AC Defender proposes meeting with Challenger and Jury Chairman to discuss outstanding issues

Related PDF Documents

- SNG letter to GGYC inviting the challenger to a meeting, dated 31 December 2009

[Source: Alinghi] The America’s Cup Defender, Société Nautique de Genève, sent a letter to Golden Gate Yacht Club representatives today inviting the American Challenger to a meeting with David Tillett, the Chairman of the 33rd America’s Cup International Jury, to discuss various topics raised by both teams.

SNG anticipates all issues to be resolved through discussion and expects the best-of-three 33rd America’s Cup Match to take place without delay, starting on 8 February in Valencia, Spain.

Please find the letter here below:

Mr. Marcus Young Commodore
The Golden Gate Yacht Club
#1 Yacht Road
San Francisco
California 94123
USA

31 December 2009

33rd America’s Cup

Dear Commodore,
I refer to our letter dated 27th December 2009, a brief email message I have received in response from your representative Mr. Ehman, your press release dated 28th December 2009 and your letter of 29th December 2009 welcoming our offer of a meeting to discuss the concerns you have raised. I am pleased you have accepted our offer of a meeting, and I hope we can continue the recent good progress we have both made in Sydney.

Given the success of the Sydney meeting, I propose the meeting is again held before the America’s Cup International Jury Chairman Mr. David Tillett. We have spoken to Mr. Tillett and he can be available for a meeting. He will respond directly to both competitors to confirm a date and place for the meeting.

You have raised concerns regarding possible sails and other unspecified equipment that might be used on a yacht or vessel that SNG may select to defend the America’s Cup just prior to the commencement of the first scheduled race of the Match, on 8th February 2010. As expressed in our previous letter, SNG defending yacht will be constructed in Switzerland in compliance with the provision in the Deed of Gift and SNG disagrees with your interpretation of this provision of the deed of gift. SNG observes the Deed only requires the “yacht or vessel” to be constructed in the respective country and does not expressly impose obligations in respect of any of the separate components onboard the yacht or vessel.

Should your proposed interpretation be followed, SNG would have similar concerns regarding a number of items of equipment onboard the USA. SNG is also concerned that USA’s rig is not as described in your challenge documents dated 11 July 2007.

It is sensible that our respective related mutual concerns be discussed and addressed together at the same meeting.

Once we have confirmation of the date and place, we will advise our representatives that will attend the meeting.

Yours sincerely,
Fred Meyer, Vice-Commodore and Chairman of America’s Cup Committee
Alec Tournier, General Secretary

cc. David Tillett – Chairman America’s Cup International Jury

Happy new year!!

I would like to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous new year. I hope 2010 turns out to be less difficult than 2009 for the sport of sailing and just like we did in the previous 5 years we'll try to cover all major sailing events to the best of our possibilities, starting from the 33rd America's Cup, right here in our own backyard.

The holiday break will be very short lived since January promises to be a VERY busy month in the world's sailing capital.

Overall Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race confirmed

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] Andy Saies' Two True survived a protest this afternoon to be confirmed as overall winner of the Tattersall's Cup, the major prize in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for the overall IRC handicap winner.

After a two-hour hearing, the International Jury dismissed the protest entered by the Inglis 39 She's the Culprit (Todd Leary), the Hobart yacht damaged in a crush of boats approaching the first rounding mark after the race start on Sydney Harbour.

Two True, one of the first new Farr-designed Beneteau First 40 stock production racer/cruiser to be imported into Australia, won IRC overall by 42 minutes from another new First 40, (Mike Welsh) after a close race-long duel in which they followed a similar strategy - stay well east of the rhumbline.

Ian Mason's Sydney 38 Next, in third place, another 1hr 19min behind, was similarly pushed by close competition in the six-boat Sydney 38 fleet racing one-design, as well as on IRC handicap. Another Sydney 38, Swish (Steven Proud) from the strong Sydney fleet, was fourth and Tony Kirby's Jeppersen X-41 Patrice Six, fifth.

Two True, overall winner of the Tattersall's Cup. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Foster

In sixth place was the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race winner Ran (Niklas Zennstrom), from the UK.

Two True, from the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, is the first yacht from South Australia to win the Tattersall's Cup since Kevan Pearce's win with SAP Ausmaid in 2000. The South Australians continue to be strongly committed to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, sailing 1000 nautical miles just to get to the start.

Owner-skipper Saies said he was absolutely elated at the win after being in the surreal situation of not knowing the outcome until after the protest hearing. "Obviously we are very happy with the jury's decision. We believe we did everything in the circumstances to avoid significant damage to the other boat. We gave our intention to protest, we did a 720 (degree penalty turn), though the damage to the other boat was minor and superficial."

"I respect the decision of the skipper of She's the Culprit not to continue racing in those circumstances, but obviously we are very happy and delighted with the outcome."

He thanked his crew, which raced the two prior Sydney Hobart Races on his previous boat True North, a Beneteau First 40. "The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race cannot be won without a great team, a great boat and an ounce of Sydney Hobart luck. Our team are fabulous guys. We have worked together for the past three years on my previous boat True North." Saies particularly thanked Brett Young, his team and boat manager. "Energetic, tireless work ethic, great understanding of the rules."

He said the race was a physical endurance event over 628 miles. "The wind was in, the wind was out, we drifted, we went backwards, we lost internet access, we didn't know what was going on until the last few minutes. It was a classic Rolex Sydney Hobart event and we were in it up to our back teeth and it came our way in the end.

"Great boat, this new Beneteau it just jumps out of the water, jumped a bit too hard in the last day or so in those big short waves. It's a fast boat, we had belief that this boat was going to rate well and do okay in this event, if the weather conditions allowed a small boat event.

"We may be privileged enough to have a boat and a team that gets to this position as people have in the past. But in yacht racing to have everything going right in one event at the right time is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"So it meant so much to get this right this time. So celebrations, back to normal, business as usual, great boat, great team looking forward to the next regatta in Melbourne, the next Sydney Hobart."

The last boat to finish, Chris Dawe's Polaris of Belmont (AUS/NSW) was due to cross the finish line at 0830pm tonight.

The 100-boat fleet that started the 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart had crews representing the USA, UK, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, and New Caledonia, as well as every Australian state.

GGYC writes SNG in order to set a meeting on the "constructed in country" issue

Related PDF Documents

- GGYC letter to SNG on "constructed in country" meeting, dated 29 December 2009

December 29, 2009

Mr Fred Meyer
Vice Commodore
Chairman, SNG America's Cup Committee
Société Nautique de Genève
Port Noir
CH-1223 Cologny
Switzerland

Dear Vice Commodore Meyer,

Thank you for your letter of December 27th concerning the "constructed in country" requirement of the America's Cup Deed of Gift.

This is to confirm that GGYC welcomes your offer to meet and discuss this issue, which, as you know from our letter of December 22nd, we believe it is of the utmost urgency. We are prepared to meet at a mutually agreeable time and place as soon as possible. When and where would you suggest?

Yours sincerely,

GOLDEN GATE YACHT CLUB

Marcus Young
Commodore

cc: Ernesto Bertarelli, Team Alinghi
Brad Butterworth, Team Alinghi
Russel Coutts, BMW ORACLE Racing
Tom Ehman, BMW ORACLE Racing
Larry Ellison, BMW ORACLE Racing

Meanwhile in Valencia... BMW Oracle getting ready

Time is flying and every minute is valuable for the 33rd America's Cup. While the construction crews at Valencia's commercial port are working flat out to finish the temporary base for BOR 90, the rest of the BMW Oracle team is not resting. During our short visit the afternoon, the shore crew was fitting out the team's two Extreme 40 yachts and four weather speedboats. The latter will certainly have a very busy month in January, given the immense race area the February match will require. The weather buoys used in the 32nd America's Cup are still stored in the operations tent but we have no idea whether they will be used for this edition or whether teams will have access to their data.

As for BOR 90, she is on a cargo ship, scheduled to arrive here in Valencia in about one week from now. It is still unclear whether she will be moored inside Port America's Cup, mainly due to the dimensions of the wing, and it will not be an exaggeration to say that the logistics of the wing are more complicated than sailing it.

Last but not least, forty days from the scheduled start of the 33rd America's Cup match we still have very scant information, if any, on all the other organizational aspects. As a result, we assume it's going to be a best-of-three match starting on February 8th but to the best of my knowledge it's still not clear who will run the event. The two sailing teams will, obviously, have to arrive some time early next month and their respective media departments will organize meetings, press conferences and interviews. We hope to have more information soon.

The two Extreme 40's and four weather speedboats getting ready. Valencia, 29 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The 4 weather tenders will have a busy month of January. Valencia, 29 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The 4 weather tenders will have a busy month of January. Valencia, 29 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Video: Finish of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart

Finish of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart race. Hobart, 28 December 2009. Video copyright Rolex

SNG writes to GGYC on ‘Constructed in Country’ requirement

Mr. Marcus Young Commodore
The Golden Gate Yacht Club
#1 Yacht Road
San Francisco
California 94123
USA

27 December 2009

33rd America’s Cup

Dear Commodore,

Thank you for your letter of 22 December 2009.

Société Nautique de Genève defending yacht will be constructed in Switzerland in compliance with the provision in the Deed of Gift. The Deed only requires the “yacht or vessel” to be constructed in the respective country and does not expressly impose obligations in respect of any of the separate components onboard the yacht or vessel.

We remain willing to meet and discuss to resolve any concerns you may have, although until there is certainty as to what “yacht or vessel” SNG will declare for the Match the issue would appear to be theoretical and moot until then.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Meyer, Vice-Commodore and Chairman of America’s Cup Committee
Alec Tournier, General Secretary

Statement from Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club spokesman

[Source: BMW Oracle] The Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing intends to meet with Société Nautique de Genève as soon as possible in an attempt to remove the question mark hanging over the legality of Alinghi’s yacht they will use to defend the forthcoming 33rd America’s Cup.

Foremost is the nationality clause in the America’s Cup Deed of Gift document which governs the event and requires the yachts of the Challenger of Record and the Defender to be constructed in the country of the yacht club they represent (“CIC”).

Last week SNG was informed by GGYC of the obvious illegality of its yacht’s USA-built sails. Yesterday SNG responded and agreed to meet on the matter. “With racing scheduled to start in Valencia in just six weeks, we want this serious issue dealt with before the boats come to the starting line,” said GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman.

The 33rd Match starts in Valencia, Spain, on February 8th.

"We don’t think the sailing world would tolerate the two teams failing to sort
this out, especially given that GGYC first put SNG on notice concerning CIC in
July 2008," Ehman said.

"Virtually every racing sailor in the world knows North Sails’ molded construction is proprietary and unique to its Minden plant in the USA. It is the only place in the world where such sails are constructed. Nevada is not Switzerland."

When the two sides meet, GGYC is prepared to give the defender reasonable time to manufacture sails in Switzerland and take other remedial measures. "Alinghi’s sails are not their only CIC problem, only the most obvious," Ehman said.

Failing a satisfactory outcome, GGYC will take the CIC issue to the International Jury.

“What no one wants is the question mark hanging over Alinghi to turn into a question mark hanging over the result of the Match. The time to sort this matter out is right now, not during or after the Match, said Ehman.”

Alinghi carrying out the last sailing tests on Alinghi 5. According to BMW Oracle's claim the sails were not made in Switzerland. Ras al-Khaimah, 6 December 2009. Video copyright Alinghi

# # #
Q & A
What does the Deed of Gift require of the Challenging and Defending Yachts?
“…a yacht or vessel propelled by sails only and constructed in the country to which the Challenging Club belongs, against any one yacht or vessel constructed in the country of the Club holding the Cup.”

What does a yacht or vessel include?
Historically, “yacht or vessel” has always included the hull, appendages, rig and sails.

What does this mean?
Exactly what it says. Constructed does not permit parts made in Switzerland to be added to Alinghi 5 in Italy or Ras Al Khaimah, or sails manufactured in the USA to go to Switzerland for “finishing” and then be called Swiss-made.

Are sails the only issue?
Unfortunately, no. The Nevada sails are the most visible violation. However Alinghi will need to clarify where other major components have been manufactured and/or fitted to its yacht.

Does Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth believe the Jury should sort out such problems before the Match?
Yes. At the recent World Yacht Racing Forum both Russell Coutts, BMW ORACLE Racing’s CEO, and Brad Butterworth agreed that the result on the water should be free from litigation. Coutts said: “Put the Jury in place now and use that Jury to answer open questions that, perhaps, still need to be resolved.” Butterworth was asked if this made sense. “Yes it does,” the Alinghi skipper replied.

Why is GGYC raising the question now?
We want all issues resolved before racing begins for the 33rd America’s Cup. Complying with the Deed of Gift’s CIC requirement was first highlighted by GGYC in July 2008. It is much better to get all remaining rules-issues resolved now, to avoid protests or litigation during and after the Match as well as causing possible delay to the 34th America’s Cup. GGYC has waited for more than a year for SNG to allow ISAF to establish the International Jury. The five person panel was named three weeks ago, but the legal sign-off to enable the Jury to sit is still being held-up by SNG.

SNG said GGYC only wants to litigate?
On the contrary, GGYC is trying to avoid litigation by resolving this issue before racing begins. CIC is a central requirement in the Deed and GGYC will not allow SNG to recklessly disregard the rules. SNG must realize this, especially given that 13 of 14 decisions made by the New York courts have found the Swiss defender’s interpretations of the rules to be wrong.

Alfa Romeo has taken line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] Neville Crichton’s New Zealand supermaxi Alfa Romeo has taken line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, crossing the finish line opposite Castray Esplanade on the Derwent River at 22:02:10hrs for an elapsed time of 2 days, 9 hours, 2 minutes and 10 seconds.

Averaging 10 knots in a reasonably consistent N/NW breeze on the river, the silver maxi made easy work of the final stretch. At last the seasoned crew of twenty two Australian, New Zealand and British round the world and America’s Cup sailors could stop looking over their shoulders.

Crichton led the race from the early hours of Sunday morning when she opened a 20 mile lead on Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI and Mike Slade’s British supermaxi ICAP Leopard.

Alfa Romeo passing Tasman Island on her way to victory. Tasman Island, 28 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

The win is sweet revenge for the New Zealand yachtsman. Four years ago these same, near identical Reichel Pugh designed maxis staged a dramatic dual in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart.

That year it was Wild Oats XI’s turn, beating Alfa Romeo across the line by 49 minutes. Ironically, then it was first use of a wind shift off the NSW coast that gave Wild Oats XI her decisive break. This year it was Crichton’s turn to get the jump, again off the NSW coastline.

After that heartbreaking near miss, Crichton took Alfa Romeo to Europe to campaign on the northern hemisphere circuit. This victory marks his triumphant return to the Australian ocean classic.

The Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI still had 16 miles to go when Alfa Romeo crossed the line, with ICAP Leopard a further 24 miles astern.

Crichton’s victory brings to an end an extraordinary run of four straight line honours wins for Wild Oats XI, including a rare double line honours and handicap win, plus a new course record set in 2005.

This is the second line honours victory for Crichton. He won in 2002 Rolex Sydney Hobart with a previous Alfa Romeo.

Despite the late hour, one of the biggest spectator fleets in years, accompanied Alfa Romeo up the final few miles of the 628 nautical mile course, while a sizeable crowd gathered along the foreshore to welcome the victorious crew.

Tonight’s win caps an extraordinary tally of 143 line honours wins worldwide for the 100 footer. This year it has set new records in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic and the TransPac race.

Video: Rolex Sydney Hobart update #1

Rolex Sydney Hobart update #1. Sydney, 28 December 2009. Video copyright Seven Network

Alfa Romeo leads Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet on all counts

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] As Alfa Romeo surged down the Tasmanian coast at 7am on Monday morning she was leading the Rolex Sydney Hobart on two fronts: line honours and IRC handicap. The lead she has opened up on the other maxis is so large that the New Zealand maxi is almost sailing a race of her own.

At that time it was not the other maxis that were lining up behind her in the handicap stakes, it was a bunch of 40 footers 130 miles astern of her which had barely poked their noses into Bass Strait.

Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas’ Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler was lying in second place overall, followed by the New Caledonian Archambault 40 41Sud, sailed by Jean Luc Esplass, and Anthony Paterson’s Ker 11.3 Tow Truck.

These smaller boats should enjoy a lively 20 knot westerly across eastern Bass Strait today, which should greatly improve their time against Alfa Romeo, but they are also likely have to race in a southerly all the way down the Tasmanian coast. What the gods give they take away.

At this stage in the race for the Tattersall’s Cup for the overall winner, the grand prix 50 and 60 footers are doing it tough. The best placed in eighth position is last year’s winner, Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest, but unlike the little boats behind, the 60 footers have had to contend with the big hole above Flinders Island overnight.

They will have southerly winds most of the way down the Tasmanian coast and could arrive at Tasman Island for the final turn after the notorious midnight ‘shutting of the gate’, when the wind dies and Storm Bay and the Derwent River become very quiet places to park indeed.

Just after 6am on Monday morning John and Kim Clinton’s Holy Cow! was 35nm SE of Gabo Island and had just entered eastern Bass Strait with a huge escort of dolphins, “the cute little two tonne ones” according to Kim. “Great sunrise, beautiful conditions after a really quiet night. Seems so benign at present. Wish our dog was with us now, she just loves dolphins.”

Video: Rolex Sydney Hobart update #4

Rolex Sydney Hobart update #4. Sydney, 27 December 2009. Video copyright Seven Network

Stop-Start to Hobart

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] The Rolex Sydney Hobart race fleet leaders stalled and stopped in calms off the far south coast of New South Wales earlier today.

The smaller boats came up on a developing coastal sea breeze while the maxi leaders and 50-60-footers were stuck inshore this morning, trying to struggle around Green Cape and Gabo Island at the entrance to Bass Strait.

Neville Crichton's Reichel/Pugh 100 Alfa Romeo, which had led the race from Sydney Heads, was first of the three leading maxis to struggle into new pressure to pass Green Cape and sail to the west of the rhumb line (straight distance) course from Sydney to Tasman Island.

Alfa Romeo took off on a two-sail reach in a freshening east-northeaster and by 1800hrs was well into Bass Strait, 58 nautical miles south of Gabo Island with 330nm to go to the finish.

The three leading maxis were achieving extraordinary speeds in only 10-12 knots of breeze and on course for Tasman Island, the last major rounding landmark on the 628nm course.

Alfa Romeo, making 16.7 knots, was 16nm ahead of ICAP Leopard, the British Farr 100-footer owned by Mike Slade, with Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, a very similar Reichel/Pugh 100, another 2nm behind Leopard and closing the distance. Wild Oats XI was making 16.7 kn to Leopard's 16.2kn.

While these are very respectable speeds, the weather forecasting models are in agreement there will be more calms and light patches ahead. Respected yachting forecaster Roger Badham, who provides pre-race weather predictions to many top boats in the fleet, says: "The big guys will have some running in Bass Strait this afternoon, but there are still a lot of potholes between that and the finish," Badham said. "Anyone of the three could finish first."

One certainty is that Wild Oats XI's race record, set at one day, 18hrs, 40mins, and 10secs in 2005, is in no danger. Given the calculations of speeds so far, Alfa would be expected to finish at 2030 Monday night, with Leopard and Wild Oats XI finishing after midnight.

But a westerly change turning moderate southwesterly is predicted for Tasmanian waters tomorrow - and that could still create those potholes of calm and light patches off the east coast under the wind shadow of Tasmanian's high interior.

From Alfa Romeo, Murray Spence reported, as she picked up the light nor'easter, "We are now enjoying the sunshine; not the usual way to cross Bass Strait." He said the crew was driving the boat hard today, although they were keen to get some rest after reefing most of the night had meant "intense work from all on board".

Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said Oats had been within three or four miles of Alfa Romeo in the morning calm before Alfa accelerated out of sight in the first of the new breeze.

"There's always the element of luck in these races and right now it has gone his (Alfa's) way and not our way. But there's a long way to go, so anything can happen yet," said Richards. He said the attitude on the boat remained very positive. "We have a fantastic bunch of guys on board here; we won't give up 'til the death."

Adrian Stead, tactician on the British Jude/Vrolijk 72 Ran, the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race winner, was upbeat even though the light conditions are not expected to suit this powerful boat. "We are just past Green Cape and the breeze is filling back in. We have done okay with the current but had a light morning. It's nice to still see the maxis, but we are conscious of boats behind using the sea breeze this afternoon."

The concertina effect completely scrambled the IRC corrected time calculations. The new IRC overall leader is reckoned to be Noel Cornish's Sydney 47 St Jude, crewed by a group of friends from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

The Sydney 38, Mondo, retired today with rigging problems and was heading to Eden, bringing the number of retired yachts to five, with 95 yachts still racing. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet has crews representing the USA, UK, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, and New Caledonia as well as every Australian state.

Alfa Romeo leads the way – Limit out of Rolex Sydney Hobart

[Source:Rolex Sydney Hobart] Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo is leading the hunt for line honours victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race early Sunday morning, but it is a three-boat war on the race track, as only five nautical miles separate the New Zealand leader from ICAP Leopard, owned and skippered by Mike Slade from the UK and four-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards (NSW).

The three 100ft yachts are travelling at just over 11 knots off Montague Island on the NSW south coast sailing in a 12-14 knot E/SE breeze as they push towards Eden just after 5.00am on day two of the 628 nautical mile ocean classic. Alfa Romeo is sailing the rhumbline route (most direct course to Hobart) and of the three, ICAP Leopard has chosen to sail furthest east of the rhumbline as they hurtle south.

Alfa Romeo is leading the hunt for line honours victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Sydney, 26 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Forster

There has been a further retirement overnight, making it four retirements from the original 100-yacht fleet. Alan Brierty’s Limit, representing the organising club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), retired due to rigging issues late last evening, approximately 35nm east of Jervis Bay.

One of the main favourites for overall honours following her recent triumph in the Rolex Trophy Rating Series, Limit will arrive back at the CYCA this morning.

In the race for overall honours, Michael Hiatt’s Farr 55 Living Doll from Melbourne is the current leader, having hauled in the British JV 72 RÁN, owned by Niklas Zennstrom, which had been leading until this morning. However, there is very little in it and these are early days.

Ray Roberts’ Evolution Racing (CYCA) is currently third placed overall in the race for the Tattersall’s Cup, with Ichi Ban, the Jones 70 belonging to CYCA Commodore Matt Allen in fourth place. Ichi Ban has sailed inside the top eight or so since the race started, revelling in moderate upwind and off the breeze conditions the fleet has seen so far.

ICAP Leopard is second close behind. Sydney, 26 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Forster

The entire fleet is sailing either on the rhumbline or anywhere between 30 to 80nm east of it, to take advantage of the stronger breeze offshore and the current.

Chris Dawe’s Polaris of Belmont is trailing at the back of the fleet, 20nm east of Kiama with 575nm miles to go – a long way from the Rolex Sydney Hobart finish line. The Gosford-based 39 year-old Cole 43 has amassed an incredible 24 Hobart races. Her last place on line means nothing in the scheme of things, the yacht having racked up a number of divisional wins and placings in this race in the past.

Currently, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts south-easterly winds at 10-15 knots tending east/north-east at 10-15 knots on a one metre south/south-easterly swell for the rest of the day. These conditions are good news for the big boats especially, as they will travel downwind fast under spinnaker.

Video: Start of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart

Start of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Sydney, 26 December 2009. Video copyright Rolex

RÁN takes charge of Rolex Sydney Hobart overall lead

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] The new British yacht RÁN has taken the overall lead of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race this afternoon, Niklas Zennstrom and his crew making an early charge on Zennstrom’s hope to win the 628 nautical mile race on handicap, adding to his overall win of the Rolex Fastnet Race in August.

The Judel/Vrolijk designed 72 footer launched only this year, has some of the world’s top sailors such as Steve Hayles, Adrian Stead and Richard Bouzaid aboard, helping to power the big grey yacht through a 20 knot southerly gusting to 25 at times on a bumpy sea.

RÁN’s early overall lead is no surprise according to Limit’s principal helmsman, Ian ‘Barney’ Walker, who has stated a couple of times this week: “RÁN is the boat to beat,” and “the forecast will suit it – it’s great in moderate upwind conditions and will probably get away from the rest of us.”

Start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Syndey, 26 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Forster

Walker said the rest of the overall contenders would get their chance when the breeze lightens on Sunday or Monday. “Hopefully RÁN won’t have taken too much out of us by then.”

Limit, owned by Alan Brierty (CYCA), is another of the favourites to take out the Tattersall’s Cup, awarded to the overall winner, particularly after winning the Rolex Trophy Rating Series last week.

Matt Allen, the Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the race organiser, is currently second placed with his Jones 70, Ichi Ban, with Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Mens Business 3.5 hanging in the top three.

ICAP Leopard was setting the pace at the front of the fleet, Mike Slade’s British 100 footer leading four-time successive line honours winner Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley) from NSW and Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton’s New Zealand entry. All three maxis are 100 feet long.

RAN takes early lead of Rolex Sydney Hobart in corrected time. Syndey, 26 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Forster

In other news, there has been a third retirement from the race. Roger Sayers’ Farr 37 Pippin retired off Botany Bay at approximately 4.00pm, after his high pressure diesel pump jammed. “It can’t be fixed at sea,” said the disappointed Queensland owner/skipper.

“It means we have no battery power, so can’t report in, so there is no point continuing on,” stated Sayers who also said, “we all put in so much work and to be out of the race at this early stage is a bitter disappointment.”

LIVE: Start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

Launch in external player

Difficult seas for Christmas on Groupama 3

[Source: Groupama] 600 miles to the South of the Azores, Groupama 3 was forced to heave to this morning in order to avoid a residual cross swell. The seas were difficult and it was deemed to be wiser to "wait for the system to roll over the top of us"!

Contacted at midday Fred Le Peutrec described Christmas Eve aboard Groupama 3: "The festivities for us simply involved putting in a series of tacks in difficult seas! The weather conditions and the sea state weren't exactly favourable for celebrating Christmas! Instead we were concentrated on getting Groupama 3 to make headway."

François Salabert explains further: "We weren't keen to get sucked up by the depression so we let it roll over the top of us, otherwise we would have had to have taken needless risks. There were 4 to 5 metre waves and short seas at the start. We were sailing 90 degrees to the course and, even under mainsail alone, we were still racking up a peak speed of between 21/ 23 knots. We were beam onto the waves, which wasn't a very comfortable position for the boat as she was under a lot of stress! We reckoned it was wiser to put in a reef and heave to so we could just hunker down!"

This morning, the trimaran and his crew were making a good cruising speed again, northbound, the aim still being to hook onto the depression kicking in from the West. This same system will push Groupama 3 towards her home port where she is expected to make landfall overnight on Sunday or early Monday.

Merry Christmas

From what is again the world's sailing capital we would like to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas. Unless there is something extraordinary in the sport of sailing, I doubt there will be any update today and tomorrow.

Don't forget to watch right here the LIVE webcast of the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race at 12:30pm Sydney time on Saturday, December 26th.

Video: How is a Northsails 3DL® sail made?

The latest legal wrangle in the 33rd America's Cup concerns Alinghi's sails. BMW Oracle first claimed they weren't made in Switzerland while Alinghi swiftly replied by stating they were indeed built in their home country. Regardless of what the truth might be, here's an interesting video of the production of one of these high-tech sails.

Manufacturing procedure for a Northsails 3DL® sail. Video copyright Northsails

ICAP Leopard preparing for Boxing Day Sydney-Hobart Race Start

[Source: ICAP Leopard] ICAP Leopard, the 100ft supermaxi racing yacht owned by Helical Bar CEO Mike Slade, is now training hard in Sydney ahead of her assault on the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race. This 628 mile “offshore classic” will see 100 yachts from all over the world tackle the fearsome Bass Strait in a bid to be the first to cross the Hobart finish line.

The start gun is set to fire at 13:00 (local time) on Boxing Day, when ICAP Leopard will come up against stiff competition in the form of her lighter antipodean rivals Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo. ‘Oats is searching for her fifth consecutive line-honours victory but ICAP Leopard has already finished first in the Rolex Fastnet and Middle-Sea races this year and is definitely in the hunt for the world’s most prestigious offshore racing treble.

ICAP Leopard training for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Sydney, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Andrea Francolini

A tropical storm in the north of Western Australia is currently making any form of prediction difficult for navigator Hugh Agnew, but preliminary forecasts have shown stronger breeze for the start, which would suit the heavyweight British challenger. However, with conditions remaining unstable Slade and crew are likely to face a titanic struggle with their rivals in the run-in to Hobart.

Boat Captain Chris Sherlock commented: “Since arriving in Sydney we have had a lot on but we will be 100 percent ready and focused by start time. We are training hard now out on the water and are confident that, if the conditions go our way, we can take line-honours and the treble. The competition will be fierce but we can’t wait to get started and hopefully lead the fleet to Tasmania.”

ICAP Leopard training for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Sydney, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Andrea Francolini

Meanwhile in Valencia... BMW Oracle is setting up their temporary base in Valencia's commercial port

Last week in our report from Port America's Cup we wrote that, unlike Alinghi, BMW Oracle's base was "suspiciously quiet". That is not entirely correct and we have to rectify after visiting today the America's Cup challenger's temporary "reception and assembly" base in the commercial port of Valencia.

As we have been informed by Consorcio 2007 (the Spanish state entity in charge of the 32nd and now the 33rd America's Cup) and the Valencia Port Authority, BMW Oracle had requested and was given an area inside the commercial port in order to set up a temporary "reception and assembly" base. The reason the Americans requested such a space was the difficulty the trimaran would face in order to enter into the canal connecting the interior basin to the sea under adverse weather conditions.

Valencia's commercial port being the biggest in the Mediterranean, both in terms of size and traffic, there was plenty of space available, in particular due to the current expansion works going on. As a result, it wasn't difficult for the Port Authority to give the space the American team needed. You can check its position on the Google map drawing below. It appears the base is on a body of water because the photo must be 2-3 years old.

We visited the BMW Oracle compound late in the afternoon of Wednesday and snapped a couple of pictures on the fly. It took me some time to find it, so light conditions were far from optimal. Needless to worry, we'll be back there very soon. Still one can get a clear idea of the facilities the Americans will use. They consist of 3 tents forming a U, a dozen or so of containers and the wrapped USA-76, covering a total of approximately 3,000 square meters. There was plenty of activity and the shore crew was busy preparing the base in view of BOR90's expected arrival in 10-15 days.

Last but not least, it has been erroneously reported that the 2 racing yachts will be based in that area, far from Port America's Cup and behind closed gates for the general public. This is not correct, and as we have always reported, they will be both docked inside the basin, weather permitting. Stay tuned for further info from the world's sailing capital.

BMW Oracle's temporary "reception and assembly" base in the commercial port. Valencia, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle's temporary "reception and assembly" base in the commercial port. Valencia, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Alinghi base in Port America's Cup. Valencia, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Location of BMW Oracle's temporary "reception and assembly" base in the commercial port. Valencia, 23 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Statement from the Société Nautique de Genève

[Source: Alinghi] Société Nautique de Genève and Alinghi thank Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle for their Christmas gift and their wishes for further litigation in the New Year!

"Having disqualified all other Challengers for the 33rd America's Cup through their legal strategy, Larry Ellison's team is now trying to do the same with the Defender and continues to pursue its attempt to win the America's Cup in court rather than on the race course," says Fred Meyer, SNG vice-commodore.

"We fear that this is an attempt by BMW Oracle to avoid racing Alinghi on 8 February," adds Grant Simmer, Alinghi design team coordinator.

BMW Oracle's accusations regarding the defending yacht are simply false: Alinghi 5 complies with the Deed of Gift "constructed in country" requirement, it was built in Switzerland and so are its sails.

Statement from Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club Spokesperson

[Source: BMW Oracle] America’s Cup defender Société Nautique de Genève has been asked if Alinghi 5 will meet the event’s nationality rules.

In a letter today to SNG, GGYC Commodore Marcus Young wrote, “We find the Deed to be clear and unambiguous. It requires that the yacht, including its hull, appendages, mast and sails, be constructed in the country of the club it represents. We have gone to great lengths to comply with the Deed in all respects, including ‘constructed-in-country,’ and expect that your Club will do so as well.”

Alinghi 5 has been sailing continually with sails made at Minden, Nevada in the
USA.

Absent agreement on the constructed-in-country interpretation, the five-member International Jury recently appointed by the International Sailing Federation would be asked to rule on the matter.

Both yachts should come to the start “street-legal.” The sailing world expects this, and wants to know before the Match is sailed, not after. Having the Jury in place allows sailing matters to be dealt with by sailing experts.

GGYC’s objective is that the on-the-water result of the 33rd Match be conclusive. Any remaining contentious issues should be dealt with properly before the Match is sailed. No one wants the outcome of the Match to have a question mark hanging over it.

Video: CNN Mainsail goes onboard BMW Oracle's BOR 90

CNN Mainsail goes onboard BMW Oracle's BOR 90. Video copyright CNN Mainsail

Express Doldrums for Groupama 3

[Source: Cammas - Groupama] It was Sunday afternoon when Groupama 3 was able to hunt down a NE'ly wind synonymous with her return to the Northern hemisphere. This followed on from the ten men devouring the Doldrums without even noticing they were in it!

François Salabert, in charge of the electric and electronics within the Groupama team and responsible for the navigation on this delivery trip: "Incredible! We clearly saw a big grey cloud from which a few drops of rain fell, but ultimately the Doldrums amounted to a single cloud. Unheard of! Studying the sky and the grib files we spent the whole time making between 6 and 10 knots VMG. We passed beneath a big cloud and almost immediately the wind shifted around to the North-East! Welcome to the Northern hemisphere! We didn't believe it at the start. After that the wind became more stable and we picked up the NE'ly tradewind!"

Tradition wasn't forgotten with a small glass of wine for Neptune and the rest for the crew of Groupama 3. Among them is rookie Clément Surtel, for whom it was the first passage across the equator! "Clément had bought a bottle of wine for the occasion, which gave us all a chance to gather together on deck in an atmosphere reminiscent of Sunday's on the pontoon! It was a nice moment."

Ahead of the bows of the Groupama 3 trimaran there are still a few miles to go before making Brittany: "The next obstacle we'll have to negotiate is a zone of high pressure located around Cape Verde. Once we're past that, we'll study our ETA more closely. We're tempering the forecasts that the routing is producing. The latter is optimum in terms of wind, but doesn't take the sea state into account. For the time being there are two models taking shape: one of them has us arriving in Brest at the front of a depression without too much wind and the other sees us making landfall with a steadier SW'ly breeze! Right now though we're concentrating on negotiating the zone of light wind..."

Aboard Groupama 3, the pace of life is coloured by the watches, which follow on one after the other, interspersed by some rather more classic activities: discussion, washing, showering, emails...: "A comical routine is in place and we're really enjoying the ride!"

NZ Herald: BMW Oracle withdraws from LV Trophy Auckland

Update: We contacted BMW Oracle and it was confirmed that the team will not participate in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Auckland in order to be "100 percent focused on the 33 America's Cup". BMW Oracle will compete in the remaining Louis Vuitton regattas planned for 2010 and "continues its commitment to and support of the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas and the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA)".

[Source: NZ Herald] BMW Oracle have withdrawn from the Auckland regatta of the Louis Vuitton Trophy in March.

The news will come as a blow, as BMW Oracle are one of the founding forces behind the Louis Vuitton regatta that so successfully launched in Auckland last summer and which spawned a world series.

That opened in Nice in November and will be followed by Auckland in March, La Maddelena in Sardinia in May and then a Middle Eastern venue in November 2010 (to be named next month). Hong Kong has been mooted as the next Louis Vuitton venue, in January 2011.

BMW Oracle say they are too busy with their impending big-boat America's Cup challenge against Alinghi, now confirmed in Valencia for February 12.

Read the entire article here

Meanwhile in Valencia... it feels like 2006 again !!!

Update 6pm Valencia Time: Representatives from Alinghi and BMW Oracle held another meeting on Thursday afternoon, together with the mayor of Valencia but also the President of the Valencia Region, a sign that the city and the region are eager to fully back the event. One of the main issues in discussion in the meeting was the mayor's desire to move the start of the regatta from Monday, February 8th to Friday, February 12th and from 3 races to 7, in order to make it more accessible and more interesting to the general public. Although all parties agree in principle with Rita Barberá, no formal agreement has been reached yet. For the record, here's the raw footage from yesterday's meeting:

Footage from Thursday's meeting between Alinghi, BMW Oracle and the city of Valencia. Valencia, 17 December 2009. Video copyright Valencia Sailing

I don't know whether it's the Christmas spirit but is sure feels nice to see Port America's Cup in Valencia getting busier by the day. At times it feels like 2006 again, only at a smaller scale with just 2 teams getting ready for the America's Cup.

In our quick visit earlier today, the Alinghi compound (consisting of the base and two tents) seemed to be ready and waiting for the dozens of containers, ribs and all kind of material to arrive from Ras al-Khaimah.

On the other hand, the BMW Oracle camp still looks suspiciously quiet. According to reliable sources, the American team will set up a kind of temporary "reception" base in the commercial part of Valencia's port while the city plans to clear the docks of ALL the southern bases (China Team, Mascalzone Latino, Desafío, Team Germany, Areva Challenge, Victory Challenge and Team New Zealand) in order to liberate a continuous space, long and wide enough to accommodate the 62 meters of length and 16 meters of width of BOR 90's wing sail!!

Starting next week we will start a series of in-depth articles on what it will take to organize this extraordinary America's Cup in Valencia and to what extent it will be different from the previous edition, held on the same waters 2 years ago.

General view of the Alinghi compound. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig

Closer view of the dockside tent. Just in case you were curious, the car parked in front is a Toyota Auris, 4.2 meters long. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig

Closer view of the lateral tent. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig

All is quiet at the BMW Oracle base. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig

TEAMORIGIN search for UK Venue to host a Louis Vuitton Trophy event

[Source: Team Origin] TEAMORIGIN, the British America’s Cup team headed by Sir Keith Mills, today announced their intention of securing a venue in the UK to host a Louis Vuitton Trophy event – as early as August/September 2010 or during the 2011 season – and possibly repeating annually thereafter. The overall objective is to bring America’s Cup type racing to British shores as soon as possible.

During 2009 TEAMORIGIN competed in two really successful Louis Vuitton Trophy events – the first being the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series that was held in Auckland in February 2009 and, more recently, the first ‘Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta’, in Nice in November 2009.

During 2010 the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) will organise a further four or five Louis Vuitton Trophy events in venues such as New Zealand, Italy, the Middle East and Hong Kong. TEAMORIGIN’s Principal Sir Keith Mills strongly believes that one of these events should and could be hosted in the UK during either 2010 or 2011.

“I set up TEAMORIGIN with the clear ambition of ultimately winning the America’s Cup and bringing it back to the UK from where it all began. I know we have some fantastic sailing venues here in Great Britain and as part of TEAMORIGIN’s build-up to the next America’s Cup it would be really positive to see Cup teams racing in British waters as early as 2010. To that end we are looking for serious expressions of interest from British coastal venues by the end of January 2010. Following that we will explore further the criteria required, through a relatively brief event venue tender process, to mobilise the necessary facilities, infrastructure and funding required to bring a sailing competition of the highest calibre, along with its economic benefits, to a venue on our shores.”

TEAMORIGIN and the WTSA have already compiled a detailed event venue specification document for any venue that might be interested in exploring this opportunity. Serious expressions of interest should be sent to Marcus Hutchinson, marcushutchinson@teamorigin.com, TEAMORIGIN/UK Venues, 78 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ES, UK by the end of January 2010, following which the event venue specification will be transferred and a detailed proposal can be prepared.

Video: Alinghi's sailors working out

Take a look inside the Alinghi Technogym in Ras Al Khaimah to see what it takes for team physio Rene De Vries and fitness trainer Davy Dubois to keep the Alinghi sailing team in peak condition.

Louis Vuitton Trophy calendar for 2010

[Source: Louis Vuitton] The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) and Louis Vuitton today announced more Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas for 2010 and early 2011. These new international events follow the successful regatta held in Nice, France, last month.

Each Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta is a stand-alone regatta sailed in event-supplied 85- foot long AC Class yachts that require a crew of 17 top sailors to sail. The regatta concept is designed to transform a port venue, regardless of its previous sailing culture, into the capital of professional yacht racing for two weeks, along with all the associated activities and excitement, on and off the water.

The concept of the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas was inspired by the acclaimed Louis Vuitton Pacific Series raced in Auckland, NZ, last February.

The schedule for the next events covers four distinctly different parts of the world:
Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland: 9 – 21 March 2010
Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena, Sardinia: 22 May – 6 June 2010
Louis Vuitton Trophy Middle East: 13 – 28 November 2010
Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong: 9 – 24 January 2011
* The venue in The Middle East is embargoed until January 15th 2010

Newly-elected WSTA board Chairman Paul Cayard commented: “The Louis Vuitton Trophy is gaining momentum following the great regattas held in Auckland and Nice in 2009 and I really believe 2010 is going to be an even better year for our teams, their crews and supporters.”

Apart from being a cost-effective way for teams to match race impressively large yachts close to crowds, the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas also represent one of the most interesting media/marketing opportunities in yacht racing today.

The innovative low-cost solution to live TV and tracking coupled with live expert commentary from on board the yachts pioneered in Nice last November, allows spectators, hospitality guests and sailing fans around the world to watch live races in a hybrid virtual and real video show on internet (louisvuittontrophy.com). The use of AC Class yachts from the last two America’s Cups now scattered about the world allows the existing boats to be shared regionally without the necessity to constantly ship equipment back and forth; only the crews travel, making for costeffective and easily organised events.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland will again bring some of the best racing teams back to ‘’Kiwiland’’. Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the team welcomed Louis Vuitton’s return to Auckland: “Last February we tested the concept. Its success far exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

“The Louis Vuitton Trophy has emerged from that experiment as a viable, top-level regatta. It’s good for the teams, it’s good for the sport, it’s good for host cities and we’ve given the fans something to watch.”

The caliber of teams competing is second to none. Most sailors are either world champions, Olympic medalists, round-the-world sailors or past America’s Cup players. All teams competing at the Nice regatta came with either America’s Cup experience or future ambitions.

Emirates Team New Zealand has been both Challenger and Defender in the past, BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) is the current Challenger of Record, while other teams such as Azzurra (Italy), TEAMORIGIN (Great Britain), Mascalzone Latino (Italy), Synergy (Russia), All4One (France/Germany), Team French Spirit (France), Artemis (Sweden) all have future plans.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas provide an opportunity to compete at the highest level using similar yachts, with only the crew’s sailing ability as the deciding factor. The cost to teams is also a fraction of an America’s Cup or an offshore campaign budget, something that has already attracted several new teams to taste the waters at this level of competition.

Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, is pleased to be associated with the event: “Nice a few weeks ago again proved the viability of the concept, which reflects current concerns: easy, friendly, accessible and environmentally responsible. It is a great way to bring the best teams back on the water.”

Ayre Challenge signs Agreement with North Sails

[Source: AYRE Challenge] Ayre Challenge announced its intention to participate in the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, taking place in 2011-2012, and following its development plans, it has reached an agreement with North Sails.

North Sails has developed a series of proprietary software North Design Software - NDS – which comprises analytical programs like Flow/Membrain ™, Run VPP ™ Virtual Wind-tunnel ™ and the design software called Spin ™ and Spiral ™ which is fundamental to successfully predict, design and analyze the performance of sails. North Sails has a vast experience in the VOR70 class as supplier of the majority of the sails for all the editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

North Sails and Ayre Challenge are entering into an agreement to work together with the objective of designing and building fast race-winning sails for Ayre Challenge.

Maxi rendezvous set for Rolex Sydney Hobart

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] The world's biggest and best assembly of maxi yachts in recent times will contest this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Seven of them will be on the start line, and five have a real chance of leading the fleet of 100 entries into Hobart in the 65th running of the Australian 628-nautical mile ocean-racing classic, which starts on Boxing Day, December 26.

Race record-holder Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, chasing her fifth consecutive line honours win, faces strongest competition from Neville Crichton's near sister Reichel/Pugh designed Alfa Romeo, and Mike Slade's Rolex Fastnet Race record holder ICAP Leopard, a Farr design from the UK.

The Greg Elliott-designed Investec Loyal (Sean Langman) and Etihad Stadium (Grant Wharington), the Don Jones design that formerly raced as Skandia Wild Thing, also have line honours ambitions, although Etihad Stadium's chances of making the start hang in the balance. On the delivery trip from Melbourne to Sydney last week, Etihad Stadium's mast broke and "never-say-die" Wharington is desperately trying to have a replacement - Alfa Romeo's, spare mast - air freighted from France in time for the race start.

ICHI BAN Matt Allen CYCA Commodore SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2009. Sydney, 12 December 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Forster

All these maxis are canting-keel powered. Leopard, Wild Oats XI, Alfa Romeo and Loyal have been lengthened from 98ft overall to 100ft, to the new maximum length allowed for the Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Sydney Hobart Races.

The competition between these five boats should help to push one of them, given favourable downwind running conditions, to break the race record which stands at 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, 10 seconds, set by Wild Oats XI in 2005.

The contest for the race's major trophy, the Tattersalls' Cup for the overall winner on IRC handicap, is wide open and weather-dependent, headed in favouritism by a strong group of TP 52s including last year's winner Quest (Bob Steel), two re-vamped Reichel/Pugh 62-63 foot near-sister designs, Alan Brierty's Limit, with Gavin Brady onboard, and Stephen Ainsworth's Loki, upgraded for their second season. Then there is Ran (Niklas Zennstrom), a Judel/Vrolijk 72 from the UK, untested in the southern hemisphere, but with a formidable track record including winning the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race overall and Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in the Mini Maxi division. Onboard will be America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veterans, tactician Adrian Stead, Steve Hayles, Tim Powell, Andy Hemmings, and Richard Bouzaid. Michael Hiatt's Living Doll, a one-year old Farr 55, is another hot overall handicap prospect. So is Geoff Ross' Reichel/Pugh 55 Yendys, which has a new keel that is half a metre deeper and 420kg, and will have Volvo racer and 49er Olympian Chris Nicholson as sailing master and principal helmsman.

The fleet - the second strongest in a decade - includes 12 overseas yachts. Among them is another maxi the 100ft Rapture, a Farr-designed performance cruiser owned by American Brook Lenfest. The Sparkman & Stephens 41 Pinta-M, (Atse Blei) from the Netherlands remained in Australia since the 2008 race (where she finished third in IRC division 4), and will have another crack at the Tattersalls' Cup.

The head of the fleet duel between Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo has been ongoing and close for four years. At their first meeting, Wild Oats XI beat Alfa Romeo by an hour and 16 minutes in her 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours win. Their duel continued in the Mediterranean in 2006 where Alfa Romeo won the 2006 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, with Wild Oats third.

In the 2007 Med season, the two yachts swapped line honours dominance at the Giraglia Rolex Cup and Superyacht Cup at Palma. Then Alfa Romeo took line honours from Oats by 38sec in the first race of the 2007 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup; but, two minutes after the start of race two, Oats' mast fell down, taking the boat out of the regatta.

While Wild Oats XI returned to Australia, Alfa Romeo stayed on in the Med for the 2008 season. This year, Sydney-based New Zealander Neville Crichton brought Alfa Romeo back to Australia, on the way taking line honours in the 2,225 nm Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, with a time of 5 days, 14hrs, 36mins that broke the race record by more than a day.

Prior to the Transpac, Alfa Romeo put in a new, lighter mast and rigging from Southern Spars, that offers less windage, but otherwise there have been no major changes to the boat. Said Crichton, "There have been little changes that add up to seconds a mile. We tried to pull weight out wherever possible and we have some new sails."

Crichton sees Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats XI as the most reliable boats of the five line honours favourites. "In a heavy southerly, Leopard would have the advantage. Heavy air running would suit Etihad Stadium; Wild Oats XI and ourselves are more all-rounders."

Despite being lengthened to 100ft, Wild Oats XI will sail with fewer crew, 18 instead of last year's 24 which, notes skipper and helmsman Mark Richards, will represent a weight saving of over one ton in crew baggage and body weight. While numbers are reduced, they still sport an all-star lineup with the likes of Volvo winner and ISAF Rolex World Sailor Mike Sanderson, Robbie Naismith, Ian Murray, Adrienne Cahalan, and Ian Burns onboard.

Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo were matched equally in speed in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge; around the 14nm course in Sydney Harbour on Tuesday, the pair were seldom more than two boat lengths apart at each mark rounding in a fair 15-18 knot nor'easter. Alfa Romeo gained the winning lead only when Oats' wine-glassed her spinnaker when hoisting at the last mark.

"There is nothing between the two boats in speed," said Wild Oats XI Richards. "In the Hobart it could come down to sail selection and sail changes."

At the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race, ICAP Leopard, a powerful Farr design, built by McConaghy in Sydney, in her first major long-distance race, smashed the record by 8 hrs, 50min, while Alfa Romeo was among the retirements in that edition's rough seas and 40 knot winds.

ICAP Leopard finished 27 minutes behind Wild Oats XI in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart after applying pressure all the way, and won line honours again this year in both the Rolex Fastnet and the Rolex Middle Sea Races.

In 2007, she was lengthened to 100ft and fitted with twin rudders - and for Hobart the boat has a new sail wardrobe. "Ninety per cent of the sails we will be using in this race are brand-new," says boat captain Chris Sherlock.

The crew includes strong afterguard professionals from Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup teams: navigator Jules Salter, watch captains Brad Jackson and Rob Greenhalgh, and tactician Ray Davies. All were aboard for this year's Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Middle Sea Races.

A fleet of 100 yachts will compete in this year's race, which starts at 1300 AEDT, 26 December 2009. The Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet will have crews representing the USA, UK, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, and New Caledonia as well as every Australian state

Video: Grant Dalton talks about the Auckland Festival of Sail

Grant Dalton talks about the Auckland Festival of Sail. Auckland, 16 December 2009. Video copyright TV3 New Zealand

Video: BMW Oracle ships out to Valencia

Here's another excellent video produced by John von Seeburg and Rick Deppe, this time capturing all the action in San Diego. It's strange though that the BMW Oracle base in Valencia is very quiet and there are no apparent signs of any preparation for the upcoming race...

BMW Oracle ships out to Valencia. San Diego, 15 December 2009. Video copyright BMW Oracle

Auckland Festival of Sail announced

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Auckland Mayor John Banks announced today the Auckland Festival of Sail – three major international regattas to be held on the Waitemata Harbour in March 2010.

The events will bring together leading professional international match racing skippers and teams and top-ranked amateurs for 23 days of quick-fire, top-level competition.

The events are:

The Omega Auckland Match Race Regatta, from March 1-6, will feature some of the biggest names in international match racing. Entry is by invitation.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta, March 7 – 21, follows on from the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series sailed in Auckland last February. The action will take place over 14 days.

The BMW World Sailing Cup 2010 final, March 22 – 25. A leading international keel boat event for amateur sailors. New Zealand won the right to host the event by winning the 2009 world cup.


Mr Banks says the festival is a perfect opportunity to showcase Auckland and its spectacular waterfront.

“Not only is this great news for Aucklanders with another festival added to the summer events calendar, it’s also great news for businesses, especially those in the hospitality, tourism and marine sectors. Major events are important economic drivers especially during the tough times that we are currently experiencing. Securing this festival in Auckland is another step on our road to establishing the city as a desirable international events destination and we look forward to welcoming the world’s best sailors to our shores next year.”

The managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand Grant Dalton said the three regattas, combined with the Auckland International Boat Show at the Viaduct Harbour from March 10 -14, will provide three weeks of top-level action right in the city.

“When the idea of the Auckland Festival of Sail was first raised, many groups came together to really put on a show for Auckland and New Zealand. We have worked closely with Auckland City agencies, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Louis Vuitton, the World Sailing Teams Association and many other organisations and individuals to make it happen.

“In a few days we will be able to announce the names of the skippers who have accepted the invitation to take part in the Omega Auckland Match Race regatta. Emirates Team New Zealand looks forward to the top-level competition in March and thanks the sponsors, organisations and volunteers who will make it possible.”

Scott Colebrook, commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, says the Squadron is proud to be undertaking an integral role in the Auckland Festival of Sail.

“As the organizing authority of these three significant events, running back to back, we will be placing huge demands on our volunteer race and boat management personnel and resources. With assistance from Bucklands Beach Yacht Club we look forward to our contribution to this marvellous combination of high profile regattas featuring the world’s best yachtsmen and teams that will showcase our City of Sails to an international audience.”

The president of Omega Ltd, Stephen Urquhart, said: “There has been a strong link between sailing and timekeeping since sailors started to rely on high-precision marine chronometers for navigation. OMEGA is the only company ever to have produced a wristwatch that received marine chronometer certification and we are happy to maintain our long nautical tradition with our support of the OMEGA Auckland Match Race Regatta. The Auckland City Festival of Sail promises to be one of the highlights of the sailing year and we look forward to seeing our old friends from the world of sailing and to making new ones.”

BMW Oracle's BOR 90 starts journey to Valencia

[Source: BMW Oracle] The BMW ORACLE Racing team has departed San Diego for Valencia, Spain, in preparation for February's 33rd America's Cup Match.

The cargo ship Oceanlady left the Port of San Diego early on Tuesday afternoon and turned south. It will pass through the Panama Canal before heading across the Atlantic Ocean and into the Mediterranean Sea. The trip to Valencia will take approximately three weeks, depending on weather.

The cargo on board is unique, with the ship is carrying approximately 200 tonnes of material, including: the BOR 90 trimaran, the main element of the wing sail, four custom made boxes containing the wing flaps, two spare masts, 19 shipping containers, and 10 other boats (RIBs etc.).

"It's certainly been a challenge to get through all of this," said Scott Sandford (NZL), who managed the process for the team, along with Julien Di Biase (SUI).

All of the material was taken to ship from the team base by water, and loaded on board with the ship's crane.

BOR 90 en route to Valencia. San Diego, 15 December 2009. Photo copyright Bob Grieser / BMW Oracle Racing

"Everything was staged on two barges - the chase boats and pushers, and the shipping containers. We pushed the barges over to the ship and they were unloaded by the ship's crane. The trimaran was lifted up with a big floating crane and it rode 'under the hook', suspended in the air, over to the ship. It was the same for the masts and the main wing element," Sandford explained.

Weather proved to be an additional challenge, with wind hampering the first attempt at moving the wing. But overnight Monday night, the wing was transported across in calm conditions and loaded safely onto the Ocean Lady.

With the San Diego base now closed down and packed up, the team will re-assemble in Valencia following a short Christmas break and immediately resume preparations for the Match.

On Tuesday, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court affirmed an earlier decision confirming Valencia as the venue. The first race of the 33rd America’s Cup Match is scheduled for February 8, 2010.

SNG statement following New York court decision on the venue for the 33rd America's Cup

[Source: Alinghi] The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court today upheld Justice Kornreich's decision of 30 October 2009 that disqualified the America's Cup Defender Société Nautique de Genève's choice of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates as venue for the 33rd America's Cup. The four-judge panel also upheld Kornreich's decision to exclude rudders from the measurement of the load waterline length of the race yacht.

“Once again BMW Oracle's strategy to try to win the America's Cup in court instead of on the water has been successful. For the first time in the history of the America's Cup the Defender has been stripped of its fundamental right to select the venue. Société Nautique de Genève accepts this decision and Alinghi is looking forward to racing for the America's Cup on the water in Valencia, Spain, in February 2010,” said Fred Meyer, SNG vice-commodore.

Meanwhile in Valencia... Working day & night

Well, the decision is out!! Valencia will finally be the venue of the 33rd America's Cup, scheduled to take place next February. It caught me off guard and Valencia Sailing wasn't able to break the news but we still have some interesting photos taken probably about the time the decision was made public in New York.

As we we wrote yesterday, the Alinghi base was buzzing with action and when we visited a little bit more than 24 hours later the construction pace was amazing. A long tent was set up in front of the +39 and Alinghi bases while another one will shortly appear right on the curve Alonso zooms with his F1 car.

After the torrential rains that hit Valencia on Sunday and Monday, it seemed that fall was back on Tuesday with blue and shiny skies. What is surprising though is the apparent lack of activity in the BMW Oracle base. There's a number of containers and material packed outside but it hardly seems to be a building where in less than 2 months a team will be racing in the America's Cup.

One tent is ready to go up at the Alinghi camp. Valencia, 15 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

One tent is ready to go up at the Alinghi camp. Valencia, 15 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The long tent in front of the +39 and Alinghi bases was built in about 24 hours. Valencia, 15 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Statement from Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club spokesperson

[Source: BMW Oracle] The focus for the 33rd America’s Cup is now squarely on Valencia, Spain. Today, the Appellate Division rejected the defender’s second attempt to have Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, host the February match.

“This is a big stride forward,” commented Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club spokesperson. “In place of doubt and delay, the sailing world wants certainty. It wants to see this contest to go-ahead soon and be contested under fair rules.”
The New York Supreme Court ruled on October 30th that Ras al Khaimah did not comply with the Deed of Gift, a decision upheld by the Appellate Division in a unanimous verdict.

The Court also turned down SNG’s second attempt to have rudders included in the crucial Load Water-Line measurement calculation. This has never occurred in the 32 previous America’s Cup matches and won’t happen in the 33rd.

“With the International Sailing Federation re-drafting the previously unbalanced and unfair agreement it struck with Société Nautique de Geneve, and discussions continuing to normalize the Notice of Race, the common-sense approach to the remaining issues in this America’s Cup is prevailing,” added Ehman.

NY Appellate Division rules on America's Cup venue and rules

[Source: NY Appellate Division] Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Shirley Werner Kornreich, J.), entered October 30, 2009, which granted plaintiff Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) motion for an order declaring invalid Societe Nautique De Geneva's (SNG) selection of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (RAK) as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup yacht race, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Order, same court and Justice, entered November 4, 2009, which, inter alia, ruled that, under the Deed of Gift governing the race, a yacht's "rudders" may not be included in measuring its length on load water-line, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Concerning the October 30, 2009 order, by order filed April 7, 2009 (Golden Gate Yacht Club v Societe Nautique de Geneve, 12 NY3d 248 [2009]), the Court of Appeals reinstated a May 12, 2008 order of Supreme Court which provided, insofar as pertinent, that (1) "the location of the match shall be in Valencia, Spain or any other location selected by SNG [or agreed to by the parties], provided SNG notify GGYC in writing not less than six months in advance of the date set for the first challenge match race of the location it has selected for the challenge match races," and (2) that the date of the first race "shall be the date ten calendar months from the date of service of a copy of this order, with notice of entry, upon the attorneys who have appeared herein," or such other date as might be agreed to by the parties (2008 NY Slip Op 32296[U], *4-5 [May 12, 2008, Cahn, J.]).

Also pertinent is the Deed's requirement that races be conducted between May 1 and November 1 if in the Northern Hemisphere and between November 1 and May 1 if in the Southern Hemisphere. Measuring 10 months from the Court of Appeals' April 7, [*2]2009 order, the first race would have to be conducted on February 8, 2010. Nevertheless, on April 23, 2009, SNG informed GGYC that the first race was to conducted on May 3, 2010, and that SNG would notify GGYC before December 3, 2009 of a Northern Hemisphere venue. GGYC moved to hold SNG in contempt, arguing that, by virtue of the April 7, 2009 order, the first race had to be conducted on February 8, 2010, and that SNG had to notify GGYC of the location of the races no later than August 8, 2009. SNG responded that it set the date in May, rather than February, because GGYC's Notice of Challenge expressly put forth a Northern Hemisphere challenge and, under the Deed, a Northern Hemisphere race could not take place earlier than May. On May 14, 2009, the court directed SNG to hold the races in February 2010, "as per the order of the Court of Appeals."

On August 5, 2009, SNG announced the selection of RAK, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, as the venue of the races. GGYC again objected, arguing that, by virtue of the April 7, 2009 order, and notwithstanding the Deed's requirement that a February race be conducted in the Southern Hemisphere, the races had to be conducted in Valencia, Spain, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, in February 2010, absent agreement otherwise between the parties or SNG's selection of an alternative Deed-compliant location by August 8, 2009. The motion court correctly rejected SNG's selection of RAK. The April 7, 2009 order of the Court of Appeals does not explicitly state that it intended to remove entirely the Deed's hemisphere requirements, or otherwise indicate, as SNG argues, that it was a compromise between GGYC's claimed right to have the race conducted as soon as 10 months after issuance of the order and SNG's claimed right to select a Northern Hemisphere venue. Accordingly, the order should be read as carving out an exception to the Deed's hemisphere requirements in the case of Valencia, and the phrase "or any other location selected by SNG" should be read as "or any other Deed-compliant location selected by SNG." RAK, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, is not a Deed-compliant location for a February race.

Concerning the November 4, 2009 order on appeal, the court correctly found, based on extrinsic evidence, that the Deed excludes rudders for the purpose of measuring the length on load water-line. The Deed, which provides, in relevant part, that the competing vessels, "if single-masted, must measure between 44 and 90 feet on the load water-line," and states that neither the "center-board" nor "sliding keel" shall be considered part of the vessel for any purposes of measurement, but does not define "load water-line," which is clearly a term of art with specialized meaning in the sport of sailing, is ambiguous as to whether rudders should be considered in measuring the length on load water-line. The mere fact that the Deed expressly only states that the center-board and sliding keel shall not be considered in the measurement does not necessarily mean that all other parts of the vessel, including the rudders, were intended to be considered in making that measurement. Given this ambiguity, the court properly relied on undisputed extrinsic evidence, including New York Yacht Club rules extant at the time the 1887 Deed was settled, showing that length on load water-line is typically measured "exclusive of any portion of the rudder or rudder-stock." [*3]

We have considered the remaining contentions and find them unavailing.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER
OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: DECEMBER 15, 2009

CLERK