New teams join the RC 44 Class for the Friuli Venezia Giulia RC 44 Cup

[Source: RC44] The fifth event of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2008 will take place in Trieste (ITA) on October 7-11. The regatta will assemble some of the world’s best sailors on board ten strict one design RC 44’s. It will also mark the arrival of some new prestigious teams and sailors.

Torbjorn Tornqvist will sail his brand new RC 44 “Artemis” for the first time, with Dean Barker at the helm for the match races. Barker knows the RC 44 Class well, having already competed in many events. However it will be his first outing on an RC 44 with Torbjorn Tornqvist and his team.

Peter de Ridder joins Larry Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing as fleet race helmsman, whilst Pieter Heerema and his pro sailor Peter Wibroe will discover the Class onboard Mascalzone Latino. 23 year old Wibroe, from Denmark, is the current European Match Race Champion and an established name on the World Match Race Tour.

Finally, Morgan Larson replaces James Spithill on board Ceeref for this regatta.

With only two more events to complete before the end of the season, the RC 44 Championship Tour 2008 is well on its way and some early leaders have emerged.

The Slovenian team Ceeref is the leader of the match race ranking, ahead of Larry Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing – who didn’t take part in the first regatta of the season and sits therefore seven points behind the leader. The dual is very intense: Larry Ellison has obtained the same number of points as James Spithill since he joined the Class in Cagliari, with two victories and a third for the American against two second and a first for the Australian.

In the fleet regatta, Team Hiroshi – Città di Milano enjoys a comfortable lead over Igor Lah’s Ceeref. Patrick de Barros’ Banco Espirito Santo is only two points behind Ceeref: no doubt that the race within the race will be tough between these two teams.
Finally, Patrick de Barros and his Team Banco Espirito Santo are the clear leaders on long distance courses, with three victories and a fifth place in the DHL Trophy.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia RC44 Cup will start on Tuesday October 7 with the match racing event. After a full round robin, the team owners will take (or keep) the helm for three days of fleet racing. A long distance race - the DHL Trophy - will take the fleet around the Gulf of Trieste. The winner of this race will be awarded with the DHL Trophy, whilst the points of the regatta will be incorporated in the fleet race ranking.

On Sunday, October 12, most RC 44’s will participate in the Barcolana regatta, one of the world’s biggest regattas with over 1500 boats on the starting line.

Golden Gate Yacht Club files appeal brief

[Source: Golden Gate Yacht Club]

GOLDENGATE YACHT CLUB FILES APPEAL BRIEF

SETTLEMENT OFFER STILL ON TABLE
GGYC spokesperson Tom Ehman said, “At their meeting this weekend, Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli agreed to continue discussions that could bring an end to this legal battle. However, no dates for further meetings have been set, and we do not expect an immediate resolution. Today, we filed our appeal brief with the New York State Court of Appeals to meet the Court’s deadline.

“Our offer still stands: we will withdraw our appeal to the New York Court of Appeals if Mr. Bertarelli agrees to return to a multi-challenger event for the 33rd America’s Cup with fair and competitive rules similar to those used for AC32.”

Related PDF documents

1. Golden Gate Yacht Club brief - Highlights

2. Golden Gate Yacht Club Court of Appeals Brief

Sébastien Col wins Troia Portugal Match Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Second win on the 2008 World Tour, earned 2-0 against runner-up Magnus Holmbe

After a long day that started with having to defeat one of his own team mates from the French Match Racing Team, Sebastian Col (FRA) and his crew of Gilles Favennec, Christophe Andre, Philippe Mourniac, and Olivier Douliard have won the Troia Portugal Match Cup. Getting past Magnus Holmberg (SWE) and his Victory Challenge team 2-0 in an exciting Final series, Col and crew have taken the top prize of US$30,000 of the $125,000 purse and earned 25 points on the 2008 World Tour leaderboard.

“We started the day with a lot of pressure on us,” said the mild-mannered Col, “since we felt that any of us could win, so we didn’t sail very well. But after beating Damien Iehl, we relaxed and started to really focus, and I think we sailed much better against Magnus in the Finals.”

Col and his French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge crew had to get better, as the conditions became increasingly challenging throughout the day for the remaining teams in the competition. Besides the fresh 15-22 knot easterly blowing straight down the Rio Sada in front of the Troia Resort Marina, the other huge factor today was the strong tidal current, which reached a staggering 4 knots at its peak. This made pre-start and mark rounding tactics interesting and at times unconventional: for example, against the strong ebb current which lie nearly parallel to the wind, it was almost always better to tack than gybe in the pre-starts, and the mark roundings became tricky maneuvers at best. Windward legs were long, drawn out affairs, while runs were over in a flash.

But the day didn’t start with this strong ebb – in fact, it started with a weak flood and a cloud of uncertainty, as three teams in the morning’s final flight of the Round Robin had a shot for the last remaining spot in the Semi-Finals. With Paolo Cian (ITA) from Team Shosholoza defeating Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and the Mirsky Racing Team in the second match, all eyes were on the final run of the third match, where Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and his Alandia Sailing Team were fully entangled in a furious, spinnaker-flogging luffing match with Damien Iehl (FRA) and his quartet of crew from the French Match Racing Team on the final run to the finish. Just metres short of the line, Iehl’s one last luff managed to get his SM40 across by what PRO Miguel Allen said was “20 centimetres,” thus earning him the win and the tie-break to the Semis.

Since yet another member of the French Match Racing Team, Mathieu Richard, was on top from the Round Robin, he was free to choose Holmberg to play, the only non-French team in the stage. It didn’t start well for the mostly-Swedish team (which includes US-based trimmer Charlie McKee): down 2-0 in the first-to-three point series, and with an all-French final looking imminent, Holmberg rallied in the third match to lead Richard around the track and even draw a penalty on his French rival at their bottom mark turn. In a close fourth match, Richard got managed to get past Holmberg on the run towards the bottom mark, but the building ebb tide and an aggressive and clever defense of the inside position took the pair past the mark and had them both sailing back upwind to it in the face of wind and tide. A disastrous kite drop by the French allowed Holmberg to waltz through into a convincing win to bring the series even.

In the last match, Holmberg chose the right side of the beat, Richard the left, and while right was initially favored, it soon caved in, so when Holmberg tacked to cover the closing French, he did so a little too close, earning him a penalty. He still kept the lead by tacking back left, getting to the top and bottom marks first, and extending enough on the beat to do his penalty turn before Richard closed to within only 2 lengths at the finish downwind.

And while Col and Iehl tangled horns in all their matches, Col emerged from the series with his required three points in only four matches, with a collision to Iehl’s stern in a misjudged cross and resultant penalty being the only blemish to his record.

With a major wind shift requiring course realignment and a new boat to rig, the decision was made to shorten the Finals and Petit-Finals to first-to-two points. So, under increasing clouds, breeze, tide, and approaching rain, the stage seemed to have more fireworks among the two French teams in the Petit-Final, with Iehl and Richard taking one each under the watchful eyes of match umpires Manuel Santos Silva (POR) and Pedro Rodrigues (POR) before Richard finally prevailed in a relatively benign third match.

And in the Finals, Holmberg and Col initially split off to different sides of the first beat, with a shoal area on the left side providing a little more relief from the gushing tide than the beach side on the right. Since Col got there and controlled that side better, he led throughout the first match and even managed to extend enough to wipe off a pre-start penalty levied by match umpires Bill Edgerton (GBR) and Alfredo Ricci (ITA) in the second to take the overall win.

The Troia Portugal Match Cup was the seventh of nine stages on the World Match Racing Tour. “This was a great regatta for us,” said event Director Justino Machado, “and we look forward to having the construction completed here at Troia Resort for an even better event next year.”

OVERALL RESULTS
1. Sebastian Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge
2. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit
4. Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team
5. Paolo Cian (ITA), Team Shosholoza
6. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team
7. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar
8. Alvaro Marinho (POR), Seth Sailing Team
9. Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing
10. Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team
11. Manuel Weiller (ESP)
12. Nick Cherry (GBR), Cherry Racing Team

BMW Oracle: Talks between Bertarelli and Ellison were "cordial"

[Source: BMW Oracle] Ellison Reiterates Offer for Conventional Multi-Challenger Regatta

Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli held a cordial meeting on Saturday, Sept. 27 in San Francisco to discuss the issues surrounding the 33rd America’s Cup.

GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman said, “Larry Ellison reiterated the GGYC offer – if we return to a multi-challenger event for AC33 with fair and competitive rules similar to those used for AC32, GGYC will withdraw its appeal to the New York Court of Appeals.”

Messrs. Ellison and Bertarelli have agreed to further meetings to continue those discussions, but no dates have been set. In the meantime, GGYC will file its appellate brief with the New York State Court of Appeals as planned on Monday, Sept. 29 in order to meet the Court’s deadline.

Alinghi: "Positive" meeting between Bertarelli and Ellison

[Source: Alinghi] Ernesto Bertarelli and Larry Ellison had a positive meeting yesterday in California, discussing possible solutions to the current situation of the America’s Cup. They share the same passion for the sport of sailing and for the America’s Cup and they both want to get it back on the water and see an evolution of the event. Whilst no definitive decision was taken after this discussion, further meetings will be held in the immediate future between Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing. Alinghi will also continue to hold meetings with other Challengers to discuss about how to move ahead the America's Cup.

Richard and Col dominate the Troia Portugal Match Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Light fluky breeze and strong tides delayed the start of racing today in Day Three of Troia Portugal Match Cup, with the resumption of the Round Robin not commencing until mid-afternoon and extending right up to sunset. But once the late seabreeze did finally fill, it provided the opportunity for great match race action in all flights, with multiple lead changes, penalties, and early starts keeping the assembled shore side spectators on edge.

Since new teams rotate through the three pairs of SM40’s in every flight, it took an accurate score sheet to track who was rising and who was falling through the ranks of the 12 teams entered for the event. But once the dust settled, it became clear the French Match Racing teams led by Mathieu Richard on Team French Spirit and Sebastian Col on K-Challenge were continuing their dominance of the event, with Richard on a nearly undefeated record of 9 wins in 10 matches sailed, and Col on 7 wins in 9 matches sailed.

In fact, in the dying light of the last flight, these two engaged in a battle royale which may have been one of the most exciting of the series, and maybe pivotal in the inevitable tie-breaks that lie ahead on the path to the Semi-Finals. It all started on the start, where Richard earned a penalty, but Col was over the start early in the strong current and had to return to the start. Normally this margin might be enough for the leader to extend the margin and do their penalty turn before finishing, but Col kept it close, gaining back ground on the long runs downwind against the current and constantly challenging Richard for the lead.

Seb Col and his French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge power on to another victory. Troia, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

The two repeatedly locked horns in multiple luffing matches, with Col getting the lead but not without getting his own penalty to even the score. And when Richard closed the gap enough to have a go at Col once more, Col failed to keep clear, and earned yet another penalty, but never with enough time nor space to prevent Richard from getting to the finish line first.

According to their coach Marc Bouet, these two are very tough competitors despite their mild demeanors on shore, so it didn’t surprise him that neither would give in throughout their close-fought match. “This was a very exciting match, and maybe we will see them again,” referring of course to the likelihood that these two will advance forward to the next stage.

Other teams that excelled today included Magnus Holmberg (SWE) and his Victory Challenge team, winning 4 of their 5 matches including a successful re-sail match from Flight 9 against Paolo Cian (ITA) and his Team Shosholoza. Holmberg’s now gone from being deep in a tie-break for 7th to tied in points with Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and his Mirsky Racing Team on six wins in 10 matches sailed.

With the long delay today and only two days remaining in the program, PRO Miguel Allen has asked teams to return to racing tomorrow morning at 0800hrs in order to complete the remaining 5 flights of the Round Robin.

Results:

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA),French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit 9 – 1
2. Sebastian Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge 7 – 2
3. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge 6 – 4
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team 6 – 4
5. Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team 5 - 5
6. Paolo Cian (ITA), Team Shosholoza 4 – 3
7. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar 4 – 4
8. Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing 3 – 4
9. Alvaro Marinho (POR), 2 – 5
10. Manuel Weiller (ESP), 2 – 5
11. Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team Team 2 – 6
12. Nick Cherry (GBR), 1 – 8

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in San Diego

Here's the first set of pictures from our friend Goli in San Diego. The trimaran has, obviously, been seen and photographed many times since its launch but it is still interesting to notice that there was hardly any effort being made by BMW Oracle to hide the yacht.

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

The BMW Oracle trimaran arrives in the team's temporary base. San Diego, 26 September 2008. Photo copyright Goli

23 teams respond for Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

Update: According to very reliable information we have, AYRE Challenge, the 33rd America's Cup Spanish challenger, has already expressed its interest in participating in the regatta. On the other hand, it is still unclear whether Desafío has contacted Louis Vuitton in order to be on the starting line in Waitemata Harbour next January.

[Source: Louis Vuitton] Louis Vuitton confirmed today an overwhelming response to the international match racing regatta to be sailed in Auckland, New Zealand, in February next year with 23 teams spontaneously expressing interest and seven teams which have already registered and paid the entry fee. With eight berths available in the regatta, the entries are almost closed only one week after announcing the new event.

Among the seven confirmed entries are five former Louis Vuitton Cup competitors: host Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW Oracle Racing (USA), K-Challenge (FRA), Mascalzone Latino (ITA), and Shosholoza (RSA). An Italian team and one other team have also officially entered but will announce their participation at a later date.

'We are delighted to see such strong interest from the teams for this friendly event,' said Yves Carcelle, President of Louis Vuitton.

'With such a positive response, we are working on creative ideas to bring more teams to Auckland,' said Louis Vuitton’s Director Christine Belanger.

'Exactly 25 years ago on September 26, 1983, the yacht Australia II put an end to 132 years of American domination over the oldest trophy in sport, after winning the first-ever Louis Vuitton Cup,' said Bruno Troublé, founder of the Louis Vuitton Cup. 'We are proud on the occasion of this anniversary to work on a new event which will bring the teams back on the water.

'Russell Coutts, the skipper of BMW Oracle confirmed to me today that he will come home to New Zealand to skipper his team’s yacht in the regatta.'

To be called the 'Louis Vuitton Pacific Series', the event is being held in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), Auckland City, and Sky City Entertainment Group.

All the sailing teams that have participated in previous Louis Vuitton Cup regattas have been invited to compete in Auckland from February 1 – 15, 2009.

Three daily match races are planned on a two-mile windward-leeward course laid at the entrance to Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, between Rangitoto Island and the city foreshore. There will be a daily draw to decide which yacht competing teams will sail that day.

Richard's winning roll continues at Portugal Match Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Young Australian Mirsky also maintains position as runner-up after 13 flights of racing

After yet another picture-perfect day of match race sailing off the Troia resort venue, three French teams have emerged among the top four of the standings after 13 flights of racing at the seventh stage of the World Match RacingTour. ISAF number one-ranked Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit continued their winning ways from yesterday, adding three more wins to his score card, and losing only once to team mate Damien Iehl (FRA), who lies in fourth. And another team mate, Sebastian Col (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, has had an even better day, winning five matches to earn a 6-1 score to lie in third among the field of twelve teams at Troia Portugal Match Cup .

The day’s racing started leisurely, with the westerly seabreeze filling in about midday to a perfect 8-10 knots before shifting around a bit as PRO Miguel Allen and his race management team did their best to adjust the courses. A strong ebb tidal flow cutting left to right across the course area also made for interesting tactics on both upwind and downwind legs, with long starboard tack beats and early gybes favoring those who could take and hold this position.

Second day of the Portugal Match Cup. Troia, 25 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

Spoiling the all-French sweep at the top is 22-year old Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and his Mirsky Racing Team, who has been sailing well on an impressive 6-2 record earned thus far, including a win against current Tour leader Ian Williams (GBR) and his Team Pindar. In this match, Mirsky benefited from a massively damaged spinnaker on Williams’ SM40, torn at its first hoist and thus slowing the Brits on both runs of their match.

“We just were not having a good day,” said Williams, who is also the reigning World Match Race Champion but had lost four matches, “but it was great to win a close one against Bjorn and our last one against Iehl.”

The match against Hansen (SWE) and his Alandia Sailing Team was one of the more exciting of the day, with Hansen and Williams trading the lead twice on the first two legs of the course. At the top mark Williams, carrying a penalty from the pre-start, managed to take and hold the right, and forced Hansen approaching on port tack to give way. With both boats drifting up-tide away from the mark, Williams and Hansen both had to bear away and gybe towards the mark. Hansen thought he had gotten to the two-length zone first to be entitled to room at the mark, but Williams approaching on starboard tack persuaded the umpires otherwise, and Hansen’s blue flag was flown, thus erasing Williams’ outstanding penalty and bringing the two to even up on the final run to the finish. The tide favored starboard gybe, so Williams managed to stay just ahead to take the match.

A brief delay and course readjustment in the late afternoon allowed racing to continue in a new fresh westerly, with genoas traded for jibs in the last two flights. In these, Hansen managed to snap a losing streak by defeating Mirsky, but then Mirsky’s next win against Nick Cherry (GBR) helped him stay amongst the French in the top ranks.

Match race action resumes tomorrow morning with the re-sail of the Paolo Cian (ITA) and Magnus Holmberg (SWE) match from Flight 9 before continuing into Flights 14 – 22 to complete the First Stage of the event.

Results after day 2

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA),French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit 7 – 1
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team 6 – 2
3. Sebastian Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge 5 – 1
4. Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team 4 - 4
5. Paolo Cian (ITA), Team Shosholoza 4 – 2
6. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar 3 – 4
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team Team 2 – 4
8. Alvaro Marinho (POR), Seth Sailing Team 2 – 3
9. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge 2 – 3
10. Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team NZ/BlackMatch Racing 1 – 4
11. Manuel Weiller (ESP), 1 – 4
12. Nick Cherry (GBR), 1 – 6

Two new sailors for Team Russia

[Source: Team Russia] Round the world yacht race veteran Michael Joubert (36) and young gun Ben Costello (29) will join Team Russia’s Volvo Open 70 Kosatka, competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Both will take their places on the first leg leaving from Alicante on 11th October racing to Cape Town.

South African bowman Mike Joubert has a long record as a professional crewman including two Volvo Ocean Races on Movistar 2005-2006 and ASSA ABLOY in 2001-2002. He was also on Brunel Sunergy in the 1997-98 Whitbread Race. He has a rich history in racing records with three Fastnet Races and several seasons with maxi yachts under his belt.

Mike is married with three children, his most recent born earlier this month in Somerset West, South Africa. Skipper Andreas Hanakamp is delighted to have Mike on the team; “Without doubt Mike is one of the best bowman in the world. He fits very well with the team and is going to be a huge asset to us on the race.”

Ben Costello gets his call up as trimmer to take a spot in the first leg for the trip south to Cape Town. New Zealander Ben has raced maxi yachts for several years and has completed in prestigious races such as the Sydney-Hobart, Fastnet, Asian Circuit and Round North Island Race. He has worked in the sailing industry since he left school and is a graduate of the prestigious Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron youth scheme.

“Ben is a great character and a determined and dedicated member of the team. He’s just as good behind the wheel as trimming sails or running the pit. Flexibility is key on this race, we all have to do everything,” explains Hanakamp.

It's election time at the Spanish Sailing Federation

Once again, Jaume Soler, one of Spain's most authoritative sailing journalists, informs us in his blog about the latest news concerning the Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV). As of yesterday, the presidential campaign has officially started.

Why should you care about the presidential elections of the Spanish Sailing Federation? Because its outcome might play a significant role in the legal process currently affecting the America's Cup.

The election process is quite long and tedious, taking almost two months, from yesterday until December the 17th, when the final winner will be officially proclaimed. This is due to the elaborate and complicated procedure that exists. In a process similar to the US presidential elections, all eligible voters will first elect an electoral body of approximately 60-70 electors who then in their turn vote for the president of the national federation. Unlike the US system, these electors have no obligations whatsoever to "pledge" themselves to any presidential candidate. They are free to cast their vote for any candidate, regardless of what they might have declared at any time.

Gerardo Pombo, president of the Spanish Sailing Federation, during the presentation of the Trophée Clairefontaine. Valencia, 11 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

In principle all Spanish sailors, card-carrying members of one of the 17 regional federations, that have participated in a national or international regatta sanctioned by the RFEV, are eligible to vote. As a result, one can easily see there is a considerable number of potential voters, according to some estimates they must be around 3,000.

Although no candidate has been officially declared there are two men that have publicly stated their intention to run. The first one is the incumbent Gerardo Pombo and the second one is Manolo Nadal, from the island of Menorca and Commodore of the Club del Mar in Palma. It is important to note that the vice-president and the directorate of the Federation are not elected but will be chosen by the winner of the presidential vote.

If Pombo gets reelected there will obviously be no change in the current state of affairs. On the other hand if Nadal is elected, there might be a significant change. First of all, he has publicly stated that the Federation should have no direct participation in the America's Cup in no way whatsoever. According to him, it is not the Federation's job to form teams or yacht clubs that take part in the world's oldest sports competition. The Federation might provide assistance in the organization of the event in Valencia but it will not compete.

Secondly, Manuel Chirivella, vice-president of the federation and CNEV president, is not what one might call a friend of Nadal's, quite the contrary. As a result, if Nadal is elected he, and the rest of directors, will lose their position in the federation. The CNEV will then be in the awkward situation of not having any relation to the federation. What could that result in? In the meantime, and since it's the Challenger of Record, the CNEV will organize the second edition of its annual regatta, here in Valencia, on November 8 and 9.

Let's hope these elections don't do any more damage to what is supposed to be the most prestigious event in sailing.

Volvo Ocean Race wants to become world's premier sailing event

[Source:Volvo Ocean Race] The Volvo Ocean Race has appointed The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to assist in creating a strategy for the most challenging round-the-world race to become the world's undisputed sailing event.

"The Volvo Ocean Race has set itself highly ambitious goals for the future. Together with BCG, we will define the strategy and develop the right capabilities and skills to achieve these goals to make our race the world's premier sailing event—in terms of both commercial and sportive measures," said Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race.

As the world's leading advisor on business strategy, BCG partners with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses. Among their clients are two-thirds of the Fortune-500, and other growing companies and cutting-edge philanthropic organisations.

" We have chosen BCG as our management consulting partner because they are the world’s leading advisor on business strategy and we believe that their customised approach together with BCG´s global presence, experience and team is the right way to take our event forward into a new era,” Frostad added.

BCG and Volvo Ocean Race will work together to chart a course to deliver the event's spirit of adventure and human endeavour to the global public, to further develop the toughest offshore race, and to generate global opportunities for sponsors and business communities.

"We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race. It takes passion, knowledge, pioneering, and dedication by the teams and the individuals to be the best in the offshore racing world; these values are core to BCG and of great inspiration to all of us. This partnership brings together complementary resources and a shared commitment to excellence," said Rune Jacobsen, Partner and Managing Director in BCG's Oslo office.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008 with in-port racing, it will, for the first time, take in Cochin, India, Singapore and Qingdao, China before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the race. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, stopping at 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews.

Richard and Mirsky in the lead at Portugal Match Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Mathew Richard from the French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, the number one ISAF ranked sailor in the world, continued his excellent form after winning the recent World Tour event in Switzerland with a storming day at the Troia Portugal Match Cup, winning four of his five matches on the opening day.

With many of the world’s best match racing stars here sailing the SM40’s, the competition for the $125,000 prize money event has already proven fierce in the opening flights of the Round Robin phase. Richard defeated Manual Weiller from Spain, then local hero Alvaro Marinho in a close match, Kiwi Adam Minoprio, and rising Aussie star Torvar Mirsky, finalist in Match Cup Sweden, who had his wings clipped by a masterful French display in the first flight of the day.

Mathieu Richard takes on Alvaro Marinho at Troia Portugal Match Cup 2008. Troia, 24 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

However, this seemed to only spur on the young antipodian, who went on to match Richard’s winning ways in the shifty 6-8 knot breeze, taking the next four matches. In his final race of the six man group, Mirsky was brilliant, shutting out Manual Weiller in the closing seconds before the start who then incurred a double penalty from the umpires in trying to recover his position – game over.

Mirsky was naturally delighted with his performance in tying Richard’s result and commented, “Today has been a great day. The wind is really good, the water is flat and the current makes for interesting racing. The conditions are perfect for sailing SM40’s and it’s been a fun day”.

Racing started mid-afternoon after a misty, breathless morning, the wind gradually filling from the west into the mouth of the bay into which the Troia peninsular juts, south of Setubal near Lisbon. As a beautiful nature reserve, Troia provides a spectacular setting to the contest, its sandy beaches and lush greenery a huge draw for visitors, with a championship golf course and a new luxury hotel completing the scene.

Torvar Mirsky and his Mirsky Racing Team are second after the 1st day of Troia Portugal Match Cup 2008. Troia, 24 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

The second group managed only one flight before both the wind and the light faded, with reigning World Match Racing Tour Champion and current leader, Ian Williams from the UK, winning the battle of the Brits, taking down newcomer Nick Cherry in his very first Tour race. Frenchman Seb Col again showed his class having won the biggest event of the year in Korea, he defeated the hugely experienced Magnus Holmberg from Sweden in a spirited opening match. Meanwhile another America’s Cup veteran, Paolo Cian from Italy kicked off his challenge for the Troia Portugal Match Cup by beating Bjorn Hansen from Sweden, with a stunning sunset rounding off the day.

Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow with the anticipation of some top class sailing, as this strong group moves through their flights, every match promising to be a classic, such as the first one – Col v Cian while Williams takes on Holmberg. Quite a day in store with racing planned to start mid-morning once the breeze builds.

Results after day 1

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA),French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit 4 - 1
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team 4 – 1
3. Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team 3 - 2
4. Alvaro Marinho (POR), 2 - 3
5. Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing 1 - 4
6. Manuel Weiller (ESP), 1-4
7. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar 1 - 0
8. Paolo Cian (ITA), Team Shosholoza 1 – 0
9. Sebastian Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge 1 – 0
10. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge 0 – 1
11. Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team Team 0 – 1
12. Nick Cherry (GBR), Cherry Racing 0 - 1

Brad Butterworth : The sport of sailing is far too complicated

While the America’s Cup community awaits its next chapter, the World Yacht Racing Forum (WYRF) caught up with America’s Cup veteran and Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth on his views about the current state of the sport of sailing.

Brad Butterworth will be a speaker at the World Yacht Racing Forum in December. He will debate the future of the America’s Cup alongside Bruno Troublé, Sir Keith Mills, Salvatore Sarno, Alessandra Pandarese and Paul Cayard.

The World Yacht Racing Forum will take place in Monaco's Grimaldi Center, on December 10 and 11.

WYRF: Brad, what do you consider as the key issues the sport of sailing faces at the moment?

Brad Butterworth: There are too many conflicts with the race calendar. Many yachtsmen would like to compete more, but they can’t because the regattas take place at the same time.

The sport of sailing is also far too complicated and it just can’t be properly televised and understood. It definitely needs a good shake up in order to become more user-friendly.

WYRF: Where do you think the complications are specifically?

Brad Butterworth: Well, there are many reasons but to start with, the rules are far too complex. The problem behind this is that sailing’s governing body, ISAF, has a long history of making rules. Every time we want to change something, it ends up in a Committee. The sport is not run by the sportsmen, but by Committees.

WYRF: What about other issues?

Brad Butterworth: Sailing is not a TV friendly sport and a good example is the last Olympic Games, where it was just impossible to properly follow a regatta.

There are also far too many classes and this is diluting the sport.

Finally, there is a serious problem with the racing calendar. In order to avoid overlaps, there should be an independent governing body. The ISAF could do this, but it is very difficult to find a body of truly independent people.

WYRF: Do you think junior & Olympic sailing programs prepare young sailors well for a professional career?

Brad Butterworth: There are a lot of very good yacht clubs that help young people to get into the sport. However the problems arise when they reach their late teens and loose the parental support they had until then. They usually go from single handed dinghies such as Optimists or Lasers to double-handed or crewed boats. The transition is not easy and it is hard to keep people into the sport.

WYRF: What advice would you give to young sailors?

Brad Butterworth: They should not be shy; they should dare to ask the good teams in their clubs for a ride, and they should be available to jump on the opportunities. Because the opportunities are there.

WYRF: What's your feeling towards the current Olympic classes?

Brad Butterworth: It is disappointing to see the Olympic classes evolving towards slower boats. The races are boring to watch, whereas they should be fun & exciting and more athletic for the competitors.

WYRF: The World Yacht Racing Forum will obviously be a good opportunity to debate these issues?

Brad Butterworth: It certainly won't hurt. Monaco is a great venue, and it is also great that the Yacht Club Monaco is encouraging this initiative. Meeting and talking will certainly be a good start.

Golden Gate Yacht club renews offer to return the America's Cup to the water

[Source: Golden Gate Yacht Club]

Seeks Multiple Challenger Regatta Under Fair Rules Similar to 2007 Competition

GGYC Will End Court Action Immediately if Defending Club Accepts Offer

The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) announced today that it has formally renewed its offer to end its legal battle over the next America’s Cup if Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) agrees immediately to stage the 33rd edition as a conventional, multiple challenger regatta under rules similar to those that governed the event in 2007.

Marcus Young, the GGYC Commodore, made the offer in a letter to Commodore Pierre-Yves Firmenich and Secretary General Alec Tournier of SNG, the Swiss club of the 2007 America’s Cup winners, Team Alinghi.

Commodore Young’s letter was in reply to a letter from SNG on September 8 outlining potential grounds for further legal action.

An Offer to Put the America’s Cup Back On Course

“If you would agree to immediately support a conventional multi-challenger America’s Cup regatta in Valencia that would include GGYC and be conducted under the rules like the ones in the 32nd America’s Cup, then we will dispose of the current lawsuit and avoid a match in multi-hulls (which GGYC did not desire in the first place),” the letter said.

“If you choose to continue the litigation route, then when we win in the Court of Appeals we will still seek through the mutual consent process a multi-challenger event similar to the 32nd America’s Cup and only revert to a match against you in multi-hulls when and if you decline to accept a multi-challenger event similar to the 32nd America’s Cup.”

In renewing GGYC’s offer to settle now, Tom Ehman, the club’s spokesman, said the club wanted to make it clear that the offer was still on the table even though the club has launched its new multi-hull boat.

“We believe this is a very simple solution and we hope the defender will give it serious consideration. In the interests of staging a multi-challenger regatta that can be won fairly and squarely by the best sailors in the best boat, I urge you to accept our good-faith offer to put the America’s Cup back on course.”

Ericsson Racing presents new Danish crewmembers

[Source: Ericsson Racing Team] Ericsson Racing Team is pleased to announce that Danish sailors Rasmus Køstner and Jann Neergaard have joined the Nordic crew for the inshore races of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Køstner (Århus, Denmark) and Neergaard (Valencia, Spain) are veteran America's Cup Class and match-race sailors. Køstner participated in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup with Italy's Mascalzone Latino syndicate, while Neergaard, born and raised in Copenhagen, was with BMW Oracle Racing.

"We're very happy to welcome Rasmus and Jann to Ericsson Racing Team," said Nordic crew skipper Anders Lewander. "Rasmus will add valuable strength to the afterguard, and Jann's strength and experience will strengthen the whole team even further. They're very accomplished and talented sailors."

The 30-year-old Køstner was in the afterguard of Italy's Mascalzone Latino, helping with pre-start strategy and mainsail grinding, and he'll fill a similar role aboard Ericsson 3. Køstner jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Nordic crew.

"I was really thrilled and happy that they could use my expertise in the short course races," said Køstner. "I know many of the guys. We've been racing in the America's Cup and in Scandinavia. To have an opportunity to sail with them is pleasing. I'm happy to be part of the team"

Neergaard, 44, also finds many friends in the crew. Since the conclusion of the Cup last year he's been match racing and sailing aboard an 86-foot canting keel maxi. The Volvo Open 70 is also a canting keel boat, and he found them exhilarating during his first sail on the team's delivery to Alicante.

"I think they're great boats," said Neergaard, who'll be a grinder. "They live up to their expectations. I'm really impressed with the handling and the way they react. They're very responsive boats and fun to sail."

The 10-man Nordic crew features skipper Anders Lewander (Stockholm, Sweden), navigator Aksel Magdahl (Oslo, Norway), watch captains and helmsmen Magnus Olsson (Stockholm, Sweden) and Richard Mason (Stockholm, Sweden), trimmers Thomas Johanson (Espoo, Finland), Stefan Myrälf (Hellerup, Denmark), Jens Dolmer (Nyköbing Falster, Denmark), Anders Dahljsö (Onsala, Sweden), and bowmen Martin Krite (Lund, Sweden) and Martin Strömberg (Gothenburg, Sweden).

There are seven inshore races planned for the Volvo Ocean Race. The points awarded will count for approximately 20 percent of a team's overall score.

Twelve days remain until the Volvo Ocean Race begins with the first inshore race in Alicante, Spain, host port for the start, scheduled Oct. 4. The first offshore leg, to Cape Town, South Africa, is scheduled to begin one week later, Oct. 11.

This is Ericsson's second foray in the Volvo Ocean Race, which it sees as a valuable platform to meet clients and customers around the world while also showcasing its technology.

Alinghi wins the 2008 iShares Cup

[Source: Alinghi] With five European venues and 79 races behind them, Alinghi celebrates the iShares Cup season win in Amsterdam! “It’s fantastic to end up winning like this, it’s been a big year of learning…” says helmsman Ed Baird…

Ed Baird, Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen won the iShares Cup season trophy today as well as the Amsterdam event trophy, making this their fourth consecutive event win. The team sailed their first race on an eXtreme 40 in May in Lugano, Switzerland, with mixed results and a capsize, but with these early learning curve hiccoughs out of the way, the crew settled in to a steady winning streak that saw victory in Hyères, France; Cowes, UK; Kiel, Germany and today in Amsterdam.

Ed Baird, Alinghi helmsman, comments on the win today: “It’s fantastic to end up winning like this. It’s been a big year of learning for us and each day on the water is spent trying to figure out what works best and what makes the boat go fast. I give huge credit to my team, who has really supported me all year; the guys have got the boat around the course safely and fast over and over again.”

Alinghi, winners of the 2008 iShares Cup. From left, Peter Evans, Lorenzo Mazza, Rodney Ardern, Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen, Ed Baird, David Nichols (shore crew) and Cécile Duboeuf (PA). Amsterdam, 21 September 2008. Photo copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events

This iShares Cup season is part of a much wider picture for the America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi, and is just one of several multihull learning platforms that the sailing team has been focusing on this summer. The Defender faces the possibility of a Deed of Gift (DoG) match, something currently being pursued by the American challenger BMW Oracle Racing in the New York Court of Appeals, and so the team is preparing for all eventualities. “Over the last six months, we have certainly gained a level of understanding about how boats like this work; however we have also learnt that we are not polished at sailing them and that there is still a lot more to learn and a huge amount more to learn about the great big multihull which is what the America’s Cup could potentially be sailed on if there is a Deed of Gift match,” says Baird. He adds: “We’re still thinking and asking a lot of questions, some are a bit elementary to people who have been in the sport for a long time on these kinds of boats, but we just want to make sure we cover all the bases and cut as many corners as we can towards learning how to do it!”

Alinghi is continuing to build the DoG boat in Switzerland and will continue to hone its multihull sailing skills with the Décision 35s on Lake Geneva (where the team is currently leading the Challenge Julius Baer with one event to go) and the 41footer ‘Alinghi Black’ in Valencia. In parallel the team cannot neglect its monohull training and continues to race on the Vrolijk IRC66 Numbers and the maxi yacht Alfa Romeo and with an eye on the team’s vision of a multi-challenge America’s Cup, Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper, is organising challenger meetings this autumn to plan for the future.

Alinghi and Team Origin race in the iShares Cup final. Amsterdam, 21 September 2008. Photo copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events

A super-maxi yacht for Team French Spirit

[Source: Team French spirit] The probability to see the 33rd America’s Cup being a multi-challenger event is now on everybody’s mind (the dispute between Alinghi and Oracle is still pending, following an ultimate appeal at the US Supreme Court) while, in all likelihood, the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will take place next February in Auckland. Meanwhile, Team French Spirit is making steady progress with its preparation.

FRENCH SPIRIT ONE

The all carbon-fiber yacht was built in 2003 at the Boat Speed shipyard in Australia. A Hugh Welbourn design, FRENCH SPIRIT ONE features are pretty close to the future America’s Cup measurement rule :

29 meter long
35 meter mast
Sail area : main 300 m2, spinnaker : 600 m2
20 crew members

French Spirit One, the french team's new 90ft yacht. Photo copyright Team French Spirit

The boat was selected by Team French Spirit to carry on its training programme. Philippe Presti, Bertrand Pacé and Mathieu Richard - currently No 1 of the ISAF World Match Race ranking - are going to set up various training sessions in Saint-Tropez during the winter 2008-2009 to recruit and test new talents, select grinders and get everyone more acquainted with a 30 meter mono-hull yacht.

“It’s a major step for our team’s preparation. With this super-maxi, things are becoming more concrete, of course for the crew, but also for our future partners” says Marc Pajot. “This week-end we went to Marseille to participate in the Juris’ Cup and then, from September 29th to October 4th, in the prestigious Voiles de Saint-Tropez”.

Team French Spirit intends also to compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and congratulates Bruno Troublé, Louis Vuitton and Team New Zealand for setting up this new big boat Match Race event. Philippe Presti, skipper : “It will be an excellent opportunity for our new crew to get back on the water and test its skills against redoubtable opponents.”

Designer contest : Projects delivered !

On September 18th in Marseille, 7 design teams submitted their files to public notary Maître André Gildas (this to protect their identities during the first stage of evaluation). Under the guidance of Philippe Gouard, President, the Jury of the designer contest is now facing a long and hard working period.

BMW Oracle 90ft trimaran is on a barge bound for San Diego

[BMW Oracle] The BMW ORACLE Racing team today craned the BOR 90 trimaran onto a 340-foot by 94-foot-wide barge for towing down the Pacific Coast from Anacortes, WA, to San Diego, CA. The 1,200-mile voyage is expected to take about a week. The team is preparing for an extended testing session in San Diego to start next month.

The loading of the barge started at dawn at Pier 2 in Anacortes. By noon, the barge was enroute to San Diego. BMW ORACLE Racing’s Anacortes logistics manager Scott Sandford oversaw the shoreside operation. A 240-ton crane lifted the boat from the shore and onto the barge safely this morning. The 148-foot mast was stowed alongside the trimaran platform.

The BMW Oracle 90ft trimaran being loaded on a barge in order to be transported to San Diego. Anacortes, 20 September 2008. Photo copyright Neil Rabinowitz / BMW ORACLE Racing

“The sheer size of this boat makes it a complicated transportation challenge,” Sandford said. “The first step was sourcing a barge large enough to carry the 90-foot X 90-foot multihull. We then had to ensure the boat would be secure on the barge for this open ocean journey.”

The team finished the first phase of the trimaran’s sea trials in Anacortes on September 12. The team now has its sights set on San Diego. The warmer climate of Southern California will allow the team the opportunity to test the boat through the end of November.

“Open ocean sailing in San Diego will give us the runway we need to continue working the boat up,” said team helmsman James Spithill said. “We still have plenty to learn.”

BMW ORACLE Racing is preparing a temporary base in San Diego. The boat is expected to arrive on the barge there some time next weekend. The boat will be ready for sailing in October.

The biggest Volvo Ocean Race Village ever

Here is the first bunch of raw photos from the Volvo Ocean Race Village in Alicante. It is by the far the biggest ever built for the round-the-world race. The inaugural show will start in about 2 hours from now.

Part of the Village with the Telefonica and Ericsson boats. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Telefonica base. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Puma Racing base. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The two Ericsson boats. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The two Ericsson boats. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Telefonica lounge has direct views on the inshore race area. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Telefonica base could very well be one of the smaller America's Cup bases in Valencia. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Putting the last touches on Telefonica Blue. Here's a quick quiz. What is the use of the blue circle on the stern of the boat? Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Russian base. Alicante, 19 September 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia Sailing goest to Alicante

Good morning from Valencia.

There will be no updates till late in the afternoon as we go to Alicante for the official inauguration of the Volvo Ocean Race Village. From what we hear it is impressive, unlike any other built for the round-the-world race.

Stay tuned for our full report.

Adam Minoprio aiming at semis after day 2 of ACI Match in Croatia

Hello from BlackMatch on day two of the ACI Match in Croatia,

With another stunning day here in Split, racing was delayed for two hours before the sea breeze slowly filled in. When racing finally went ahead conditions were absolutely perfect for match racing, however this was short lived and the race committee could only get away the remaining match of the first round robin and 3 matches of the second round robin before the wind faded away to nothing.

We faltered early in the day with a loss against Torvar Mirsky in a fierce race, but we remain in the hunt for that elusive top 4 spot to proceed through to the semi finals after we found our straps and won the next 3 races in a row. One of our wins today came against match racing legend Betrand Pace who is showing excellent form here, this was a very big scalp and a comprehensive victory after Adam nailed the start and we lead the entire race while the French team threw everything at us.

We feel we are starting to find some form here in Croatia and hope that a couple of hiccups early on will not come back to haunt us. Tomorrow we will be finishing off the second round robin and we are all looking forward to the challenge of taking a few more big scalps and hopefully progressing through.

We would again like to say a special thank you to our sponsors: FedEx Express and Ross Munro from Line 7, their ongoing support is helping make this opportunity possible for the BlackMatch boys. To the RNZYS and everyone else, thank you for your support.

Coastal race cancelled in Portimao

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Basic arithmetic, conventional logic and the wind as per current forecast for the final two days of the season points to a maximum of 75 points to be scored, completing each of a possible five races left this season, as things stand.

Quantum Racing (USA) have 45.2 points in hand over second placed Bribón (ESP). In third place Matador (ARG) are 24.8 points behind Bribón and two points clear of Artemis (SWE) whose slender chance of retaining the 2007 MedCup title that Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) and his crew won in Hyères a year ago were wafted away by the gentle breeze today.

Principal race officer Maria Torrijo (ESP) and her team went afloat on cue, but spent the day monitoring a breeze which peaked at five or six knots and just never had the puff to cover enough of the bay, due to be the scene of what would have been one of the pivotal races. Ashore the crews waited in the plush surroundings of the sumptuous regatta village, enjoying the excellent food, waiting, watching, musing over lost opportunities and mistakes this season, and meeting to discuss plans for next season.

Local forecasters promise wind for the final showdown windward-leeward races, around 10-12 knots, which should be enough motive power to either ignite any grudge matches set to develop, or to provide open racing. The most likely duel would be a scrap over third place on the Audi MedCup Circuit between Artemis, with John Kostecki (USA) as tactician and Tornqvist steering and Parada on the helm of Matador with Francesco Bruni (ITA) as tactician.

Quantum Racing’s skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) remains religiously on message, conceding the end is in sight, but this is regatta they want to win:

“ I think I am not incredibly happy with how we have sailed some of these races. I mean by that that we have hit a top mark, where all the way through the season we have been pretty good in these situations. The flat water here brings things a lot closer because everybody is going at relatively the same speed.Some of the mental mistakes we have made have been exactly that.”

“ The end is in sight but we are still focussed on doing a good job and winning this event. It would be nice to go out being on top of the podium, and there are some very good teams here: Desafío have raised their game, Platoon have raised their game, Matador is going well, Bribón is going well and Mutua Madrileña is going well. It is all there for the taking, and my mind set is that here we have to learn to transition from a six regatta series to a world championship in a month’s time where we need to gain more confidence in sailing closer to the favoured side, sailing more aggressive regattas, so I think we are going focus a lot more on talking about these processes and what that means, and making sure that we continue.”

But, would he rather have sailed the Coastal Race?

" I would be lying if I said yes. We would be happy to go sailing, it doesn’t matter whether or not are good to sailing. Maria (race officer) has made decisions we have benefited from and there are times that we have been on the receiving end. In effect there are two less scoring opportunities, but we are our biggest competitor we are our biggest critic.”

Quantum Racing remain one of the most active teams in their process to constantly refine and improve their sails: "As we have talked all season long, our mode is continual improvement and so if we can improve something overnight, we do it. The nice thing is that we have back up sails now, we can do the work on our back up sails and then look at it on a test run downwind and on those opportunities you have before races then you have all the information there to do it to the race sails."

Delta Lloyd arrives in Alicante

[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] Team Delta Lloyd arrived in Alicante today with a message for its rivals: “Underestimate us at your peril.”

The syndicate, which used the six-day crossing from Cork as its 2,000-mile qualifier, is the last team to reach the start port.

Only three weeks ago the team had not concluded deals with its Dutch backer, while its shore crew of eight is smaller than any other in the field.

Irrespective of the statistics, Ger O’Rourke, who will skipper the boat formerly known as ABN AMRO ONE, is adamant his team can raise some eyebrows. He said: “We are behind the eight-ball, make no mistake. We clearly are the underdogs and we aren’t fighting that. Preparation is vital in this race and we have not had much of that. If you look at our shore operation, there are eight people including my daughter. We will also be using some volunteers."

Delta Lloyd arrives in Alicante. 17 September 2008. Photo coyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

“In all, it means we have a lot of work to do, but I would not have entered this race if I thought we could not win it.”

The Irishman figures that his team’s lack of preparation time will hinder his team early in the race, but expects the effect to be nullified by the point scoring system which is weighted towards the second half of the race.

He added: “I don’t imagine we will be super competitive in the first leg because we need more time to learn about this boat, but by the second and third legs I think we can be up to speed.

“As I said, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we can win. We are confident; we have a boat that has won this event before and we think it would be foolish for people to underestimate us.”

Crewmember Stuart Molloy, who was onboard for the delivery, explained the team did not try to break any records on its crossing.

He said: “We didn’t push things; it was very much a delivery crossing. We occasionally let her go to 25 to 26 knots and ran hard downwind, but there was a bit of caution because our canards and stuff don’t have the right bearings on and our running rigging is being replaced.

“We are replacing pretty much everything on here. It’s a nice long job list.”

“It was a good ride. We had the A3 on for three or four days and didn’t drop below 20 knots. As we got closer to the Med it was lighter and lighter and then from the Gibraltar Straits to here it was light and on the wind.

“This boat is still really quick and the excitement level goes through the roof. You really need time to learn these boats, but with a bit of that we can really impress some people.
“You can’t tell what will happen until we all line up and go at it.”

Delta Lloyd arrives in Alicante. 17 September 2008. Photo coyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

Mascalzone Latino to take part in Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] “Mascalzone Latino will go back to Auckland to sail the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series": Vincenzo Onorato has confirmed accepting with great enthusiasm the invitation to participate in the new event presented on Monday 15th.

"Since 1983 Louis Vuitton has done a lot for sailing, maintaining the spirit of sport in the America's Cup” - has declared Onorato – “the America's Cup wouldn’t become what it’s today without the Parisian maison… Unfortunately, as we all know, at this time there are many shadows on this Cup and the chance for the teams to return racing soon is still very remote. Therefore we have to thanks Louis Vuitton for continuing to be committed for our sport, and organize this new event. We are willing to sail and we are putting together all technical aspects for the trip to Auckland. One thing is sure: “we will be there!”

The new international match racing event by invitation will take place in Auckland from January 31st to February 14th 2009. The deadline for registration is October 24th, 2008.

The regattas will take place with boats made available by Team New Zealand which will be modified to guarantee identical performances.

To the organization of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series collaborate the New Zealand government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Auckland Town.

Telefonica christens its two Volvo Ocean Race boats

[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] The two Telefónica team boats have been christened by Spanish royalty during a ceremony at the team base in Alicante, Spain, the start port for the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Telefónica Blue boat, with a crew led by Iker Martinez, was christened by H.R.M. Elena, while Telefónica Black, with Fernando Echavarri in charge of a predominantly Spanish team, was blessed by H.R.M. Cristina.

“We are delighted to have H.R.M. Infantas Cristina and Elena here with us today,” said Echavarri. “H.R.M Cristina is an accomplished sailor and she has always been a good luck signal for us so it is a real pleasure to have her here as a Godmother for our team.”



Team CEO Pedro Campos took the opportunity to reflect on the hard journey it has been just to get to the starting line for a second time.

“Today is an important day for the Telefónica team,” he said. “During the last Volvo Ocean Race we had some big successes, as well as some really tough situations. For us it was an incredibly positive experience overall and the final evaluation was that we had to try again. So reaching this point today is a big part of what we are celebrating tonight.”

Following the christening (a bottle of San Miguel beer was smashed over the bow of each boat), the Infantas presented Pedro Campos and team skipper Bouwe Bekking each with a Royal flag which was promptly hoisted on each boat in the fading twilight of the evening while the Infantas greeted the two crews.

Royal christening for the two Telefonica VOR70 boats. Alicante, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race

Quantum leads Portugal Trophy on day 1

[Source: AUDI MedCup] After the first three races of the Portugal Trophy off Portimao, the final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit, there may be a pair of new names making a late season challenge, lying in second and third, but leading the regatta it is the American boat Quantum Racing whose stock is still rising as they extend their overall hold on the overall title to more than 50 points with just four days left of the 2008 season’s competition.

As the Russian crew on Synergy became the 12th different team to take a winning gun on the Circuit this season, triumphing in Race 2 in fine style, so too Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi Sailing Team powered by Q8 (ITA) came good with their best day yet, scoring a ninth then two second places to lie second sharing the same overall points as Quantum Racing. And if Synergy had not let slip their third place which they held until the final 400 metres of the last race of the day, they too would have been on 13 points.

In the moderate breezes, 11-18 knots mainly from the North West, the racing was close and even. Murcia Trophy winners Bribón (ESP) won the first race, leading from the first mark to the finish line. The right side of the course paid and the leading three boats around the first windward turn were the same top three finishers, with Audi Q8 getting second and Tau Ceramica Andalucia (ESP), where Manuel and Luis Doreste (ESP) are combining their considerable talents, took third.

Terry Hutchinson is driving Quantum Racing to overall leadership. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

Synergy (which won the Marseille Trophy as USA-17) were quick off the start line and with Cameron Dunn (NZL) as tactician, Sergey Pichugin (UKR) steering and Francesco Mongelli (ITA) navigator, combining well to use the inshore, right hand windshift at the top of the beat well, with a perfect layline, to build a lead which was never challenged. El Desafio benefited as well over on this inshore line to round second. Quantum Racing and Bribón rounded overlapped, with the circuit leaders pushing inside. The minor altercation saw Quantum Racing take a penalty which cost them four places.

The breeze built again late afternoon as the cloud cover increased, and the final race of the day saw 16 knots of wind. Terry Hutchinson (USA) on Quantum Racing made a fast, clean start – the best in the 15 boat TP52 fleet – and the black and green Botin Carkeek design were able to control the right side of the course early. El Desafio had worked their way up to second but had to take a penalty at the top of the second beat. They may have relinquished second to Audi Q8, but they came back with a fighting final run, stealing low on a gust of wind pressure to take third and spoil Synergy’s chances of two podium results in the one day.

While the Quantum Racing Team added a further 11 points to their Circuit leading margin by virtue of their 4,8,1 today to lead by 52.8 points over Bribón, it was the Audi Q8 and Synergy crews who showed the most marked improvements. Audi Q8 have modified their keel bulb, and changed the afterguard to use double Olympic medallist Charlie McKee (USA) as tactician - who sailed with many of the core crew on the Luna Rossa America’s Cup programme - and he is backed up here by Thierry Peponnet (FRA) as strategist.

Excellent performance for the Russians in the first day of the Portugal Trophy. Synergy is 3rd, a mere point behind Quantum and AUDI Q8. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

“The boat is going better after modification to the stability, and it is going in a good way for sure.” Said Peponnet, “And I find a good way to work with Charlie and it is a really nice way to sail. I think before there were problems of confidence and boat speed. If you don’t have confidence in the way you sail then that affects your tactics and the way you can do tactics compared to other boats. But for sure these changes have motivated everybody. I think the reaction of the crew has been great, and Charlie is doing a really good job there.”

Sergiy Pichugin (UKR), Helmsman of Synergy (RUS): “We realized everything today – we had some very good racing, the team were really focussed and there was great concentration, everything came together. Hard work, good preparation for this regatta and also before this regatta we have had quite a few good results but it has just not reflected in the overall points, today we can take the results and the points! We worked very hard as a team and now we look like a team, we just needed the time to come together and get the confidence in ourselves.”

The TP52 fleet under spinnaker. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

Riccardo Simoneschi (ITA), Skipper-owner-helmsman of Audi TP52 powered by Q8: “We finally have the boat set up in a proper way which gives us confidence and we are back to a better way of sailing. It is what we have been looking for and struggling over during the last few months. I think that we sailed well and basically now have the speed to hang on when we are in trouble and get through the pack and that does make a difference.”

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Helmsman-skipper of Quantum: "It was a really good day, our goal was to go out and average fifth so and we beat that so it was a great day. An incredibly mediocre start in the first race and Morgan (Larson), Mark (Mendelblatt) and Ian (Moore) did a good job in getting us back to a four.In the next race had a tangle with Bribón at the top mark. We are not 100% sure how that would have unfolded in the protest room but given our position in the event we considered it a prudent thing to do for us to do a penalty turn so we did and then won the last race. The middle race was awesome, we came out of the situation last and battled back to an eighth, and in some ways the fact that we beat Bribón in that race was a really strong testament to the team.”

Portugal Trophy - Standings after three races
1. Quantum USA (4,8,1) 13
2. Audi Q8 ITA(2,9,2) 13
3. Synergy RUS (9,1,4) 14
4. El Desafio ESP (10,2,3) 15
5. CXG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP (7,3,9) 19
6. Mutua Madrileña ESP (12,4,5) 21
7. Tau Andalucía ESP(3,14,6) 23
8. Matador ARG (8,5,10) 23
9. Bribón ESP (1,11,12) 24
10. Artemis SUE (5,7,13) 25

Video highlights from the first day of the Portugal Trophy

Full video of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series presentation

We publish the entire 27-minute video of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series that took place in the premises of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Monday, September 15th. It is quite an interesting video not only because it provides more details on this upcoming regatta but also because of the lengthy intervention by Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Since the presentation, two teams have made their participation public, K-Challenge and BMW Oracle.

Official presentation of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series at the premises of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Auckland, 15 September 2008

BMW ORACLE welcomes Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

[Source: BMW Oracle] Valencia, Spain 16 September, 2008 -: BMW ORACLE Racing today welcomed the announcement of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to be run in Auckland, New Zealand early next year and confirmed that it will be entering a team.

“It is really good to see Louis Vuitton leading this initiative, and we are really looking forward to coming to Auckland to join in what I’m sure will be a great competition,” Russell Coutts, the team’s CEO said.

“Congratulations are also due to the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand and the other partners to the event in coming up with this format. This is a great way to get everyone back on the water.

“Auckland is always a great place to sail. And with a race format aimed at close competition this will be an event that sailors and fans will really enjoy.”
Coutts said the team would be in touch with Louis Vuitton shortly to confirm its entry.