Now you see him, now you don't

International Jury appointed for the 34th America's Cup

[Source: America’s Cup Race Management] America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM), the independent race organizer for the 34th America’s Cup, welcomed the appointment today of the International Jury by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

The International Jury Chairman is David Tillett (AUS). Jury members: Bryan Willis (GBR), Graham McKenzie (NZL), John Doerr (GBR) and Josje Hofland (NED).

This is the Jury that presided over the 33rd America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain earlier this year. The appointments were made by ISAF in consultation with ACRM.

The Protocol governing the 34th America’s Cup specifies that the Jury will handle all disputes that may arise in this Cup cycle, including the World Series events starting in 2011 and concluding with the America’s Cup Match in 2013.

“This Jury represents depth of experience and a track record for a fair interpretation of the rules,“ said Regatta Director Iain Murray. “We thank ISAF for their support in appointing this world-class Jury that will independently arbitrate the 34th America’s Cup.”

Craig Thompson, CEO of America's Cup Event Authority, talks to Valencia Sailing

We continue our series of interviews with the people in charge of shaping the 34th America's Cup in line with the vision of the current Defender, its owner Larry Ellison and its CEO Russell Coutts. We spoke with Craig Thompson, CEO of the America's Cup Event Authority, the body in charge of everything related to the pinnacle event of the sport, except for the racing itself.

Valencia Sailing: Can you briefly take us through your background and how you ended up becoming CEO of the America's Cup Event Authority ?
Craig Thompson: Most recently I was with TEAM Marketing in Switzerland and we were the agency that UEFA chose to set up the European Champions League. Myself and a number of colleagues started the Champions League, together with UEFA, back in 1992. We created the marketing platform and the concept for the Championship League, which we then implemented. I was with the Champions League from 1992 until 2003 when I left to take a break. After that I was involved with the set up of the Champions Hockey League in Europe, a European hockey league similar in style to the Champions League in football, then in several other projects and I finally joined the America's Cup just recently as CEO of the America's Cup Event Authority.

Valencia Sailing: From what I see you have no sailing background or at least you haven't been involved with any major sailing event prior to joining the America's Cup. Is that correct?
Craig Thompson: I had some experience with the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia when I did some consulting work both for America's Cup Management (ACM) and Alinghi. So, I do have a little bit of sailing experience but I wouldn't say I have any extensive experience in that sport.

Valencia Sailing: Do you think this factor could be a problem or at least a disadvantage?
Craig Thompson: To the contrary, I think it's an advantage, assuming that I'm surrounded by top sailing people that have extensive knowledge of the sport like Russell Coutts, Tom Ehman or Iain Murray. As long as there is people like that in the team it's an advantage having someone like myself or Richard Worth, Chairman of ACEA, that don't have an insider, intimate knowledge of the sport because we can look at it from a more objective viewpoint as sports marketers. We can look at the sport in terms of what needs to be done to make it friendlier for fans, television and the sponsors and that was exactly the role I had in the Champions League in football. Being an American myself, I came to Europe knowing very little about football (soccer) and I was managing the Champions League project for many years. I actually think there is an advantage to be not so familiar with the sport as long as you are surrounded by people that are very familiar with it.

Valencia Sailing: So, since you state that you can have an objective overview of the sport of sailing, what is your first assessment? What do you think needs to be done?
Craig Thompson: We took a good look at the sport and what we found out was that a lot of the positioning of the America's Cup is based on tradition and history, the fact it is very wealthy individuals that are all interested in sailing these boats and fighting with each other in the ocean.

Valencia Sailing: Sure, but the current Defender, BMW Oracle, the team that hired you, is in fact owned by one of the world's richest individuals. So, there is some truth to that.
Craig Thompson: Absolutely, that's what I mean. The sport America's Cup, as we have found today, is a sport that is very much relying on its tradition and on its history. It is a fantastic tradition and history but when we look at the sport closely we realize that the values of sport, the fighting, the team work on the boat, the sporting part of sailing is not coming through so much in the television coverage, the commentary, the media. What we want to emphasize, and Russell Coutts totally agrees with us, is to put the sporting values of sailing at the front so that the public will want to follow the sport, will see the emotion and drama of the teams and see it as a very high level sporting event with highly trained athletes who are competing with each other on a physical level, in terms of running the boats, but also on a mental level where very quick decisions have to be made under huge pressure and stress.

It's a very interesting combination of physical and mental contributes in a sport and we have to put that forward with the television program and coverage, with the commentators so that people start understanding sailing better and what it is as a sport.

Valencia Sailing: What is the right formula to do that? Do you have it?
Craig Thompson: No, Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison have decided to have this next event in these very large catamarans which are very fast and vigorous boats and the courses are going to be set up so that the sailors are really tested. The motto we are going by now for the future America's Cup is "the best sailors on the fastest boats" and that's the way we are positioning the America's Cup for the future. Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison support this positioning of the America's Cup for the future.

Valencia Sailing: What is exactly ACEA in charge of in the organization of the 34th America's Cup?
Craig Thompson: It's very similar to America's Cup Management for AC32. We are responsible for sponsorship, for branding, the venues, the facilities, the sponsor and commercial partners, the television programming. We will have the America's Cup Television and we will work very closely together to organize the television programming, the needs of the sponsors and the needs of the sport.

Craig Thompson promises unprecedented TV coverage in the 34th America's Cup. BMW Oracle carried their "34th America's Cup Media & Race Evaluation Trials" last summer. Valencia, 22 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia Sailing: Are you in charge of the negotiations with venues, either for the America's Cup Match or the America's Cup World Series?
Craig Thompson: We are participating in those discussions but the responsibility for that lies with Russell Coutts.

Valencia Sailing: The venue hasn't still been officially announced. Can you start working without knowing that major aspect of the event?
Craig Thompson: Yes, we can. There is a lot of work we can do. We are putting our sponsorship packages together, we are developing out TV program, our TV production, we are hiring a lot of people right now and it's a very busy time. Of course, we are all waiting to know the venue for the AC Match but at the same time we are in discussions with many venues right now to participate in the World Series which will start in June 2011.

Valencia Sailing: Do you think there will be interest in the World Series?
Craig Thompson: I definitely do. This wasn't started by us and as you know in AC32 they had the Acts they organized in Marseille, Trapani and so on. We are basically expanding the concept, we are calling it the America's Cup World Series and we will have a point system to determine a champion every year. We are also going to have the Youth World Series so that we have a platform for youth to enter the sport of sailing and have a path to the America's Cup.

We are going to promote and televise all the World Series events to a very high level. We will be producing a 1-hour television program for each event and expect to have it on major broadcasters like RAI in Italy, TVE in Spain, ARD in Germany and so forth.

Valencia Sailing: Will those events be broadcast live?
Craig Thompson: Yes they will but only a 1-hour program. Each event will have a duration of 9 days and there will be TV production every day. Some broadcasters will want to take footage every day but the big broadcasters I mentioned will most likely not have news coverage every day but they will take on Sunday, the last day, the 1-hour live program.

Valencia Sailing: You say Sunday will be the final day. Is that going to be the rule in all events?
Craig Thompson: This is all still being developed but in principle our thinking is that the events will start on Friday or Saturday and end on the following Sunday. In addition, each event will be a combination of fleet racing and match racing.

Valencia Sailing: You talk a lot about television, so I suppose it will be your main media platform. Is internet going to play a bigger role in this event compared to AC32?
Craig Thompson: We are going to give a lot more part to internet than previously. It is going to be major media platform for us and we will have a lot more detail and a lot more streaming on the internet than has ever been done before. However, we are keeping for television the live rights for the World Series and the America's Cup Match. The television audience will still have access to it while the internet will act as a place for people more interested in sailing, more devoted to it with additional information.

We will be using both platforms in harmony. We will have live streaming on the internet but there will also be a sort of exclusivity for television on some of the premium events, such as the 1-hour live program I mentioned earlier on Sunday. They will most probably be exclusive for television. The remaining days will have a lot of live streaming on the internet. Broadcasters will be charged for the TV programs and it's going to be a regular commercial offering. We will be talking to the world's leading broadcasters about our live and highlight packages they can have in the following 3 years, including the Challenger Series and the AC Match.

Valencia Sailing: The technology has also advanced considerably since the first days of AC32. Should we expect any exciting developments as far TV coverage is concerned?
Craig Thompson: Yes, this is an area we are putting a lot work on right now. Our philosophy regarding is TV coverage is what I would call "sailing from the inside out". In the past, because of the limitations in technology, sailing has been covered from the distance by a camera watching the boats going across the ocean. What we want to do is provide a lot more coverage from the boats, with cameras inside the boats, including cameramen that are able to move around the boats and get very good closeup shots of the action.

We will also be doing a lot with sound with microphones on board the yachts so that the audience can hear the wind, the waves, the pounding of the hulls on the water. This is a very big element and very often sound in sailing is not communicated very well. This will make the coverage much more exciting, emotional and dramatic.

Valencia Sailing: Last Friday, during your presentation to the potential teams in Paris, did you talk about those issues?
Craig Thompson: No, we didn't go into details, we had a limited time and there was a lot of information to cover. We told them, broadly, about the importance of television and the many new ideas we had about coverage, distribution or the type of programs we would produce. We didn't have the time to go into details.

Valencia Sailing: In that meeting there were representatives from 24 potential teams, according to the official press release. There is no doubt a number of them will not go ahead. Have you set a target number that will make the event commercially viable? What was the feedback you got from the participants in that meeting?
Craig Thompson: We very strongly anticipate that we're going to have a minimum of 10 teams and probably up to 12. There is a very strong interest. The sailing community has embraced the idea of the catamaran and we are taking a lot of measures to keep the costs down from previous America's Cups and to provide a lot more support to the teams, to provide a better marketing platform so that the teams can find sponsors.

We are also going to help the teams a lot with their boats by providing a lot of information, materials and support. We got a very, very positive response from the 24 potential teams at the meeting and we believe we are going to end with a minimum of 10 and probably 12 teams officially going into the next America's Cup.

Valencia Sailing: What about the potential event sponsors? Do you see an interest from the world's major corporations to sponsor this Cup, especially under the current tough conditions?
Craig Thompson: First of all, you are right, it's a very difficult economic situation we are going through and it's not the best time to be looking for sponsors for a major event. On the other hand, the America's Cup is one of the very few activities, together with probably the sport of polo, F1 and some equestrian sports, that offer access to really top-level individuals in terms of education or economic situation.

The America's Cup is a unique platform for a lot of companies that want access to those individuals that are very difficult to reach under normal circumstances. I can tell you for example that Oracle are very pleased with the marketing opportunity the America's Cup has presented to them. They invite their best customers and are very successful in turning the America's Cup into a platform for generating business. The same thing can be true for a lot of different companies that need access to wealthy individuals.

Valencia Sailing: But doesn't this contradict with what you told me at the beginning, that your aim is to break from the tradition of the Cup being for wealthy and rich people?

Craig Thompson: I don't think it's a contradiction at all. It is a fact that a lot of the people that go to those events and love sailing are more wealthy and affluent than the normal population. However, with that said, it's like Formula 1. The people that own the F1 teams are of the very same category and have some very high level guests that go to the events but Formula 1 is a very popular sport with the masses. I think it fits with the positioning we are doing in sailing.

Valencia Sailing: If we now go back to the venues for the World Series, do you see any interest from places where there is no tradition in sailing?
Craig Thompson: We want it to be a global series. We want to move around the world, from Asia, to Europe and North America and we are also looking at venues in South America right now, even Africa. We are open but we are confident we want to have venues that have the right wind so that we have good sailing conditions. We also want venues that can have a lot of people watching the races from the shore.

Valencia Sailing: Are spectators important to you? You seem to have given so such importance to television.
Craig Thompson: Spectators are very important. In fact, I'm in San Francisco right now, talking to the city about the possibility of hosting the event here and were the event to be held in the SF Bay the boats would actually go very close to the shore, as close as 30 meters from the shore. We could have hundreds of thousands of people on the beaches watching the event and this is a great opportunity for sailing, to bring the sport to such a large field, much larger than a football stadium. We will have the ability to have 5 times the number of people that watched the finals of the world football championship.

The US is a huge market for us and interest in the America's Cup has decreased over the last few years because of the Americans losing it to other nations. With Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle it has now come back and the fact the Defender is American, regardless of whether the venue is here or not, will certainly generate a lot of interest in the American market.

Valencia Sailing: Last but certainly not least. You only have two years left to have everything in place. Do you have enough time?
Craig Thompson: Let me tell you one thing. We started working on the Champions League in February of 1992 and in November we had our first games. We will do the same for the America's Cup.

When we started the Champions League the teams had all the rights, there was no branding, no music not even a central organization. We had to start everything from the beginning. We had a brand new marketing concept, we had to sell the TV rights all over the world, sell sponsorship, put the hospitality in place, have all the football clubs come on board. It was an enormous task. You could say the football teams and the players were the same but everything else was completely different!

In the America's Cup we inherited a system from the 32nd edition, which was a long process that the Bertarelli organization implemented in Valencia. It was a very big step forward for sailing, we are very happy with that and we want to use it as a platform to go further forward and develop the sport more. A lot of the work has been done and a lot more needs to be done but we have all the time necessary to prepare for the 34th America's Cup.

Quantum Racing Announces New Helmsman for 2011 Season

[Source: Quantum Racing] America’s Cup winner and world champion helmsman Ed Baird has joined the Quantum Racing team as helmsman for the 2011 season. Baird assumes the position following the decision by Terry Hutchinson, helmsman since 2008, to compete in the 34th America’s Cup.

Ed Reynolds, President of Quantum Sail Design Group and Managing Director for Quantum Racing, says Baird’s expertise as both a sailor and coach make him a great fit for the team, which clinched the TP52 World Champion- ship title earlier this month. “Ed is an 11-time world champion, has sailed with many of the guys on our team and is very much committed to our program, which is as much about product development as it is winning races. Ed’s accomplishments both on and off the water are impressive and his analytical approach to sailing is a real asset. We’re very excited to bring him on board and will value his expertise as we work to put a new boat, rig and sails on the water.”

Ed Baird is the new Quantum Racing helmsman

Reynolds adds, “We wish Terry all the best as he prepares for the America’s Cup. He’s done an excellent job for us and we’re grateful for his sailing leadership and contributions to our test team program. This is not unexpected, as we’ve been aware of Terry’s aspirations to one day join an AC campaign. We’ve had a great run with Terry at the helm and fully expect his participation in the America’s Cup to be just as successful.”

Baird joins Quantum Racing with an appreciation for its accomplishments and purpose. “Terry Hutchinson has done a great job with this team. He’s had a lot to do with the personnel and process of developing the equipment and the product. I see my role as continuing to lead the team at a high level. The team has an impressive history from which to move forward. Our focus is on continuing to look for ways to improve and advancing the process of making fast sails and putting them together with fast boats, fast rigs and great people. I’ll be in the middle of all this and I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Baird has racing experience in nearly every type of boat including TP52s when they were a new class. Baird was the winning helmsman of America’s Cup 32 aboard Alinghi, the 2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, and was part of the 1995 America’s Cup winning team, Team New Zealand. Baird has raced in the Whitbread Round-the-World Race, is a three-time Match Racing World Champion and the only American ever to reach #1 on the ISAF World Match Racing rankings. Baird also has extensive Grand Prix and Olympic racing experience and numerous World, International and North American one-design championships to his credit.

In the coming months, Baird will be involved in the process to put a new boat on the water for the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit. “We have plenty to plan and organize, and before you know it the boat will be built and ready for launch!”

Quantum Racing serves as a test platform to evaluate and validate Quantum’s iQ® Technology process for sail development and the company’s Fusion M® sails. It is winner of the 2010 and 2008 TP52 World Championships and runner-up in the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit.

Phil Robertson wins Asian Match Racing Championship title

[Source: Monsoon Cup] 23-year old New Zealand skipper Phil Robertson (Waka Racing) today showed why he has the scalps of some of the top guns on the ISAF World Match Racing circuit hanging on his belt.

The Asian Match Racing Championship sailed on the Pulau Duyong Basin in Terengganu, Malaysia, is one of three qualifying events ahead of the 2010 Monsoon Cup, the final event on the World Match Racing Tour.

Robertson defeated up and coming Australian match racer David Gilmour, the 19-year old son of four times World Match Racing Champion Peter Gilmour, in the final.

David Gilmour swept through the first of the round robins undefeated and finished the two round robins in second place, having twice beaten Phil Robertson and his Waka Racing Team.

In the semi finals, Team Gilmour steadied after a first match loss and went on to beat Wataru Sakomoto's Team Siesta (JPN) 2-1. Robertson was impressive against Reuben Corbett (Black Sheep Racing) and his Malaysian crew winning two races (2-0) to go straight through to the final.

Phil Robertson wins his second consecutive Asian Match Racing Champion title. Kuala Terengganu, 28 October 2010. Photo copyright SubZero Images / Monsoon Cup

In the first race of the final between Gilmour and Robertson it was tight in the prestart, with Robertson pushing his younger rival and in the fast moving tide Gilmour was OCS by half a metre, he had to go around and it was game over.

In the second race, the two crews were about even in the prestart with Robertson on the pin, when they came together as they approached the top mark; the two boats were bow to bow.

Roberson had to duck but he initiated a luffing match just before the top mark and managed to round ahead.

His crew had a slightly better set and down the run there was a tight gybing duel, with Gilmour losing a little ground.

But up the second beat the West Australian threw everything he could at the Waka Racing Team. Gilmour was determined not to die wondering. A dozen tacks later, Roberson had edged ahead to a two boat length lead and with a better set at the top mark, he edged away from Gilmour to take the win.

Dockside Robertson paid compliments to Gilmour, Sakamoto and Corbett and to his crew.

‘We have a big edge on David and his crew in experience. David is only 19, so he is sailing scarily well. We are really pushing for a World Match Racing Tour card for 2011. So we won't be leaving any stone unturned in our efforts between now and the Monsoon Cup. We have a grade one event in Berlin next week, then the New Zealand Nationals and then the Australia Cup, so our plan is to arrive back here in Terengganu right on the pace for the Monsoon Cup.'

David Gilmour was gracious in defeat. ‘We were beaten by a better crew this afternoon. Naturally we are disappointed to lose twice against Phil when we'd beaten him in both round robin matches.

‘But when it came down to the end, it was Phil's experience that made the difference. This is a game of seconds; we mistimed our first start and then in the second match we were just a little late in a few manoeuvres and he got away from us. This has been a good learning regatta. We are on the plane back to Perth tonight. I have Uni exams next week but we will be back again next year and we will be ready to take another step up.'

Wataru Sakamoto Team Siesta (JPN) was certainly not asleep, taking third place against Reuben Corbett.

‘We had a good series, we were very happy with our third place. We had our chances against Gilmour but every mistake is just one too many. The Monsoon Cup and the qualifying events have been great for Asian Match Racing. This was great training for us for the Asian Games; they are on in Guangzhou from November 12 - 27, 2010. We plan to be back next year. The only problem for us is that young Gilmour will be tougher and still only 19.'

New Zealander Reuben Corbett finished an impressive fourth in this event with his ever improving Malaysian crew and Corbett was full of praise for them. ‘They have just kept getting stronger every single race.

‘Overall the right guys won. Robertson was on fire, just not making mistakes. Gilmour obviously has a great future and Sakamoto was very strong.

‘Now I have a busy schedule ahead. With my Black Sheep Racing crew we will be sailing the New Zealand Nationals and the Australia Cup, trying hard to pick up the third Monsoon Cup slot from there.

‘We will be racing against Ian Ainslie from South Africa, the two Aussies Peter Nicholas and Keith Swinton, and another New Zealander William Tiller, so we are looking forward to another great series.'

After losing time on a windless afternoon yesterday, Principal Race Office David Tallis was relieved to have had the wind back for the finals day.

He summed up the event. ‘It was exciting racing; the standard has lifted significantly again this year, at both last week's Malaysian titles and here at the Asian Championship. The difference between first and fourth today was just a matter of a few metres. I was very impressed with Phil Robertson, I can see him in the semi finals at the Monsoon Cup the way he is progressing and David Gilmour definitely has a big future in this sport.'

Having a "Chinese" at 36 knots

There must be little doubt, after watching the video, that the media people at the Volvo Ocean Race did a fantastic job in the 2008-9 edition of the round-the-world race, in particular with the establishment of the compulsory MCM (Media Crew Member) onboard each participating yacht.

This first clip (part 1 of 2) illustrates Ericsson 4's wipeout in the Southern Ocean and the period after, as the crew battles to keep everything under control and jury rig the boat so that they can keep racing.

Guy Salter was the MCM on the boat and does a great job of keeping the camera rolling while Phil Jameson gives an excellent explanation of what happened and the subsequent action taken by the crew.

The only negative part of all this mind-boggling quantity of excellent video footage is that we might become like the Japanese tourists in the 1980's. They spent their life taking thousands of photos of every single tourist attraction in the world, needing another life to look at the photos they snapped.

Having a "Chinese" at 36 knots in the Southern Ocean. Video copyright Volvo Ocean Race

Sakamoto flies the flag for Japan as Robertson takes the lead in the Asian Match Racing Championship

[Source: Monsoon cup] Wataku Sakamoto (JPN) Team Siesta is guaranteed a top four finish in the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) as Mother Nature wrecked havoc on the third day of the event at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa.

After two-days of strong winds which saw a total of 16 of the scheduled 18 flights in the qualifying sessions completed, Sakamoto is fourth with a 9-5 record.

Defending AMRC Champion Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing (12-2) shrugged off his two defeats to David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour (11-3) to top the standings ahead of his rival at end of racing, while Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing is third (10-4).

Phil Robertson, currently leading the Asian Match Racing Championship, reports on day 3 of racing. Kuala Terengganu, 27 October 2010. Video copyright Waka Racing

The AMRC is the second qualifying event for the season-ending Monsoon Cup and the Champion will join Jeremy Koo (Mas) Koo Racing Team-Evernew, winner of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC), the top eight skippers in the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) standing, the winner of the Sunseeker Australia Cup and one wildcard entry for the season-ending race of the 2010 season.

The plan was for the top four to face off in the semi-finals with the winners than going on to the final to decide who gets the invitation to race in the Monsoon Cup. However, Principal Race Officer, David Tallis said if there is no wind tomorrow, there could be just a final.

“This is a sport which is dependent on the weather and there really isn’t anything we can do. I remember the 2003 America’s Cup was also delayed by two weeks as there was no wind,” he said.

“We have several options available to us and we are still determined to finish Qualifying Session 2 as that will be fair to all teams.

“If that is not possible, we would have to rescore the teams and make the semi-finals and final a ‘first to two’ instead of first to three as this will shorten the time. If, in the event, we can’t start the semi-finals by 3pm, we might go straight into the final. I would like to stress, that nothing is set in stone and we will evaluate our options in the morning.”

Phil Robertson leads the Asian Match Racing Championship. Kuala Terengganu, 27 October 2010. Photo copyright Subzero Images / Monsoon Cup

Meanwhile, Sakamoto said placing in the top four has made him even more determined to win the title before he competes in the Asian Games next month.

“Before coming to Malaysia, I wasn’t sure how the team would do. Obviously, we were not the favourites as there are many good teams,” said Sakamoto. “However, after two and a half days here, I feel we stand a good chance of winning. I'm here to prepare for the Asian Games and winning the AMRC will be a big boost for me and also help promote the sport back in Japan. It will also help me get more sponsors!”

ASIAN MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIP - STANDINGS (After 16 of 18 flights)
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 12-2
David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour 11-3
Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing 10-4
Wataru Sakamoto (JPN) Team Siesta 9-5
Graeme Sutherland (HKG) Team Hermes 7-8
Peter Nicholas (AUS) Freshie Racing Team 6-8
Mark Lees (GBR) 5-9
Tan Wearn Haw (SIN) SINYIDAI 3-12
Neil Semple (THA) Capital TV 1-13

The 3D Revolution in sailing

Swiss photographer Juerg Kaufmann has been covering the world's major sailing events for years but as he admits he always had the feeling he was showing the public only part of what he was seeing in his own photos. In particular, in yachting photography he had the desire to show more and give the viewer a feeling of dimensions and distances.

After months of work, night and day, to find the perfect settings and adjustments, Juerg spent the summer trying out his invention. The final result was beyond his own expectations and as one can observe in the small sample here, some of the shots are truly impressive.

Unfortunately, internet technology hasn't reached that level of perfection and as a result you have to wear a pair of anaglyphe 3D glasses red/cyan with red on the left side. If you don't have 3D glasses, just click here to order a pair.

I'm absolutely sure we'll be seeing more of those shots in the very near future...

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

The 3d Revolution in sailing. Photo copyright Juerg Kaufmann

Tough fight between Gilmour and Robertson at the Asian Match Racing Championship

[Source: Monsoon Cup] The Monsoon Cup, the final event in the ISAF World Match Racing Tour, is just a month away and nine crews racing in the Asian Match Racing Championship, being raced at Terengganu Malaysia are fighting for a single 2010 Monsoon Cup berth.

After day two, David Gilmour, the 19 year West Australian university student is leading the round robin series with ten wins and two losses, but his lead is desperately thin and its clear that the semi-finals will provide some scorching action.

Young Gilly was mopping his brow as he came up to the Ri-Yaz Resort and Spa from the Pulau Duyong Basin this afternoon. 'This is our first regatta outside Australia, it was really really hot today and that was not just the air temperature.

‘There was a noticeable lift in everyone's game today. With a solid number of matches under their belts, the teams have ironed out most of their crew-work issues and the winning margins are decreasing.

‘We had a clean sheet until today. We lost against Reuben Corbett – he is a very good sailor - he controlled us in the pre-start. then he won on the right and with the strong current this morning, the right was paying and that was the end of it.'

Glimour continued. 'Then later in the day, against Peter Nicholas from Royal Freshwater (in Perth West Australia) we had a bit of a brain fade. We got our start line approach time wrong and as a result he got to the right and extended away from us.

'For us, the highlight of the day was the last match battle we had with Phil Robertson - that was very intense and we were lucky to escape. We are looking forward to tomorrow big time!'

Phil Robertson (NZL) and his WAKA Racing team, the defending Champions, were beaten by Gilmour in one of the matches of the day. Robertson attracted a penalty in the pre-start; they had a massive lead at the top of the first beat and should have wiped their penalty off then.

As Robertson said shaking his head 'a big mistake, but we decided to do it later and Gilly came back at us. He halved our lead on the run, and then we ran out of time. We threw that one away.

'This is definitely a tougher competition than last year. David and Reuben are both young and pretty keen. I think it is fantastic that there are so many young guys aiming for the Tour. This regatta is starting to become one of the main events for anyone from down under.'

Rueben Corbett, who is 23 years old, said ‘Really enjoying this event. Having had the same New Zealand crew for more than 400 matches, to suddenly have a totally new all Malaysian crew, who have trouble with my Kiwi accent, has been interesting. We met for the first time yesterday morning and since then we've been having some very intensive on the job training.

‘Now we have sailed a dozen matches and we are meshing together well. The guys were very nervous initially but they are getting more and more confident.

‘They are working hard and they are rising to a new level but no quarter is given at this level and David Gilmour, Phil Robertson and now Wataru Sakamoto have all managed to take races from us.

‘Today we were beaten by Phil Robertson. We had a good tussle in the prestart, he got a lift on the line, we managed to stay close at the top mark we were on his stern, but he got away.

‘But then we beat David Gilmour. Yesterday I was going quietly to give the crew time to find their feet but today I was much more aggressive. I had had him (David) on the ropes in the prestart, kept the pressure up and got a penalty on him.

‘Right now the goal is the semi-finals. As you can see on the World Match Tour and at every level down, under pressure funny things can happen, so right now we are focussing hard to win every single match of this second round robin.'

While David Gilmour (AUS) and Phil Robertson (NZL) look relatively safe, as does Rueben Corbett (NZL) on form, Wataru Sakamoto (JPN) 6-4, is fighting to hold out Mark Lees (GBR) 5-6 and Graeme Sutherland (HKG) 4-6.

As Britisher Mark Lees commented dockside 'Yesterday we were beaten by Graeme Sutherland from Hong Kong in flight 2, but we turned the tables today. The RYA used to be very active organising Match Racing events, now we have to go to Europe to get experience and the Asia Pacific opportunities are rapidly outstripping those of any other region.'

Current standings: Asian Match Racing Championship

David Gilmour – Team Gilmour (AUS) 10-2
Phil Robertson – WAKA Racing (NZL) 9-2
Reuben Corbett – Black Sheep Racing (NZL) 8-3
Wataru Sakamoto – Team Siesta (JPN) 7-4
Graeme Sutherland – Team Hermes (HKG) 6-5
Mark Lees – Team Echo (GBR) 4-7
Peter Nicholas – Freshie Racing Team (AUS) 4-7
Tan Wearn Haw – Sinyidai (SIN) 2-9
Neil Semple – Capital TV (THA) 1-10

Bruno and Loïck Peyron join together to challenge for the 34th America's Cup

- After studying the matter for several months and following various discussions, the French sailors Loïck and Bruno Peyron are getting together in an attempt to unite the leading figures from French multihull sailing. This new challenge is being set up with the goal of bringing the America’s Cup, which will be raced on multihulls in 2013, to France for the first time in its history.

- A meeting between Russell Coutts, representing the Defender and organiser of the 34th America’s Cup, and the Peyron brothers was held in Paris on Friday, to discuss how France could take part in such an ambitious project as the America’s Cup.

- Bruno and Loïck Peyron have also announced they are in talks with Stéphane Kandler, Jochen Schümann (twice winner of the America’s Cup) and their ALL4ONE team, with the prospect of bringing the two groups together.

Are the French able to win the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest international sporting trophy? A goal, which France, ever since Baron Bich’s first challenge in 1967, has been unable to reach. It is certainly a very complex project, even though no one doubts the ability of French designers, sailors and builders, this is not by itself enough to guarantee success.

The America’s Cup, just like Formula 1 motor racing, is a global event, an economic and technological war, just as much as being a sporting challenge. Between now and the end of March, the new team that is being formed will have to prove it has got what it takes to commit itself. They will then have three years ahead of them to prove they can win.

The America’s Cup revolution of 2013

For 2013, something which no one really expected is happening. The Defender and Challenger of Record announced on 13th September that the 34th America’s Cup will be raced aboard multihulls, and more precisely on 72-foot catamarans with rigid wingsails. This announcement led to a wave of optimism from the French, meaning the conquest of the Silver Ewer is more likely to be within the grasp of the world’s leading multihull specialists in France.

A sacred union of multihull racers

After doing battle for 30 years on the world’s oceans and between them obtaining the finest list of successes in ocean racing, Loïck and Bruno Peyron coming together is an unprecedented opportunity for the French in challenging for the America’s Cup.

The two brothers have set a target of three months to try to bring together all the necessary personnel and resources, from a sporting, technological and economic perspective, to achieve this goal.

This major challenge is open to all the talents in France and abroad with the aim of bringing together the two worlds of multihull racing and the America’s Cup, to try and conquer the most famous sailing event in the world.

Brothers Loïck (left) and Bruno Peyron announce their intention to challenge for the 34th America's Cup

Bruno Peyron: “With the America’s Cup being organised for the first time with multihulls, the challenge is clear for us: Is France, the world leader in multihulls for 30 years capable of capitalising on its assets or will it allow other nations to catch up in three years, what we have acquired over 30? We have three months ahead of us to answer that question and three years to show what we can do. Looking beyond individual concerns, and any protectionism, I am convinced that we need to unite to be in with a chance of winning. This first symbolic step must build the foundations to allow skills, wherever they come from to be brought together.

This will be carried out at a pace suiting everyone, but remaining open is a key aspect of achieving this goal. Are we being idealistic? Is it impossible? We have already proven that what seems impossible is not always so."

Loïck Peyron: “We’ve always been told and quite rightly that the America’s Cup is reserved for specialists...which is good news for us! From Formula 18 to the Route du Rhum and not forgetting the Jules Verne Trophy, the French are specialists in multihulls, so let’s go for it ... together.”

Russell Coutts: “The new format of The America's Cup is a great opportunity for a country such as France which counts with some of the best multihull skills in the world. Bruno and Loick Peyron each have a fantastic record in racing multihulls successfully as well as creating and taking part in top level events. I am really gratified to see that they share a similar vision for transforming the America's Cup and the new opportunities created for teams with imagination and ambition. I have no doubt that Bruno & Loick Peyron will put together a strong team and prove to be tough competitors.”

Video: Groupama 70 arrives in Alicante

If you ever had the slightest doubt Groupama was the favorite team to win the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race just watch the video, even if it's in French. While Franck Cammas is in Saint Malo, getting ready for the start of the Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale onboard Groupama 3, the team's VO70 yacht arrived in Alicante on Sunday.

The 11 crew, including a media crew member and a journalist, left their home base in Lorient last Monday afternoon. The trip took six days due to the weather conditions along the Portuguese coast and the yacht finally reached the Spanish port on Sunday morning. As one would have expected, the purpose of the trip was to train and try the boat but not only! According to navigator Jean-Luc Nélias, the shore crew was also rehearsing for the round-the-world race, as they need to "practice the logistics and technical part of the team as well as the planning and procedures with the crew and shore team", because they "don't have everything under control yet."!!

With only four entries officially announced so far, the French team is certainly ahead in terms of preparation and according to Nélias, "one month from now we will be focusing on our new boat for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race and on the Groupama 70 project." The Groupama team will return to Alicante in mid-November and then on to Puerto Calero to continue with their preparations, just like Ericsson did 2 years ago.

Groupama 70

David Gilmour leads Asian Match Racing Championship undefeated

[Source: Monsoon Cup] David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour crushed the opposition in the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) Qualifying Session 1, winning his first five matches at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa today.

The son of four-time World Champion Peter Gilmour, David’s stellar performance on the opening day of the four-day Championship saw him register wins over defending Champion Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing and the highly rated Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing.

Reflecting on his team’s achievement today, David said: “I haven’t had much sleep and didn’t really expect to be leading as we had some tough matches early on. Beating Reuben and Phil has given my team a confidence boost and hopefully, we can build on it as the Championship continues. I was here last year for a month so am quite familiar with the course, which was a big help today.

“I have two new crew members (Ted Hackney and Will McKenzie), who are both from Sydney. They gelled well with the rest and our teamwork has been fantastic. It is still early and I’m not taking anything for granted. It’s a double round robin before the k nock-out stage so those who lost today can still comeback.

David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour leads after winning all five of his matches. Kuala Terengganu, 25 October 2010. Photo copyright Subzero Images / Monsoon Cup

“The heat will be a factor and fitness will be very important. To win the title, a team would need to sail in over 20 flights so, we got to keep hydrated, sleep well and make sure we eat the right food.”

Besides Gilmour, Corbett and Robertson, there are six other teams – Wataru Sakamoto (JPN) Team Siesta, Neil Semple (THAI) Capital TV, Graeme Sutherland (HKG) Team Hermes, Tan Wearn Haw (SIN) SINYIDAI, Mark Lees (GBR) Team ECHO and Peter Nicholas (AUS) Freshie Racing Team – who are all vying for the title.

Corbett, who arrived here from New York, has a Malaysian crew – Mohammad Razali Mansor, Azhar Saadon Zubir, Rafiz Ibrahim and Hairolnizam Hat – and was pleasantly surprised with their performance so far.

“We have had a few communication problems but nothing serious. We are second with three wins from four flights, so I’m reasonably pleased with them,” said Corbett.

Two other skippers – Robertson and Sakamoto – also have three wins and they are followed by Nicholas and Lees with two wins each. Semple, who has one Malaysian crew – Mohd Saifullah – and Sutherland have won one match while Wearn Haw is winless after five matches.

Reigning Asian champion, Phil Robertson (NZL), didn't have a great start in the first day. Kuala Terengganu, 25 October 2010. Photo copyright Subzero Images / Monsoon Cup

The AMRC is the second qualifying event for the season-ending Monsoon Cup, which takes place from 30th November to 5th December. The winner here at the AMRC will join Jeremy Koo (MAS) Koo Racing Team-Evernew (winner of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship), the top eight skippers in the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) standings, the winner of the Sunseeker Australia Cup and one wildcard entry for the Monsoon Cup.

Asian Match Racing Championship: Qualifying Session 1

David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour) 5-0
Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing 3-1
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 3-1
Wataru Sakamoto (JPN) Team Siesta 3-1
Peter Nicholas (AUS) Freshie Racing Team 2-2
Mark Lees (GBR) Team ECHO 2-2
Neil Semple (THA) Capital TV 1-3
Graeme Sutherland (HKG) Team Hermes 1-4
Tan Wearn Haw (SIN) SINYIDAI 0-5

World Match Racing Tour Launches Venue Bidding Process

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The ISAF World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), sailing’s premier global match racing tour, has today opened the bidding process for cities, regions and countries from around the globe to enter the race for the right to host a stage of sailing's leading world series.

WMRT is an exciting and spectator friendly discipline with leading skippers and their teams taking each other on in short, sharp, high adrenalin, head-to-head battles in identical boats. Recognised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with special event status, WMRT is a professionally managed tour currently consisting of nine events worldwide. The Tour culminates in the crowning of a World Champion.

The bidding process, which will be managed by venue acquisition consultancy Regatta International, will see six new venues selected to join the Tour from the 2012-2013 seasons. The new venues will win the right to hold a World Championship stage, each lasting for 5 days.

Cities, countries and regions interested in finding out more about WMRT, the benefits associated with being a host venue, and what the application process is, can find full details and register their interest at http://application.wmrt.com/

Commenting on the opening of the bidding process, WMRT CEO Jim O’Toole commented, “The World Match Racing Tour is a well proven marketing platform for destinations wishing to showcase their facilities, infrastructure and organisational capacities, increase their international tourism profile and attract inward investment."

“We are currently undergoing an intense period of expansion and are looking forward to partnering with venues who share our ambition. We have already fielded strong levels of interest from potential venues and by opening up the bidding process we’ll be requiring bidding venues to meet certain criteria."

“These will range from essential requirements such as proving they can ensure good winds, to logistical, marketing and financial commitments, as well as guaranteeing they can provide the level of infrastructure associated with a world class level sporting event.”

Regatta International’s Director Terry Newby said, “The World Match Racing Tour is already one of sailing’s most respected brands with outstanding events around the world. The opportunity to work with interested parties to develop the series to 15 stages by 2013 is a hugely exciting prospect.

“Over the past 10 years WMRT has developed into a very well organised series which attracts top class sailors while drawing a huge global audience and media footprint. The benefits for venues looking to host a stage are numerous, ranging from strong economic returns to developing international awareness. We look forward to collaborating with bidding cities to maximise their chances of success.”

Memorandum for prospective 34th America's Cup competitors

Related Documents

GGYC Trustee Memo No. 1

The Golden Gate Yacht Club published yesterday a memorandum that provides details for filing a Notice of Challenge or Application of Defense in accordance with the America’s Cup Deed of Gift (“Deed”) and the Protocol Governing the 34th America’s Cup (“Protocol”).

There isn't anything extraordinary in that memo, merely formalities, but it does state that GGYC will publicly announce only that it has accepted a challenge or a defense candidate and the date of acceptance. They will not announce other particulars unless the team asks them to, in which case they will have to make their own announcement.

The logic behind this approach is for the organization not to steal the spotlight with each announcement but leave it to the teams to grab the attention of the world media. Let's hope this is a first sign that all involved in the 34th America's Cup, from GGYC to the ACEA and ACRM, will be much more thoughtful toward, and supportive of, the teams.

Phil Robertson ready to defend his Asian Match Racing Champion title

Current ISAF World Match Racing Tour Champion (WMRT), Adam Minoprio (NZL ) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing has shown just what the Asian Match Racing Championships (AMRC) can do for a sailor’s career having first made a name for himself by winning the AMRC in 2006 and 2007. This year the AMRC starts today, October 25th and runs until the 28th at the Ri- Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, the home venue of the Monsoon Cup.

Phil Robertson is the defending Asian champion and here's what he had to say right before the start of racing: "The venue is still very hot but the current is not as strong as in previous years. As the defending champions, the pressure is going to be on us but we are used to that. We have been training hard for the last three weeks to get ready to defend our title. The crew is almost the same, with the exception of our bowman as he could not make it this year. We have sailed here twice before and this will be an added advantage for us as this can be a tricky course. I think our inside knowledge will help us tremendously.

Winning this event last year has been good to us and raised our exposure massively. It has also helped us get into many other events and our skill level is now much higher as a result. We have taken part in two WMRT events this year - Korea and Bermuda but it's getting tougher as the skill level in the qualifiers is quite high."

Asian defending champion, Phil Robertson, trains on the eve of the Asian Match Racing Championship. Kuala Terengganu, 24 October 2010. Photo copyright SubZero Images / MonsoonCup

Iain Murray CEO of ACRM, talks to Valencia Sailing

Iain Murray was appointed CEO, about a month ago, of newly-formed America's Cup Race Management, the body set up by BMW Oracle in charge of everything related to the actual racing in the 34th America's Cup. Murray had his first, at least public, meeting with the potential teams, both challengers and defenders, on Friday in Paris. Valencia Sailing caught up with him in order to know more about his past, the meeting in Paris and the main issues he will face in the near future.

Valencia Sailing: Let's start briefly talking about your background and your involvement in the America's Cup in the past.
Iain Murray: In 1983 I was originally the skipper of Advance, the challenge from Sydney, and then of the trial horse for Australia II. In 1987 I was the skipper of Kookaburra, one of chief designers as well as CEO of the syndicate. In 1992 I held the same positions and in 1995 I was a sailor on the boat and co-designer of One Australia.

Valencia Sailing: On September 17th you were appointed CEO of America's Cup Race Management and in the official press release you made a statement that I always wanted to ask you what you meant. You said you were "impressed by the commitment BMW ORACLE Racing, Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison have made to fix this thing". What was broken in the America's Cup that needed to be fixed?
Iain Murray: Well, it has always been broken because the Trustee of the America's Cup had a conflict being the Defender and the Trustee at the same time. We worked very hard in 1992 and 1995 to create a separate Trustee that would work independently of the Defender of the America's Cup and we were very close to having an agreement signed back then. It didn't happen and Team New Zealand won the Cup. Now, fifteen years later I actually see Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts having the desire to have an independent body running the event and I think it is something that has been necessary for a long time.

Valencia Sailing: Would you then argue that in the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia, Dyer Jones was not independent?
Iain Murray: I'm not saying he wasn't independent. Dyer Jones is a very good guy and there is nothing wrong with Dyer Jones. At the end of the day after 2007 the America's Cup ended back in a Deed-of-Gift challenge. It happened in 1988 and then back in 2007 and both of them were very undesirable results for the America's Cup in my opinion. I wasn't in Valencia in 2007 and I don't know what happened but between 2007 and 2010 it wasn't good for the America's Cup. I feel that some great things came out of it, such as the technology and the boats, but the Deed-of-Gift challenge and the court case caused substantial damage to the America's Cup.

Valencia Sailing: Does that mean that with the establishment of ACRM (America's Cup Race Management) and ACEA (America's Cup Event Authority) the possibility of another Deed-of-Gift challenge has been eliminated?
Iain Murray: If you sign up for this challenge and you sign up to the protocol
that has been produced by the Challenger of Record and the Defender or the Trustee of the America's Cup, Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts, you can't go back to a Deed-of-Gift challenge, it's in the terms of reference of the entry.

Iain Murray, newly-appointed Regatta Director for the 34th America’s Cup and CEO of America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM). Photo copyright www.americascup.com

Valencia Sailing: What are ACRM's role and responsibilities in this America's Cup?
Iain Murray: We are responsible basically for everything that is related to racing. We set up the venues, we work with ISAF to provide the jury, we place the race control in conjunction with the challengers and the race committee, we basically run all the logistics for the America's Cup. Prior to that we will run the World Series which will be somewhere between 13 and 16 events over a couple of years before the America's Cup and as you understand, it's a lot of races and a lot logistics with two different classes of boats.

Valencia Sailing: Your first, at least public, meeting with the potential teams of this Cup took place on Friday in Paris. What did you discuss with them?
Iain Murray: It was a first briefing that provided potential competitors with the knowledge that we have at this particular time. The aim was to bring them up to speed with who we are, to introduce ourselves, ACRM and ACEA, the people they are going to be dealing with the backgrounds of those people and what those two organizations' plans are for the future. So, we took them through who we are, what we are going to do, how our corporate structure works, who's responsible for what. We took them through some highlights of key dates to do with the protocol, the entry process, the AC45's and the World Series based on what we know at this time. We took them through how to get hold of an AC45, how boats will be delivered and what are thoughts are regarding juries, umpiring, bits and pieces.

Then, the event side took them through their view of the events, what they will vie to achieve in television and media and how they can possibly work with the competitors to have a better and healthy America's Cup.

Valencia Sailing: The World Series will start next year. How many events do you plan to have in 2011?
Iain Murray: We are planning to have five events.

Valencia Sailing: Is it correct the first event will take place in June or July here in Europe?
Iain Murray: Yes, that's correct.

Valencia Sailing: The AC45's will be used in next year's events. What is the schedule you have for the yachts? Is the first one going to be ready by Christmas?
Iain Murray: I'm not sure it's going to be ready by Christmas but it will surely be ready for sea trials in the first week of January. Whether it has test sails prior to Christmas, I'm not pressing on that issue, the main issue is to conduct sea trials in the first week of January. Then we hand over the first boat over to syndicates to trial on a rotational basis, from the 15th of January until we deliver the next four boats, around the beginning of March.

Valencia Sailing: Who will get the first boat? Is it going to be BMW Oracle?
Iain Murray: My understanding is that the Defender and the Challenger of Record will get the first two boats and then boats 3, 4, 5 and 6 will go to the other teams that entered the event, according to their order of entry in the event.

Valencia Sailing: How will the entered teams get the new boats? Are they going to have to buy them?
Iain Murray: Yes, that's correct.

Valencia Sailing: What about the teams that want two AC45's? Can they have two yachts?
Iain Murray: Yes, they can but all the teams that want only one boat will get it before anyone else gets two boats.

Valencia Sailing: Were there any potential defending teams in the meeting and what was in general the feedback you received from all the participants?
Iain Murray: Yes, there was a potential defending team. Regarding the feedback, there were some questions about the protocol but the general feedback was positive. They all understand the vision of Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts and accept it. It presents some challenges to some of them to put things together because of the tight schedule. Everyone would like to be involved but it's up to whether they can manage it.

Valencia Sailing: Surely 24 potential teams is an impressive but extremely unlikely number. Is there a number you will be realistically happy with?
Iain Murray: Anything above 8 competitors will be fantastic. If we have 8 competitors that will be good, if we have 9 that will be better, if we have 12 that will be unbelievable.

Valencia Sailing: What was the geographical spread of the participants? Were they mainly Europeans?
Iain Murray: I can say there was Asian representation, Pacific representation and a lot of European representation. You know, this wasn't a competitors meeting, it was a briefing to interested parties and a lot of people turned up to see what we were going to talk about.

Valencia Sailing: Was there any representative of Alinghi or anyone on behalf of them?
Iain Murray: Not that I know of.

Valencia Sailing: Why didn't you make public the identity of the participants in the meeting?
Iain Murray: That was really the choice of the participants. They were not ready to declare. There was a lot of people that were looking at whether they wanted a partner or who their sponsors might be, so making the list public would be premature. It wasn't a competitors meeting, it was a briefing.

Valencia Sailing: What is the next step now after that meeting?
Iain Murray: We have a very tight time schedule to deliver the AC45's. There is no set number we have to deliver but we work on the basis that we will have to deliver as many as we possibly can for the first event. We are also working very hard on the logistics approach as these boats will move around. We are working on boat supplies, on the wingsails, on how to operate in the different venues, how to transport them, how to pack them, how we will moor them. There are a lot of things we are working on. We have a number of people spread all over the world working on all those issues. Once we know the regatta venues we will start looking at them in order to study them, understand the specifics and plan accordingly.

Valencia Sailing: Will the wingsails be logistically a bigger problem than if the yachts had conventional rigging and soft sails?
Iain Murray: Sure, particularly since we have the responsibility of moving the boats. The wings are quite fragile and need to be handled by very professional people to ensure they are not damaged in transport. We will adapt to it. It's nice to have the AC45's to start with because the AC72's present far bigger a challenge. Nevertheless, we have some very good and smart people working on all of that and I'm sure we'll come up with the right answers. We are looking at several ways of dealing with it and we'll get on top of that. Once we understand the boats it's not going to be a frightening issue for us.

Valencia Sailing: Will you also be in charge of running the Youth America's Cup Championship?
Iain Murray: Yes, we are in charge of running all the sailing side. We still have to work out what that is, when it's going to be. Part of our duties is to run the Youth Championship and we intend to do that. We will work with the syndicates so that it's neither a huge cost nor a huge distraction for them. It's not going to be a Series but a Championship. We are also looking at what we'll do with the AC45's once the AC72's are on track. They will be very good boats and everybody is going to learn a lot with them but will happen with them afterwards is another issue.

ACRM Hosts Preliminary Briefing for Prospective Competitors for the 34th America’s Cup

[Source: America's Cup Race Management] 45 representatives of 24 prospective teams meet in Paris.

Twenty-four prospective teams for the 34th America’s Cup met today with the newly established independent organization, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM), regarding the details for the next Cup racing cycle set to begin in 2011 with an America’s Cup World Series.

“With the entry period for the teams fast approaching, we called the prospective teams together to share with them as much information as is available on all aspects of the America’s Cup starting next year and ramping up to the 34th America’s Cup in 2013,” said Iain Murray, CEO and Regatta Director for the ACRM.

34th America's Cup - Potential challengers meeting. Paris, 22 October 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / America's Cup

“The goal is to get everyone on the same page on where we are in the planning and to encourage candid discussion and input. Communication among the prospective teams is important right now with a new event format, new boats and new event management. It’s an exciting time in the America’s Cup, but there’s plenty of work ahead before we get to the start line.”

The newly established event organization ACRM is also designed to carry on beyond the 34th America’s Cup, no matter which team wins. This will reintroduce certainty to the sport and benefit the teams with the stability of an ongoing event management entity and an ongoing robust racing program.

The 45 representatives, on behalf of 24 teams from 13 countries, reviewed the marketing and television plans from the recently formed commercial arm, the America’s Cup Event Authority. The ACEA will provide the financial stability to allow the America’s Cupthe continuity of racing and management from cycle to cycle regardless of Defender/Trustee.

“The teams are now in the marketplace for prospective partners to fund their programs,” said Richard Worth, Chairman of ACEA. “We are supporting them as much as possible by providing the teams with the right tools to help source commercial partners.”

Iain Murray, CEO of ACRM, talks to the potential 34th America's Cup challengers. Paris, 22 October 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / America's Cup

“With the planned enhancements for the media model and other positive event changes, the teams have the best package ever to attract sponsors on board,” Worth said. The entry period for competitors opens on the 1st of November and closes 31 March 2011. Teams are at an important stage to evaluate and finalize their plans to enter.

Friday’s meeting was a preliminary briefing and it marked the first gathering of prospective competitors with ACRM and ACEA officials.

The briefing included a review of the event management structure, commercial matters, venue update, the 2011 AC World Series program, plans for the AC45 catamaran, the newly released AC 72 class rule, cost reduction strategies and possible budgets for prospective teams.

A regular series of Competitor Forums, as required by the Protocol that provides the framework of rules for the 34th AC, will start next month once the entry period has opened.

Irish Time: Ireland's Volvo Ocean Race entry struggling to secure funding

The article that appeared in today's Irish Times shouldn't come as a surprise, given the dire financial situation Ireland has found itself. It appears that the potential Irish entry in the 2011-12 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is encountering hurdles in its drive to secure the necessary funds.

According to the article, similarly to the port of Lorient in France, an Irish entry in the race must also be present in order for Galway to repeat as a stopover. This edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is scheduled to finish in the Irish port during the first week of July 2012. The French provided Team Groupama, most probably the best team, headed by one of the world's best offshore sailors, Franck Cammas. On the other hand, it appears that the Irish are still struggling and funding is "the big issue".

The Galway two-week stopover in the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race was an immense success, yielding a "reported economic benefit to the country of €55 million". According to the newspaper, that financial windfall prompted the Irish government to commit €4 million to the finish of the 2011-12 edition of the round-the-world race. Yet, this money comes with a catch. It is "ring-fenced strictly to the hosting of the race" while the sailing team must fight an uphill battle and try to raise all the necessary funds on its own.

According to the article, "the budget needed to prepare and campaign Green Dragon is €10 million, and sources have confirmed that €2.5 million in sponsorship has already been secured.". Not encouraging at all, when a year before the start of the race they only have 25% of their, very low, target budget.

Unfortunately, these must be some of the worst times to knock on the doors of large corporations asking for tens of millions of euros or dollars for a high-level sailing team. I wonder how many of the potential America's Cup challengers will actually make it to the starting line three years from now.

Video: Highlights from the RC44 World Championship

Highlights from the RC44 World Championship. Puerto Calero, 16 October 2010. Video copyright RC44 Class Association

Meanwhile in Valencia... James Spithill and Torvar Mirsky train on SM40's

If only I could get closer... It's not every day that you have the final of the Australian Match Racing Championship a few hundred meters off the Malvarosa beach, especially when it's the youngest ever skipper to win the America's Cup, James Spithill, facing one of the young up-and-comers, Torvar Mirsky.

Mirsky and Spithill are in Valencia practicing match racing on SM40's. Mirsky certainly needs some lessons from the world's best match racer as his performance so far this year in the World Match Racing Tour has been substandard while Spithill can always use some monohull training ahead of the upcoming Louis Vuitton regatta in Dubai.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any closer to the action so I had to rely on photos from the breakwater. The entire Mirsky Racing Team crew is here in Valencia while on the BMW Oracle boat I could spot, in addition to Spithill, Dirk de Ridder and Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzen. The umpire boat was driven by Richard Slater while Philippe Presti was coaching the team(s?).

Does this joint training session mean anything for the 34th America's Cup? Kyle Langford, Mirsky's mainsail trimmer, is also a member of the "17" RC44 crew since a couple of events now. Langford was in Puerto Calero last week when 17, helmed by Spithill in match racing, was crowned RC44 World Champion

I know it's too far but trust me, the final of the Australian match racing championship was taking place on Wednesday afternoon off the Malvarosa beach. Valencia, 20 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

World Match Racing Tour season's earnings

The world's top tennis and golf players can earn millions of dollars in prize money. For example, the 2010 US Open featured the richest purse in tennis history. This year's US Open purse topped US$ 22.6 million, an increase of US$ 1 million over last year's record purse. Across the Atlantic, the Wimbledon tennis championship awarded this year a record GBP 13.7 million and for the first time ever the prize for the singles champion reached GBP 1 million.

In sailing, the only professional circuit that awards prize money is the World Match Racing Tour. This year it consists of nine events and will award over US$ 1.5 million in prize money. In addition, there is a US$ 250,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams with a US$50,000 bonus for the outright winner.

The WMRT made public the breakdown of the prize money for the 2010 and 2009 season (tables below). The figures are in US dollars and are approximate since the prizes are mostly given in the local currency of each event.

Adam Minoprio, the reigning ISAF World Match Racing Champion, made a cool 220,000 dollars in 2009, although I suppose this amount has to be split among his team. Second placed Torvar Mirsky earned exactly half of what his kiwi opponent did while third placed Ben Ainslie pocketed close to 175,000 dollars.

This clearly shows that you can very well end up second overall at the end of the season if you finish second or third in each event but you can earn much more if you win a number of events, even if you don't take part in the entire circuit. Ainslie took part in only 4 of the 2009 events, scoring two wins, a third place and an all-important second in the season's grand finale in the Monsoon Cup. On the other hand, Mirsky took part in all events, won only one and had a string of bad results like an 8th and even a 10th.

This year, the same pattern holds true and Mathieu Richard and Ben Ainslie top the earning charts, thanks to 3 and 2 victories, respectively.

World Match Racing Tour earnings in 2010 (as of October 18th)

No.	Skipper	Country	Team	Points	Prize Money
1	Mathieu Richard	FRA	French Match Racing Team	105	US$ 145,112
2	Adam Minoprio	NZL	ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing	90	US$ 86,305
3	Ben Ainslie	GBR	TEAMORIGIN	88	US$ 104,744
4	Torvar Mirsky	AUS	Mirsky Racing Team	76	US$ 73,117
5	Ian Williams	GBR	Team GAC Pindar	72	US$ 94,048
6	Jesper Radich	DEN	Gaastra Racing Team	60	US$ 42,000
7	Francesco Bruni	ITA	Team Azzurra	53	US$ 54,172
8	Peter Gilmour	AUS	YANMAR Racing	51	US$ 51,000

World Match Racing Tour earnings in 2009

No.	Skipper	Country	Team	Points	Prize Money
1	Adam Minoprio	NZL	ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing	138	US$ 219,050
2	Torvar Mirsky	AUS	Mirsky Racing Team	97	US$ 111,800
3	Ben Ainslie	GBR	TEAMORIGIN	95	US$ 173,250
4	Peter Gilmour	AUS	YANMAR Racing	93	US$ 127,400
5	Mathieu Richard	FRA	French Match Racing Team	89	US$ 118,800
6	Ian Williams	GBR	Team Pindar	83	US$ 118,150
7	Sebastien Col	FRA	All4One	59	US$ 96,200
8	Damien Iehl	FRA	French Match Racing Team	48	US$ 59,700
9	Paolo Cian	ITA	Team Shosholoza	31	US$ 72,600
10	Philippe Presti	FRA	French Spirit	26	US$ 33,400

Valencia Sailing talks to Philippe Ligot, CEO of Aleph Team France

A couple of weeks ago, a milestone was set for the French aspirations in the 34th America's Cup as the country's first potential challenger for this edition of the trophy was presented in the headquarters of the French Sailing Federation (FFV) in Paris. The project, called "Aleph Team France", is a continuation of Aleph Sailing, the team taking part in the Louis Vuitton Trophy events, the main difference being the official support of the FFV. We talked to Philippe Ligot, CEO of Aleph Team France, about the current status and aspirations of the project.

According to Ligot, their aim is to set a purely French team, relying on the country's undisputed expertise in multihulls, and he's quite optimistic about the prospects. However, they are now facing an uphill battle to get the 50 million euros they have set as strict minimum, necessary in order to have a chance in succeeding, or at least having a decent performance. The deadline they have set is early March next year and if by that time they haven't been able to reach 75% of their target budget they will pull the plug.

Valencia Sailing: The presentation of your project took place in the Paris headquarters of the FFV and you have also announced you have its support and endorsement. What precisely does this support consist of?
Philippe Ligot: At this stage it is simply a recognition. We presented our project to Jean-Pierre Champion [FFV President] 4-5 months ago. We presented to him our approach to the sports, design and mainly managerial aspects of the project. The principles we have adopted are to always be transparent and to try to unite the French drive around this project, not to appropriate it for ourselves but leave it open to the vast majority of people whose talent and expertise would allow us to go ahead.

The support from the FFV is important in France because the vast majority of the potential partners we meet ask us whether we have the endorsement of the federation that regulates our sport. Another important aspect is that most of the sailors that form part of the Aleph sailing crew are also members of the French Match Racing Team, such as Mathieu Richard or Damien Iehl and many sailors very close to the FFV. We have an excellent relationship with the FFV.

Regarding our partnership with the FFV one aspect can be the support of the 492 sailing schools it has throughout the country. What we propose is that one or two of our major potential sponsors can support the schools in exchange for branding opportunities in the schools, the boats or any other form. We want our project to be viewed as popular, accessible and proud of its colors so what better way to do it through the sailing schools of the Federation. Imagine all the Optimist fleet being branded like the national America's Cup team and that could only be a very small part of what we could achieve.

Vive la France! Dream or reality? We'll know by March 2011. Photo copyright Leroy Tremblot / Aleph Team France

Valencia Sailing: Certainly but there is another French project, more than a project actually, a team that took part in the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia that is still very active in the Louis Vuitton regattas and the TP52 circuit. Isn't K-Challenge or All4One or whatever it might be called as much entitled to such endorsement as you are?
Philippe Ligot: The French Sailing Federation can only support French projects. It could be more than one but they could never endorse a foreign project. Wouldn't it be absurd for, let's say, the Swiss Sailing Federation to support a Greek project? Stephane Kandler's project is headed by Jochen Schuemann, a German. Schuemann is undoubtedly one of the most talented and prestigious sailors worldwide but that doesn't change the fact the team has become German. Even if they argued the team was half German the FFV could never support them due to its very nature and objectives. On the other hand we have engaged ourselves to form a project that will be as French as possible.

Valencia Sailing: The 34th edition of the Cup is viewed by many as being much more difficult for any challenger than the 32nd. In view of these difficulties and the short time left to prepare do you think it's feasible to have a purely French team than can also be competitive?
Philippe Ligot: I think we are able to have a competitive, purely French team. The are two aspects in that. First of all, the budget. Our aim is to have a budget of 50 million euros. This is between 60 and 80 million US dollars, the number BMW Oracle estimates as sufficient. However, it's not just the issue of the total amount of money it also depends on when we get it in the bank. If we get it within the next 2-3 months and we have already signed with serious potential partners then my answer to your question is yes, we have the ability to achieve something interesting. If on the other hand we get the budget after a certain date then things become more complicated.

Secondly, regarding our human capital, there are two options. We either set up a project that we jealously try to keep for ourselves, limiting it to a handful of people in France, or we have an open attitude. In France and Switzerland there is a vast know-how in multihulls dating from 20 years ago. We saw it in the ORMA 60's, the Hydroptère, the Extreme 40's where the French are doing well or even the record-breaking maxi catamarans. Our aim is to take all those people, unite them, make them sit on a table and discuss. Unfortunately, and it happens often, the French projects are built around one single person with a huge ego. On the other hand, if we make people understand we are going to build this project on teamwork and we manage to share the sum of our know-how, then it will work. This has always been the problem of the French projects. We, on the other hand, have opened the field to the maximum and we have contacted several big names in France, even the most famous ones, asking whether they would be interested in joining our effort.

Together with Bertrand Pacé, a sailor with a very long America's Cup experience that shares the same open attitude, we agree that if things move along rapidly, we are able to have a serious project that can battle it out with the best. Now, if March comes and we haven't been able to secure our budget or have the necessary human capital then my reply could be different.

Valencia Sailing: So, if I understand well, March 2011 is the deadline you have set in order to decide whether this project goes ahead or not.
Philippe Ligot: It's clear that if by early March we don't have at least 75-80% of the total budget or, at least, are not just about to sign with a serious major sponsor for that amount of money, then we pull the plug. We are not here to fill our pockets or have a token role, we are here to set up a serious project. We have always agreed on that with Bertrand Pacé and the rest of people in the team, from the outset. It's better not to take part rather than be there with a budget half of what we need or with funding that comes in the very last minute. Take for example the number of yachts. It's crystal clear that the teams with just one boat will have absolutely no chance, so we will need to have two.

Valencia Sailing: Let's consider the best-case scenario and tomorrow morning you sign with a big French group and you reach your target budget. Do you still think you will be able to bridge the design and technological gap BMW Oracle has?
Philippe Ligot: Take the example of Team New Zealand. They have never been the team that spent the most but still they have achieved exceptional results in the America's Cup. If we have the money tomorrow morning and we are able to unite the French talent around Bertrand Pacé then I'm convinced that we can achieve great things. Regarding now the advantage BMW Oracle has over the rest, this shouldn't be taken for granted. Imagine if they take a conservative approach in their design while ours is an audacious one? Bertrand will set the strategy of course but it could be one where we take much more risks than the Defender. If challenging were such a simple issue then it wouldn't be the America's Cup.

I might sound immodest but if we have the necessary funding early and we can sit down, talk and reach an agreement then we won't have such a disadvantage. Look a the number of French people BMW Oracle had to use for its trimaran. We have people in France that have been working on those issues since 25 years now. The gap can be narrowed with the incorporation of such people in our team.

Aleph Sailing Team (French flag) races against All4One (German flag). La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Photo copyright Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy

Valencia Sailing: How difficult is it to get that funding? How difficult is it to "sell" this edition of the America's Cup, especially with two major hurdles, firstly the unconventional boat type and secondly the fact the venue is still unknown?
Philippe Ligot: It is indeed quite difficult because there are still a few unknowns. We still don't know the venue and we don't even have a base guaranteed if there are more than ten teams. We have no option but let the sponsors we are talking to know this is the context, however we certainly can't wait until we know all the details. The first four teams that apparently have their budgets complete are moving ahead and as a result we simply can't stand still. Their advance will be such that we will never be able to catch up. We are already working on the design side with a group of people we can't sign exactly because of the lack of budget.

Valencia Sailing: Who are these people? Have you already established the core group of your design team?
Philippe Ligot: We have been working with a group of designers and engineers for 6 months now but I can't name them because we can't sign a contract with them. We have been working on the process, Bertrand has spent a lot of time on that issue. We know how many people we will need, how to organize ourselves and whom we would like to work with and we have a very clear idea on how much it will cost. We worked both on the monohull and multihull options.

Our aim is to officially enter as soon as possible and we do have a minimum budget necessary to keep operating while we are marketing ourselves but not the necessary funds to immediately start working on the design. That's our biggest problem right now and if we had the money, the way I suppose Artemis, Team New Zealand and Synergy now have, we would be working on the design with a full team.

Valencia Sailing: Given all those factors don't you think that your presentation and announcement were then precipitated? Wouldn't it have been wiser to wait for the first major sponsor or at least until it became clear the project would go ahead before making any announcement?
Philippe Ligot: The idea was to present our core group. In order for the first major sponsor to sign the core group has to already be in place. There is another problem, very specific to France. Although the sport of sailing is very popular, the America's Cup has a marginal place and for most of the journalists it is just a fight between billionaires. What we wanted to explain was that it wasn't the case. There are always some billionaires that have their own teams but Team New Zealand is mostly a commercially funded team.

The philosophy behind the press conference was to present ourselves, to present the partnership with the FFV, listen to the journalists and answer their questions. I would say the feedback was quite good, we had more than 40 articles in the press, even in places like the Figaro or even L'Equipe [biggest sports newspaper in France and one of the biggest in Europe], a newspaper well known for not being a big fan of the Cup. They do like Formula 1 and sailing the French way, so we tried to show them we are placed between the two. We want to show them we can have a competitive national team without the backing of any rich tycoon. It is up to us then to demonstrate we are capable of achieving a good result. If we do then the America's Cup will certainly have the place it deserves among sports in France.

Valencia Sailing: What is for you a "good result"?
Philippe Ligot: If you want me to reply as a sportsman, it is obvious I would never tell you "I want to take part in that competition and finish fifth". Realistically speaking, if we are guaranteed right now the minimum conditions I told you before, we could very well be among the top three. If on the other hand you ask me again in March and we only have reached 50% of our funding goal then just making the initial cut would be great. If you start in such conditions you are guaranteed to lose and that's why we have set that deadline and funding goal. I told you before, we don't go there to be simple bystanders. If we can't make it, we will just abandon the project. I can guarantee you Bertrand Pacé will be very much in demand, he's already sought after, and as for myself, I have other things to do.

The French team should either be good or not exist!

Aleph Sailing Team (French flag) races against All4One (German flag). La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Photo copyright Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy