles, 354 hours of TV on 400 channels in 163 countries. The next regatta will be the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland from 9 – 21 March 2010.
Following the success of last year’s antipodean regatta the event organisers, the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA), along with the city of Auckland decided to adjust the dates to enhance the public spectacle. The regatta, which runs from 9-21 March, will be staged from the same venue and at the same time as the Auckland International Boatshow (10-14 March) in Auckland’s Downtown Viaduct Basin, the venue for the America’s Cup in 2000 and 2003.
The WSTA member teams entered for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta are from seven countries. Unlike last year, the host Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, will not get an automatic pass to the regatta finals, but will have to earn the right to be there by passing through the round robin and semi final stages with a winning record. The seven other teams hoping to also make it to the finals and ultimately prevail are:
Aleph (France, skipper Bertrand Pacé)
All4One (France/Germany, skipper Jochen Schumann)
Artemis (Sweden, skipper Paul Cayard)
Azzurra (Italy, skipper Francesco Bruni)
Mascalzone Latino Audi (Italy)
Synergy (Russia, skipper Karol Jablonski)
TEAMORIGIN (Great Britain, skipper Ben Ainslie)
Following the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta the WSTA’s member teams will race in La Maddalena, Sardinia (22 May – 6 June), then in Dubai, UAE (13 – 27 November) before Hong Kong in early 2011 (9 – 24 January).
At a press conference last week in Dubai, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Emirates Airline Group, explained that the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai would be held at Mina Seyahi, the home of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), located next to the world famous Palm Jumeirah.
“This is a real coup for Dubai. We are honoured to be part of this fantastic event which has rapidly emerged as a renowned spectacle of sport followed by millions around the world.”
Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton replied by saying: "Louis Vuitton has been present in Dubai for more than 10 years. We are thrilled that in 2010 we can further build on this relationship through a great sailing event, while reinforcing the age-old Dubai tradition for sailing regattas.”
About Louis Vuitton
The world leader in luxury, Louis Vuitton has been synonymous with the art of stylish travel since 1854. Since 1987, it has been part of LVMH/Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world's most prestigious luxury goods group headed by Bernard Arnault. Since 1997, with the arrival of the designer Marc Jacobs, it has extended its expertise to women's and men's ready-to-wear, shoes, watches and jewellery, glasses, combining traditional craftsmanship with flair and innovation to create a complete lifestyle experience. Today, Louis Vuitton has an exclusive network of stores all across the world.
About WSTA
World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) was founded in 2009 by a group of professional yacht racing teams to develop a regular series of high-level competitive racing events. The WSTA is jointly owned by its preferred shareholders and represents the interests of the teams for fair and highly-competitive racing. The WSTA, in conjunction with title partner Louis Vuitton, co-organizes the Louis Vuitton Trophy.
Story by LVC Media.
In just six weeks time, during the Southern hemisphere Summer, eight of the best sailing teams in the world will race a Louis Vuitton Trophy match race regatta in Auckland New Zealand.
© Sally Collison | Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d'AzurJust over a year ago the inaugural regatta was sailed in Auckland, the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Ten of the best sailing teams in the world, including the current Challenger and Defender of the America’s Cup, competed over two weeks in a match race regatta in two pairs of supplied boats. The boats used were ACC yachts from the 2007 America’s Cup and all teams rotated through the four boats.
The formula was renewed at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice regatta in November last year, a regatta whose provisional media return resulted in a value of over nine million Euros gathered from over 1200 articles, 354 hours of TV on 400 channels in 163 countries. The next regatta will be the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland from 9 – 21 March 2010.
Following the success of last year’s antipodean regatta the event organisers, the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA), along with the city of Auckland decided to adjust the dates to enhance the public spectacle. The regatta, which runs from 9-21 March, will be staged from the same venue and at the same time as the Auckland International Boatshow (10-14 March) in Auckland’s Downtown Viaduct Basin, the venue for the America’s Cup in 2000 and 2003.
The WSTA member teams entered for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta are from seven countries. Unlike last year, the host Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, will not get an automatic pass to the regatta finals, but will have to earn the right to be there by passing through the round robin and semi final stages with a winning record. The seven other teams hoping to also make it to the finals and ultimately prevail are:
Aleph (France, skipper Bertrand Pacé)
All4One (France/Germany, skipper Jochen Schumann)
Artemis (Sweden, skipper Paul Cayard)
Azzurra (Italy, skipper Francesco Bruni)
Mascalzone Latino Audi (Italy)
Synergy (Russia, skipper Karol Jablonski)
TEAMORIGIN (Great Britain, skipper Ben Ainslie)
Following the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta the WSTA’s member teams will race in La Maddalena, Sardinia (22 May – 6 June), then in Dubai, UAE (13 – 27 November) before Hong Kong in early 2011 (9 – 24 January).
At a press conference last week in Dubai, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Emirates Airline Group, explained that the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai would be held at Mina Seyahi, the home of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), located next to the world famous Palm Jumeirah.
“This is a real coup for Dubai. We are honoured to be part of this fantastic event which has rapidly emerged as a renowned spectacle of sport followed by millions around the world.”
Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton replied by saying: "Louis Vuitton has been present in Dubai for more than 10 years. We are thrilled that in 2010 we can further build on this relationship through a great sailing event, while reinforcing the age-old Dubai tradition for sailing regattas.”
About Louis Vuitton
The world leader in luxury, Louis Vuitton has been synonymous with the art of stylish travel since 1854. Since 1987, it has been part of LVMH/Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world's most prestigious luxury goods group headed by Bernard Arnault. Since 1997, with the arrival of the designer Marc Jacobs, it has extended its expertise to women's and men's ready-to-wear, shoes, watches and jewellery, glasses, combining traditional craftsmanship with flair and innovation to create a complete lifestyle experience. Today, Louis Vuitton has an exclusive network of stores all across the world.
About WSTA
World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) was founded in 2009 by a group of professional yacht racing teams to develop a regular series of high-level competitive racing events. The WSTA is jointly owned by its preferred shareholders and represents the interests of the teams for fair and highly-competitive racing. The WSTA, in conjunction with title partner Louis Vuitton, co-organizes the Louis Vuitton Trophy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)