Jonathan McKee talks about the Barcelona World Race and his team Estrella Damm

Right after the presentation of Estrella Damm's boat and team, we spoke to Jonathan McKee, the American sailor that together with Guillermo Altadill will start off Barcelona next November and sail around the world.

Valencia Sailing: After a successful America’s Cup with Luna Rossa, you choose a completely different path. Why?
Jonathan McKee I really enjoyed the America’s Cup as well as my experience with Luna Rossa but I always wanted to experience different styles of sailing and races and put myself in different situations. For me this is an opportunity to do something completely different. This type of ocean racing, especially short handed ocean racing is something I have some experience with and which appeals to me a lot. One thing that’s great about it is how different it is compared to the America’s Cup, not only in the sailing itself but in that the team is so much smaller and I can be much more involved in its overall decision-making and its personality. An individual sailor rarely has this involvement in the America’s Cup.

Valencia Sailing: You’ll be just two persons sailing together for more than three months. Can this lead to conflicts or problems?
Jonathan McKee For sure it’s difficult and can create conflicts. I’ll have less time with my family; I have a wife and two children and it’s not going to be easy being away for three months. Luckily there is technology that helps in that sense a little bit but still it’s a long time. That’s a positive aspect of the America’s Cup, you can go home every night and be with your family. It’s a much more family-friendly environment. On the other side, this race will be over quite quickly. It lasts three months, it finishes an then you are on to your next assignment, while the America’s Cup last almost 4 years.

Valencia Sailing: Why did you specifically choose the Barcelona World Race and not the Volvo Ocean Race or any other round-the-world race?
Jonathan McKee For me the idea of going double-handed is much more appealing than going single-handed. Compared to the Vendée Globe this is a much more interesting race and more fun. You have more sleep, you share the duties and responsibilities and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more. As to the Volvo Ocean Race, I also think it’s a very interesting one; it has a different dynamic with more crew, in-port races and stopovers. It’s also a much longer race. It’s an appealing challenge as well and it’s not out of question I would do it also.

Valencia Sailing: What’s your view on the boats of the race, the IMOCA Open 60?
Jonathan McKee I think that technically they are very interesting boats and it’s a very open design platform. Don’t forget that a lot of the big developments in sailing have been pioneered in this class and if you look at the boats they are really incredible ocean racing machines. Having being around for quite a lot of time they are very refined now. They have become more powerful which makes it more difficult for the single-handed type of sailing and better suited to the double-handed. Still the sails are big and moving them around, putting them up or down is a big challenge in a race for only two sailors. That will be one of the big challenges of the race. Nevertheless, they are really fun to sail and just the sensation of sailing them, the speeds achieved is very appealing.

Valencia Sailing: Are there big difference among the 9 boats of the race, at least you are aware of? Better said, do you expect to see big difference?
Jonathan McKee That remains to be seen! Seven of the boats are basically new. Between these latest-generation boats differences will be small. Some will probably be more prepared than others. Some have been on the water for a longer time while some are simply further along on their development cycle. There are two older boats that will certainly be improved but speed wise they are probably not as quick as the newer ones.

Valencia Sailing: So, is this a technology race or a human one? How important is the human factor?
Jonathan McKee The human factor certainly outweighs the technology factor by a big margin. In a race like this, the technology comes in more in the reliability of the boat rather than its pure speed. Very often you are not at 100% of efficiency or capacity. As I said, the new boats will be reasonably close in speed. Probably some boats will have their strong points in an area or another, depending on how they are set up, their sail plan but in the end it’s more about the people and how they sail the boat, the seamanship and probably more than anything is the preparation. If you can make it around without any major breakage, that’s a huge part of this race.

Valencia Sailing: How difficult is the route the organizers have chosen? What is its trickiest point? Approximately half of the race will be around Antarctica.
Jonathan McKee Yes, you do go around Antarctica. For sure it will be one of the most challenging parts of the race but mainly from a pure endurance standpoint. There is a lot of wind, waves and it’s really cold and very isolated. That part of the race is hard although not technically challenging. I think the Atlantic part of the race is more likely where you win or lose overall. You can gain a lot of miles by good tactical choices. Being at the right place at the right time can mean hundreds of miles whereas in the southern ocean it’s more about seamanship, keeping the boat together and a consistent pace and above all avoid any breakages.

Valencia Sailing: In what stage are your preparations for the race, 6 weeks before its start.
Jonathan McKee We are now at the final stages of our preparation. We are trying to focus on improving some of the systems of the boat and their reliability. We haven't sailed the boat as much as we would have liked either and we are still learning how to sail it. There is still a number of things to do and as a result we are having a tight schedule for the next 6 weeks.

Valencia Sailing: Finally, you had to abandon the Rolex Fastnet last August because of problems with the keel. What's the situation now?
Jonathan McKee We think the problem has been solved and we have taken care of that issue. Since that incident we sailed 4,000 miles. It was not a structural issue, it was electronics.

Estrella Damm present their boat for the Barcelona World Race

Estrella Damm officially presented their IMOCA Open 60 boat and its team, comprising of sailors Guillermo Altadill and Jonathan McKee. The Spanish and American will compete in the Barcelona World Race, a two-handed round-the-world race that will start in the Spanish city on November 11.

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Estrella Damm officially present their IMOCA Open 60 boat for the Barcelona World Race. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's Simon Daubney breached America’s Cup Anti Doping Rules

[Source: Alinghi] Statement from Simon Daubney: “Yesterday I went before the five-man 32nd America’s Cup Jury in London regarding a positive doping test taken on 23 June 2007. While Anti Doping Norway did find traces of a recreational drug in the urine sample, the Jury found that there was no fault or negligence on my behalf. This comes as a relief to me as I have never knowingly taken a banned substance however, until this matter is completely resolved, I have resigned from Alinghi, so that they can go about their business without distraction. I hope to return to the team once my name is cleared.

I was found in breach of the America’s Cup Anti Doping Rules after a routine urine test taken by Anti Doping Norway on 23 June 2007. The urine sample returned a positive test for a recreational drug on 13 July 2007. Then the B sample returned a positive result on the 8 August.

I have been bound by confidentiality rules up until now and want to take this opportunity to thank Alinghi and my family and friends for their enormous support during this extremely difficult time. I have done everything in my power to prove that I have never knowingly taken a banned substance of any type and to this end underwent and passed a polygraph test conducted by the UK and European Polygraph Association. I am heartened and relieved that the Jury agrees with my contention that I was a victim of contamination and or drink spiking."

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper comments: “It was unfortunate that Simon had to go through this unpleasant experience, and both his friends and I have fully supported him from the outset. We welcome the Jury findings that there ‘was no fault or negligence on behalf of Simon’. He is a valued team member and close friend and we feel for him and his family having endured this difficult time. Alinghi does wish to make clear that the team in no way condones the use of any drugs.”

Racing cancelled Rolex TP 52 Global Championship due to strong winds

[Source: Rolex TP52 Global Championship] With the dogs well and truly blown off the chains, racing at the Rolex TP52 Global Championship was very sensibly cancelled for the day. The sense of relief amongst the experienced crews was palpable; with gusts in the Straits of Bonifacio clocking 50 knots and winds gusting more than 30 forecast to extend over the entire available race area by this afternoon, these are boat and crew breaking conditions.

A quick look out to sea at breakfast time this morning was enough to get even the most hardened ocean-racers choking on their cornflakes. By lunch-time it was even worse and the whistling in the rigging was beginning to get on everyone's nerves. For Principal Race Officer, Peter Craig, who has run grand-prix racing at the top level for many years it was a very simple decision, finally made at 10.30 this morning, "when we looked at the situation first thing it was blowing 20-25 knots in the race area and more up in the Straits. We sent a boat out a short while ago to get an update and winds had increased to gusts of 30 just off Porto Cervo. The local experts advise that the pressure seen in the Straits will move over us during the day, so it will just get windier." Craig and event organizers, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, have already got five races in the bag and with good racing conditions predicted for tomorrow and beyond, there was no pressure to get any racing in today. "It's better to have all boats on the start line tomorrow," added Craig.

John Cook, owner of Cristabella (GBR) and newly elected President of the TP52 Class Association, agreed wholeheartedly with the decision to preserve the fleet, "I have no doubt it is a sensible decision, we're out here to race and to enjoy ourselves, not to break our boats. Racing on the Costa Smeralda is always very exciting because often the wind blows off the land and you've got flat water, which makes for highly competitive racing. On the other hand it can blow like hell and you don't want to break your boat, so I'm sure the decision was very wise."

Ray Davies, a Volvo Ocean Race winner and weather expert on ETNZ at the Cup, is tactician on Peter de Ridder's Mean Machine (MON), which currently lies in third overall after two steady days of racing. Davies was equally supportive of the decision, "I completely agree with the decision taken by the race committee to cancel the coastal race today. The weather forecast predicts a really windy day and to go racing would simply mean broken gear." Not ones for sitting by the pool on an enforced rest day, Davies and crew have other ideas, "the Mean Machine team has an alternative plan: go windsurfing this afternoon and make the most fun of these conditions!"

Weather expert, Major Filippo Petrucci forecasts improved conditions tomorrow. The wind is expected to drop in strength as it rotates left to the southwest, but will still be in the 15-20 knot range. The wind direction will return to the northwest in the afternoon, increasing in strength by the evening, but hopefully not to today's extreme level.

Last night the owners gathered for the TP52 Class Association annual meeting. A number of significant measures were adopted aimed at preserving the success and longevity of the class by providing a stable platform for the future. Of note, changes to the bylaws and a rules were approved that will allow further discussion with ISAF to enable the TP52 to become a recognised Class. A new structure has been put in place to move the Class smoothly from an Executive Director led organisation to one that is fully member owned and run. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of the Class, since its inception, Tom Pollack was voted the first Honorary Life Member. At the same point in proceedings, an Executive Committee was formed and John Cook was voted unanimously to be the first Class President. Other moves made will see the Class take steps to fully manage its commercial and image rights for the benefit of owners, sponsors and event organizers. The Class is to embark upon a yearlong research process into the updating of the TP52 box rule, with a view to establishing a revised version for the next ten years. The research will be far reaching and involve input from selected designers, who will be given a brief on the areas of the box rule that need consideration. Any changes adopted are unlikely to be finalised before 2009 or implemented before 2010. Of particular relevance to the future of this event, there was unanimous agreement to lift the restriction on the eligibility of helmsman. The Class rules will become Open on this point, although there will be a Corinthian Driver category within Class competitions.

Artemis grabs leadership at Rolex TP52 Global Championship

[Source: Rolex TP52 Global Championship] King of Cool or lucky break? That is the question. Whatever the real answer, the positions at the end of Day Two and Race Five of the Rolex TP52 Global Championship 2007 do not lie. Artemis (SWE) sits on top of the heap with a healthy ten-point margin over second placed Patches (IRE). It could have been worse or better for both. Patches caught over the start line in the first two races of the day and Artemis over early in the third. Both completed recoveries that in the case of Artemis suggested true genius at the core - the genius of Russell Coutts - along with a measure of good boat speed and probably some luck.

Master magician onboard or not, Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis was comprehensively boat of the day posting a 1, 2, 4. Not far behind in that category was Stuart Robinson's Stay Calm (GBR), which managed to avoid any issues with the line, and scored 2, 4, 3 to move into fourth overall. The two other race winners were Doug DeVos' Windquest (USA)with Terry Hutchinson calling the shots and, of course, Eamon Conneely's Patches which, after her problems with the first two starts of the day, stormed around the final course like a scalded cat to finish someway in front of Alberto Roemmers' Siemens.

Start of the races in the second day of the Rolex TP52 Global Championship. Porto Cervo, 25 September 2007. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

The three races were held in a fresh northwesterly. The promised rotation from the northeast arrived early and the race committee got off the daily maximum number of windward/leewards in short order. The steadiness of the breeze reflected in a lack of any course changes. The first race involved a 2 nautical mile leg in 12 - 15 knots, whilst the second and third saw a 2.4 nm leg and the wind topping out at around 20 knots on the final run home. Normal Porto Cervo service well and truly resumed, with a bright clear sky and plenty of sunshine.

What a difference a day makes. At 2.15pm yesterday the first race was just getting underway in miserable conditions. By that time today, yesterday's problems were forgotten and the crews were halfway through the second race and, if you really want to know how exciting the racing was today, phone a friend. Hopefully, one onboard of a competing yacht, but if not, perhaps one on the fleet of spectator, support, media and committee boats that hared up and down the course all day stopping only to gawp at the mark roundings. Otherwise look at the pictures, shut your eyes and imagine sound of sheets screeching as grinders wring the last few millimetres out of the resisting sheets as the boats round the leeward mark or trimmers ease the taut, loaded membranes at the top mark. Trying to bottle or distil the intensity of these moments is all but impossible.

Doug DeVos' Windquest during the second day of the Rolex TP52 Global Championship. Porto Cervo, 25 September 2007. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

Stuart Robinson, owner and helm of Stay Calm described their day, "a great day's sailing. Warm, sunny and wind. We had good starts which obviously helps, while a lot of people were over (early) which was surprising, but we made use of that. We had good boat speed and generally sailed much better than yesterday, managing to keep pretty clean." Robinson clearly thoroughly enjoys sailing the TP52, "it's just like a big dinghy and with a tiller you get quite into it! The tiller is harder than the wheel, but more responsive. You certainly feel when there is load on it, but it is good fun hanging off that. We're sailing the boat quite aggressively downwind and we hit 18 knots on the last run when the breeze came up. We really pushed it on that leg and we almost got to Siemens in second who had been quite far ahead. Andy Hemmings joined us from Team New Zealand this year and is doing an excellent job trimming."

First race of the day was pretty straightforward, unless you were Patches, Fram XVI (NOR), Siemens (ESP) or Mutua Madrilena (CHI) - all caught over the line early and forced to return. By the time they were back in the contest, Artemis and Stay Calm had established their authority over the rest of the fleet and went on to finish in that order - the Swedish boat some 35 seconds ahead. John Buchan's Glory (USA) had her best result of the day coming home in third after a great scrap with John Cook's Cristabella (GBR), probably still smarting after being disqualified in the second race yesterday. Patches recovered to ninth after some fine work on the second windward leg.

Second race, and yet again Patches and Mutua Madrilena found themselves ahead of the game at the start - this time with DSK Comifin (POR), Cristabella and Anonimo Q8 (ITA). Mutua recovered the best coming home in seventh, the product of good work upwind and downwind. Nacho Postigo, navigator on the Chilean boat commented, " today we have had to make nice recoveries from bad positions. The boat is travelling very nicely on the water even in strong wind and we have been very happy with the speed and the tactical decisions. But starting last and rounding the first mark last is very hard to come back with this fleet." At the front, Windquest led from start to finish as Artemis followed her around. For Anonimo, the race started badly, tailed off in the middle and the less said about the end the better. Riccardo Simonsechi's team came into the first leeward rounding struggling with a broken headsail. Once the sail was up, they started upwind only to get about 500 metres before a sickening crunch was heard and the masthead crane at the top of the mast hung limply having snapped clean off. Simoneschi is hoping for the predicted Mistral to bring a temporary halt to racing tomorrow giving him time to try and sort things out.

Siemens made a considerable comeback in the second day. Porto Cervo, 25 September 2007. Photo copyright Nico Martinez

At the start of the third race, Cristabella and DSK Comifin were in the wrong again, this time with even more illustrious company. What unfolded next was close to a miracle. Whilst Patches, with Stuart Childerley on the helm and Ian Walker calling tactics, gave the proverbial masterclass in winning from the front, Coutts and Artemis put on one in recovering position with owner Torbjorn Tornqvist on the helm. Start last, finish fourth. Coutts made it sound relatively easy, "we were quite late going back, so we lost on the fleet. But the boat is fast and we had a lot of boat speed today. We did the first beat pretty nicely and that got us to the back of the fleet. Fortunately it was quite windy in the last race which was certainly another factor that helped us on the first run pass a few boats downwind." Artemis rounded the first windward mark in 10th, by the leeward gate she was 8th and second time around at the top she was 5th after initially heading right on the beat, whilst Patches and the rest headed left. There was certainly a little good fortune involved as a couple of boats ahead on the first run appeared to gybe one shift earlier than Artemis to get back into the favourable current further offshore.

Provisional standings after 5 races
1. ARTEMIS Torbjorn Tornqvist, SWE, 6-1-1-2-4-14.00
2. PATCHES Eamon Conneely IRL, 1-5-9-8-1-24.00
3. MEAN MACHINE Peter de Ridder, MON, 7-4-6-3-6-26.00
4. STAY CALM Stuart Robinson, GBR, 12-7-2-4-3-28.00
5. WINDQUEST Doug DeVos, USA, 8-6-5-1-11-31.00
6. MUTUA MADRILENA Bablio Sail Project, CHI, 9-2-13-7-5-36.00
7. SIEMENS Alberto Roemmers, ESP, 4-3-10-5-2-36.00
8. CAM Leon/Sanchez, ESP, 5-12-8-6-5-36.00
9. GLORY John Buchan, USA, 3-13-3-10-7-36.00
10. CRISTABELLA John Cook, GBR, 2-DSQ-4-11-10-43.00

Terry Hutchinson resigns from Emirates Team New Zealand

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, MD, USA) and Emirates Team New Zealand are unable to agree on the terms and conditions of a continued relationship and Hutchinson has resigned from the team effective today.

Hutchinson has been part of Emirates Team New Zealand's afterguard since 2004. During that period he served as the team's tactician in 13 America's Cup Acts, the Louis Vuitton Challenger Selection competition, and the Finals of America's Cup 32.

Terry Hutchinson: "It was a good run and a hard-fought regatta. I loved the racing and I believe we achieved a great deal. While disappointed that I could not come to a satisfactory arrangement with the management of Emirates Team New Zealand, the success of the campaign has created an amazing number of opportunities that I am now free to explore."

The 39-year-old Hutchinson was twice college sailor of the year at Old Dominion University and has won world championships in the J/24, IMS, and Farr 40 classes. He has competed in the Volvo Ocean Race, won the Congressional Cup match racing event as a skipper and twice as a tactician. He has been part of three America's Cup campaigns. In 2000 he sailed with Paul Cayard on the AmericaOne program. In 2003 he was tactician aboard Stars & Strips with Dennis Conner.

Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton, acknowledging the contribution Hutchinson had made to the team, said: "Terry was an integral part of the rebuilding process that led to the team winning the Louis Vuitton Cup and performing so credibly in the America’s Cup match. His commitment was total and his ability and experience were vital components of the 2007 afterguard. We wish him well."

Two new trimmers for Desafío Español

Desafío Español, the Spanish challenger of record of the 33rd America's Cup, announced yesterday the arrival of two new trimmers, Nacho Braqurais and Antonio Piris, both Spanish.

Nacho Braquerais, 38 and one of the very few sailors from Valencia, has three America's Cups under his belt (1995, 2000 and 2007) and in the previous edition he was the mainsail trimmer of the B-boat on Luna Rossa. He is also the mainsail trimmer on the TP52 boat Caixa Galicia since the inception of the Breitling Medcup in 2005.

Antonio Piris, 43, was also aboard a Spanish America's Cup challenger three times (1992, 1995 and 2000), has won the Copa del Rey 6 times in the IMS class and is a teammate of Braquerais aboard the TP52 Caixa Galicia.

Given the extremely tight calendar of the 33rd America's Cup, the 5 challengers are under pressure to finalize their lineup. Team Origin was the first one to announce its entire sailing team ten days ago while Desafío Español has the intention to officially present its crew during the first two weeks of October. Two questions are looking for an answer: Will Paul Cayard join the Spanish challenger of record, as rumored, and who will helm the yacht? We'll see..

Antonio Piris, new trimmer of Desafío Español. Valencia, 24 September 2007. Photo copyright Desafío Español

Nacho Braquerais, new trimmer of Desafío Español. Valencia, 24 September 2007. Photo copyright Desafío Español

Patches lead first day of Rolex TP52 World Championship

[Source: Rolex TP52 World Championship] Racing in conditions more akin to his home waters of Galway Bay, Ireland, than the glamorous summer resort location of Porto Cervo, Eamon Conneely and the crew of Patches (IRL) kept their wits about them in difficult conditions to end the first day of the Rolex TP52 World Championship on top of the leaderboard, one point ahead of Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis (SWE). A statement of intent that the Global Championship crown is not to be given up without a fight.

Dawn broke with a windless, overcast sky, and a Low Pressure system positioned to the south of Sardinia bringing with it a day of, frankly, horrible weather. The competing crews were kept ashore until 1230 by Peter Craig and his team of race officials to allow some wind to fill in. It eventually did from the northwest, and at 1415 the first of two windward leeward races got underway in about 7 knots. Both courses today were two-lap courses, the first with a 1.5 nautical mile leg and the second race with a 2.2 nm leg.

Race winners were Patches who, after a moderate start position, found themselves on the correct side of a right-hand swing in the wind that saw boats on the left side of the course of the first beat under-laying the mark by some distance, and, in the second race - a much tighter affair - Artemis, who had been in second for much of the race before slipping past Mutua Madrilena (CHI) on the final run home.

The fleet at the start line of the Rolex TP52 World Championship. Porto Cervo, 24 September 2007. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

The first race started with all sorts of fun on the start line. Clearly, some early Championship nerves were there to be settled as the Committee Boat end resembled a traffic jam and three boats were caught over early further down the line. Artemis and Peter de Ridder's star-studded Mean Machine (MON) grabbed the pin end and steamed off to the left side of the course. Meanwhile at the other end a number of boats were struggling to find a lane. One of those was Rusal Synergy, but such was the shift in the initial leg that by the first mark they were up to fourth despite a distinctly lower class position at the start. By now the overcast sky had decided add injury to injustice by starting to rain, compounding the problems of the shifting wind.

John Cook's Cristabella (GBR) had started conservatively and was making its way steadily up the centre of the course when the shift came. Tactician Gavin Brady takes up the story, "we were in the middle on the first beat and the wind went far enough right that the boats above us were over-laying and those to leeward didn't lay so we had the best of both worlds. We reached the top mark in third or fourth and managed to overtake a couple on the run." As for the conditions, Brady described the effect they had on the decision-makers in the fleet, "it was very hard to see the wind and the shifts because there was so much rain and the clouds were so low you could only see about a hundred yards in front of the boat. There was so much rain on the water that you actually couldn't see the wind patterns. You had to make calculated guesses on what was going to happen and see which way it was phasing." Cristabella made some excellent calculations, eventually finishing second.

Brady found the period between the two races almost as interesting as the main action, with the first race starting in 7 knots and ending with gusts of up to 20. "It started to pour with rain and blow pretty hard as the fleet crossed the finish line. Really there were three races today. After the first there was a race to change mainsails as quick as you could and head to the third!" he added with a laugh.

It is pretty impressive watching the activity on these boats. From the moment they leave the docks to the moment they return there is a constant sense of motion. Brady explained how the rapidly changing conditions meant crews had to rapidly change gears. Light mains off, heavy mains on, new headsails and spinnakers. The TP52s are turned from light wind boats into heavy-air boats in a matter of minutes. For the support boats on the water there is no let up in the final moments leading into the start sequence as decisions are made and altered.

Mean Machine during the first day of the Rolex TP52 World Championship. Porto Cervo, 24 September 2007. Photo copyright Sander Van der Borch / Mean Machine

The second race started in foul conditions after a delay in the proceedings to allow the return of race officials that had decamped from the Committee Boat to attend the finish line that had to be set over a mile distant from the start. The race got underway in 15-16 knots from the north-northeast in driving rain and a lumpy sea. This start was a much tidier affair than the first, with the increase in breeze allowing each TP52 to find a lane and approach the line at speed.

It was much more of a drag race than the first with the key being maintaining speed in the building sea being driven by the increase in wind strength. The TP52s accelerate rapidly in the puffs, but equally seem to lose speed quickly if the nose sticks in a wave. Keeping clean and showing a good turn of speed was Bernardo Matte's Mutua Madrilena (CHI). Tactician Vasco Vascotto described in typically animated style how they came close, but not close enough to scoring a race win, "I hope it will not be the last race we sail very well! The second race was nothing special, but we played a couple of shifts quite well and at the end of the first beat we were in front. We stayed in front on the second beat and half of the last run; unfortunately Russell and Artemis gained on one wave and we were not able to gybe from starboard to port. They "closed the door" on us, gaining some separation. When we came back they were in control, so we came quite close but not close enough to win. Still, second is a good result."

Vascotto clearly enjoyed the first day despite weather not commonly associated with the Costa Smeralda and is looking forward to a good contest over the week ahead, "there are at least 10 boats here that can win this Championship, so we are really pleased that we could get a good result in the second race. It's a very good fleet; any of these boats can win a race for sure. There are some that is a little more favoured but others have exactly the same speed, and there is little difference."

Racing continues tomorrow with more windward-leeward courses and the first signal is scheduled for noon.

Weather-wise, tomorrow a more normal Porto Cervo service should resume. Resident expert Major Filippo Petrucci forecasts that the general situation will get better with early morning clouds gradually clearing in the afternoon. The wind will remain troublesome, certainly initially, with tomorrow likely to be the transition day between a northeasterly airstream and the fabled northwesterly Mistral. 10 -15 knots in the morning could well disappear completely as the rotation to the northwest begins in the early afternoon. As the westerly starts to arrive in late afternoon from the Straits of Bonifacio, the windspeed will start to pick up again. Petrucci is expecting the northwesterly to stay for two three days.

Provisional Standings after 2 races

1. PATCHES Eamon Conneely IRL, 1-5-6.00
2. ARTEMIS Torbjorn Tornqvist, SWE, 6-1-7.00
3. ANONIMO Q8 Riccardo Simoneschi, ITA, 4-3-7.00
4. MUTUA MADRILENA Bablio Sail Project, CHI, 9-2-11.00
5. CRISTABELLA John Cook, GBR, 2-9-11.00
6. MEAN MACHINE Peter de Ridder, MON, 7-4-11.00
7. WINDQUEST Doug DeVos, USA, 8-6-14.00
8. GLORY John Buchan, USA, 3-15-18.00
9. CAM CAJA DEL MEDITERRANEO Leon/Sanchez, ESP, 5-14-19.00
10. STAY CALM Stuart Robinson, GBR, 13-8-21.00

Fifteen TP52s ready for the Rolex Global Championship

[Source: Rolex TP 52 Global Championship] There is nothing like the promise of the Mistral to get the docks buzzing in Porto Cervo. And the crews of the fifteen TP52s gathered for the second ever Rolex TP52 Global Championship, this year organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, are as keen for wind as any other class. With the forecast for a light start to be followed by strong winds during the middle of the week, the eleven-race programme (nine windward/leeward and two coastal courses) looks a tasty prospect. With no discards allowed, being good in a range conditions may well prove to be the key. Time and time again fleets such as this one prove there is no substitute for consistency if you want to take home the trophy.

The fifteen boats represent eleven countries: Matua Madrileña (Chile), Patches (Ireland), Anonimo Q8 (Italy), Mean Machine (Monaco), Fram XVI (Norway), DSK Comifin (Portugal), Valars and Rusal Synergy (Russia), CAM and Siemens (Spain), Artemis (Sweden), Cristabella and Stay Calm (United Kingdom) together with Glory and Windquest (USA).

Form boat is without doubt Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis (SWE). In his first season in the TP52, Tornqvist and his all-pro crew - that reads like a who's who of the grand prix racing scene - have proven they are a class act with an approach to admire and to which to aspire. Artemis was overall winner of the 2007 MedCup series by a mere eight points after 32 windward/leeward and six coastal races over five events. Most promisingly though, they won the last event of the circuit in Hyères. For Tornqvist and the apparent A-Team of the TP52 world, it would seem that a plan is coming together rather nicely, as he explains, “when we set up the programme for the season, this [the Rolex TP52 Global Championship] was the main goal. It is the first time we entered the [TP52] racing and even though Russell [Coutts] had sailed in the circuit before and has a lot of expertise, we did not dare put the target too high too early. We thought we would be ready for this event, which remains the main event and we know we have a good chance.”

With the best part of an America's Cup team onboard, of which Tornqvist readily admits to being the weakest link, Artemis would look odds-on favourite for this regatta. Not so, says the unassuming Swede who points to other yachts on the dock that have the quality to do well. Over the season there have been five different event winners and half of the fleet here won one or more races. Class President, Tom Pollack, who has been involved in the TP52 since the beginning six years ago, backs up Tornquist asserting that everyone has a chance, “there are fifteen boats from eleven countries and three continents, arguably the most competitive grand prix championship ever. We have all the right boats and all the right sailors. All bets are off. You would be a fool to single out one boat above the rest. They are all capable of winning and have shown this through the year.”

Start of the practice race of the Rolex TP52 Global Championship. Porto Cervo, 23 September 2007. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

Pollack also believes the prospect of varied conditions will play a part, “we have a buffet of weather conditions and that's going to test the seaworthiness of the boats, the crews and the skippers and it will take a lot to win the championship. The guys will be thinking its not just a question of winning the week, you've got to survive it. With a Mistral forecast, no upper wind limit for racing and no discard, there is plenty to think about.”

As with most championships at this level, minimizing the mistakes will be key, as Tornqvist comments, “most important is to avoid bad things and try to be consistent. There are boats that do well and they are simply very consistent. If you stay in the top 3…4…5 you will do well. You don't have to win any race and you can still win the regatta…. (but) if you finish the race in the bottom it is tough to recover from that. There's a lot of points to get back and it is tough to do that, so you've got to avoid that. That is the secret.”

Tornqvist is certainly reassured to have the three time America's Cup winner, Olympic Gold medallist and multiple World Champion Russell Coutts at his side along with a group of other highly talented individuals, and openly recognizes the part they have to play in making his campaign successful, “I am very active in my professional life and any time I spend on yachting is in the TP52. Obviously to sail with such a crew is a privilege for any yachtsman and I cannot ask for anything better. It is a fantastic experience to get a little bit on the inside of sailing at this level, so I consider myself very privileged in this. I get to know how to steer better and better everyday, and, I feel a lot more confident than I did a year ago, particularly in starting sequence, and, in tacking and gybing where before we always seemed to lose out to other boats and now we seem to gain.”

Another competitor with pedigree in the class is Peter de Ridder and Mean Machine. Like Tornquist, de Ridder is an owner helming his own boat in a championship where the only restriction on helms is that they must be Category 1 under the ISAF Classification system; in other words they must be an amateur. The Mean Machine crew also rolls of the tongue with its share of Cup stars and ocean race winners such as Ray Davies, Dirk de Ridder, Tony Rae and Stu Bettany. Mean Machine won the 2006 MedCup series and also won the first regatta of this year's series in Portimão.

Defending Rolex TP52 Global Championship is Eamon Conneely and Patches from Ireland. The Patches in Porto Cervo is new this year and has proved itself increasingly competitive over the summer finishing third overall and winning its share of races. As in Miami in 2006, double Etchell's World Champion and two-time Olympian, Stuart Childerley, is helming Patches. Double Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker is once again the tactician, this time supported in the afterguard by navigator Ian Moore and, Tour de France a Voile winner, Tim Powell as strategist.

Start of the practice race of the Rolex TP52 Global Championship. Porto Cervo, 23 September 2007. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

Conneely would have preferred a longer break before this event, but is really looking forward to the week ahead, “we're in pretty good shape. We were doing better as the season went on. We got off to a slow start, but progressively got better and ended up in third, and were quite pleased with that.” Even armed with a new boat launched at the beginning of the season, Conneely is taking nothing for granted, “ we know we really need to up our game this week to win. The boat is a lot better (than 2006), very enjoyable to sail and very fast downwind, but there are a lot of new boats this year and a lot more competition. We have many of the same crew as 2006, Stuart Childerley is driving and we have all the big guns, Ian Walker, Simon Fry, Guy Barron….it's going to be pretty exciting with a lot of different breeze.”

Above all others here, Conneely knows the importance of hanging in there when the going gets tough. During the long offshore race in 2006, Patches broke its deck at the forward end of the cockpit on the port side. The core fully split and according to Ian Walker “you could put your hand in there when you were sailing along." For Conneely, it is memorable looking back, but at the time it was pretty stressful. It took a lot to get the boat repaired and win the last race of the championship to finish first by one point.

By all accounts, for any of the owners and crew here this week a one-point margin of victory is probably all they would hope for. After all, it is all you need.

Siemens TP52 boat will use Bribón's mast at the Rolex TP52 Global Championship

The Rolex TP52 Global Championship starts on Monday at Porto Cervo in Sardinia and 16 TP52 yachts are to fight for the title of world champion. Among them, Siemens, this year's winner of the Copa del Rey, will finally be able to attend the event, despite the complete breakage of its mast, earlier this month at the Hyères Trophy in France.

The Siemens team had two options available in order to be able to race at the Rolex TP52 Global Championship. Either use Bribón's main mast or Anonimo's reserve mast. The Italian boat owned by Riccardo Simoneschi will take part in the regatta in Sardinia and as result Siemens took the main mast of the Spanish TP52 yacht. In addition, Bribón and Siemens are twin boats since they were both designed by Rolf Vrolijk and built at the King Marine boatyard in Valencia, using the same mold.

Right after the end of the Hyères Trophy the Siemens shore crew fitted the Bribón mast on the yacht that was then shipped to Port Rotondo in Sardinia. The Siemens crew took advantage of the Audi Invitational Cup in order to fine tune the yacht. The Spanish team is now leading the event, after 3 races. A total of 7 TP52 yachts are taking part in the regatta that finishes tomorrow Saturday.

The Siemens shore crew fits the Bribón mast on the yacht. Hyères, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Siemens Sailing Team

The Siemens shore crew fits the Bribón mast on the yacht. Hyères, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Siemens Sailing Team

SNG and Alinghi announce Protocol amendment and make a final appeal to BMW Oracle Racing

[Source: Alinghi] Today the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) and Alinghi announced that after a series of successful Competitor Commission meetings and discussions with the legitimately entered challengers, the Protocol has been amended in agreement with the Challenger of Record, Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV). As a result of this, the majority of BMW Oracle Racing’s concerns have been addressed and the Defender issues a final appeal to the American team to drop their legal actions and join the competition.

These developments continue the progress of planning the 33rd America’s Cup, as Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper, explains: “The Competitor Commission meetings were set up as a forum to shape the 33rd America’s Cup and this avenue of dialogue is really working for the better of the event. With this and the ongoing design consultation period, which will define the new class rule and competition regulations, we are making good progress towards the 33rd.”

These amendments, as a result of Competitor Commission meetings, also reflect many of the desired changes brought forward by BMW Oracle Racing and discussed between Brad Butterworth and Russell Coutts, BOR skipper, over the last few weeks, in an attempt to resolve their concerns over the 33rd America’s Cup Protocol.

As a result and following these changes, Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi syndicate head, appeals to the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC): “I would again appeal to BMW Oracle Racing to enter the 33rd America’s Cup as a legitimate challenger. It has been demonstrated that dialogue is possible for the better of this event and it should be noted by them that many areas of their concerns have been addressed.”

And finally he added: “We would also like BMW Oracle Racing to consider that their action is hindering the opportunity for other teams to enter the competition, and harming the ability of existing competitors to generate sponsorship income and properly plan their challenge.”

The Protocol amendments are as follows:

With regards America’s Cup Management’s (ACM) power to disqualify a competitor, this has been clarified to say that, should a competitor refuse to be bound by the Protocol, then they will have recourse to the Arbitration Panel without risk of disqualification until the Panel rules.

Secondly with regards ACM’s right to refuse an entry. The amendment is a restriction of ACM’s ‘ability to reject’ to an ability only on very specific grounds, which are: failure to comply with the Deed of Gift, a capacity issue within Port America’s Cup or a need to provide an equitable balance of competing nations. The SNG has made it clear that, should the GGYC abandon their legal action, they would be welcomed as a competitor for the 33rd edition and could shape the event along with the other challengers and the Defender during the ongoing Competitor Commission meetings.

A further suggested amendment point, on recommendation from the Arbitration Panel, regards the power of ACM to amend the Protocol and other rules. This has been changed to state that ‘any proposal to make any Protocol changes, related to the way in which the Arbitration Panel works, must be subject to its prior approval.’

In addition to this amendment, the SNG and CNEV have deleted the power of ACM to remove members of the Arbitration Panel.

Finally, the concern regarding ‘neutral management’ has been amended to extend the Fair Sailing rule to apply to all matters directly related to the regatta.

Jason Ker: Expecting a very interesting technical challenge ahead as a designer for the German team

Shortly after the presentation by United Internet Team Germany, Valencia Sailing talked briefly to Jason Ker, the renowned British yacht designer that had just joined the German team.

Ker will form part of the design team together with a "couple of international designers", as Jochen Schuemann had stated earlier. According to Ker, his involvement in the German America's Cup challenger will be an interesting challenge for him personally, an opportunity to be involved in a big team and is particularly interested to learn as much as possible from technical sponsors such as Porsche Consulting.

In the 32nd America's Cup Ker was the chief designer of Team Shosholoza, the South African challenger. Instead of modifying a boat from the previous edition of the event, Shosholoza took the decision to design and build a yacht from scratch and as a result Ker designed the first yacht that fitted the Version 5 of the America's Cup Class rule.

As it was expected, given the good performance of the yacht, Shosholoza was keen on retaining Ker as its chief designer. According to Ker their negotiations were eventually unfruitful and the two parties were unable to reach agreement.

The main issue that Ker is now facing, together with all other designers, is the completely new rule that will govern the America's Cup yachts. The first preliminary meeting concerning the new rule between Alinghi and the 5 challengers took place on September 15 in Valencia. Ker didn't personally attend the meeting but he has already started working on the new design.

According to Ker, it is a very good rule that will produce very exciting and fast yachts. From his point of view it is also fun to design and when asked if Alinghi will have an enormous advantage over the challengers his answer couldn't be more direct. "Not at all".

Jochen Schümann leads German Challenge to 33rd America’s Cup

Update: Following the presentation, a brief teleconference took place. Here are the main points, not covered in the press release:

- Jason Ker joins the design team of the German challenger. There will also be "another couple of international designers", according to Jochen Schuemann

- The future yacht will be built in the Kiel boatyard, the same that built GER-89

- Schuemann still hasn't decided whether he will be sailing during competition

- The team started its sailor recruitment with a "blank sheet", according to Schuemann. It is not necessarily going to be a team made of German sailors. Schuemann looked for the best available

- Given the purchase of SUI-91, construction of GER-101 has stopped

- Their aim is to become a top team but also build a German platform for the future of the America's Cup

[Source: United Internet Team Germany]

- Strong Partners: United Internet AG and AUDI AG main sponsors
- Porsche Consulting becomes technology partner
- German team acquires Alinghi yacht SUI-91

It is an important day in the German sailing sport and a new start for the America’s Cup project. The second participation of a German yacht in the legendary battle for the oldest sports trophy in the world will be led by the multi Olympic medallist and double America’s Cup winner Jochen Schümann. With this announcement Head of Syndicate of the German Challenge managed the highest possible sportive coup. “We have been doing our homework in the past few weeks and months and dealt with all necessary changes and duties. After committing Karol Jablonski as our skipper we are now able to welcome Jochen Schümann as the new Head of Team”, Michael Scheeren announced. One of the main goals of all participants has now been achieved. The experience and know-how of Jochen Schümann, especially made in the past America’s Cups, will be invaluable for the German team. “For me it is like a dream come true to be able to participate in the America’s Cup for Germany. This is a comeback with an excellent starting position for the German Challenge”, Jochen Schümann looks forward to his new assignment as a Head of Team. In the next couple of weeks he will be selecting the crew for the next two years. “We have been talking with high class sailors and this makes me feel very positive”, says Schümann. From a sports perspective we are well-positioned in such an early stage of the game”, Head of Syndicate Scheeren continues saying.

United Internet AG and AUDI AG main sponsors of the German Challenge

With the United Internet AG continuing its commitment in sport sponsoring and the gain of new partners like Audi AG and Porsche Consulting, the whole concept of the campaign is now resting on many pillars. “I am happy to announce that the United Internet AG with its core brands 1&1, GMX and WEB.DE will again be at the starting line for the second German campaign in the America’s Cup”, says Ralph Dommermuth, Head of the United Internet AG. The first campaign has been a great success for the internet company in terms of media recognition. The decisive factors for the United Internet AG to continue their engagement have been the announcement of Valencia once again being the venue and the sportive repositioning of the team. “In the past few weeks and months and in many one-on-one talks Michael Scheeren has not only developed but also realised a stable concept. With Jochen Schümann and Karol Jablonski the Head of Syndicate managed to fix two high-class celebrities for the sportive key positions in the team”, says Dommermuth.

AUDI AG is also supporting the rearranged United Internet Team Germany campaign and is therefore enlarging its sportive engagement in the sailing sport. The participation of the premium manufacturer can be noticed at first sight because of the four rings, which will be exclusively printed on the spinnaker and, together with the brand name 1&1, on the main sail. “The America’s Cup is the most renowned and traditional sailing regatta in the world. To meet this great and fascinating challenge you need to have courage, a strong team and perfect technique. We are proud to be on board of the German team”, Rupert Stadler, member of the board of AUDI AG explained.

From left, Willy Kuhweide (DCYC), Rupert Stadler (Audi AG), Michael Scheeren (UITG), Jochen Schümann (UITG), Ralph Dommermuth (United Internet), Karol Jablonski (UITG) and Eberhard Weiblen (Porsche Consulting). Munich, 19 September 2007. Photo copyright United Internet Team Germany

Porsche Consulting takes over the yacht construction and provides coordinator of Technique

The Porsche Consulting GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, will be responsible for the concentration of all technological competence. While in the first campaign Michael Scheeren sometimes had to struggle with the task management, Porsche Consulting is now handed over all responsibilities for the developing process of the boat and the coordination of all involved companies –ranging from designers over contractors to boat builders. “It is a nice challenge to support the German team in this crucial field. We feel honoured of being appointed with the task to be the management- and technology partner during the construction process of the yacht. Every involved partner of the German team can rely on our commitment to bring our knowledge into this project”, says Head of Porsche Consulting Eberhard Weiblen. In the next weeks a team with a responsible coordinator of Technique will be positioned on the German Base in Valencia.

SUI-91 becomes GER-91

In the past weeks, the German team was able to purchase SUI-91, one of the most recent yachts of Cup winner Alinghi. “We now possess a very fast boat right from the beginning”, says skipper Karol Jablonski. In the next weeks SUI-91 will change sites from the Swiss to the German base in Valencia. The German team is one of the first challengers to start training for the 33rd America’s Cup. “Time is crucial in the America’s Cup. And it’s in our favour”, Jablonski realises.

Big day for the German sailing sport

The ‘Deutsche Challenger Yacht Club’ (DCYC) has officially announced its second participation in the America’s Cup on the 5th of August 2007 and laid the foundation for a successful continuation in the 33rd America’s Cup in Valencia. “Today a dream comes true for the German sailing sport. Not only will the campaign be continued, but Jochen Schümann and Karol Jablonski were introduced to the team, and the great commitment of United Internet AG, Audi AG and Porsche Consulting are giving many reasons to look forward to the 33rd America’s Cup”, says Willy Kuhweide, commodore of the ‘Deutsche Challenger Yacht Club’. “We would especially like to thank Ralph Dommermuth. Thanks to his personal commitment Germany became part of the legendary America’s Cup”, says the German sailing legend.

The Vuelta España a Vela is in Valencia

The Vuelta España a Vela, Spain's Sailing Tour, arrived in Valencia on Monday. The nine boats that take part in the tour of Spain, arrived late in the afternoon after sailing the approximately 100 miles that separate Alicante from Valencia. The finish was expected to take place much earlier but when the fleet was at around 20 miles from Valencia a wind hole trapped them and it took more than 5 hours to cover the last stretch of the leg.

Valencia Sailing was at the finish line and we photographed the arrival of a part of the fleet. Given the controversy about the first regatta allegedly organized by the CNEV last July, we obviously wanted to verify the veracity of this one.

There is no doubt whatsoever, at least from what we saw, that it is a serious and apparently well-organized event. We talked to the race committee, the umpires and the crews. The sailors are all amateurs and the boats are probably not the fastest cruisers but this also happens in various other races. Boats do get penalized for rule infringement and when they use their engines they are immediately disqualified from a leg, as it already happened twice.

Media and public attention is non existent but this is of course irrelevant. The race commentator was, unfortunately, talking to himself but one shouldn't forget this is the first time such a race is organized and hopefully next year organizers might be more successful in attracting bigger crowds.

Weather allowing, the fleet is scheduled to start the next leg, Valencia-Castellón, on Wednesday early afternoon. Nevertheless, given the weather in Valencia on Wednesday morning, rain and hardly any wind, it is possible the start might be delayed. This leg will also be the shortest one of the regatta, less than 50 miles.

The Vuelta España a Vela is co-organized by the RFEV (Spanish Sailing Federation), Organización Vuelta España a Vela SL, Deporevents and CNEV, in order for the latter to fulfill its obligations under the Deed of gift.

The winners of the Alicante-Valencia leg receive their award from the Vice-President of the RFEV (Spanish sailing Federation). Valencia, 18 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Europcar is the only boat with an all-woman crew. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Europcar is the only boat with an all-woman crew. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Endesa Ceuta arrived in Valencia at 5th place. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Yahoo-Eurosport arrived in Valencia at 6th place. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The public area was unfortunately empty. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Preliminary calendar for the GP42 CUP 2008

The International GP42 Association has just published the preliminary calendar for the "GP42 CUP 2008". As its name implies, this calendar is still subject to possible modifications. The up-and-coming class of highly exciting racing yachts looks forward to a very successful and competitive second season.

PRELIMINARY CALENDAR

"GP42 2008 CUP"

Date	Event	Location
May beginning	Trofeo Pirelli	YCI (Santa Margherita, ITA)
June 15th – 18th	Giraglia Race	YCI (St Tropez, FRA)
	or
	Porto Rotondo	YCPR (ITA)
July 9th – 12th	Trofeo de la Reina	RCNV (Valencia, ESP)
July 25th - August 3rd	Copa del Rey	RCNP (Palma, ESP)
August 28th – 30th	Trofeo Quebramar-Chrysler	CNC (Cascais, POR)
September or October	Trofeo Principe des Asturias	(Bayona, ESP)
	or
	Desafio AUDI	(Sanxenxo, ESP)
	or
	Trofeo Manrique Calero	(Puerto Calero, Canary Island, ESP)

General Rules

- Every single race will count for the GP42 2008 CUP except the Copa del Rey where probably only 8 races will count (To be confirmed).
- At the Giraglia only the short races will count towards the GP42 2008 CUP.
- The low point scoring system will be adopted.
- Boats not competing receive the points of the last competing boat plus one.

The Notice of Race of the GP42 2008 CUP will be published at the beginning of February 2008.

Meanwhile in Valencia ... it's back to business for Desafío Español

Finally, there is something to report in the America's Cup that is not related to the infamous case that is currently unfolding in the New York Supreme Court. After weeks talking about affidavits, lawsuits, court hearings and richly-paid lawyers the news from Valencia is about sport.

After a hiatus of two months, the Challenger of Record, Desafío Español, is getting back to business. On Monday afternoon, we spotted the Spanish challenger's primary yacht, ESP-97, masted with the shore crew working on it. Presumably, it won't be long before Desafío Español hits the water aboard the yacht that reached the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals last June.

According to general manager Agustín Zulueta, Desafío Español will have completed its crew selection within the next two weeks and a formal announcement of the line up should be expected during the first week of October. Everybody's attention will be focused on two key positions, the helmsman and the sports director. In the previous America's Cup they were respectively held by Karol Jablonski and Luis Doreste. Both sailors have left the team (Jablonski is the new helmsman of the German America's Cup team) and it is still unclear who will take over. Paul Cayard has been widely rumored as Doreste's replacement, but this is obviously unconfirmed.

Finally, today marks, approximately, the beginning of the last year of useful life for these yachts. They will undoubtedly retire after next year's second pre-regatta, scheduled to take place in September and be replaced by the new 90-foot class proposed by Alinghi.

Desafío Español's ESP-97 getting ready at the team's base. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español's ESP-97 getting ready at the team's base. The Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

James Spithill dominates Latium Match Cup, undefeated

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] In a performance not seen at any recent World Tour event, James Spithill (AUS) won all three of his matches today in the Final Round to capture the inaugural Latium Match Cup. Spithill’s Luna Rossa team of Joe Newton, Michele Ivaldi, Magnus Augustson, and Andy Fethers bested Sebastien Col (FRA) and his team from Areva Challenge to earn the top prize of €55,000 and 25 points added to his score on the World Tour leader board.

“We obviously came here to win, and we enjoy sailing here in Italy, but to go through undefeated – we didn’t expect that!” said Spithill. “It’s a real testament to the guys on my team.”

While the scores may look like Spithill had an easy time of it, the action on the water was always close. The second match got particularly heated at the top mark, where Col led around by just a boat length, only to have Spithill gybe quickly inside him, evade Col’s aggressive luff, and not only pass the Areva team but draw a penalty on them as well.

Close pre-start action in the penultimate third match also earned Col a penalty when the umpires faulted him for not keeping clear when both boats lay head-to-wind, drifting backwards in the 10-knot seabreeze. Col recovered to win the favored pin end of the line, but could not get past Spithill, who controlled the match from the right on the first windward leg.

“James and his guys showed great form all week,” said Col. “We know when sailing against him we cannot make any mistakes. They’re good, and they keep the pressure on even when you’re in the lead.”

For their runner-up performance, Col and his team will collect €35,000 and 20 points on the Tour leader board.

In Petit Final action, Sten Mohr (DEN) capitalized on mistakes made by rival Magnus Holmberg (SWE), winning the first-to-two point round in two matches. Holmberg and his team from the Victory Challenge earned two penalties in the pre-start of the first match, and having to take one turn right after the start gave Mohr a lead which he kept with relative ease.

Mohr, who has not been active in many Tour events this year, said in jest “Thanks to Magnus for getting those two penalties and letting us get back on the Tour.” His third place earned him €30,000 and 15 points on the Tour leader board.

Of the level of competition at this newest event on the World Tour, winner Spithill said “It’s very, very tough on the Tour now. The guys that are here are the Peter Gilmour’s of today, very talented, very tough, and winning comes down to just the smallest margins.”

Overall Standings:

1. James Spithill (AUS) Luna Rossa – 14-0
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge – 10-8
3. Sten Mohr (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team – 8-5
4. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge – 8.5-7
5. Paolo Cian (ITA) Shosholoza – 5-5
6. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar – 10-7
7. Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST – 7-8
8. Ian Ainslie (RSA) Shosholoza – 3-7
9. Mathieu Richard (FRA) – 6-6
10. Jure Orel (SLO) – 2-8
11. Victor Lanier (FRA) – 2-8
12. Michael Hestbaek (DEN) – 2-8

Artemis wins 2007 Breitling Medcup

[Source: Breitling Medcup] Job done.

It was neither particularly pretty nor was it winning ugly, but Russell Coutts, skippering the crew of owner-helm Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis, today finally lifts the Breitling MedCup trophy on the final day of his third season competing on the world's leading fleet racing circuit.

In 2005 on the last day of the season Coutts had to settle for second to Vasco Vascotto and the crew of Pisco Sour.

Today a nervous tenth followed by a solid fifth was enough for Coutts and the hand- picked team on Artemis to clinch the 2007 Breitling MedCup Circuit. In a light easterly breeze with a 17 points cushion to protect Artemis made a shaky start to the first of two final windward leeward races.

Forced to the wrong side of the left favoured track Coutts, Tornqvist and team rounded the first windward mark 13th, with only one boat behind them. They recovered two places on the second beat, and one on the final run.

The second race start went marginally better, but with four boats recalled for jumping the start gun at the pin end of the line, Artemis effectively had the title secured by the first windward mark.

With Swedish businessman Tornqvist driving the 2007 Judel Vrolijk design, and at least six present or past America's Cup winners among the afterguard and crew, Artemis won the 2007 title by just eight points after 32 windward leeward races and six coastal races over the five series regattas this season. Winning the Hyères Trophy, Artemis became the fifth different boat to win a regatta overall this season after Bribon in Alicante, CxG Caixa Galicia in at Breitling Regatta, Siemens Matador in Copa del Rey, Palma and the outgoing 2006 champions Valle Romano Mean Machine in Portimao, Poretugal.


It is the second consecutive year of the three year old circuit that the winning boat has been steered by an owner-driver, Tornqvist also winning the Corinthian Trophy for the season and for the Hyères Trophy regatta.

"We did what we had to do today. We knew going out today that we needed a minimum of a ninth and a tenth for victory. So we would have liked to have finished off a little bit better today, but the main thing is that we achieved what we had to do today." Said three times America's Cup winner Coutts.

"It was tough conditions out there today and five different winners in five different regattas show that winning this has certainly not been easy."

"It is obviously one of the top events on the calendar these days and now we have a good group of owners who are passionate about trying to win and it is always nice to somehow end up on the top of the heap at the end of the season."

"I though these sailing conditions here have been great, very interesting and it was a tricky day and no side of the course was definitely. It was an interesting racing area."

"I think the high standard will surely attract new owners. Torbjorn Tornqvist our owner this is the first time he has done something like this, and so clearly it is achievable for new owners and that is good for the sport."

"It is great working with an owner like Torbjorn he gives the people a lot of freedom to put the programme together the way they want to, he is a very successful businessman who likes to go sailing for his passion."

"Torbjorn put the necessary funds in to build a really nice boat. We put together a good programme, we always had good boatspeed, we had nice equipment and well prepared crew so these things usually combine to get a good result."

"I hear that there is nine new boats for next year and the competition is going to be very tough again next year."

"Next year I have some other projects on and but I intend to compete in the TP52 class next year and I look forward to more of this type of sailing in the future."

The winning owner, Geneva based Tornqvist commented.

"As Russell has said before this has been about the whole package. From the moment the design, the boatbuilding process, the way we have prepared ourselves for the season, plus the fact that we have had the same crew, plus the fact that we have had the same crew – more or less – through the whole season. And I think that the team has grown stronger through the season. And we really have a good team spirit. There is always a positive word, even if we don't do so well."

"And it is good to show that as an amateur you can do well. Mind you we have a great team, the best sailors in the world."

Bribon, Jose Cusi's Judel Vrolijk design won the Santa Ana trophy as the season's top performer in the 24 boat fleet across the coastal race.

James Spithill to face Sébastien Col at Latium Match Cup final

[World Match Racing Tour] Can Sébastien Col take down an undefeated James Spithill? Spithill continued his winning streak out on the water on Saturday as he sailed through to the final with 3 straight wins against Sten Mohr. The young Australian is now undefeated in 11 straight races.

“Sten pushed us hard in every race and the lessons learned from today will be invaluable for tomorrow’s final” said Spithill.

Mohr reflected on Saturday’s racing commenting that his starts weren’t all there. “We tried hard but felt like we had an uphill battle all day. We had learned a lot from the previous rounds but weren’t able to step it up enough to beat the undefeated team. It was great to be in the semi finals and I look forward to making it to the final at future World Match Racing Tour events”.

Racing was a lot closer in the other half of the semi final draw and the match came down to the fifth and final race. Sébastien Col of Areva Challenge took the first race from Magnus Holmberg of Victory Challenge. Holmberg rebounded with 2 wins to take a 2-1 lead.

The pre-start of the third race commenced and then stopped quickly as Col hooked the committee boat anchor line and the race was postponed. Upon restarting, the umpires immediately penalized Col. An umpire initiated hearing had decided to give redress to Holmberg for an action of the Race Committee. The redress was the penalty. When explaining the decision later Col was asked what he would think if it was the other way around and Holmberg had been penalized. Col’s response was typically understated “We would be very happy”.

Race four saw Col pull off a spectacular passing manoeuvre at the leeward mark, rolling Holmberg on starboard gybe four boat lengths away from the mark and then slipping around his bow to claim water at the buoy.

With the scores level Col had that déjà vu feeling going into the final race and was not about to give up.

Col said “We found ourselves in the same position as yesterday in being down a race, we drew strength from that and were determined to comeback”.

Going in to the final race it was all to play for.

“Seb had a good start and we had a bad one, they stayed ahead. They sailed well and deserved to win” said Holmberg.

“We have been getting better and better after each race however we know tomorrow will be hard. We are here to learn and hope to do well. The starts will be key” said Sébastien.

When asked to predict on tomorrows final Spithill said “ coming from an Italian team I know it’s bad luck to talk about the future and my good friend Francesco D’Angelis wouldn’t even attempt to answer that and I can only agree”.

In racing for 5th through 8th places, Paolo Cian defeated Peter Gilmour and then Ian Williams to place 5th and Williams 6th. Gilmour placed 7th leading Ainslie all around the course, relegating Ainslie to 8th place.

Spithill is yet to loose any races. Could the pressure of the final throw the undefeated youngster? Good winds are forecast for tomorrow and everything is set for a spectacular showdown between two stars of the younger match racing generation. The start is scheduled for noon.

Final pairings:

Sébastien Col vs James Spithill

Petit Final:

Magnus Holmberg vs Sten Mohr

Design of new America's Cup Class Rule underway

[Source: America's Cup Management] America's Cup designers from Alinghi and the five challengers attended the first design consultation meeting on Saturday 15 September at the AC Management offices in Valencia.

Tom Schnackenberg, the class rule and competition regulations consultant, on behalf of ACM, submitted the general summary of the rule status and invited comments from the challengers. On the agenda for discussion was the philosophy, which foresees an exciting race boat to watch, in terms of speed, size and power. The 90footer must be physically and technically demanding for the sailors, as Schnackenberg describes: "A boat that harks back to the physical demands in Fremantle for example where every day was raced in 22 knots."

Many design features need to be straightforward initially due to the tight timeframe that teams will be working within on a two year Cup cycle, but room must be left for substantial future development.

The key dimensions were confirmed as 90ft waterline length and 6.5m draft with a retractable keel to 4.1m, while other key dimensions, including beam, weight and consequently the sail area have been decided based on the infrastructure constraints in Valencia (bases, pontoons, etc). These and the key structural rules will remain confidential to the teams participating in the meetings until the 31 October when the new class rule will be made public.

Tom Schnackenberg commented on the day: "Everyone was very well behaved! I think we have made an excellent start with what is really a very important task. We want this rule to excite designers, sailors and the public alike and to form the foundation of a class that will endure and prosper for a long time." His positive comments were welcomed by Grant Dalton of Emirates Team New Zealand: "This is a good start to the next Cup and we at TNZ are really excited about the new class. There is no time to lose with such a short Cup cycle and we're pleased that we're getting underway."

The next meeting is scheduled for the 15 October where the design group will discuss the 1st draft of the rule. And meanwhile Schnackenberg will continue to receive input and develop a dialogue with the challengers and Alinghi as part of the design process.

James Spithill beats Peter Gilmour at Latium Match Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] James Spithill dominated the race course on Friday at the Latium Match Cup, Stage 12 of the World Match Racing Tour. It was a long day for competitors starting with the Repechage sail off and ending at sunset with the completion of the Quarter Finals.

In the first race of the sail off Ian Williams took on Mathieu Richard in a match that saw Richard receive an immediate penalty at the leeward mark and then a second penalty for not taking the first one quick enough. Richard fought back to lead down the final run but couldn’t engineer the penalty he needed allowing Williams to slide by. Richard then faced current World Tour Champion Peter Gilmour of PST in the ‘double chance’ sail off but Gilmour overpowered Richard and took the final place in the Quarter Final.

Both Team Shosholaza entrants, Paolo Cian and Ian Anslie had a short sharp Quarter Final and were defeated 3-0 and 3.5 – 0 by Sten Mohr of Rudy Project and Magnus Holmberg of Victory Challenge respectively.

Sebastien Col and Ian Williams fought it out in a five matches. Williams went ahead with a 2-1 score but Col fought back to even up the match. As daylight hours drew to a close it was Col that controlled the match and secured the win.

James Spithill and Peter Gilmour squared up in the fourth Quarter Final and it was Spithill that showed his mentor the way home defeating the three times World Champion 3-0. Spithill said “As usual it’s full fireworks against Gillie with collisions, penalties, ripped spinnakers and a whole load of shouting. Kind of a usual day in the life of Spithill vs Gilmour.” He went on to say that “The 3-0 score line doesn’t reflect how close it was. It could have gone either way and we just found a little luck too. It was a pretty tough day”

Quarter Final Results

Sebastien Col Areva Challenge defeated Ian Williams Team Pindar 3-2
Magnus Holmberg Victory Challenge defeated Ian Ainslie Shosholoza 3-0
Sten Mohr Rudy Project Sailing Team defeated Paolo Cian Shosholoza 3-0

Saturday sees the Semi Finals commence:

Sebastien Col vs Magnus Holmberg
James Spithill vs Sten Mohr