Valencia Sailing

2011-11-05T11:22:00.000+01:00

WE MOVED TO www.vsail.info

2010-12-28T18:04:00.003+01:00

Dear readers & friends,

This is the last post of the Valencia Sailing blog.

As of today, please change your bookmarks to

www.vsail.info

Wild Oats XI first boat to Hobart

2010-12-28T11:18:00.004+01:00

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] Bob Oatley’s champion 100-foot supermaxi Wild Oats XI has reasserted its claim as one of Australia’s greatest ocean racing yachts by being first across the Rolex Sydney Hobart finish line.

After storming to the finish at 15-19 knots of boat speed over the final miles, Wild Oats XI reached the finish line off Hobart’s historic Battery Point at 8:37pm this evening, Tuesday 28 December.

Wild Oats XI has been named the provisional line honours winner of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia organised race pending the decision of the International Jury over a protest by the Race Committee regarding their HF radio. The jury will convene at 1:00pm on Wednesday 29 December at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the race finishing club.

Wild Oats XI, provisional line honors in the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Hobart, 28 December 2010. Photo copyright ROLEX / Daniel Foster

Wild Oats XI, from the Reichel Pugh design board, led the 87-strong field out of Sydney Harbour after the 1pm start on Sunday afternoon and held pole position for the entire 628 nautical mile race, finishing 30 nautical miles ahead of her nearest rival, Sean Langman and Anthony Bell’s supermaxi Investec Loyal, with Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban a further 51 nautical miles behind and currently in third place.

Wild Oats XI’s elapsed time was 2 days 7 hours 37 minutes 20 seconds with an average speed of a tad over 11 knots of boat speed over the challenging course.

After Neville Crichton’s 100-footer Alfa Romeo blocked Wild Oats’ quest for five straight titles last year, skipper Mark Richards vowed their race preparation would change dramatically.

This year the boat contested many more offshore races and spent significant time on the water ironing out the wrinkles and perfecting the teamwork of a crew comprising some of the biggest names in Australian and New Zealand ocean racing, and now with a staggering 220 Rolex Sydney Hobarts between them. A number of modifications were also made to the boat to improve her upwind performance.

Richards has long resented suggestions that Wild Oats XI was just a fair wind flyer. Her dominance throughout one of the toughest Rolex Sydney Hobarts in recent years should silence the sceptics once and for all.

As in previous years Wild Oats XI will only have a short stopover in Hobart, the delivery crew due to push off between 9:00am and midday tomorrow, Wednesday 29 December, as planned to return to Sydney for the annual Pittwater to Coffs ocean race which starts January 2, 2011

Vincenzo Onorato replies to Salvatore Sarno

2010-12-27T16:07:00.007+01:00

Salvatore Sarno, owner of Team Shosholoza, the first ever America's Cup challenger to come from Africa, stated in a recent interview in the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale that the 34th America's Cup was very expensive and as a result Shosholoza wouldn't be taking part. Vincenzo Onorato, owner of Mascalzone Latino, Challenger of Record, sent Quotidiano Nazionale a letter, replying to Captain Sarno's claims. [Note: The translation from the original Italian text is mine]:

I take inspiration from the interview by Captain Sarno in your newspaper to provide my testimony on the current state of the America's Cup and the budgets the teams that will require in order to participate. Captain Sarno is obviously not informed about the latest changes in the Protocol, dating from December 12th, among which it is reported that the entry fee was lowered to US$ 100,000 instead of € 1 million. The performance bond instead of US$ 3 million dropped to US$ 1 million (200,000 by April 1, 2011 and 800,000 by December 31, 2011).

Russell Coutts (left) and Vincenzo Onorato. Rome, 6 May 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

The spirit with which we acted Russell and I was to dramatically reduce costs; the proof is that for the first time in the history of the Cup, during the first two years racing will be held on one-design yachts of 45 feet. This decision was also motivated to provide time for the teams to find sponsors and funding. I have never stated the minimum budget would be € 80 million. It is plausible Captain Sarno could do the next America's Cup with Shosholoza by spending € 17 million as he stated his budget was in the 32nd edition. This is certainly not a budget to win but the Captain Sarno has demonstrated he was able to achieve more than flattering results with limited resources.

The heart of the problem is different: the world economic situation is very different from the ebullient financial markets that marked the 32nd edition. It is correct when Captain Sarno refers to "these times" as "crazy". For Russell and me this has resulted in filling, in reduced terms, the event and therefore the value of the sponsors' investments.

I would also like to remind that Mascalzone Latino's position is not different from that of the other teams. We do not have any sponsors to date, although we have some important negotiations in progress, and it is our subjective interest (to be able to participate in the event) and objective as Challenger of Record (to have many teams in the race), to keep costs as low as possible. We at Mascalzone Latino declare in all honesty that we are struggling to survive. With the same clarity I would have preferred that important teams such as Team Origin and Shosholoza, instead of using pathetic excuses related to the event format, the catamaran revolution and the budgets, to name a few examples, they limited themselves with more dignity in declaring that at this moment they had no money and no prospects for a sponsor.

Sincerely"

Vincenzo Onorato

Bass Strait delivers punishing conditions

2010-12-27T14:57:00.004+01:00

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] The forecast gale-force conditions made good today for the bulk of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet with yachts experiencing 40-50 knots of gale to storm-force winds from the west-southwest -- together with massive seas. The toll today was nine yachts retired, some with severe damage, but all crews were reported in good shape.

At 1542 AEDST, Ludde Ingvall’s 27-metre Yuuzoo retired from the race with structural and rigging damage. Exact details were unknown but the yacht had reached a safe port in Eden by 1800.

Within the hour of the maxi’s retirement, a string of yachts followed suit with the Sydney 38 Swish, the 46-foot Reichel/Pugh Shamrock, the Volvo 60 Southern Excellence and the Nelson Marek 52 Wot Eva abandoned the difficult race due to damage in the unbelievably rough seas and extreme wind conditions.

Nick Athineos’ Dodo headed to Eden to drop off an injured crewman who had sustained a broken arm, but was not retiring. Crew onboard the yacht recorded gusts of 45-50 knots.

Niklas Zennström's RAN. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Martin Power’s 44-footer Bacardi snapped its mast 35-nautical miles east of Batemans Bay, midway down the Australian New South Wales coast. “Search and rescue options and assets are being arranged as I speak, if needed,” reported Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Commodore Gary Linacre, who had just arrived in Hobart.

At 1820, Rob Reynolds’ 14-meter yacht Exile sustained steering damage and retired. Shortly after, Jim Cooney’s supermaxi and pride of Australia, Brindabella, dropped out after suffering damage to her mainsail in the severe conditions. At 1905, Jarod Ritchie’s Beneteau 57 Alchemy III was out with damage to their boom and was headed to Sydney.

Earlier, via an 1830 phone interview (listen here) with Ian Burns onboard Wild Oats XI, race favourite and current line honours leader, reported from the treacherous Strait, “There’s still quite a messy seaway leftover from that earlier blow we had. But things are finally settling down. In a couple hours we should be in flatter seas, and probably 10 -15 knots (of wind).”

He continued, “This morning around Gabo Island, it was pretty arduous going, very hard to slow the boat down enough to keep it in one piece. We had to get down to very, very small sails and work at keeping the boat slow, so we weren’t crashing off the tops of waves too much – it was pretty rough going. We had many gusts up to 40 knots, and when it gets that windy in Bass Strait, you’ve got a bit on.”

“The crew have done a fantastic job. It’s a pleasure to watch. In pretty trying conditions up on the foredeck, often pitching two to four feet underwater. The guys are up there are hanging on to sails and getting them up and down, without a murmur of a problem.” Burns concluded, “The crews are really settled into it now, the second half of the race is really getting starting now.”

The forecast for tonight is for winds west to south-westerly at 25 to 35 knots and locally reaching 40 knots in the east then moderating to 20 to 25 knots later in the night overnight, with squalls, associated showers and big seas. Seas are expected to abate overnight, down to 2 - 3 metres later in the evening.

Current overall handicap race leader is Stephen Ainsworth’s 63-footer Loki, currently 80 miles southeast of Gabo Island.

The remaining intrepid Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet continues battling it’s way to Hobart. The remaining 77 boats include six international entries from the USA, UK, Italy, France, as well as two partly crewed Russian boats, and entries from seven of the eight Australian states and territories.

Wild Oats XI, overall leader. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Video: Ludde Ingvall talks about the Australian challenge in the 34th America's Cup

2010-12-26T22:09:00.004+01:00

Ludde Ingvall and Dario Valenza, respectively skipper and project manager of YuuZoo Big Boat Racing, talk about the Australian challenge they submitted for the 34th America's Cup. Despite its length, the video is quite interesting because it allows to see the logic behind the Australian challenge. According to Ingvall we should consider that this challenge has been practically accepted, even if the project lacks any funding. It is surprising that they decide to enter the America's Cup and then start looking for the necessary funds to compete and not the other way round.

Video: Dramatic scenes at the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart

2010-12-26T11:32:00.001+01:00

Wild Oats XI leads fleet out of Sydney Harbour

2010-12-26T10:28:00.002+01:00

[Source: Rolex Sydney Hobart] The Mark Richards skippered 100 footer, Wild Oats XI, shrugged off a cheeky challenge from Grant Wharington’s Melbourne 98 footer, Wild Thing, to stamp its mark early on the Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours battle.

Despite forecasts that this will be one of the toughest Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races in years, the 87 strong fleet started in remarkably mild conditions on a flat Sydney Harbour at 1pm today in an 11 knot west-nor-westerly breeze.

Both start lines reported clean starts as nearly 1000 competitors began the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Aussie yachting classic under overcast skies in a light wind that produced a colourful spinnaker procession out of the Harbour before the fleet turned at the seaward mark to point south towards Hobart.

On the eastern side of the front start line, reserved for the largest boats, Grant Wharington staged a nail-biting and brilliant start with just seconds to spare at the helm of Wild Thing. The 100 footers, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI and Sean Langman and Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal squared off on the western side, while Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki timed things perfectly about a third of the way down the tightly congested line.

Wild Oats XI leads the fleet. Sydney, 26 December 2010. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

As Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal sprinted down the western harbour shore, Wild Thing steamed along the eastern shore in better pressure past Vaucluse and Watsons Bay.

Wild Oats XI won the sprint to the sea mark, 13 minutes 48 seconds into the race despite trailing her jib briefly in the water as she changed to her light Code Zero sail minutes after the start. Once she turned seaward, Wild Oats’ Code Zero made way for a giant spinnaker as the four-time line honours winner gybed to find the shortest route to the seaward mark.
Two boat lengths behind Wild Oats XI, Wild Thing and Investec Loyal converged on the harbour mark, Wild Thing squeezing her rival out as she slipped inside.

Investec Loyal immediately headed towards South Head and Wild Thing held her course toward the north, looking for the pressure advantage they needed to have any chance of mowing down the leader in these flat conditions.

The gamble didn’t paid off for Wharington, who also had an incident with a media boat just inside South Head, and by the time Wild Oats XI was at the sea mark, the point at which the impressive fleet converged and gave chase and turned the sea into boiling whitewater, the thoroughbred had opened a handy break on her line honours rivals.

The last boat to leisurely leave Sydney Harbour was the Italian entry Onelife, one of two entries in the Cruising Division.

Sometime this evening the fleet will encounter a southerly change of 15 to 20 knots accompanied by scattered thunderstorms.

RAN at the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Sydney, 26 December 2010. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Captain Sarno: This America's Cup is very expensive; Shosholoza will not take part

2010-12-23T21:55:00.001+01:00

An unknown outside South Africa, Captain Sarno became a household name in the sailing world when he built from scratch Shosholoza, the first ever America's Cup challenger from Africa. An Italian by birth but a fervent South African at heart, Captain Sarno showed the world what the new South Africa was able to do by entering the world's oldest sports trophy competition and managing to have a decent performance despite being absolute beginners with a relatively low budget.

Sarno spoke to the Italian newspaper "Quotidiano Nazionale" about Shosholoza, the America's Cup and why there won't be any South African entry in this edition:

What is happening? Do you ever get stopped by sailing fans that want to ask you about Shosholoza? Can you tell us what they tell you?

"Well, it happens much more often than I would have ever imagined. Shosholoza has remained alive in the minds of sailing fans because everybody could have been in the role of one of my guys. I'm asked whether we'll take part in the next America's Cup and I reply it will be very difficult. Many people want to know what my guys are doing and they are not surprised to learn that almost all of them went back to their original jobs."

Let's step back a few years. How was Shosholoza born?

"Shosholoza was a dream and now it's a reality."

How do you make a dream come true?

"It costs tremendous stress. My son who is an excellent surgeon has always told me there two types of stress: the good one and the bad one. The good one is a product of work you like and projects like Shosholoza: something that tires you but doesn't make you sick. The bad one is produced by people's wickedness but also form work that you don't like. One can fall ill and have his health deteriorate, just like it happened to me due to the wickedness after Shosholoza. I have always been a dreamer, just like the song of Peppino di Capri. As a child, at my home in Nocera, I used to climb the mountain to see a glimpse of the sea, and dreamed of conquering it, one day, sooner or later. I have never stopped, I have always believed in it and in every thing I have done I have always put all my effort and above all my passion."

Is there a secret in all that?

"The secret is simple and complex: you really have to believe in your dream, even if it's a big one; never re-dimension it or settle with anything less. Of course you need a thorough analysis of a project but the most important ingredient is passion and that strange thing you feel in your chest when you think about it, that thing called "feeling" in English. Having that thing you are able to transmit the passion to the rest of people, those that have to follow you and, above all, those that have to finance you. I can guarantee you that people can see if there is true passion."

So, we now come to Shosholoza. When did the adventure really start?

"In the moment I started having a crew of black guys, in 2001. I thought it would be possible to show the world that in the new South Africa, blacks and whites could achieve something good working together, and what stage could be better than the America's Cup? That's when I talked to my sons and wife."

What was the first real step towards the Cup?

"Surely the name. I would have liked to use "Madiba” which is how black people called Mandela, but then I thought someone would insinuate that I wanted to use Mandela, and I profoundly love and respect him to let somebody insinuate something like that. This is why I chose Shosholoza, which is a hymn to team work, just what we wanted."

Professionalism at the highest level, no set working hours and always a thousand unexpected things around the corner. How does the table of sailing's giants look like?

"It's much easier than you think and in any case much easier than my normal job that is full of uncertainties and difficulties of any kind."

And now, that everything seems to have changed with the new catamarans, what will happen to the dear old America's Cup?

"(The expression on Sarno's face becomes dark) It's not a beautiful thing… Larry Ellison has let Coutts do everything, and I think the result is absolutely catastrophic. Aside from the spectacular yachts they wanted to go too far with the evolution. The 90-foot yachts proposed by Alinghi would have provided the same spectacle and would have cost less."

Mascalzone Latino as Challenger of Record?

"Onorato has accepted too many of Russell Coutts' ideas. He offends the intelligence of all Italian sportsmen when he states, in agreement with Coutts, that costs have been reduced and then goes on to say that you need a budget of 80 million euros. By increasing the entry fee to one million and the performance bond to two, they wanted to restrict the number of possible participants. Team Origin and the Germans have stated that a challenge costs much more than the 25 million many have budgeted (including ourselves at Shosholoza). Even if one appreciates the sportsmanship, it seems ridiculous to me that a team has to go to New Zealand to do more or less a sailing course, in order to then think about beating the teachers. Everybody should know that in the previous edition, the French, the Germans, the Chinese and the Swedish had a real budget of 25 million, +39 was at around 20, the New Zealanders at 35 and ourselves at 17. You now need 3 million just to start and then go to New Zealand to train on the fixed-wing catamaran. In short, as stated by the organizers themselves, you need between 40 and 70 million for 3 years: Crazy in these times!"

What will the next America's Cup look like? Putting aside the last strange challenge, can it be better than the 32nd where Shosholoza took part?

"The 32nd America's Cup will go down to history as the most beautiful sailing competition ever. I will never forget Trapani. We will never repeat a similar number of visitor and a similar enthusiasm. The Acts provided that extra thing to the final competition. Without any doubt the next Cup will be spectacular and the yachts (I can't say how many, 4 or maybe 5?) will give a nice show but it won't be match racing. A sort of Formula 1, perhaps that, but is the public ready for such a drastic change? Probably we will need some more time and in any case I hope that at the end, sailing, with or without a fixed wing, will continue to amaze."

However, will a new African challenge be possible again?

"Certainly yes, but not in this edition. The world is still in crisis and the way I see it, mobile phones can only sponsor one or two boats each time..."

BMW pulls out of Oracle Racing

2010-12-23T13:28:00.003+01:00

[Source: BMW Oracle] At the end of the year BMW will bring to a close its longstanding partnership with ORACLE Racing and thereby end its involvement in the America's Cup. This is by mutual agreement of both partners. Both parties set ambitious goals and achieved the ultimate objective: winning the America's Cup.

BMW has partnered BMW ORACLE Racing since 2002. Technology and skills have transferred freely between the automaker and sailing team, most notably in the fields of structural engineering and high-modulus composite construction. The result was celebrated in the February when the yacht USA 17, the fastest yacht in the history of the America’s Cup, won the 33rd Match with a resounding 2:0 victory off Valencia, Spain.

"On the design and engineering front, BMW engineers set new benchmarks in terms of intelligent lightweight design," said Ralf Hussmann, General Manager BMW Sports Marketing and Brand Cooperation. "In winning the 33rd America’s Cup, we achieved all of our ambitious goals. We will continue to be involved in the sport on a national level."

"The America’s Cup combines a technological challenge with a sporting one and success is measured by the result on the race course,” added Russell Coutts CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing.

No more BMW in BMW Oracle Racing as of January 1st, 2011. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget

Australian Syndicate Submits Notice of Challenge for the America's Cup

2010-12-23T09:14:00.003+01:00

[Source: YuuZoo Big Boat Racing Team] Today a Syndicate of Australians including legendary yachtsman Ludde Ingvall, skipper of the YuuZoo Big Boat Racing Team, has submitted a Notice of Challenge to the defending Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco. The Syndicate aims to bring together nationwide resources and skills in a true people's challenge. Lodging the application reserves a place for Australia to return to competition for the world's oldest international sporting trophy.

Ludde Ingvall: "Excellence in youth sailing is my objective. We want to bring home the many talented Australians sailing for other countries and give them a chance to compete for their country. We want to create a legacy for future generations, something to aspire to, a reason for any Australian youngster to get out there and take part in our wonderful sport of sailing at all levels."

Project manager Dario Valenza: "Bringing an event to Australia would rival Oprah's visit in tourism value as well as boosting Australia's marine industry."

Ludde Ingvall, skipper of YuuZoo at the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo copyright ROLEX / Kurt Arrigo

Syndicate member and multi hull expert Peter Baker: "Australia has been the challenger at seven and the defender at one of the 33 America's Cup events so far and has sought to challenge on three other occasions. Australia has provided America's Cup teams worldwide with more members than any other nation in modern times. We want to bring them home. The last America's Cup was won for the USA by an Australian skipper on a boat designed by an Australian racing against another boat designed by an Australian for a Swiss team. Yet Australia has been out of the game for 13 years."

YuuZoo Co Founder Ron Creevey says: "We are delighted and excited about partnering with the Big Boat Racing Team to work on the feasibility for the Australian America's Cup entry. Personally I would like to call on other Australian corporations and individuals to get behind the idea and bring the America's Cup back to Australia. We have watched the cream of Australian talent such as James Spithill and Adam Beashel compete for many countries over the past 20 years and it will be extremely satisfying for YuuZoo to be involved by providing the platform for talented Australians to represent our country."

"The best sailors on the fastest boats" - The F1 of sailing. This is the new format America's Cup: a level playing field where giant, faster than the wind, 22 metre catamarans powered by 40 metre rigid wings fly on the edge of control with one hull in the water and the other metres above. The furious action takes place in locations across the globe including Australia. On courses which are chosen as natural amphitheatres, close to shore where spectators can almost reach out and touch the amazing machines dueling in short races in rapid succession.

An independently managed, ongoing Annual World Tour is planned and part of the Syndicate's strategy is to stage events in Australia.

YuuZoo racing at the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo copyright ROLEX / Kurt Arrigo

The new boats will test strength and finesse, require nerves of steel and super fast reflexes. Skills required in all sailing but honed to perfection in the giant AC72 yachts. The new Australian Syndicate wants to bring AC Supporters together in giving young, talented Australian sailors the chance to step up and shine on the world stage.

Ludde Ingvall: "We want to get everyone working together to make possible a true people's challenge for the benefit of all Australians. The new format America's Cup is a once in a lifetime chance to jump to the front of a sporting and technological revolution. Being part of the America's Cup also means bringing races to Australia, fantastic for tourism and the chance for Australian fans to see their team in action. Our aim is to engage the Australian public, corporate Australia and Australian sailing institutions such as yacht clubs and associations. We are undertaking due diligence with well respected business advisors reporting on the economic impact of taking part in what is the third largest sporting event in the world."

The Syndicate is seeking the advice of the sailing community through an Advisory Panel, seeking the support of the Australian public through a Supporters Club and the support of the Australian Government through both Sport and Tourism Authorities. "Most importantly we need the support of the whole Australian sailing community," said Ludde Ingvall.

Valencia Sailing comes to an end and moves ahead

2010-12-22T16:24:00.013+01:00

Dear friends & readers,

After nearly six years online, the Valencia Sailing blog is about to sign off. I started it in March 2005 as a test to see whether anyone would be interested in having weekly updates from the construction of the America's Cup Port in Valencia and the activities of the teams and, I hope, it now has reached a point where it became a reliable source of daily sailing news from around the world. Well, it is now time to close this chapter and move ahead.

To start with, the name of the site doesn't make any sense any longer. As you most probably have seen from my photos on Monday, BMW Oracle is definitely leaving its Valencia base in a week and Valencia will cease to have the importance it once had in the sport of sailing. It will in fact become just like any other Mediterranean city, most probably holding one or two main regattas each summer. Even if the city goes ahead with its plan to tear down most of the bases, the infrastructure in place will make it easy to host an RC44 or AUDI Medcup event. However, this will never come close, even remotely, to holding two consecutive America's Cups.

I took this opportunity to make some radical changes. First of all, Valencia Sailing will change its name. I still haven't decided and I have a handful of names in mind but all of them will be redirected to the final name. Most probably, the new website will be called vsail.info.

Secondly, the site will no longer be a blog. It will move to a "normal" news website format will all the bells and whistles you would expect from it. In fact there is a demo already online and I would appreciate if you checked it and gave any kind of feedback you thought appropriate. It's not yet the final version but it won't be radically different.

Click here for a preview of the new version

News Sections
As you can see from the demo website, there is a new navigation bar that has all the news separated in sections. The broader categories will have sub categories, for example the offshore category is divided into the Barcelona World Race, Vendée Globe etc. The America's Cup category is divided in three subcategories (32nd, 33rd, 34th) and most probably the 34th America's Cup will further be divided to news according to each team. The same will apply to the Volvo Ocean Race. As a result, if your interest is just the news on Artemis in this edition of the Cup, you can have a dedicated page.

Featured News
Right under the navigation menu, you have the 5 latest Featured News, the 5 most important news but not necessarily the latest. For example, when BMW Oracle announce the venue of the 34th America's Cup, such an important information could remain in the featured news section for one or two days.

Latest News
Right beneath the Featured News you have the Latest News, providing the latest 6 articles, in strict chronological order.

Recent Videos
This is a brand new section and I hope it will be an easy and practical way to have the latest 5 videos right in front of you without the need to leave the front page. All you have to do is click on the title of the video and it will automatically switch.

Advertizing
One of the reasons that also made the change necessary were the inherent limitations in advertizing placements of the blog format. The new website now offers new technologies for advertizing campaigns that can have a great impact such as the ones Gillette and Braun are using in various major websites. Send us an email to learn how you can take advantage of the new technologies.

Transition period
Please bear for a week until the new site is fully functional. My aim is to switch it on the eve of the Barcelona World Race start, on December 30.

World Match Racing Tour Looks Ahead After a Stellar 2010 Season

2010-12-21T19:57:00.003+01:00

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Since the curtain came down on the 2010 edition of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) in the most emphatic fashion - on the final day of the final event - the sailing world has been reflecting on a season when the Tour made the headlines both on and off the water, having also made a succession of exciting announcements that will define the future of the series.

On the water, the script could not have been given a more thrilling twist. Having led the Tour standings all season, Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team arrived at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia as one of an unprecedented five skippers still in with a chance of winning the World Championship. However, in what proved to be TEAMORIGIN’s bow from the world of match racing for the foreseeable future, it was Ben Ainslie (GBR) who rallied his crew to reach the final against Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team.

It was a final that went down to the wire however the experience of the triple Olympic gold medalist proved too much as Ainslie took the Monsoon Cup and with it, the ISAF Match Racing World Championship. Reflecting on his achievement, the Brit said: “We’ve enjoyed being on the Tour an incredible amount – for the whole team this victory has been massive for us.”

Ainslie’s win and the Monsoon Cup as a whole was a fitting finale to a season that had seen so many epic battles out on the water. Asked what his verdict was on the final event, Jerome Pels, Secretary General of ISAF gave his unequivocal endorsement: “If you want to see how to run a sailing event you should come to the Monsoon Cup.”

Off the water, the bidding process for new host venues and the boat design competition are both moving forward in earnest as the Tour strengthens its preeminent position on the world’s sailing scene. The closing date for the boat design competition is January 31 2011. After this, submissions will be scrutinized by the design committee of Peter Gilmour (President of WMRT), Jim O’Toole (CEO of WMRT), Craig Mitchell (Tour Director), Terry Newby (Regatta International) and three professional sailors. The committee will then meet in London, with short-listed designers invited to make presentations. Winners will be announced on 14 February 2011.

Meanwhile, bids for host venues for the 2012 season will close on 28 February 2011 to enable the Tour to have the 2012 schedule locked into place by the end of May 2011. Commenting on the level of interest, Jim O’Toole, CEO of World Match Racing Tour said: “We have been delighted by the overwhelming response to both the venue bidding process and the design competition. After more than 50 expressions of interest, and the signing of many NDAs, a number of venues are putting serious bids together.”

Attention will next turn to the first event of the 2011 season, Match Race France. In 2010, Richard defeated Ainslie 2-0 in the final – a win the Frenchman will be keen to repeat on his home waters. However, a momentary glance over his shoulder and he will see a legion of match racers in the ilk of Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team in hot pursuit.

Video: Rhode Island TV channel reports on America's Cup talks

2010-12-21T13:51:00.000+01:00

BMW Oracle officials "very serious" in intent to move forward with Rhode Island

2010-12-21T08:37:00.009+01:00

GOLDEN GATE YACHT CLUB
Yacht Road, San Francisco, California USA 94123

December 17, 2010

Mr. Keith Stokes
Executive Director
Rhode Island Economic Development Corp.
Suite 101, 315 Iron Horse Way
Providence, R.I. 02908

Dear Keith,

I would like to thank you for meeting with our team over the past week and, in particular, arranging the meetings yesterday with Governor-elect Chafee and Senate President Paiva-Weed.

Over the past week, you have clearly presented why Rhode Island, and Fort Adams State Park, in particular, has the capability to host the 34th America's Cup, an event that is one of the largest sporting events in the world in terms of economic benefit and mass media audience. In particular, we are impressed with Fort Adams and the possibility of its being the center of public access, use and enjoyment of Narragansett Bay.

We are very serious in our intent to move forward with Rhode Island. There is much to do to meet the timeframes we have set. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has committed to other America's Cup teams that a host city will be announced by December 31, 2010.

On our side we must establish the how the teams, visitors and VIPs will be accommodated and how we will raise the necessary corporate sponsorship. You can greatly assist us by advising on the readiness of Fort Adams to complete the necessary public infrastructure improvements to base the teams and hold the event within the timeframes we have discussed with you and your team.

To demonstrate our interest in working with Rhode Island, I have asked Tom Ehman, a fellow member of the GGYC Board and America's Cup Committee, and head of External Affairs for BMW ORACLE Racing, to attend next Monday's Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation's December board meeting to convey our interest to your Board and the Governor.

I look forward to our continued dialogue over the next several days.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Barclay
GGYC Board and America's Cup Committee
C.O.O., BMW ORACLE Racing

Light breeze on day 3 of the Christmas Race

2010-12-20T21:53:00.003+01:00

A light SW breeze blew in the bay of Palamos since the early morning with enough strength to get sailors to the racing areas for today’s races. After waiting for two days for the wind to arrive, the Race Committee did not hesitate to go afloat just after the forecast briefing to ensure racing could start in accordance with the schedule. The first starts of the day were made at around 11:30 but the wind was tricky throughout the day.

The Laser could finally sail three races today and Spanish sisters Fatima and Lucia Reyes are first and second in the Laser radial overall results with a great performance today. Third place is for Francesca Clapchich from Italy.

Brothers Federico and Arturo Alonso from Spain are leaders in the 49er standings with a total of seven races sailed since the beginning of the event. Second place is for Portuguese team Bernardo Freitas and Francisco Andrade (Buondi Caffè) followed by James Peters and Edward Fitzgerald (Ocenair) from Great Britain.

The lead in 470 women is still for Spanish team Tara Pacheco and Berta followed by British sailors Hannah Mills and Katie Archer and SophieWequelin and Sophie Ainsworth (Grainmarket properties) in second and third place respectively.

Start of the 49er race. Palamós, 20 December 2010. Photo copyright Alfred Farré / Christmas Race

German sailors Jasper Wagner and Tobias Bolduan are at the top of the 470 men standings with 11 points advantage over British team Ben Saxton and David Kohler (Rola-Trac). Third place is also for Germany, with team Denny Naujock y Nils Schröder (Jonny).

Finn sailor Florian Raudaschl from Austria is now leading the Finn results followed by Ukranian sailor Olexiy Boryson, at just two points and third place is for Jan Kurfed (Audi STG) from Germany.

The Dutch teams dominate the Laser standard results with Sierk Jan ter Haar and Douwe Broekens (Sigma Medic) in the lead with nineteen points. Third place is for French sailor Rodrigue Cabaz.

Tomorrow will be the last day of racing before the Medal Race to be held on Wednesday.

The weather forecast announces SW wind 15 to 20 knots with possibility of rain at midday.

RESULTS (After the third day)

Laser Radial
1. Fátima Reyes (ESP), 4-2-1-3, 10 points
2. Fatima Reyes (ESP), 3-4-6-2, 15 points
3. Francesca Clapchich (ITA), 2-1-8-5, 16 points
4. Michelle Broekhizen (NED), 10-5-4-1, 20 points
5. Marie Menaldo (FRA), 1-6-7-6, 20 points

Laser Standard
1. Sierk Jan Ter Haar (NED), 1-4-2-12, 19 points
2. Broekens (NED), 2-1-11-5, 19 puntos
3. Rodrige Cabaz (FRA), 5-19-6-1, 31 puntos
4. Ronan Cull (IRL), 13-13-5-4, 35 puntos
5. Mattis Naud (FRA), 4-17-4-13, 38 puntos

Finn
1. Florian Raudaschi (AUT), 2-5-3-1, 11 points
2. Olexsiy Borysov (UKR), 5-3-2-3, 13 points
3. Jan Kurfeld (GER), 3-1-1-DNC, 16 points
4. Alex Muscat (ESP), 9-2-4-2, 17 points
5. Miguel Fernández Vasco (ESP), 6-4-5-6, 21 points

470 Men
1. Jasper Wagner/Tobias Bolduan (GER), 2-1-5-3, 11 points
2. Ben Saxton/David Kohler (GBR), 12-8-1-1, 22 points
3. Denny Noujock/Nils Schröder (GER), 17-2-2-2, 23 points
4. Niklas Dackhammar/Fredrik Bergstrom (SWE), 10-3-15-8, 36 points
5. Marc Terrasa/Toni Terrasa (ESP), 5-4-18-9, 37 points

470 Women
1. Tara Pacheco/Berta Betanzos (ESP), 1-3-1-6, 11 points
2. Hanna Mills/Katie Archer (GBR), 4-5-2-2, 13 points
3. Sophie Weguelin/Sophie Ainsworth (GBR), 2-2-5-4, 13 points
4. Marjalilsa Umb/Elise Umb (EST), 5-1-6-3, 15 points
5. Marina Gallego/Ana Lobo (ESP), 3-6-7-5, 21 points

49er
1. Federico Alonso/Arturo Alonso (ESP), 4-1-1-(6)-3-6-2, 17 points
2. Bernardo Freitas/Francisco Andrade (POR), 2-5-6-(BDF)-2-4-1, 20 points
3. James Peters/Edward Fitzgerald (GBR), (16)-6-3-3-1-3-6, 22 points
4. Mathieu Frei/Yann Rocherieux (FRA), 3-7-2-1-(13)-8-5, 26 points
5. Axel Silvy/Ulysse Hoffmann (FRA), (14-3-4-7-8-1-3,27 points

Adios Valencia...

2010-12-20T14:02:00.007+01:00

I never had the slightest doubt this would be taking place, I only thought it would have been in 2011 instead of 2010. As one can observe from the photo, I'm referring to BMW Oracle, the America's Cup defender, permanently leaving its base in Valencia. After more than 5 years in the Spanish city, the holders of the world's oldest sports trophy are packing up in order to leave by January 1st, 2011. When Valencia Sailing visited the base earlier on Monday morning, the most visible sign was the crew stripping the base of any BMW Oracle branding, starting with the giant poster of USA17.

The personnel will only be working a couple of days this week and then definitely leave, handing the base to the crews that will dismantle it. Although this information has not been confirmed, we understand BMW Oracle will be based in Auckland for the next few months.

An era ends now in the America's Cup. After seven years and one month, Valencia ceases to be the "world's sailing capital" and another city will take over. However, with only eleven days left until their deadline, of which 4 are holidays, BMW Oracle would rather hurry up and announce the venue of the 34th America's Cup.

Crews striping all BMW Oracle branding from the base. Valencia, 20 December 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia Sailing talks to Kevin Reed, head of Canada's America's Cup drive

2010-12-19T20:55:00.011+01:00

The last time Canada was present in the America's Cup was in Fremantle in 1987 when a combined project from Secret Cove Yacht Club and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron challenged the Defender from the Royal Perth Yacht Club and got eliminated in the Louis Vuitton Cup round robin.

Fast forward nearly a quarter of a century and it now seems possible that the world's second largest country by area could be once again represented in the competition for the world's oldest sports trophy. Red Maple Racing, led by Toronto financier Kevin Reed, is the project that embodies Canada's drive in the America's Cup. Valencia Sailing talked to Reed about the background, current sate and future of the project.

Valencia Sailing: Let's start with a brief background on the project. What made you try to form an America's Cup challenge?
Kevin Reed: I've certainly been a fan of the America's Cup for perhaps three decades and it's something Canada hasn't had an entry in since 1987. In the last 5-6 years I have been speaking with Paul Henderson, a former ISAF President, about an entry for Canada. All these years, both personally and through the companies I own, I have sponsored many Canadian Olympic athletes, including Canadian Olympic sailors. With the new format America's Cup Race Management and America's Cup Event Authority have prepared it has certainly become very attractive now for Canada to take a look at this. The economics of the old model or at least the last 10-15 years was restrictive but now, Russell Coutts and his team have done a tremendous job transforming it into a business like Formula 1 or other professional sports.

Valencia Sailing: From what I understand, you claim the changes brought by Russell Coutts made the cup interesting for you. Does that mean that the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia or the ones before in Auckland were not interesting from a Canadian perspective?
Kevin Reed: Although very exciting as a fan, it was very prohibitive on the financial side, from a Canadian perspective. I was at the 2007 Cup in Valencia and it was very exciting, a great event and certainly of interest but the new format has allowed us to set up a committee to examine this. We hope to take a decision in the next 45 days if we are going ahead with the challenge but right now with the new format we are very optimistic we should be able to do something for Canada.

Valencia Sailing: At what stage of preparation is the project right now? Will you personally fund it or will you have other backers as well, whether private individuals or companies?
Kevin Reed: In the next 45 days we'll be looking at a few things. One of them is the financing mechanisms. Can we put them in place so that the project is financed not only by me but also Canadian companies that want to sponsor us? In the next area, we believe there is enough Canadian talent to put together an all-Canadian sailing team. Another area we are looking into is the design and build team and again we believe the talent is here. So, we have three things Paul Henderson, myself and the rest of the team are looking at: The financing mechanisms, the sailing and the design and build teams and we are trying to be all-Canadian in all three areas, as much as we can.

Valencia Sailing: Do you believe you can be competitive with a solely Canadian team?
Kevin Reed: We certainly believe we have the talent pool to do that. There is a number of Canadians that have been involved in previous America's Cups as well as other major sailing events and we are convinced this talent pool is right here in Canada.

Valencia Sailing: Let's get back to the issue of costs. In a recent article in the Toronto Star, you mentioned you had in mind a budget of 30 to 45 million dollars. Do you still stick with that figure?
Kevin Reed: Yes, this is what we are looking at for the next three and a half to four years. We think that the annual budget will be between 10 and 12 million dollars. What's important for us is the new format and the fact it continues post-34th America's Cup. That's very important to us because it will help build the Canadian interest in the event, the fan base as well as the Canadian sponsorship dollars. The communication we get from the America's Cup organizers is that they are trying to build this so that it continues after the 34th edition.

Valencia Sailing: You mentioned the interest in Canada. How popular is sailing in Canada? Do you think you'll get a strong base of followers or will it remain a niche event, mainly unnoticed by the mainstream media?
Kevin Reed: Since we haven't had an entry since 1987 it will take some time to get a broader appeal. There is a strong core sailing population in Canada but to get the broad appeal it will take longer. This is why we strongly believe that if we put an all-Canadian team together we will get the media to follow us.

Valencia Sailing: Where will the team be based?
Kevin Reed: That's a good question. We still haven't decided. The challenge will come from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club which is in Toronto. Where we base the team will depend on the race schedule. We will look at it and then decide where it will be the most efficient location to be based. Paul Henderson will decide what the most efficient location for the team to train and live is.

Valencia Sailing: I suppose that from a Canadian perspective, San Francisco is the ideal venue for this edition of the Cup.
Kevin Reed: I would say that America is because we are seeing some communication that perhaps Rhode Island is also on the hunt. Without a doubt, either San Francisco or Rhode Island would be ideal for us. As long as it's in the US it certainly helps a lot to pull together the Canadian support.

Valencia Sailing: If for some reason, even the most remote, the venue is not in the US will that put an end to your challenge?
Kevin Reed: No, it will not stop it but it will make it harder for Canadian sponsors because although the format is to have 5 races next year and 8 in 2012, the big lure, the big attraction is that Challenger and Defender Series will take place in North America. That's very attractive for Canadian sponsors and viewer audience.

Valencia Sailing: What feedback do you get from the potential Canadian sponsors. Do they see an interest in such a project?
Kevin Reed: They sure do. Canada is in great shape, our economy is in great shape, we weathered the downturn extremely well and we've got numerous Canadian companies doing great things around the world and it makes sense to a lot of them to entertain their clients in a world-class event like the America's Cup.

Valencia Sailing: Given the fact Canada has been out of the Cup for almost 25 years you must start from scratch. Do you feel you don't have enough time to set up a competitive team?
Kevin Reed: Time is not our friend. We start we a tight time frame, without a doubt, but as I said we start with a number of great Canadian sailors today that we feel we can pull together and be extremely competitive in our first shot in the next 2-3 years.

Valencia Sailing: Can you give us at least a hint on who the skipper or the principal designer will be?
Kevin Reed: I'll leave that to Paul Henderson if he wishes to disclose. Our number one goal is to make sure the financing mechanisms are in place and once we have that and a commitment from the team we will certainly have a formal announcement. We hope to have that by February.

Valencia Sailing: You mentioned Paul Henderson quite a few times. Is he in charge of the sport part of the team?
Kevin Reed: Paul and I are working hand and hand on this but I focus on the business aspect of it and he focuses on recruiting the sailors.

Valencia Sailing: You are an accomplished ice hockey player and you played competitively in your youth. As a sportsman, how much different is sailing from ice hockey?
Kevin Reed: Well, one is one ice and one is on water that hasn't frozen yet, at least here in Toronto. Both sports have a team aspect where you need everyone to work as one team and I think the similarities are quite striking between ice hockey and sailing. No one person can win it but you need the entire team to win it. For me it's a big attraction because I love team sports and I have always been a big supporter of team sports.

Valencia Sailing: Are you sailor yourself?
Kevin Reed: Yes, I am.

Valencia Sailing: Will you be onboard the yacht during the Cup?
Kevin Reed: First of all we will make sure we put on the boat the people that can win it, after that we will have to take care of our sponsors and if at the end there is a spot I would be happy to go for a ride.

Valencia Sailing: Thanks, is there anything else you would like to add?
Kevin Reed: I can tell you that the America's Cup Race Management and Event Authority have done a tremendous job in trying to help challengers come into this. What they have done for the good of the sport is wonderful and I couldn't say enough good things about how they are trying to help us and all the other challengers to get involved. These guys are first-rate professionals. Russell Coutts, Tom Ehman and their team are doing a great job.

No wind, no race on day two of the Christmas Race

2010-12-19T19:29:00.000+01:00

The wind decided not to appear on day two at the Christmas Race so there was no racing today. The day started with rain and around midday the clouds began to disappear and a SSW breeze was expected to start blowing in the bay. But it did not happen and after five hours ashore, teams went home with no races sailed.

Some sailors had fun playing football while others sat at Palamos pier waiting for the wind.

Carles Palomares, the race manager explained “we tried everyhting possible, even the Race Committees went afloat but there was hardly any wind so it was impossible to give a start to any race".

There have been no changes in the results from day one. Meteorologist Enric Agud has forecasted a SW wind around 10 knots at midday increasing to fifiteen throughout the afternoon.

Shifty winds mark opening day of Christmas Race in Palamós

2010-12-18T21:50:00.003+01:00

[Source: Christmas Race] Day one in Palamos woke up with clouds and grey skies with SSE winds forecasted to start blowing from midday. A calm morning with no wind left all sailors ashore. Shyly, the sun peeped through the clouds around midday and the wind seemed to start making its way through. The Race Committee decided to send the Laser and Laser radial fleet to the racing area but as soon as the decision was made the Race Committee reported that the wind had dropped again and all classes were again postponed ashore. It wasn't until 14:00 hrs that a sudden shifty 160-170 wind, 5 to 6 knots took the bay of Palamos by surprise and racing began.

The first to sail out was the 49er fleet that was followed by all other classes. The changeable wind conditions put the Race Committee to the test and finally only the 49ers, 470 and Finn managed to sail today. In Charlie area the Laser standard and radial started race one but it had to be abandoned shortly after the start due to an important wind shift and the fleet was sent ashore. After 2 races in the 49er, GBR team Richard Mason and Tom Partington take the lead followed by Bernardo Freitas and Francisco Andrade from Portugal and French sailors Mathieu Frei and Yann Rocherieux.

In Bravo area, the 470 men and women and Finn completed only one race. After finishing second at the 2010 Skandia Sail for Gold regatta last August, 470 women Spanish sailors Tara Pacheco and Berta Betanzos had an excellent start of the event winning today’s race. Second place was for British team Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth who have finished second overall at the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Christmas race. Spanish team Marina Gallego and Ana Lobo were third. Swedish team Victor Bergström and Marcus Dackhammar won today’s race in the 470 men, followed by Jasper Wagner and Tobias Bolduan from Germany who have just arrived from a victory at the Imperia Winter regatta. Third place was for French sailors Louis Moysan and Baptiste Berthier.

Win for Andrii Gusenko from Ukraine in the Finn class and second place for Austrian sailor Florian Raudaschl from Austria who won the International Finn Cup in Malcesine last October. Third place was for Jan Kurfeld from Germany.

Tomorrow is expected to start cloudy again, with some drizzles and NW wind, 4 to 7 knots in the morning changing to SSW wind 6 to 12 knots from midday.

Work on AC45 catamarans moving ahead in New Zealand

2010-12-18T17:08:00.002+01:00

[Source: America's Cup] Work on the AC45 catamarans, which the Cup teams will use to race in the 2011 America’s Cup World Series events, is continuing at pace in Warkworth, New Zealand.

Dubbed the ‘little sister with attitude’ in comparison to the enormous AC72 cats the teams will race in the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup, the first AC45 is scheduled to be launched in the new year, with others rolling off the assembly quickly thereafter. Entered competitors will have a chance to participate in sea trials following the initial launch.

After the 2011 season, the AC45s will be used in the Youth America’s Cup series, developing the next generation of Cup sailors.

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Construction of the first AC45 catamaran. Warkworth, 17 December 2010. Photo copyright Ivor Wilkins / America's Cup

Exciting finishes and upsets in Sail Melbourne medal races

2010-12-18T16:48:00.002+01:00

[Source: Sail Melbourne] The opening round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne, has come to an end with close finishes and a number of upsets on the final day of racing.

The best laid plans went astray for the New Zealand 49er crew of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. They took a three point lead over Delle Nico and Nickolaus Resche into the double-points medal race, meaning the Austrians had to beat them by at least two places to win the gold medal.

The New Zealanders put their rivals into trouble early, forcing them into a pre-start infringement and the consequent 720 penalty turn. This pushed the Austrians to the right hand side of the course and with the wind tracking left, that appeared to be the unfavoured side. If they had any ideas of coming back onto starboard, those hopes were dashed when the Australians, Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen nailed the start and forced them further to the right. Meanwhile, the Kiwis had decided that the extreme left was the place to be.

From nowhere, a big right-hand shift came down the course, the Austrians lifted and the race was effectively over. Outteridge and Jensen came back later in the race to finish 4th, but the Kiwis, furiously “going troppo” in the hope of a favourable shift, finished ninth.

“It was a really tough race,” Nickolaus Resche said. “We had a small incident with the Kiwis and then we were lucky to get a good right shift. Then we just had to stay in the fleet. We are really happy that we won.”

The Kiwis, though obviously disappointed, finished in second place in the regatta. “We had to play catch up the whole race,” said Peter Burling. “Everything we did didn't work. We'll learn from it though.”

Nathan Outteridge reported that the wind shifts were swinging through 55 degrees at various times during the race.

Highlights from the closing day of Sail Melbourne. Melbourne, 18 December 2010. Video copyright Sail Melbourne

The second class away was the Finn, the heavyweight dinghy that features the big men of sailing, and triple Olympic Gold medalist and current World Match Racing champion Ben Ainslie was the one to beat. Ainslie went into the medal race six points ahead of compatriot Giles Scott who in turn was one point clear of Ed Wright. Frenchmen Jonathan Lobert and Thomas Le Breton and American Zach Railey could technically still win, but a British victory was much more likely.

Dutchman Pieter Postma upset the British party by leaping to an early lead. As the British covered each other, Postma raced away to an easy win. However, this was all about final points and the master strategist Ben Ainslie had it under control.

“Ed was going right and Giles was going left,” said Ainslie. He had to choose: “I went with Giles. It (the wind) was slowly clocking left but there was a big right hand shift which lifted Ed.”

Wright, the World Champion, took advantage of the lift to finish second, ahead of Scott and Ainslie. This allowed him to leapfrog Scott in the overall standings, leaving Great Britain with all three podium positions.

The 470 crews were made to work for their medals. After a postponement, the first race was called off during the second lap, with World Champions Mat Belcher and Mal Page leading by a considerable margin.

Belcher and Page went into the race in third place overall, but only two points off first. Among the top three whoever finished in front would win.

After the restart, it appeared that Belcher and Page were to be dealt a cruel blow. They went right while the Americans went left, and a huge wind shift favoured the left. Belcher and Page were back in sixth and a long way behind.

However, you never write off true champions. Working back up to the fleet, they used superior speed downwind to hit the front and were never headed. Sam Kivell and Will Ryan managed third in the medal race, which put them into third overall.

A relieved Malcolm Page described the tactical dilemma that faced the Australians. “We would have liked to stay a bit further left, but two of our main rivals went right and one went left so we played the percentages. We managed to close the gauge, got on the back of the top five. Then we hooked some good waves and got to the front.”

The women's 470 was also wide open going into the medal race, with five crews having a chance to win. With no Australian crews in with a chance, a German crew was the local favourite as it featured Mat Belcher's wife Rike Belcher.

Belcher and her skipper Katherin Kadelbach needed to finish ahead of the Austrians, Sylvia Vogl and Carolina Flatscher, and hold off challenges from compatriots Wagner and Steinherr and two Chinese crews.

Ultimately, Feng Hui min Huang and Li zhu Huang won the race from Kadelbach and Belcher, with the Austrians third. This meant the German pair won the title on a countback, the closest result of the regatta.

On paper, the Laser was going to be the easiest result to pick. Englishman Nick Thompson had a nine point lead over Australian Tom Burton and could win from seventh position. The real battle was going to be between Burton and another Australian, world champion Tom Slingsby. Burton had to finish second to advance from the Australian Development Squad to the Australian Sailing Team, and with only one Olympic place for each country, Slingsby naturally preferred to be the only Laser sailor in the team.

However, wind shifts, re-laid courses and general recalls in other classes meant that by the time the Lasers got onto the course the wind had died and there were holes all over the course. Shortly after the start, it was obvious that Thompson was in trouble. He was back in ninth place and in danger of losing his lead.

Fortunately for him, the two Toms were engaging in their own match race and were also near the back of the fleet. Ultimately, Dutchmen Roelof Bouwmeester and Rutger Schaardenburg were the first two home, ahead of Josh Junior from New Zealand.

“It wasn't the nicest position,” said Thompson, referring to his ninth place. “I started at the unfavoured end and sailed into a huge hole. But I could see a couple of minutes out that Slingsby and Burton were going at each other so the tactic was to stay as close as I could. I was OK from a points aspect.”

From Burton's point of view, Thompson was too far in front on points so his objective was to finish second overall – which meant beating Slingsby. “I didn't want to let him get too far away. Pretty much from start to finish it was on.”

Burton finished sixth and Slingsby eighth and the World Champion was philosophical about the defeat. When asked how Burton had been able to beat him, he replied: “Technique. I've been out of the boat a bit long and he had the edge in speed.”

In the Laser Radial, the top positions were much closer to the script. Zhang Dong Shuang of China was the overnight leader and although being beaten into third place in the medal race she was a comfortable overall winner. Nathalie Brugger of Switzerland won the medal race and moved ahead of world number one Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands for the silver medal.

By the time the RS:X sailboards hit the course there was almost no wind. They have endured pumping races all week, with only one day when they could get up and plane, and the finals were no different.

Three Hong Kong and two Chinese men had been swapping positions throughout the event. Ultimately, Chan King Yin of Hong Kong prevailed over Aichen Wang of China, with Cheng Kwok Fai of Hong Kong third.

In the women's event, Australian veteran Jessica Crisp took a three point lead into the final and had the chance to break the Asian stranglehold. She finished in second place behind Hualz Zhu of China and thought that this was enough to take the gold medal. In a cruel twist, she was judged to be OCS (over the start line) and dropped to fifth overall.

Sail Melbourne was a difficult regatta from a wind perspective, but the challenging conditions created an exciting final day. The Sandringham clubhouse was packed and visitors could view the races live on the course or follow them on the tracker.

The live blog was well supported, with nearly 4000 participants from all round the world. Anna Tunnicliffe the 2009 ISAF Female Sailor of the Year sent in a message of support to her USA teammates and an insomniac Austrian enquired regularly about the progress of his countrymen and women, who performed extremely well in the regatta.

The ISAF Sailing World Cup now moves to Miami at the end of January.

Barcelona and the media bids 'Bienvenidos' to the skippers

2010-12-17T20:13:00.002+01:00

[Source: Barcelona World Race] The Barcelona World Race skippers lined up today for the first obligatory press conference with the sailors taking part in an official photo call before informal media interviews. With less than two weeks to go before the start on 31st December the co-skippers answered questions on their preparations for the race to almost 100 invited key media from nine different countries.

For some, such as 2007-8 race winner Jean Pierre Dick (FRA), Alex Thomson (GBR) and Pachi Rivero (ESP) – the sole Spanish skipper to be looking forward to competing in his second Barcelona World Race, and even Loïck Peyron who was here 10 years ago for the start of The Race – it was a chance to meet up with old friends and colleagues, enjoying the pre-start buzz and hubbub on their respective returns to Barcelona, while others have been familiarising themselves with the impressive Race Fleet Dock, and the massive 4500 sq metre Moll Barcelona World Race Expo for the first time.

Everyone loves their local heroes and almost inevitably the longest queues of media lined up to speak with the strong contingent of skippers who have grown up, or live permanently in Barcelona such diminutive Anna Corbella, who will set sail with Dee Caffari on GAES Centros Auditivos in the prospect of becoming the first Spanish woman to sail non stop around the world, Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes on Estrella Damm, Jaume Mumbru who sails with long time Barcelona friend Cali Sanmarti on We Are Water, and eminent cardiologist Bruno Garcia who partners French skipper Jean Le Cam on President and Gerard Marin on FMC.

The Barcelona World Race skippers

Dominique Wavre (SUI) and Michèle Paret (FRA), another duo who are making their return to the Barcelona World Race, will tomorrow celebrate their new partnership with Mirabaud with the boat’s official christening.

Immediately adjacent to the IMOCA Race Fleet Dock, is the huge Moll Barcelona World Race Expo which will be opened at 1300hrs tomorrow, Saturday 18th December, by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu. The mayor will meet the skippers and present them with their symbolic mooring lines, signifying the strong bond between them and the Catalan capital city, their Barcelona World Race flags. It will be the first time for the public to meet the skippers.

Quotes:

Pepe Ribes (ESP), Estrella Damm: “We look at this round the world race with a lot of humility, because there are four almost new boats, and the best skippers in the history of IMOCA class, but we also have great ambitions to do our best, and we want to be competitive.”

Dee Caffari (GBR), Gaes Centros Auditivos: “I’m feeling good, feeling like we have done what I wanted to achieve, that is have all the stuff to do with the boat, has been dealt with. We are ready to go. And for Anna, all of this is quite new to her, so when the race village opens and we have all the other requirements of being a skipper, she can just be concentrating on that and not worried about the boat. The shore team seem calm and happy, which always gives me confidence.”

Alex Thomson (GBR), Hugo Boss: “The race is a much bigger deal than before, with more competitors and a higher standard, and it’s good to be back. We’ve had more time to prepare - last time we sailed 2,500 miles before the start, this time it’s been 15,000. We’ve had the boat in the water for a much longer time, done two Transatlantics, been to the Mediterranean twice, and been all the way through our process of breaking and fixing and breaking and fixing!”

Michele Paret (FRA), Mirabuad: “Dominique and I are always talking about the race, but it’s our passion so that’s easy. We need it and we’ve always done it that way. It’s a great advantage for us I think because we know each other very well, we are both confident in the other one and we have no frustrations, because we can talk about everything, so I think it’s much easier for us. I think some of these skippers wouldn’t want to go with their wives!”

Pachi Rivero (ESP), Renault Z.E. Sailing Team: “I’m coming back because I loved the first time and I have great memories – if this one is as good as the first I’ll do a third! The best thing about the race is actually doing it, sailing through all the oceans, going round Antarctica, and being able to sail in extreme conditions.”

Co-skipper ‘Talpi’, Antonio Piris (ESP), added: “I’ll miss a good bed, and a cold beer from time to time!”

Loick Peyron (FRA), Virbac-Paprec 3: “This will be my fifth time setting off around the world, and in fact it is 10 years to the day of the anniversary of The Race, the exact same course setting off from Barcelona. This time my position is quite different because I don’t have the pressure of being skipper. I’m very comfortable in this new position, and it makes it very easy to accept things. The only master on board, after God or Allah, is Jean-Pierre! That’s how it should be, as it is his ship, his team, and his future. We are going to have a democratic way of doing things on board, but it’s a natural process, we don’t have to plan.”

Jaume Mumbrü (ESP), We Are Water: “We have a sponsor which is a foundation started by the leading ceramics and bathroom company ROCA. They are very passionate about the awareness of water, the recycling of water, and the lack of water, so we’re not only sailing, we’re going to be carrying their message and values, which is just great. It gives us more energy – it’s not only like carrying a commercial name, although we would be happy to do that, it’s something of value. The foundation provides funds for all different programmes, so we’re going to be explaining that, raising funds and promoting it.”

Video update from the Camper build shed in Auckland

2010-12-16T09:36:00.004+01:00

Chris Nicholson, skipper of the Camper Volvo Ocean Race campaign, gives us an update on the construction of his team's VO70 yacht in Auckland.

Chris Nicholson talks about the build of Camper's VO70 yacht. Auckland, 14 December 2010. Video copyright Camper

PUMA Volvo 70 - il mostro - For sale!

2010-12-16T00:08:00.009+01:00

PUMA's il mostro finished 2nd in the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race. Since this amazing feat, the boat has steadily been updated while being used as a training platform for PUMA Ocean Racing during the summer of 2010. During that summer il mostro placed 2nd in the Newport-Bermuda Race under ORR. il mostro also has a IRC rating but has never raced offshore under this rule.

il mostro is the perfect platform for a team wishing to put together a late Volvo Ocean Race entry for the 2011 Race, or for a racing owner who wishes to compete in any type of offshore racing both under handicap and as a course record breaker.

If you are interested in buying it, all you have to do is click on the banner on the left-hand side column of our website!!

70' Goetz Custom Boats Volvo 70
Basic Information
* Year: 2008
* Located In Newport, RI
* Hull Material: Composite
* Engine/Fuel Type: Single Diesel

Specs
* Builder: Goetz Custom Boats
* Designer: Botin/Carkeek

Dimensions
* LOA: 70'
* Beam: 18'
* Maximum Draft: 15'
* Displacement: 30,000lbs

Engines
* Engine Brand: Volvo
* Engine(s) HP: 75
* Engine Model: D2-75

Included with purchase
* (3) Spare daggerboards
* (3) Spare rudders
* Southern Spars mast and boom
* Southern Spars mast and Boom (race spare)
* Complete inventory of VOR North sails + many more usable sails
* 2 Cradles
* Spare keel ram
* Full saftey equipment inventory
* Spare bow sprit

This is who I am - Chris Nicholson

2010-12-15T19:31:00.003+01:00

One issue that was mentioned and repeated by almost every panelist, during the two full days of the World Yacht Racing Forum, was that the sport of sailing needs to put into evidence its characters and personalities. Well here's a nice video from the Volvo Ocean Race doing just that. Chris Nicholson, skipper of the Camper VOR race, talks about himself while Grant Dalton tells us how he first spotted him ten years ago.

America's Cup Protocol changes after Competitor Forum

2010-12-15T18:56:00.004+01:00

Related documents
- 34th America's Cup Protocol - Amendment 3

[Source: America's Cup] Changes will further reduce costs, encouraging teams to focus their investments on the water

Several cost-reducing amendments to the America’s Cup rules have been adopted, following recommendations from the Competitor Forum, as well as prospective teams.

To maintain an open dialogue with current and potential teams, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) has hosted two briefings to gain insight into the needs of teams. Further discussions between ACRM and the Competitor Forum have resulted in amendments to the Rules that will reduce costs for participants.

“These changes are designed to allow the teams put their initial investments into building their teams and boats,” said Iain Murray, CEO, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) and Regatta Director for the 34th America’s Cup. “We are here to help the teams and to ensure that every dollar will be well spent.”

Key points of the Rule Amendments

- Reduce entry fee by USD1.2million and bond requirements by USD2million

- Increase the equipment that ACRM will ship for Competitors to America’s Cup World Series venues

- Give Competitors an additional three months to build their first AC72

- Provide Competitors two additional months with common AC72 design team

Details of the Rule changes were revealed by Iain Murray and Richard Worth, the Chairman of the America’s Cup Event Authority, as they participated in a panel discussion at the World Yacht Racing Forum on Wednesday afternoon in Portugal.

CAMPER announce Volvo Ocean Race crew

2010-12-15T13:02:00.005+01:00

[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] Just six months after Camper, the Spanish footwear brand, announced that it would take part in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, skipper Chris Nicholson today confirmed the sailing team and key shore team members for the CAMPER campaign.

The CAMPER team, which is being managed by Emirates Team New Zealand, brings a wealth of experience to the race. Team members have between them no less than three Olympic campaigns, 17 America's Cups, 22 Volvo/Whitbread races and numerous world championship titles.

Nicholson said of his crew: "This is one of the hardest events to win in sailing and we set out to bring together the best sailing team possible.

"We have a great mixture of experience and youth; I have been lucky enough to sail with most of them over the years and we have a team that will work really well together.

"The spirit within the CAMPER team, and by that I mean everyone, from the design, office, management, build, sponsors, reflects a real genuine passion to achieve," says Nicholson. "I believe that we have created a team that can win the Volvo Ocean Race. We have a great sponsor in Camper and we are looking forward to sharing this race with them."

Dalia Saliamonas, Project Director, CAMPER in the Volvo Ocean Race, says: "Six months after announcing our participation, it is fantastic to announce this exciting team. We are incredibly proud to be working with such a talented, experienced and passionate crew, and we are looking forward to the journey ahead."

Under the eye of CAMPER's principal designer Marcelino Botin and the build team at Cookson Boats in Auckland, construction of the CAMPER boat is well underway with the hull now complete. The team plans to have the boat in the water by late April 2011 where it will undergo sea trials before being shipped to Spain.

CAMPER SAILING TEAM

Chris Nicholson (41), Australia
Skipper
An electrician by trade, Chris is a veteran of three Volvo Ocean Races (2001-02, 2005-06, 2008-09) and has been sailing professionally for over 20 years. He has represented Australia at two Olympic Games (2000 & 2004), and has six world championship titles across the 49er and 505 classes.

CAMPER crew (L-R): Roberto Bermudez de Castro, Adam Minoprio, Andrew McLean, Daryl Wislang, Hamish Hooper - Photos: CAMPER.

Stuart Bannatyne (39), New Zealand
Watch Captain
Stu has been a professional yachtsman for 16 years and competed in the last five Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races, three times aboard the winning boat. He has won numerous inshore championships and ocean races, has broken the 24-hour world record distance for a monohull on five separate occasions (the most by any person), and was named New Zealand Sailor of the Year in 2009.

Will Oxley (45), Australia
Navigator
Will is a marine scientist with over 200,000 nautical miles of ocean racing on his CV, including sailing and shore-based positions in two Volvo Ocean Races (2005-06, 2008-09), the BT Global Challenge (2000-01) and the Oryx Quest Non Stop RTW (Doha 2005/6).

Roberto "Chuny" Bermudez de Castro (40), Spain
Driver/trimmer
An industrial engineer, Chuny has competed in two America's Cup Campaigns (1995 & 2000) and represented Spain at the Athens Olympics in 2004. He has taken part in four Volvo Ocean Races, most recently as skipper of Delta Lloyd in 2008-09.

Adam Minoprio (25), New Zealand
Driver/trimmer
Adam is a rising star in yachting. In 2009 he made his mark by winning the World Match Racing Tour as skipper and helm of the BlackMatch team after only two years on the professional circuit. Adam and his team were recently named 2010 Singapore Airlines Sailor of the Year.

Rob Salthouse (45), New Zealand
Driver/Trimmer
Rob is a sailmaker who has a sailing career spanning more than 25 years. He has taken part in no less that eight Sydney Hobart races, five Admiral's Cups, and four America's Cups as part of Emirates Team New Zealand. This will be his third Volvo Ocean Race (2001-02, 2008-09).

CAMPER crew (L-R): Rob Salthouse, Mike Pammenter, Stuart Bannatyne, Tony Rae, Will Oxley - Photos: CAMPER.

Tony Rae (49), New Zealand
Driver/Trimmer
Tony brings a wealth of experience to the CAMPER team with over 20 years as a professional sailor. He was onboard Steinlager 2 during the 1989 Whitbread when the crew won every leg of the race and has been a core team member of New Zealand America's Cup campaigns since 1987. This will be his fifth Volvo Ocean Race (1985-86, 1989-90 1993-94, 1997-98).

Michael Pammenter (27), South Africa
Bowman
Mike is a finance and economics graduate whose first experience of the Volvo Ocean Race was in 2008 when he joined Telefonica Blue as one of the new "under-30s" and was the youngest sailor in the race.

Daryl Wislang (29), New Zealand
Bowman
Sailmaker Daryl started sailing when he was ten and it is a passion that has turned into a career. His previous race history includes being sailmaker and part-time in-port racer with Movistar in 2005-06, and as bowman on Telefonica Blue in 2008-09.

Andrew McLean (31), New Zealand
Pit/Trimmer
A qualified mechanical engineer, Andrew was part of the winning Emirates Team New Zealand team during the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger elimination series in 2007. He took part in his first round the world race onboard Green Dragon in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Hamish Hooper (32), New Zealand
Media Crew Member
Hamish had a background in TV commercials and advertising but a slight turn of fate one day found Hamish being involved in sailing television work and he has been involved in filming sailing events and working alongside teams ever since.

Extreme Sailing Series announces major step forward; wants to change "the way sailing seen"

2010-12-13T22:27:00.003+01:00

The Extreme Sailing Series in Numbers
- 9 events confirmed for 2011 circuit spanning North America, Europe, Arabia and Asia.
- Mix of venues from iconic cities and unconventional ‘stadiums’, to established sailing destinations and emerging sailing markets.
- 10 top class teams representing 8 nations, and a dozen different nationalities of sailors.
- 5-day events offering a unique mix of ‘open-water’ racing and with high octane ‘stadium’ racing – high sporting integrity, but entertaining non-sailors and sailors alike too.
- Fleet racing, figure of 8 duels, time trials, match racing and other formats of racing will continue to be used – but always short, sharp and punchy!
- ‘Money can’t buy’ VIP experiences on and off the water – pioneering 5th man spots remain a key value of the event.
- 8-hour programme of entertainment (on and off the water) on every public-facing day.
- 12 x Optimists, 8 x 49ers, and at least 3 other classes of ‘support act’ over the season including windsurfers, kiteboarders,…
- 5-year vision and key developments planned for 2011

On the eve of the World Yacht Racing Forum in Estoril (Portugal), the Extreme Sailing Series™ unveiled a great package of interesting and varied host venues, and top level professional sailing teams and skippers for 2011. The award-winning and ‘ISAF Special Event’ circuit is going truly global as it enters its fifth year, with 9 events spanning 3 continents, over 11 months and 10 teams representing 8 nations. A core objective of the event remains to be the most commercially sound way for brands and host venues to benefit from the great offer that professional sailing can present. This philosophy has been at the heart of the product since its inception in 2006, with the vast majority of teams since 2007 being sponsorship funded. The 2011 package provides a global sponsorship platform, at a very accessible budget level, and with a queue of sailors keen to compete.

“The circuit has come a long way since 2007 when we had just 4 European events and 5 teams,” commented Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of organisers OC ThirdPole. “We continue to attract new top sponsored teams, sailors and, importantly, major new venues where we can showcase the sport with our game-changing ‘stadium’ format. The choice of venues for 2011 has been our core commercial team focus since the end of 2009. We are getting closer to the perfect mix of established iconic cities, premium venues, great sailing destinations and emerging (sailing) markets.

“We continue to maintain the mix of sporting integrity and entertainment. We have shown inshore sailing can actually be fun to watch for the non-sailor as well as the sailor! Part of the DNA of the circuit since the beginning, our 5th man spot remains one of the sport’s greatest assets – be it for sponsors clients, media, TV cameramen, or prizewinners drawn from the general public,” he concluded.

A circuit spanning North America, Europe, Arabia and Asia

The 2011 Extreme Sailing Series™ kicks off in the Sultanate of Oman in February, as part of the annual Muscat Festival, before heading to China for Act 2 (location to be announced separately). The gateway between Europe and Asia, and European City of Sport for 2012, Istanbul, will host the third Act before the Extreme 40 fleet travels to the United States of America for the first time, to Boston’s waterfront in time for the July 4th celebrations.

Cowes Week welcomes the Extreme 40s for the fifth consecutive year for Act 5, ahead of a return to the Sicilian port of Trapani, for the second consecutive year. The French round will be staged on Mediterranean waters in Nice before Almería, in Andalucia, Spain hosts the penultimate event and the 2011 circuit will be decided in Singapore in mid-December.

10 Teams Representing 8 Nations, with sailors from more than 12 countries, and from diverse backgrounds (Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup, Olympic Gold medalists, World Match Racing Tour etc..)

Diversity and quality are once again hallmarks of the Extreme Sailing Series line up.

Two-times runner-up Groupe Edmond de Rothschild returns (skipper as yet unknown); new entry Luna Rossa has snapped up last year’s winning skipper Paul Campbell-James as helm, with the boat skippered by America’s Cup winning sailor, Max Sirena. Oman Air Masirah, returns, skippered by French Volvo Ocean Race veteran Sidney Gavignet; double Olympic Gold Medallist Roman Hagara enters for the second season with his Red Bull Extreme Sailing team.

Britain’s Ian Williams, two times winner of the World Match Racing Tour joins Team GAC Pindar; another new Italian entry, Team Nice, led by Alberto Barovier and 2010 winners, The Wave, Muscat return to defend their title, this time skippered by emerging star Torvar Mirsky.

Alinghi returns to the fleet after winning in 2008, skippered by experienced Extreme 40 tactician Tanguy Cariou; Paul Cayard’s Artemis Racing is skippered by American Terry Hutchinson and finally, new to the 2011 circuit will be Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Kiwi America’s Cup winner, Dean Barker, who experienced Extreme 40 racing for the first time at the final event in Almería this year.

2011 Calendar & Host Venues:
Act 1: 22-24 February, Muscat, Oman (20-21 ‘open-water’ racing*)
 Act 2: 15-17 April, China (13-14 ‘open-water’ racing)
Act 3: 27-29 May, Istanbul, Turkey (25-26 ‘open-water’ racing)
 Act 4: 30 June – 4 July, Boston, USA (all days public event)
 Act 5: 6-12 August, Cowes, UK (all days public event) 
Act 6: 16-18 September, Trapani, Italy (14-15 ‘open-water’ racing) 
Act 7: 30 September – 2 October, Nice, France (28-29 ‘open-water’ racing)
 Act 8: 12-16 October, Almeria, Spain (all days public event) 
Act 9: 9-11 December, Singapore (7-8 ‘open-water’ racing)
* ‘open-water’ racing means that the Race Manager can use whatever part of the arena is best for racing – once the public village is open in ‘stadium’ mode there are sometimes constraints in this respect in order to ensure the fans can see all the action.

2011 Confirmed* Teams & Skippers:

Team Name/ Nat Skipper Name (Nat.)
Alinghi/ SUI - Tanguy Cariou (FRA)
Artemis Racing/ SWE - Terry Hutchinson (USA)
Emirates Team New Zealand/ NZL - Dean Barker (NZL)
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild/ FRA (As Yet Unknown)
Luna Rossa/ ITA - Max Sirena (ITA)
Oman Air Masirah/ OMA - Sidney Gavignet (FRA)
Red Bull Extreme Sailing/ AUT - Roman Hagara (AUT)
Team GAC Pindar/ GBR - Ian Williams (GBR)
Team Nice/ ITA - Alberto Barovier (ITA)
The Wave, Muscat/ OMA - Torvar Mirsky (AUS)

Ellison, BMW ORACLE Raicng secure 2010 RC 44 Season Championship

2010-12-13T08:25:00.001+01:00

[Source: RC44 Class Association] Larry Ellison and his BMW ORACLE Racing crew wrapped up the 2010 RC 44 Season Championship with a second-place finish in the fleet racing portion of the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami.

Coupled with the team’s sixth place in the match racing portion of the regatta, BMW ORACLE Racing placed fourth overall in the Miami regatta, which equated to a 2-point victory over Artemis Racing for the season championship.

“We were up and down. We’ve had good regattas and sometimes things didn’t go so well, but overall the team did a great job sailing,” said Ellison. “We came first in fleet racing and first overall. We had a rough match racing regatta here in Miami, but the fleet was good enough and we’re happy with the result.”

Ellison and crew, including tactician Russell Coutts, finished 3-4-3 today but had to pull a few rabbits out of their collective hat.

They started one race early and found themselves constantly battling back on a day with very shifty winds. In particular they gained a few places in the last half of the runs to the finish that kept their score low enough for the championship.

“We do better when it’s breezy,” said Ellison. “There are more opportunities to pass downwind. I’ve got a lot of experience sailing on San Francisco Bay and we love the breeze.”

While Ellison got the spoils for the season championship, Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino won the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami title.

Mascalzone Latino showed great improvement at this regatta after rejoining the class in July. The Italian crew placed third in both the match and fleet racing for the overall victory with the low score of 6 points.

“Winning this event is special meaning for me because the past three years have been difficult for me in my life and in sailing,” said Onorato, a six-time world champion in yacht racing.

“Russell asked us to come back to the class and we couldn’t be happier with this result. We’ve worked hard to regain our form and we will do our best in the future to perform in this class,” Onorato said.

Yet a third winner today was William “Doug” Douglass aboard the RC 44 World Champion yacht 17. Douglass, sailing with Australian James Spithill as tactician, won the fleet racing portion of the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami with the low score of 39 points.

“The class seems extremely well organized. It was good, we had a lot of fun out there,” said Douglass, a veteran of the Farr 40 and Melges 32 classes. “Today was a little windy and we saw how the boats could get wicked up and go.”

The 2011 RC 44 Season Championship begins in March in San Diego, Calif.

RC 44 2010 Season Championship
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) Larry Ellison/Russell Coutts – (8)-1-1-4-2-4 – 12 points
2. Artemis Racing (SWE) Torbjorn Tornqvist/Terry Hutchinson – 1-(8)-4-2-5-2 – 14 points
3. 17 (USA) William Douglass/James Spithill – (11)-3-5-3-1-3 – 15 points
4. No Way Back (NED) Pieter Heerema/Ray Davies – 2-2-3-5-3-(6) – 15 points
5. Team Aqua (UAE) Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton – 4-6-2-1-(8)-5 – 18 points
6. Team Sea Dubai (UAE) Harm Müller-Spreer/Markus Wieser – 3-4-6-7-6-(9) – 26 points
7. Katusha (RUS) Guennadi Timtchenko/Paul Cayard – 6-5-(8)-6-4-8 – 29 points
8. Ceeref (SLO) Igor Lah/Rod Davis – 5-7-7-(9)-7-7 – 33 points
9. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) Vincenzo Onorato/Francesco Bruni – 11-(12)-12-11-9-1 – 44 points
10. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) Daniel Calero/Jose Maria Ponce – 7-9-10-8-(11)-11 – 45 points
11. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team (AUT) René Mangold/Christian Binder – 9-10-9-10-10-(14) – 48 points
12. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) Maxim Logutenko/Evgeniy Neugodnikov – 11-12-12-(13)-13-10 – 58 points
13. Peninsula Petroleum (ESP) John Bassadone/Inaki Castaner – 11-12-12-(13)-12-12 – 59 points
14. Ironbound (USA) David Murphy/Ian Williams – 11-12-12-13-(15)-13 – 61 points

Video: Andreij Justin shows some of the RC44 cool features

2010-12-12T20:52:00.003+01:00

Andreij Justin, the Slovenian naval architect that together with Russell Coutts designed the RC44, shows us some of the cool features of this racing thoroughbred.

Do yacht clubs really matter in the America's Cup?

2010-12-12T11:23:00.011+01:00

According to the Deed of Gift, the basic set of rules that govern the America's Cup, "any organized yacht Club of a foreign country, incorporated, patented, or licensed by the legislature, admiralty or other executive department, having for its annual regatta an ocean water course on the sea, or on an arm of the sea, or one which combines both, shall always be entitled to the right of sailing a match for this Cup". In the 32nd edition of the world's oldest sailing event, a few exceptions were granted. The Spanish challenged through their national sailing federation, the Chinese through the newly-created Qingdao International yacht Club, while finally the Germans opted as well for a previously non-existent club.

Then in June 2007, Alinghi lowered the bar even further and together with their sinister bedfellows, the then President and Vice President of the Spanish Sailing Federation, Gerardo Pombo and Manuel Chirivella, created the Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV) in a week in order to have a hip-pocket challenger of record for the 33rd Cup. Although duly registered as a yacht club, the CNEV didn't exist beyond paper. BMW Oracle filed a lawsuit and the rest is history.

Start of the first race of the 2010 Aleph Cup. La Grande Motte, 27 November 2010. Photo copyright Aleph Yacht Club

However, and despite its rhetoric during the long and tedious legal battle of the 33rd America's Cup, the current Defending yacht club, Golden Gate Yacht Club, accepted and validated on Friday, December 10th, a formal challenge by a yacht club that is a barely a month old (officially registered on November 4th) and held the first edition of its annual regatta just two weeks ago, on November 27th.

We are referring to the newly-created Aleph Yacht Club that will be represented by Aleph Team France, the team headed by Bertrand Pacé and Alain Gautier. I think this is another proof that the yacht clubs are mere technicalities and the organizers focus instead on the credentials of the project rather than the underlying club and of course you could hardly get stronger credentials in France than the duo Pacé-Gautier. The yacht club, obviously, meets the criteria set by the Deed of Gift, but just the strict minimum.

The offices of Aleph Yacht Club are in Paris and their regatta was held at the premises of the Yacht Club de La Grande Motte (YCGM) in southern France. This is understandable since the French capital is not anywhere near an "ocean water course on the sea, or on an arm of the sea". It's puzzling though that not one single member of the club took part in their first ever annual regatta, as per the score table!!

Maybe that's why the America's Cup is still at the pinnacle of our sport and if they ditch that antiquated rule they might just become another circuit like the Volvo Ocean Race or the AUDI Medcup.

Douglass, Ellison look to wrap up RC 44 championships

2010-12-12T08:24:00.003+01:00

[Source: RC44 Class Association] In a season that has seen a number of newcomers to the RC 44 Class, it’s yet another newcomer that’s dominating the fleet racing portion of the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami.

William “Doug” Douglass of New York is no stranger to competitive one-design racing, having campaigned a Swan 45, Farr 40 and Melges 32. Today he guided the RC 44 World Champion yacht 17 to another two bullets and leads the fleet with the low score of 14 points in six races.

“I’ve got a good crew and a great tactician in Jimmy Spithill,” said Douglass. “He’s putting me in the right place and the guys have the boat tuned great. It’s easy to go well when the boat’s fast.”

Douglass and the 17 crew have a 20-point lead on second-placed BMW ORACLE Racing, led by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts. Ellison went 8-5 on the day to solidify his crew’s grasp on the 2010 RC 44 Season Championship.

Other contenders for the title include Pieter Heerema’s No Way Back, Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing and Chris Bake’s Team Aqua.

Highlights from day 5 of the Oracle RC44 Miami Cup. Miami, 11 December 2010. Video copyright RC44 Class Association

While BMW ORACLE Racing is in good standing to convert the win, the ease with which points accumulate make it far from a certainty.

“We’re not there yet,” said BMW ORACLE Racing mainsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder. “There are a lot of boats out there and it’s easy to rack up the points. The key is to get a free lane. When you get near other boats you tend to slow down, so it’s almost worth it to sail extra distance and get a clear lane.”

Incredibly, a mere 11 points separate BMW ORACLE Racing in second place from ninth-placed Islas Canarias Puerto Calero. The Spanish yacht from the Canary Islands scored 8 points on the day to move up the standings. As skipper Daniel Calero cautioned, significant points are easy to come by.

“Yesterday we went home really upset about our performance,” said Calero, whose mast broke on Day 1. “We committed many errors and in this class you pay a lot, every single error you pay. Today we tried to avoid the errors. Our starts weren’t great, but we were always able to climb up the fleet.”

Another crew climbing the leaderboard today was Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino. The Italians scored a 6-2 to move into third place in the fleet racing.

“We are improving and learning the boat better every day on the water,” said Onorato, who returned to the class in July. “This is our third regatta, so I’m happy. This is a beautiful boat and I’m enjoying my stay here.”

Douglass, too, is enjoying his stay. The New Yorker described the RC 44 as a, “big, powerful boat. There are a lot of good sailors out there. We have to keep plugging away, have good starts, get a good lane and take it from there.”

The 2010 season is set to conclude tomorrow with a warning signal scheduled for 12:00 pm.

ORACLE RC 44 Cup Fleet Racing Provisional Standings
(After 6 races)
1. 17 (USA) William Douglass/Jimmy Spithill – 3-5-3-1-1-1 – 14 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) Larry Ellison/Russell Coutts – 5-10-4-2-8-5 – 34 points
3. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) Vincenzo Onorato/Francesco Bruni – 7-3-9-8-6-2 – 35 points
4. No Way Back (NED) Pieter Heerema/Ray Davies – 10-2-1-5-4-14 – 36 points
5. Ceeref (SLO) Igor Lah/Rod Davis – 2-8-5-10-7-4 – 36 points
6. Artemis Racing (SWE) Torbjorn Tornqvist/Terry Hutchinson – 4-1-2-6-13-12 – 38 points
7. Katusha (RUS) Guennadi Timtchenko/Paul Cayard – 9-13-7-7-2-6 – 44 points
8. Team Aqua (UAE) Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton – 1-12-11-9-3-9 – 45 points
9. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) Daniel Calero/Jose Maria Ponce – 8-7-8-14-5-3 – 45 points
10. Peninsula Petroleum (ESP) John Bassadone/Inaki Castaner – 11-4-6-11-10-13 – 55 points
11. Team Sea Dubai (UAE) Harm Müller-Spreer/Markus Wieser – 6-6-13-12-9-8 – 56 points (includes 2 point penalty)
12. Ironbound (USA) David Murphy/Ian Williams – 12-11-10-4-11-11 – 59 points
13. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) Maxim Logutenko/Evgeniy Neugodnikov – 14-14-14-3-12-10 – 67 points
14. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team (AUT) René Mangold/Christian Binder – 13-9-12-13-14-7 – 68 points

Announcement of the crew selected by Franck Cammas to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race aboard Groupama 4

2010-12-10T19:18:00.003+01:00

[Source: Team Groupama] A year ago, just days before Groupama 3 was to set sail on her second attempt to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy, Groupama announced its participation in the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race with Franck Cammas.
"Our commitment to the Volvo Ocean Race until 2015 is an expression of our Group's approach to development, which has been strongly internationalised over the past 3 years, explained Jean Azéma, managing director of Groupama. We've chosen this Round the World race to promote our image and thus write a new page in our shared history, for the wider benefit of Franck Cammas and Groupama. Given its longevity on the circuit, its human dimension and its international course, the Volvo Ocean Race is synonymous with Groupama's values as a builder, humanist and something that is lasting."

Since November 2009, the Groupama Sailing Team has continued to become stronger, to work on the design of the future Groupama 4 as well as sail aboard Groupama 70, winner of the last edition of the crewed Round the World with stopovers, which went by the name of Ericsson 4.

For his part, the Groupama skipper has successively won the Jules Verne Trophy and the Route du Rhum aboard Groupama 3. His has been a packed schedule, but one which didn't prevent him from playing an active role in the selection of the crew, who will participate in the Volvo Ocean Race.

The sailors for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012:

• Franck Cammas[FRA] Skipper
• Damian Foxall [IRL] Helmsman / trimmer and crew manager
• Philip Harmer [AUS] Helmsman / trimmer/ pitman and master sailmaker
• Magnus Woxén [SWE] Trimmer/ helmsman and mast consultant
• Jean-Luc Nélias [FRA] Navigator
• Charles Caudrelier [FRA] Helmsman / trimmer / navigator and in charge of performance
• Sébastien Josse [FRA] Trimmer / helmsman / on-board systems
• Yann Riou [FRA] Media Crew Member
• Jacques Caraës [FRA] Back-up media crew member

The under-thirty year olds:

• Martin Krite [SWE] Bowman and boat captain
• Brad Marsh [NZL] Bowman and in charge of the rigging
• Martin Strömberg [SWE] Trimmer / pitman and sailmaker
• Erwan Israël [FRA] Trimmer / helmsman / inshore manoeuvres and in charge of Safety
• Sébastien Marsset [FRA] Trimmer / pitman - deck hardware and safety

Aleph Team France becomes official 34th America's Cup Challenger

2010-12-10T15:31:00.008+01:00

[Source: Aleph Team France] A major milestone has been reached by ALEPH, challenge led by the tandem Pacé Bertrand and Alain Gautier. The inscription of the French project has just been validated by the Golden Gate Yacht Club. ALEPH officially becomes a challenger for the 34th America's Cup. Backed by the French Sailing Federation, the French challenger gets the official status of "Team of France for the 34th America's Cup" and is renamed "ALEPH-TEAM FRANCE".

Russell Coutts: "The news that ALEPH - TEAM FRANCE joins the ranks of official 34th America's Cup competitors is great."

Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the French Sailing Federation (FFV): "It is a satisfaction to see the project we are backing become an official challenger. We're not there yet but a milestone has been achieved and we are very happy. In addition, this inscription gives us the right to name this project "Team of France", as promised. After the French Olympic Sailing Team and the French Match Racing Team it is the 3rd French team and we wish as much success as the first two."

Bertrand Pacé: "Representing your country is an immense privilege, another reason not to disappoint and be up to the challenge. True to its strategy, ALEPH - TEAM FRANCE will continue to gather the French talents who want to promote the collective result. "

Alain Gautier: "For each team member this is a moment of pride and emotion. The team spirit cultivated by the French teams in handball, athletics, swimming, or more recently the brilliant French team in Olympic sailing is a source of inspiration for ALEPH - TEAM FRANCE: success is built in the strength of a team, both in individual as well as team sports. "

ALEPH - TEAM FRANCE is the 4th international project to become an official 34th America's Cup Challenger and continues its efforts to complete its financial partnership before March 2011. The new format set by the organization will offer ALEPH - TEAM FRANCE sponsors unprecedented media exposure.

The 2012 Vendée Globe officially launched at the Paris Boat Show

2010-12-10T11:48:00.003+01:00

[Source: Vendée Globe] Bruno Retailleau, President of the Vendée Council officially launched the seventh Vendée Globe at a press conference organised on Wednesday at the Paris Boat Show. The Vendée Globe 2012/2013 will set sail from les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday 11th November 2012 at 1400hrs GMT and already looks like being a vintage edition. With two years to go to the start, twelve sailors have already announced their intention of taking part and between 28 and 35 boats are forecast to be there at the start.

Bruno Retailleau, President of the Vendée Council, Louis Guédon, MP and Mayor of les Sables d’Olonne, Luc Talbourdet, President of the IMOCA class and Patricia Brochard, CEO of Sodebo officially launched the seventh Vendée Globe on Wednesday 8th November at the Nautic, the Paris Boat Show. After reminding everyone of the unique character of the Vendée Globe, an event which is a major sporting event, but also important in terms of the media coverage and the economic consequences (1.7 million people attended the start and the finish generating revenue estimated to be worth more than 39 million euros), Bruno Retailleau announced the official publication of the Notice of Race. He reminded everyone that “the event fits in perfectly with the identity of Vendée, the department so closely linked to the sea” before revealing the new features in the 2012-2013 event.

Start on 11th November 2012 at 14hrs GMT

In order to encourage the public, the date chosen for the start coincides with the middle of the half-term holidays in France and is in fact a bank holiday: the starting gun will go off on Sunday 11th November 2012 at 14hrs GMT. 28 sailors are expected to line up to attempt this adventure, including one previous winner: Vincent Riou (PRB). As for the organisers, they were pleased to learn about the recent project announced by François Gabart (Macif), who will be building his own 60-foot IMOCA boat with the Vendée Globe in mind. The technical details for this project will be taken care of by a certain Michel Desjoyeaux, twice winner of the Vendée Globe.

With two years to go to the start, twelve projects are already complete, or in other words one more than at the same time in the previous edition, and we can already confirm the names of nine of them: Arnaud Boissières (FRA, Akena Verandas), Kito de Pavant (FRA, Groupe Bel), Alex Thomson (GB, Hugo Boss), Vincent Riou (FRA, PRB), Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA, Virbac-Paprec), Dominique Wavre (SUI, Mirabaud), Bernard Stamm (SUI, Cheminées Poujoulat), François Gabart (FRA, Macif) and Safran (FRA).

Bruno Retailleau also explained that some projects are due to be finalised in the first half of 2011, and these include Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA), Mike Golding (GB), and Christopher Pratt (FRA), Finally, “ten other skippers have officially announced that they would like to take part in the race and are in contact with a sponsor.” They are Jérémie Beyou (FRA), Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Samantha Davies (GB), Raphaël Dinelli (FRA), Rich Wilson (USA), Yann Elies (FRA), Boris Herrmann (ALL), Dee Caffari (GB), Marc Emig (FRA), a Polish and a Spanish sailor. So in all there are around thirty sailors seriously committed to signing up to line up for the start on 11th November 2012.

As for the boats, at least six new IMOCA monohulls are due to start the race, including the three VPLP-Verdier designed boats sailed by Vincent Riou, Jean-Pierre Dick and François Gabart as well as Bernard Stamm’s Juan K-designed boat. Two other boats are in the process of being built.

New safety arrangements

We can also see that some new safety measures have been put in place, linked to the modifications to IMOCA class rules aimed at reducing damage to masts and keels: power limited by the new righting moment, an air draught limited to 29 metres, annual checks on all the masts and keels, which have to conform to stricter construction rules. In addition, the emergency hatch will have to be located above the waterline and each skipper will have to wear an individual beacon at all times.

For 2012, the prize money will be increased by 100,000 euros in comparison to the last race, which takes it to a total of 600,000 euros (including 160,000 € for the winner, 100,000 € for the runner-up and 75,000 € for third place). As for the Race Directors, an invitation for tender will go out to recruit the Race Director for the 2012-2013 race, and Mathias Lallemand will be taking on the role of permanent shore-based assistant director. Two other developments were announced: the race will be even more of an international affair and there will be a major change to the race village: a new Race Village will be built in Port Olona, and for the first time a Vendée Globe Village will also be set up in Paris.

With the publication of the Notice of Race, registrations can officially begin and will be open until 1st July 2012. The countdown has begun.

Fourth challenger confirmed for 34th America's Cup

2010-12-10T10:48:00.000+01:00

[Source: America's Cup] Event organizers today confirmed the receipt of the fifth entry for the 34th America’s Cup in 2013. The official announcement by the team is expected in the coming weeks.

“On the heels of our first major partnership in Louis Vuitton, we’re extremely pleased to make another significant announcement today in the confirmation of our fifth team,” said Iain Murray, Regatta Director for the 34th America’s Cup and CEO of America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM).

Nearly 160 years old, the America’s Cup has become one of the world’s leading sporting competitions. Focused on creating a new era for the America’s Cup, the America’s Cup Event Authority is transforming the event for media and online broadcasting to deliver an enhanced viewer experience.

In addition, ACRM is transforming the on-the-water experience through the introduction of elements that will deliver unparalleled racing competition, including new course formats, racing rules and the wing-sailed AC72 catamaran, a groundbreaking new boat design.

The entry process and validation procedures are set out in the America’s Cup Rules and can be found at americascup.com

The entry period for the 34th America’s Cup runs November 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

What is this?

2010-12-09T18:17:00.002+01:00

What is this boat sailing on her way to Valencia?

Ben Ainslie claims #1 position in world match racing rankings

2010-12-09T12:24:00.003+01:00

[Source: ISAF] Ben Ainslie's progress up the open rankings has been sure and steady. In December 2009 he was at #8 and since July 2010 has been poised at #2, ready to pounce on long term leader Adam Minoprio (NZL). With Minoprio at #2, Mathieu Richard (FRA) remains at #3 ahead of Torvar Mirsky (AUS) at #4 while Ian Williams (GBR) moves up to complete the top five.

Ainslie's rise to the top was secured on Sunday when he finished of the 2010 Tour season in style. Defeating Richard in the quarter-final of the Monsoon Cup left the French team fighting for survival. They could still claim the world title but the job was suddenly a lot more difficult. While Ainslie went on to defeat Bjorn Hansen (SWE) in the semi-final before meeting the Mirsky Racing Team in the final, Richard failed to win his sail off. It was a fitting finale to a nail-biting season and with Richard in eighth, the title belonged to Ainslie and TEAMORIGIN.

For Monsoon Cup qualifier Phil Robertson (NZL) it has been a glittering end to the year. After winning the Asian Match Racing Championship he travelled to Berlin and finished third at the ISAF Grade 1 Berlin Match Race. Back to New Zealand and he claimed the national title and then to Perth, Australia where he won the Sunseeker Australia Cup. Robertson finished the Monsoon Cup in tenth position and his results through November have lifted him to a career best of #9 in the world, a nine place rise from the previous ranking.

Third overall in Malaysia was Jesper Radich (DEN) who has stood on the podium at all four World Tour events he has sailed at this year. Radich moves up eleven places to #20. The Berlin Match Race was the only Grade 1 open event since the last ranking and this was won by Bjorn Hansen who went to finish fourth in Malaysia. Hansen moves two places up the rankings to #6.

Three ISAF Grade 2 open events took place in this period; the Mumbai International Match Race, the Sunseeker Australia Cup and the Carlos Aguilar Match Racing Championship in the US Virgin Islands. Laurie Jury (NZL) won in Mumbai and also finished sixth at the Carlos Aguilar and he subsequently climbs twelve places to a lifetime best of #27.

ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami hits wind block

2010-12-09T06:30:00.002+01:00

[Source: RC44 Class Association] After yesterday’s wet and wild start to the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami, the regatta ground to a virtual halt today with a lack of wind.

After waiting all day for the wind to build, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio was forced to abandon the day’s schedule at 1520 hours with insufficient breeze on the racecourse.

The loss of the semifinal round today sees the event advance to the match racing final tomorrow morning where Chris Bake’s Team Aqua, led by Cameron Appleton, will square off against Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing, with Terry Hutchinson as skipper. The two crews won Group A and B, respectively, with 5-1 records.

Highlights from the opening day of the Oracle RC44 Miami Cup. Miami, 8 December 2010. Video copyright RC44 Class Association

Additional racing will take place as follows:

3rd and 4th place: Synergy Russian Sailing Team vs. Mascalzone Latino

5th and 6th place: BMW ORACLE Racing vs. Team Sea Dubai

7th and 8th place: 17 vs. No Way Back

9th and 10th place: Katusha vs. Ceeref

11th and 12th place: Ironbound vs. Peninsula Petroleum

13th and 14th place: Puerto Calero Islas Canarias vs. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team

ORACLE RC44 Cup Miami off to rollicking start

2010-12-08T14:20:00.004+01:00

[Source: RC44 Class Association] The RC 44 class made its debut in American waters today in conditions that make Miami a renowned racing venue: a northwesterly breeze gusting over 20 knots and the boats planing around the racecourse north of Government Cut at speeds of 17 to 20 knots.

The ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami commenced today with the 14-boat fleet split into two groups of seven for preliminary match racing. If time permits by mid-Thursday, semifinals and a final will be held for the top two from each group.

Wintertime racing off the southeast coast of Florida has long been a sailor’s playground. The sun is brilliant, the water is warm and the conditions usually challenge the best of crews.

Although the Northern Hemisphere winter is still officially two weeks away, chilly temperatures this morning had the sailors thinking it came early. The passing of a cold front helped stir up the strong northwesterlies, and the fleet completed eight flights of five matches for 40 races in total.

In Group Alpha, Cameron Appleton has Chris Bake’s Team Aqua tops in the group with a 5-1 record, followed by Harm Müller-Spreer and Markus Wieser in Team Sea Dubai. Sea Dubai actually posted a 6-0 record, but had penalty points applied by the umpires.

Highlights from the opening day of the Oracle RC44 Miami Cup. Miami, 7 December 2010. Video copyright RC44 Class Association

In Group Bravo, Terry Hutchinson guided Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis to the top of the group with a 5-1 record. Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino enjoyed its best day since returning to the class and is second at 4-1 with one flight to complete the round. BMW ORACLE Racing, with Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts, is third at 4-2.

The conditions taxed many of the crews, who were sore from being thrown about the light-displacement yachts, but none other than Daniel Calero’s crew aboard Islas Canarias Puerto Calero. The Spanish crew from the Canary Islands was forced out of action with a broken mast before morning had turned to afternoon.

Islas Canarias had just completed a jibe in its Flight 1 race when the mast broke about five feet above the gooseneck, where the boom attaches to the mast, and the spar went over the port side.

“We had just completed our jibe when we heard a big crunch," said Calero. “There wasn’t much we could do to save the mast."

Crewman Carlos Hernandez jumped into the warm Atlantic Ocean to help the crew recover some of the sails and disassemble the rigging so the mast could be brought back aboard the yacht for the motor to the harbor.

Islas Canarias Puerto Calero returned to shore where the crew began stepping a spare mast that the RC 44 Class Association has available at each regatta for just such an incident.

“This is the good side of this class, there’s a mast ready to go and we’ll be ready to race tomorrow," said Calero. “We were enjoying the great conditions today and can’t wait to get back out tomorrow."

ORACLE RC44 Cup Miami Day 1 Quotes

Cameron Appleton, Team Aqua: “We came off the water with one loss and that was good on a day like today. It was very shifty. Wind started out with puffs up to 28 knots or more, we saw the first rig come down in the class, and everyone seemed to be handling the conditions in different ways. It was a good test for the crews. A really good crew was rewarded today by sailing the boats well. Today was tricky because of a little cross swell and change in pressure. It kept us all on our toes.

Islas Canarias Puerto Calero dismamsts on the opening day of the Oracle RC44 Miami Cup. Miami, 7 December 2010. Photo copyright Nico Martinez

Francesco Bruni, Mascalzone Latino: “We’re very happy, obviously. We had four good starts. We’re making big progress from Valencia to here and are now starting to win some races. We’re learning the boat more and more. It’s normal to struggle in the beginning, but now we’re learning again. We had 20 knots, sunny and breezy. It was puffy, shifty, a very nice challenge. It was just a bit too cold, but everything else was brilliant."

Pieter Heerema, No Way Back: “Today was exciting, a beautiful wind but tough. Lots of people had problems in boathandling. That makes the sailing exciting. We had an up and down day. We sailed well, no problems with the boathandling, but we didn’t always grab the opportunities we created for ourselves. At a certain point you just have to nail it."

Terry Hutchinson, Artemis: “It was an incredibly difficult day. Our guys sailed very well. This was our first regatta since Dubai where we had any training prior to the first day of racing and it showed. Sailing north of Government Cut (the channel leading to Miami Harbor) was pretty good. The course gave options for both sides to work."

Harm Mueller-Spreer, Team Sea Dubai: “We had six wins, good boatspeed and very good starts. We had a bit of bad luck in the second to last race because we hit the Russians (Synergy Russian Sailing Team). But our boathandling is good, the maneuvering is good and the feeling for the pre-start is good. I feel very comfortable. First off we had not so much wind and then it increased to 25 knots or more and slowly decreased all afternoon."

Ian Williams, Ironbound: “The boat’s fantastic. The best thing is that you only have eight guys and lots to do. Everybody needs to pull their weight and be aware of what’s going on, doing right things at the right time. It makes it a great challenge as a team to do well."

ORACLE RC44 Cup Miami Provisional Results
(Through 8 flights)
Group Alpha
1. Team Aqua (UAE) Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton – 5-1, 5 points
2. Team Sea Dubai (UAE) Harm Müller-Spreer/Markus Wieser – 6-0, 4 points*
3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) Maxim Logutenko/Evgeniy Neugodnikov – 2-3, 2 points
3. No Way Back (NED) Pieter Heerema/Ray Davies – 4-2, 2 points*
3. Katusha (RUS) Guennadi Timtchenko/Paul Cayard – 2-4, 2 points
6. Peninsula Petroleum (ESP) John Bassadone/Inaki Castaner – 1-4, 1 point
7. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) Daniel Calero/Jose Maria Ponce – 0-6, 0 points
(* penalty points applied)

Group Bravo
1. Artemis (SWE) Torbjorn Tornqvist/Terry Hutchinson – 5-1
2. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) Vincenzo Onorato/Francesco Bruni – 4-1
3. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) Larry Ellison/Russell Coutts – 4-2
4. 17 (USA) William Douglass/Jimmy Spithill – 4-2
5. Ceeref (SLO) Igor Lah/Rod Davis – 2-4
6. Ironbound (USA) David Murphy/Ian Williams – 1-4
7. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team (AUT) René Mangold/Christian Binder – 0-6

Korean challenger in the 34th America's Cup?

2010-12-07T11:35:00.004+01:00

So far, in the history of the world's most prestigious sailing event there have been four occasions when an Asian team mounted a challenge. The first Asians to contest in the Louis Vuitton Cup were Nippon Challenge in 1992, skippered by Chris Dickson. The Japanese built upon that campaign in order to return in 1995, skippered that time by a national, Makoto Namba, and helmed by John Cutler. The third challenge from the Japanese syndicate came in the 2000 edition with a team led by Peter Gilmour. That would be the last time, so far, Japan would challenge.

The fourth Asian challenger would come two editions later, in Valencia in 2007, in the form of the well known China Team. It now seems there is some probability the 34th America's Cup will see the first ever challenger coming from another Asian economic power, Korea. While I was in Kuala Terengganu for the Monsoon Cup, I had the opportunity to talk to Dong Young Kim, founder of the Korea Match Cup, about Korea and the America's Cup. Dong Young Kim was in the two meetings for existing and potential competitors, first in Paris and more recently in Dubai, wearing two hats.

His first hat was that of event promoter. He created from scratch Korea Match Cup and turned it into one of the most popular events of the World Match Racing Tour in a mere 3 years. So, it would only seem obvious that he would be interested in hosting one or more events of the America's Cup World Series. The current venue of Korea Match Cup, on the northwest coast of the country, is unsuitable, lacking the sufficient race area to accommodate the much bigger AC45's, let alone the AC72's, so his proposed venue is the southern city of Busan.

Dong Young Kim, founder of the Korea Match Cup and leader of the first ever potential America's Cup effort by South Korea. Gyeonggi, 8 June 2010. Photo copyright World Match Racing Tour

Still, I was more interested on his idea of trying to set up a team, not just organize an event. If projects from established nations have problems getting off the ground how can someone from an Asian country with no presence whatsoever in high-level international sailing pretend to mount a syndicate? Especially under terms that, for the likes of Keith Mills, make it practically impossible to win? Kim's reply was quite straightforward. Whatever the yacht might be, his argument is, he's absolutely aware the Korean Team has no chance at all to win in their very first try. If the yacht was, always according to Kim, a "big RC44" or similar monohull, then his chances of a decent performance, even among the challengers, would be practically nil. He sees the winged multihulls as the factor that puts all challengers practically on the same level and could prevent the team from becoming the equivalent of China Team in Valencia.

There are little details Kim could give me about the project other than it's still in a preliminary state. It goes without saying that the team, if it goes ahead, will mainly consist of non-Koreans as the country, precisely, lacks the knowhow and manpower. His main task right now is to raise the necessary funds for the campaign and has set a goal of approximately 40-45 million euros. He considers that amount enough for the goals of the team and his fundraising drive is limited to the major Korean corporation. Although he couldn't give a definite deadline after which a decision would need to be taken as to whether the project goes ahead or gets killed but he said he was optimistic. At least, money is not something the huge Korean groups are in lack of!

King Ben talks to Valencia Sailing

2010-12-07T08:47:00.015+01:00

Shortly after clinching the ISAF World Match Racing Championship, "King" Ben Ainslie talked to Valencia about his victory, what it meant and what the future has in store for Britain's most acclaimed sailor.

Valencia Sailing: Is this the happiest moment in your sailing career?
Ben Ainslie: Without any doubt it's one of them. It's very hard to compare with the success in the Olympics personally. I think that the interesting thing with personal success and success with a team is that it's actually more rewarding with a team because you have guys to share it with you. It's a collective effort. If you win in the Olympics or in something on your own you are obviously proud of yourself but it's just your own effort. Here it's fantastic to be able to share something like this with friends, mates and a very strong team. It's kind of a different feeling but after what has been a very difficult year for us it's a very good way to end things.

Valencia Sailing: The "difficult year" has been something you have repeatedly referred to during the press conferences in the Monsoon Cup. Why is it so?
Ben Ainslie: Our goal as a team, and the real reason we were match racing or sailing in the TP52's, was the buildup to the America's Cup. We wanted to have a strong team, working with designers building TP52's, with the sailing team in that class and then in the World Match Racing Tour developing our match racing skills. For that all to be taken away was obviously extremely disappointing. It's been a tough call for us to come here and turn the tables on Minoprio and Richard in the World Championship and the Monsoon Cup. This says a lot about a team in a very positive way to end the season. A lot of people would have just walked away from it after Sir Keith decided we weren't going to go ahead. We stuck with it and we now are world champions.

Valencia Sailing: Sir Keith Mills obviously had his reasons when he decided not go ahead with a challenge in this Cup. Do you share his opinion it is extremely difficult to beat BMW Oracle?
Ben Ainslie: I believe it is very, very difficult and I would be incredibly surprised if anyone could beat them in this cycle of the Cup. Just simply because they obviously have the resources and the time is very, very tight. We did a lot of research and we thought we could it but you are already late now! There is only one other team so far that have confirmed their entry. Unfortunately, it's going to be extremely difficult to beat them and I understand they want to hold on to the America's Cup. They are the defender and they want to take into a new exciting future with multihulls and wingsails. Honestly, my true feeling is that I don't know whether they will be successful but I actually hope they will because for me and the rest of the guys here our sailing careers have quite often depended on the America's Cup. So, it's very important for us they are successful and they turn it into a great event once again.

King Ben and the Team Origin crew sail towards their first World Match Racing Championship. Kuala Terengganu, 5 December 2010. Photo copyright SubZero Images / World Match Racing Tour

Valencia Sailing: If they do have success and it becomes a very successful event for the foreseeable future will that mean you will also personally sail, at some stage, on multihulls?
Ben Ainslie: Absolutely. I don't know about the rest of the guys but speaking for myself it's the plan I have. I'm focused on the 2012 Olympics but also to get involved with multihull sailing and start learning about that class of boat and that style of sailing. That's very important because more than likely the America's Cup will be on multihulls for the foreseeable future.

Valencia Sailing: Does this mean you will join some Extreme 40 sailing team in the near future?
Ben Ainslie: Yes, I've been talking to a couple of teams and I might do some of the racing in 2011 although I will really focus on the Finn sailing next year and try to qualify. It's going to be very tough in the UK. It is possible though I might end up doing a few of the Extreme Sailing Series.

Valencia Sailing: Have you ever match raced on an Extreme 40?
Ben Ainslie: No, never. but I think it's going to be a very different type of match racing. I don't think you'll see this sort of tight, close, contact situations we had here. The start will be pretty critical and I think there will be some pretty big gains and losses off the start line and from there it will be all about defending your lead. The pressure differences in multihulls make a much bigger difference than they do in monohulls so their might be some opportunities for the boat behind downwind but I think that the start and the first beat will be super critical, only the distances between the boats will be greater.

Valencia Sailing: If again it turns out to be a very successful event, not only in this edition but for a number of editions, do you envisage a "DNA shift" in the sport of sailing where their "environment" is not made up of Optis, Finns or TP52's but Hobie cats, Tornados and Extreme40's?
Ben Ainslie: I don't think so because the multihulls aren't something new, neither is the wingmast.

Valencia Sailing: Definitely, but it is the very first time they are in the sport's pinnacle event.
Ben Ainslie: That's correct but you know people that want to be involved with the America's Cup will have to learn those boats and skills but most kids, when they are learning to sail the first thing they are looking forward is grabbing the youth championships and the Olympics. Multihulls might come into the Olympic games but in total they will be in monohulls in the foreseeable future. I don't see a huge shift in the sport.

Valencia Sailing: Talking about the Olympics you didn't sound overly optimistic about your position in the UK team. Did I get that wrong?
Ben Ainslie: Well, your place is never guaranteed. It isn't the America's Cup. Just because you won the Olympics it doesn't mean you have a guaranteed entry. We have a very strong squad in the UK with 4-5 guys in the top 10 of the world and it's going to be tough. I'm obviously optimistic and I'm very positive about the next 6 months and the fitness, training and racing I have to do in order to get back to the top level for the regattas next summer which are going to be key to my qualifications.

Valencia Sailing: Last but not least, is it too early too talk about the 2016 Games?
Ben Ainslie: Yes, very early! However, I love sailing in Rio, I have sailed there a few times for Finn and Laser championships and I loved it.

RC 44 class debuts in American waters off Miami Beach

2010-12-07T02:41:00.000+01:00

[Source: RC44 Class Association] In style befitting a class brimming with talent, the 2010 championship of the RC 44 Class will be decided this week at the season’s final event, the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami.

Leading the fleet after the first five events is BMW ORACLE Racing, led by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts. The crew has the low score of 8 points and leads Pieter Heerema’s No Way Back, last season’s champion, by 2 points.

Two crews are tied for third, James Spithill’s 17 and Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing, while Chris Bake’s Team Aqua holds fifth with 13 points.

With such a tight grouping and a windy forecast over the next few days the standings could well see a shuffle. A cold front that has pushed across the South Florida region brought with it cooler temperatures and strong northwesterly winds.

“We haven’t changed our setup since the previous event in the Canary Islands,” said BMW ORACLE Racing mainsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder of the regatta where BMW ORACLE Racing placed second overall. “We have used all our sail cards and are ready to slide back into action.”

Ray Davies, the pro helmsman and tactician for No Way Back, sees many opportunities to overtake the leader. The racecourse will be to the north of Government Cut instead of the south, which will make the predicted offshore breeze shiftier.

“It’s good that it’s all come down to the wire, it’s all on,” said Davies of New Zealand. “And with a few more boats in the class there’ll be plenty of opportunities to make up the 2 points we’re behind.”

The ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami represents the class’s first foray into U.S. waters. The fleet is the largest ever for an RC 44 event with 14 boats on the entry list including newcomer David Murphy and Ironbound.

“We have entered this fleet because it represents the highest level of competition in sailing today,” said Murphy, who has attracted an all-star crew including pro helmsman Ian Williams of Great Britain, a match racing specialist, and tactician Kevin Burnham of the U.S., a gold medalist at the 2004 Olympic Regatta in Greece.

Another American, William “Doug” Douglass, is set to helm the yacht 17 in the fleet racing portion of the regatta, which requires amateur helmsman as classified by ISAF, the world governing body for sailing.

Led by Spithill, 17 won the RC 44 World Championship in October and now Douglass, a veteran campaigner of the Farr 40 and Melges 32 one-design classes, will try his hand later this week.

“We’re looking forward to working him in the crew,” said Spithill, the skipper of 17. “The fleet is loaded.”

ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami Entry List
(Based on overall season standings)
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) Larry Ellison/Russell Coutts – 8 points
2. No Way Back (NED) Pieter Heerema/Ray Davies – 10 points
3. 17 (USA) William Douglass/Jimmy Spithill – 12 points
3. Artemis (SWE) Torbjorn Tornqvist/Terry Hutchinson – 12 points
5. Team Aqua (UAE) Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton – 13 points
6. Team Sea Dubai (UAE) Harm Müller-Spreer/Markus Wieser – 19 points
7. Katusha (RUS) Bob Little/Paul Cayard – 21 points
8. Ceeref (SLO) Igor Lah/Rod Davis – 26 points
9. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) Daniel Calero/Jose Maria Ponce – 34 points
10. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team (AUT) René Mangold/Christian Binder – 38 points
11. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) Vincenzo Onorato/Francesco Bruni – 43 points
12. Peninsula Petroleum (ESP) John Bassadone/Inaki Castaner – 47 points
13. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) Maxim Logutenko/Evgeniy Neugodnikov – 48 points

Ben Ainslie wins ISAF World Match Racing Championship and Monsoon Cup

2010-12-05T11:55:00.002+01:00

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Britain's Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN has won his first ISAF Match Racing World Championship title by winning the Monsoon Cup on a day of high drama in Malaysia. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was in imperious form at the deciding regatta having staged a stunning late season charge to snatch the title from the clutches of long time series leader Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team.

In what was the most enthralling ever finish to the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) the Ainslie v Richard duel went to the very final day of the final event of the season. Having turned the screws on Richard all week, Ainslie knew that if he won his Semi-Final and Richard failed to win his play-off race then the title would be his.

Ainslie's illustrious crew has been in such pressure situations many times before and the experience clearly showed. Their 2-0 victory over Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team sparked celebrations among the TEAMORIGIN crew, which includes two-time Olympic gold medalist Iain Percy, Christian Kamp, Mike Mottl and Matt Cornwell.

Highlights from the final day of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 5 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

With the World title in the bag there was still unfinished business with the Tour's richest final at stake. Ainslie and his crew kept their composure for an epic final against Australian star Torvar Mirsky of Mirsky Racing Team. The confident young skipper reached the final with consummate ease, defeating Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing 2-0 in their Semi-Final.

It was a fitting finale to an enthralling 2010 World Match Racing Tour, with nail-biting match racing that went to the wire: Mirsky recovered from a shaky start to take the first race by a comfortable margin. But Ainslie was 11 seconds ahead at the finish of the second. After four races the score was again even, leaving everything hanging on the fifth, which went in Ainslie's favour.

Commenting on his landmark victory, Ainslie said: "It was obviously a great way for us to end as a team. It was very tough out there today but it was a united effort and we’re really happy all round. For the whole team this has been massive for us. We've enjoyed been on the Tour an incredible amount."

For Richard it was a disappointing end to what had been a fantastic season in which he led the Tour from the opening race at Match Race France in April. Two further wins followed at the Korea Match Cup and the St Moritz Match Race. However a mid-season blip and a stuttering finish to the year with poor performances in Bermuda and then finally Malaysia have cost Richard dearly, leaving him in second place in the Championship.

Richard reflected: "Obviously it’s a huge disappointment to have finished second in the Championship, having been first all season. Ben has a very strong team and they really deserve to be World Champions. I was happy with our preparation for this event and we sailed a fantastic season, making the podium five times. It’s a year we can be really proud of."

"King" Ben and his crew are the kings of the world. Kuala Terengganu, 5 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

A stellar season
The tone for the stellar season was set back in April at Match Race France when the two Championship contenders locked horns in a tense final. It was the Frenchman who landed the first blow of the season, winning his home title and setting the early pace in the race for the Championship.
Richard continued his excellent form to build a formidable lead in the Championship. The Frenchman followed up victory in his home country with a third place at Match Race Germany before going on to land his second win of the year at the Korea Match Cup, beating Britain’s two-time World Champion Ian Williams, Team GAC Pindar.

It was an impressive start, however the Championship is based on skippers’ five best Tour results, plus their Monsoon Cup points – so he needed to keep his momentum. It was at the next stage at the Portimao Portugal Match Cup that the Frenchman then showed his first signs of weakness with a poor result, managing only seventh.

It was this juncture that Ben Ainslie really upped his game started his in a bid to realise his title ambitions. The Englishman made his intentions clear by beating former Tour Champion Jesper Radich in the final while Richard’s mid-season malaise continued with another seventh place.

As the Tour moved on to the stunning mountains of St Moritz, the Frenchman bounced right back to form, winning the event with a key victory over Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, while Ainslie had to settle for fourth. With Ainslie having lost ground in the mountains, his title hopes took a major body blow in Denmark when the Englishman suffered his worst result of the season with his own seventh place finish.

Ainslie’s mind may well have been elsewhere at the Danish Open as the event coincided with the deliberations as to whether his TEAMORIGIN would pull out of the running for the America’s Cup. However, having regained his focus, Ainslie hit straight back at the next regatta in Bermuda. Reflecting on that period of the Tour, Ainslie said: "Denmark was one of those events at which nothing seemed to work for us, but we’ve always liked Bermuda – both for the boats and the venue – and were looking forward to doing well there."

The island has been a happy hunting ground for the 33 year-old who won his second consecutive Argo Group Gold Cup to propel himself back into the reckoning with just the Monsoon Cup to go.

With the chips down and knowing that nothing but success would do Ainslie has once again proved why he is one of sailing's most decorated skippers. With the WMRT trophy joining the multitude of accolades in Ainslie's bulging trophy cabinet the Monsoon Cup brings down the curtain on another fantastic season for the World Match Racing Tour.

Final World Match Racing Tour Standings:
1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 126
2. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 111
3. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 106
4. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 90
5. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 87
6. Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 82
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 65
8. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 60
9. Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 45
10. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 29

Final Monsoon Cup placings:
1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
3. Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team
4. Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team
5. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
6. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra
7. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
8. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team

Ben Ainslie, brand new ISAF World Match Racing Champion

2010-12-05T07:58:00.002+01:00

Ben Ainslie and TEAMORIGIN - Iain Percy, Christian Kamp, Matthew Cornwell and Mike Mottl showed world-class match racing skill in the tricky conditions presented by the Terengganu River this morning, to win the coveted 2010 title.

Having knocked Mathieu Richard out of the semifinals yesterday, Ainslie had the best possible chance of winning the Championship. His chances got even better when this morning, Richard was beaten 2-0 by Bruni in the 5-to-8 knockoffs and was renegaded to 8th place in the Monsoon Cup overall leaderboard.

All the British had to do was beat Björn Hansen in the semifinal and they did just that. They went on to take both races in a commanding way and advanced to the finals. Regardless of the outcome of the Monsoon Cup finals against Torvar Mirsky, Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy, Christian Kamp, Matthew Cornwell and Mike Mottl are the world's best match racing crew in 2010.

It's a pity we won't witness what could be a clash of titans in 2013 between Ben Ainslie and James Spithill at the 34th America's Cup.

Video: Peter Gilmour gets black flag!

2010-12-05T07:20:00.002+01:00

Peter Gilmour gets black flag in his race against Ian Williams. Kuala Terengganu, 5 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

Ainslie Beats Richard to Take a Step Closer to World Match Racing Champion Title

2010-12-04T19:16:00.002+01:00

Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN took control of his battle for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship today by defeating his arch rival Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team in the Quarter-Finals of the Monsoon Cup, the final leg of the tour and is guaranteed to land the title if he goes on to win the regatta.

Ainslie picked the Frenchman for the Quarter-Finals to take his nearest rival for the championship out of contention at the earliest opportunity – a bold move given Richard held the advantage in head-to-heads this season. It was a well calculated risk though.

Ainslie was dominant at the start of their four races, however Richard was in no mood to concede. In the first race the Frenchman quickly closed the gap, but was on the give way port tack and had to duck behind the British skipper. However, in a classic and perfectly executed manoeuvre, Ainslie bore away by the maximum amount allowed by the rules, putting Richard firmly in his sights. The Frenchman didn’t respond and there was a mammoth collision, with the umpires ruling in Ainslie’s favour.

Richard continued to push hard, but couldn’t recover in that race and made an appalling start in the next, being over the line at the gun earning a red flag penalty for a second collision. Yet he maintained impressive composure to slowly claw back Ainslie’s advantage, then rolled past him on the first downwind leg and held the lead to the finish.

Highlights from day 4 of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 4 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tout

With the match evenly poised, Ainslie started to turn the screws on Richard in the next two starts. Having gained the lead, he was able to control both races around the course, to win and progress to the Semi-Finals.

Ainslie cannot afford to rest on his laurels though. With Richard managing to squeeze into the Quarter-Finals yesterday by ousting defending champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the Brit must now finish in either 1st or 2nd place in the Monsoon Cup, depending on how Richard performs in the play-off for 5th to 8th places.

“It was a big deal for us to knock Mathieu out and very important for the overall results for the championship. The conditions were really difficult but the team did a great job - we're very happy to have come through it. We still have a lot of work to do - the Semi-Finals are going to be another big battle, whoever we pick to race”, reflected Ainslie.

While Ainslie got his choice of opponent spot on, Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar will rue his pick. Having reached the Quarter-Finals with an impressive 10-1 scoreline, he opted for event wildcard Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team who, ironically, was the man to inflict the one defeat on the Englishman during the Qualifying Stages.

Williams continued his rich vein of form to take the first race, however it was a false dawn. Hansen rallied his team and within 5 minutes of the start of the second race, he was ahead and never looked back to level the scores. It gave the Swede the impetus he needed and the remaining two races looked almost a formality for him, finishing ahead by some margin in both.

Rising Australian star Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, was the only other sailor starting the day with a chance of winning the World Championship and produced a masterful display to comprehensively defeat match racing legend Peter Gilmour 3-0, and keep alive his slim hopes of winning the title.

The pair took to the water with Gilmour holding a slight edge over Mirsky with an 8-7 career record. The first match was a tight as the record, with both skippers mustering all their experience to get the advantage. Almost level and both on starboard, Mirsky started to pull away and then stamped his authority on the race by tacking to cross Gilmour before tacking back onto Gilmour’s wind to effectively seal the win.

The photo of the day. Ben Ainslie and Mathieu Richard collide. Kuala Terengganu, 4 December 2010. Photo copyright SubZero Images / World Match Racing Tout

Flight 2 saw Gilmour try to get the upper hand in the dial up by rolling Mirsky to port but it was Mirsky who led Gilmour to the first mark, rounding it 2 lengths clear - a lead he held to the finish.

With Gilmour in desperate need of a win he got off to a strong start, but it was Mirsky who found better pressure on the first beat and rounded the mark 12 seconds ahead. Mirsky held the stronger current on the right hand side of the course extending his lead and take the victory.

The result leaves Mirsky relying on results to fall his way to capture his maiden World Championship. To stand any chance he must win the Monsoon Cup and hope that Richard finishes no higher than 8th and that Ainslie cannot do better than third.

Only one Quarter-Final match went to five races - Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team vs Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra. In the deciding race they started at opposite ends of the line, with Radich at the buoy. It was the right place to be and the Dane had built an invincible lead by the time he reached the first mark.

Claims that this is the most enthralling climax to the ISAF Match Racing World Championship are proving well justified – this is the first time the race to become World Champion has gone down to the final day of the final event of the Tour.

Quarter-Final results:

Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 3
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 1

Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 3
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 1

Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 3
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 2

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 3
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 0

Video: Big crash between Ben Ainslie and Mathieu Richard

2010-12-04T08:20:00.003+01:00

Big crash between Ben Ainslie and Mathieu Richard in their Monsoon Cup quarterfinal match. Kuala Terengganu, 4 December 2010.

Video: The funny side of the Volvo Ocean Race

2010-12-04T06:10:00.002+01:00

The Volvo Ocean Race is undoubtedly the world's most grueling offshore race but as the video shows it does have its funny moments.

End of an era, as BlackMatch bow out of Monsoon Cup

2010-12-04T03:56:00.002+01:00

Greetings from BlackMatch in Malaysia,

Sailing in our last Regatta ever as a team, it was the end of an era today for the BlackMatch Racing crew and it couldn’t have come in a more heartbreaking fashion. After showing very mixed form throughout the week our hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals all came down to our last race against the current World Tour leader Mathieu Richard and despite having a great early on advantage, we squandered our lead to bow out of the 2010 World Title Race.

The start really couldn’t have gone better for us as we wriggled free of the Frenchman’s starboard advantage and hoisted our spinnaker in a bold move during the pre-start. Using the extra speed from hoisting our kite we managed to gain an overlap in the dying seconds of the pre-start to not only force Mathieu over the line, but to also inflict a penalty on him. Usually ‘game over’ it was just not meant to be for us and the crafty French sailor got a great left hand wind shift when we failed to capitalize on our first cross advantage. Although we kept it very close throughout the first half of the race, Mathieu and his team sailed away from us up the last beat as the fickle wind left us stalled at bottom mark. From then on they extended to complete their outstanding penalty turn on the finish line and seal their quarterfinal berth.

Minoprio executes a brilliant start, forcing Richard to be early over the line with a penalty. However, the French skipper will later overtake Minoprio, build a comfortable lead and win the race after offloading his penalty!!

Earlier on in the day we managed to defeat Ben Ainslie in a tight affair, but there were too many cases this week of small mistakes and failing to capitalize on advantages, this ultimately cost us our chance of defending our World Title.

Despite an extremely disappointing end to not only this year, but also our time sailing together as Team BlackMatch, we now have time to reflect and look at what we have achieved over the past 3 years, also to plan what the future holds for each of us. For BlackMatch Skipper Adam Minoprio he is set to join Emirates Team New Zealand in the Volvo Ocean Race, on to a new and exciting venture. For the rest of the boys the future is a little less certain as to what will be the next challenge, but for the 5 Kiwi boys who embarked on a goal back in 2008 and were crowned 2009 World Match Racing Champions, it has been a great journey.

Adam, Dan, Tom, Dave and Nick would all like to say a massive thank you to our sponsors FedEx Express and Events Clothing/Line 7. Without the help and support over the years especially from David Ross and Fedex, none of this would have been remotely possible. We would also like to thank our friends and family back home in New Zealand, also to Emirates Team New Zealand and our yacht club the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, thank you.

BlackMatch is Adam Minoprio, Dan McLean Tom Powrie, Nick Blackman and David Swete

Monsoon Cup Quarter Finalists decided

2010-12-03T13:55:00.005+01:00

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] On day 3 of the Monsoon Cup, the final event of the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour, the World Championship was still wide open. Tension was high as this was a make or break day for several of the World Championship contenders.

A 12-15 knot northerly breeze greeted competitors, with one knot of current running down the Terengganu River.

There were many pivotal matches in this busy day, with the current ISAF World Match Racing Tour leader Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing Team), Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/ BlackMatch Racing), the 2009 World Champion and dual Monsoon Cup winner Peter Gilmour (YANMAR Racing) all in danger of missing the quarter finals.

It did not start well for Gilmour when in flight 11 Bjorn Hansen (Hansen Global Racing) beat Gilmour by just one heart breaking second.

Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN) and Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing) met in the next match.

Highlights from day 3 of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 3 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

Ainslie won the start but closing on the top mark Minoprio managed to lee-bow Ainslie and luffed up hard. Firmly in control Minoprio accelerated away to victory.

Next up Francesco Bruni (Team Azzurra) defeated Minoprio leaving the World Champion pensive at the stern of his boat, rubbing his trademark stubble.

The afternoon session started with Flight 13. The wind was blowing eight knots, with current down the river on the right so PRO David Tallis moved the start line to equalise the course.

Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) on 5-3 and Richard was an important match for both skippers. Richard was tied in knots and early in the pre-start. Mirsky was fast away on the right and in pressure and extended for a big win. The luckless Richard recounted ‘We made a mistake in the pre-start, we were definitely too early, they did a good job.’

Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing Team) had to defeat Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing) or his regatta was over.

Down the last run Robertson and his crew were faster and closing as the finish line loomed Robertson gybed and it looked like Richard faked but that’s not what happened as Richard explained dockside. ‘We were going to follow when he gybed, I started to but felt the solid puff and made a snap decision to go with the pressure and it paid off.’

So came the climax of the day. It was in flight 15 that Richard met Minoprio. Both were on three wins and six losses, the loser would miss the quarter final cut.

A sensational start as Richard was penalised just 10 seconds before the start and was over early - a dream for Minoprio. On the first cross Minoprio was ahead but Richard had more speed and then the tables turned. Richard rounded and with a fast hoist was three boat lengths ahead.

However the race stayed close until the second bottom mark was reached and Richard rounded in pressure while Minoprio stalled. A giant gain for the Frenchman who sailed away and was able to do his penalty comfortably at the finish line.

A jubilant Richard said ‘A great win for us. Our start was a disaster but we did not give up. We stayed focused on our sailing and we managed enough of a lead to take the penalty and win.’

Adam Minoprio is leaving the ISAF World Match Racing Tour having crashed out of the Monsoon Cup and World Championship contention. He will have three months to get over this result before he joins the Emirates Team New Zealand Volvo Ocean Race campaign.

Immediately after the finish of the Richard v Minoprio match, Race Commentator Andy Green cruelly or cheekily (you decide) asked Minoprio ‘Three qualifiers, Phil Robertson, Keith Swinton and Jeremy Koo, as well Minoprio look to have missed the cut. Was last year’s World Championship win a fluke?’

A wry smile from the defeated Minoprio as he replied, ‘That race was very disappointing. We had a great pre-start, but we missed a left hand wind shift on the first beat and that was all Richard needed.’

Reflecting on his defeat, a downcast Minoprio commented ‘This is the number one disappointment in my sailing career. We are shattered not to have made it through to the last eight and be out of the World Championship. Perhaps we should’ve gone to Perth. This will bug me for a while - it’ll take three months to get over this. We’ll take some time out to reflect on this now.’

In the next match Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Racing crew forced Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) over early, then sailed away to an important win for the four times World Champion, who made the quarter finals with that result.

A big smile from Gilmour as he said ‘Folks like us from the Facebook generation (NOT) are fighters. It all starts again now.’

There are still two flights to finish the round robins of the Monsoon Cup.

The final comment of the day came from Adam Minoprio. ‘You learn more from losing than winning (often) and today we’ve learned a great deal.’

Monsoon Cup - Day 3 Leader board

Quarter Finalists are:

Ian William (Team GAC Pindar) 8-1
Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN) 8-2
Jesper Radich (Gaastra Racing Team) 8-2
Francesco Bruni (Team Azzurra) 6-3
Bjorn Hansen (Hansen Global Team) 6-4
Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) 6-5
Peter Gilmour (YANMAR Racing) 4-5
Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing Team) 5-6

--------------------------------------

Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing) 4-7
Keith Swinton (Black Swan Racing) 2-7
Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing) 2-7
Jeremy Koo (Koo Racing Team-Evernew) 0-10

Video: Louis Vuitton Cup Retrospective

2010-12-02T12:18:00.003+01:00

Here's a nice video retrospective of the 30 years Louis Vuitton is associated with the America's Cup, through the sponsorship of the Challenger Selection Series, called, what else, the Louis Vuitton Cup.

It's also interesting to see how the shape of the ACC yachts turned from a aircraft carrier into a canoe!

Monsoon Cup - Day 2: Ian Williams is on a roll; leads undefeated 7-0

2010-12-02T11:08:00.005+01:00

Despite the very light and tricky conditions that prevailed throughout the second day of the Monsoon cup, closing event of the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing Championship, one skipper came out unscathed. Ian Williams, the British world match racing champion in 2007 and 2008, managed to weave his way through the Malaysian "minefield", as Jesper Radich called it, and finish the day at the top of the leaderboard with perfect 7-0 score.

To say that it was tough in Kuala Terengganu would be an understatement. While the rain might be a mere nuisance for the sailors, the fact it didn't let the breeze to go over 6-7 knots was frustrating. In addition, as PRO David Tallis put it, there was no pattern at all in the wind shifts. It could go right 90º at one moment and then back left a few minutes later. This led to very technical situations, putting a prime on calling the right tactics. Leads could extend or be reversed in a matter of minutes if the wrong side was chosen.

Highlights from day 2 of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 2 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tout

Nevertheless, Williams showed he's in excellent form and didn't lose a single race. The amusing fact is that two days ago he was written off from the world title but if this qualifying tour is an indication of what will take place later on, he's on the right track.

The main contender to the title, Mathieu Richard, seems to be under pressure, sitting 7th with three wins and 5 losses. However, according to Richard, he reacted today going from a 4-0 down. However, he faces three of the toughest matches tomorrow with no others than Mirsky, Robertson and Minoprio. It might all come down to the last match of the qualifying series to decide who advances to the quarterfinals.

Results after 10 flights of the qualifying series

1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 7-0
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 5-1
3. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 5-2
4. Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 5-2
5. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzurra 4-2
6. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 3-3
7. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 2-4
8. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-4
9. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing Team 2-4
10. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 2-4
11. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 2-5
12. Jeremy Koo (MAL) Koo Racing Team Evernew 0-8

Monsoon Cup - Day 2: Ainslie scores decisive victory over Richard

2010-12-02T07:52:00.004+01:00

Even under light conditions it's always a privilege to be onboard Team Origin's "Fab Five", Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy, Christian Kamp, Matthew Cornwell and Mike Motti. The British crew definitely creamed the French with a perfect start and a great first beat. Iain Percy saw the lefty coming and the British yacht hit the starting line on the pin end and with greater speed. The first beat saw Ben Ainslie's lead extend as Richard got caught on the right side of the course. Ainslie rounded the first weather mark clearly ahead and kept his advantage until the finish line. It definitely is a difficult day for Mathieu Richard.

Prestart of the race Ben Ainslie vs Mathieu Richard. Kuala Terengganu, 2 December 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Monsoon Cup - Day 2: Preview

2010-12-02T03:02:00.003+01:00

Greetings from Kuala Terengganu, home of the Monsoon Cup. First of all, my apologies for the lack of updates on the opening day but a terrible cold knocked me down. Things are shaping up better today for me but not weather-wise. The storms have passed through after a heavy downpour during the entire night but wind conditions are still fickle. It's no secret the Monsoon Cup is tricky but as Cameron Dunn said in the race against Phil Robertson that's the beauty of it because it creates interesting situations.

The race committee is out trying to set up a course and hopefully they can get going relatively soon. Mathieu Richard will be seating out of the first two flights (4 and 5) but his day will be tough, to say the least. Starting in flight 6 he's scheduled to face Ainlsie, Gilmour, Radich and Swinton. After a painful first day there is no doubt at all the Frenchman is under a lot of pressure.

Prestart of the race Peter Gilmour vs Phil Robertson. Kuala Terengganu, 1 December 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

San Francisco Mayor Applauds Port Commission Approval Of City’s Host Agreement For 34th America’s Cup

2010-12-01T16:26:00.001+01:00

[Source: San Francisco Mayor's Office] Mayor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement after the Port Commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution supporting the Host City and Venue Agreement for hosting the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco:

“The Port Commission today reaffirmed that San Francisco is the best place on earth to defend the America’s Cup and bring a potential $1.4 billion economic boost to the region. The public and community enthusiasm for hosting the America’s Cup has been tremendous, demonstrated at the Port Commission today by the broad support for the bid from local residents, merchants, union representatives and maritime enthusiasts.

With both the Host City Agreement and the Northern Waterfront Agreement being advanced to the full Board, we are providing opportunities to improve the spectator experience and increase the public benefit. I want to thank Port Executive Director Monique Moyer and the Port Commission for their commitment to bring the America’s Cup to the San Francisco Bay and all the economic benefits, jobs and excitement that come with it.”

On Wednesday, December 8, the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee is expected to consider a resolution in support of the Host City and Venue Agreement.

Monsoon Cup - Day 1: Ian Williams shines while Mathieu Richard struggles

2010-12-01T09:15:00.000+01:00

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar made an impressive start to his Monsoon Cup campaign by posting a 3-0 scoreline in the opening Qualifying Session in Kuala Terengganu whilst Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team did little to silence his rivals, losing both of his match races.

Richard, who has both defending champion, Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing and Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN breathing down his neck in the race for the championship, needed a strong start here in Malaysia. An early defeat to Ian Williams was followed by a match against Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team. Having picked up a penalty in the pre-start, Richard tried to wind it off at one of the mark roundings but forfeited his lead in doing so, allowing the Swedish skipper to take control of the race and finish 45 seconds ahead. It was a bad time to lose for the first time this season against the Swede.

Highlights from day 1 of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 1 December 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tout

The Frenchman reflected: “Not the start we wanted at all today. We had two bad starts. In our first race again Ian Williams there was a shift before the start, so we suffered. Against Bjorn Hansen, he was sailing well today. We might have a strong record against Bjorn but he beat us today and that is the only result I care about. The only thing we can be sure of is that we must do much better tomorrow.”

Despite these defeats, the Frenchman will be buoyed by the mixed fortunes of his nearest rivals, with Minoprio losing to Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Ben Ainslie going down to the increasingly-impressive Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing to take the polish off his two opening victories.

Ainslie was earlier involved in an epic battle against this season’s most consistent skipper, Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team in what commentator PJ Montgomery deemed “match racing at its best.” Radich picked up a red flag penalty early in the race, allowing Ainslie to take what started to look like an unassailable lead. However, on the first run Radich got just ahead and when the two boats crossed the fireworks started. After two dial-downs in quick succession, Ainslie luffed Radich, pined a red-flag penalty on him and then held his lead to the finish.

Off the water, Terengganu Menteri Besar YAB Dato Seri Ahmad announced that discussions are already underway ensure the Monsoon Cup remains part of the World Match racing Tour beyond 2012. In what is already the richest event on the Tour, offering nearly $500,000 in prize money, Dato Seri Ahmad revealed that an increase in the prize purse is being considered:

“Obviously we want the Monsoon Cup to stay here beyond 2012. Perhaps we can offer more prize money if that will help us secure a longer contract. All the facilities are already in place and it will be a waste if we can’t extend the contract. The additional prize money will come out of the state’s budget as we want to keep the event in Terengganu as it has been a big boom for the state.”

Results after 3 Flights:
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 3-0
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 2-1
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 2-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 1-0
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzurra 1-0
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 1-0
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 1-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 1-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing Team 0-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
0-2Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 0-2
Jeremy Koo (MAL) Koo Racing Team Evernew 0-3

Monsoon Cup - Day 1: Preview

2010-12-01T02:16:00.009+01:00

3:40pm local time: The downpour is finally over and now that the official opening ceremony has finished, racing is scheduled to start at 4pm local time (9am CET).

Good morning from rainy Kuala Terengganu, home of the Monsoon Cup, closing event of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour. This is set to be the most exciting and thrilling edition of the Malaysian event with 5 sailors aiming the world match racing champion title. Any of Mathieu Richard, Adam Minoprio, Ben Ainslie, Torvar Mirsky and Iain Williams can be the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing champion next Sunday.

Racing starts at 12pm local time (5am CET) with two extremely important match at the very beginning. In match 1 Mirsky will face Minoprio and in match 2 the two Brits, Williams and Ainslie will race against each other. After the first two flights are completed the grandiose opening ceremony will officially kick off the event and at 4pm local time (9am CET) racing will resume. Race officials hope to gave another 4 flights, weather allowing.

Racing is streamed LIVE online every day, right here on Valencia Sailing. In an another innovation aimed at trying to make the sport of sailing more attractive to the general media, some of the skippers will be wearing biometric belts that will be sending the signal back to the TV production room. For the first time we'll be able to have the world's top match racers under "observation" in real-time, having their heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature on our screens. They are the same biometric belts the Chilean miners were wearing during their rescue, after they were trapped in their mine.

Mathieu Richard is probably the one feeling the most pressure. He's so close to achieving what he has been fighting for during the last few years, to be crowned world champion, but it will be nothing but straightforward for the French. His results in the last two match racing events he took part in were far from stellar. He failed to make it through the qualifying series in Bermuda in October, latest WMRT event, while last week we was beaten in the quarterfinals by Phil Robertson in the Australia Cup, a grade 2 qualifying event for the Monsoon Cup. In yesterday's press conference Richard dispelled the worries, stating he felt confident and that the Australia Cup was a very useful training regatta for his crew. In order to have his world title guaranteed, Richard has to finish in the top two positions. If he doesn't make it to the finals then the world title could go to any of the remaining top 4 skippers, depending on their respective results.

His most immediate opponent, Adam Minoprio, seemed quite more relaxed. He is the reigning world champion, a title he conquered again right here in the Monsoon Cup a year ago at the age of 24. His future as well is clearer than most of his competitors. Whatever the result might be in Malaysia, starting next week Minoprio will be working full time on the Camper / Team New Zealand team in the current Volvo Ocean Race. In fact, the Spanish-Kiwi entry in the round-the-world race will announce its full crew on December 15th.

Finally, the third skipper with good chances at the word title, Ben Ainslie, could be the least stressed of the three. He's an accomplished Olympic sailor with three gold medals and although a world match racing title would be welcome his main goal is the preparation for the 2012 games. He can hit the waters in Kuala Terengganu much more relaxed.

Monsoon Cup practice day and skippers press conference

2010-11-30T07:59:00.015+01:00

Greetings from rainy Kuala Terengganu, home of the Monsoon Cup. The 12 sailors fighting for the Malaysian trophy were divided into two groups of 6 and carried out their practice sessions until the early afternoon. The practice day started slowly with a light breeze but finished under much fresher winds as the monsoon rain was approaching from the north.

I didn't have the time to talk to the sailors, especially the top five that vie for the ISAF World Match Racing Champion title, as I went onbaard Torvar Mirsky's yacht right after arriving at noon. Mirsky's team practiced a few races against their fellow young Australian, Keith Swinton, as well as Ian Williams. Mirsky, mathematically, still have chances to become the brand new world champion but they are considerably slim. A lot has to come to his favor but with such a strong lineup, Phil Robertson, Keith Swinton, Peter Gilmour or Jesper Radich could spoil the party for Mathieu, Richard or Ainslie.

The five skippers with chances at the world title, Mathieu Richard, Adam Minoprio, Ben Ainslie, Torvar Mirsky and Ian Williams will talk in a press conference starting at 5pm local time (10am CET) that will be streamed online, here on Valencia Sailing as well, so there will be many chances to ask them any questions.

Some of the video footage certainly leaves a lot to be desired but it was just experimental, trying to get more of the action, from the front and from in front, not the back. The more time I pass on those yachts the more I'm convinced sailing could become more popular with a cameraman onboard. The question of course, is where to put him.

Torvar Mirsky and his crew train on the eve of hte Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Torvar Mirsky and his crew train on the eve of hte Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Torvar Mirsky and his crew train on the eve of the Monsoon Cup. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Trimmer Kinley Fowler in full action. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Kyle Langford trims the mainsail and calls tactics while Torvar Mirsky helms. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Pitman Tudur Owen in full action. Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

No, I was NOT on Keith Swinton's yacht but with so much at stake there is no doubt we will be seeing more of that kind of extremely close racing . Kuala Terengganu, 30 November 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia Sailing goes to the Monsoon Cup

2010-11-28T23:18:00.006+01:00

There will most probably be no updates during Monday as I'm travelling to Kuala Terengganu for the Monsoon cup, the closing event of this year's World Match Racing Tour.

It will undoubtedly be the closest and fiercest event with five skippers vying for the ISAF World Match Racing champion title. Any of Mathieu Richard, Adam Minoprio, Ben Ainslie, Torvar Mirsky and Ian Williams can be crowned world champion next Sunday and all the variables and possible scenarios couldn't be better described than the excellent, succinct table below.

We'll be back in full force on Tuesday morning, Malaysian time, with photos, videos and interviews from the official practice day.

Monsoon Cup: Sailing's richest event

2010-11-28T18:21:00.000+01:00

Few could have imagined back in 2005 that a match racing event in a then-unknown port on the eastern coast of Malyasia would turn out to become a showcase of how inshore sailing events should be organized and, more importantly, the world's richest sailing event with a total prize pool of RM 1.5 million, close to US$ 500,000.

With the start of the 2010 Monsoon Cup just around the corner, Valencia Sailing talked to the event's Operations Manager, Shafique Iqbal, the person that makes sure the Monsoon Cup is "like no other event in the world", as stated Triple Olympic gold medallist, Ben Ainslie.

The Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina, venue of the Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup started in 2005 as a part a showcase of a big infrastructure development in Kuala Terengganu, initiated by the Malaysian government. A new marina was built, together with a brand new resort next to it while the river mouth was dredged and reshaped and a new fishermen wharf was constructed. In what has become a trend in the last few years, the regatta is conceived as a marketing tool for major infrastructure and tourist developments.

For the event promoters, the Monsoon Cup put Kuala Terengganu on the world map but also brought an important number of cruise and leisure boats to their marina. Traditionally, all of Malaysia's marinas face the Strait of Malacca while Kuala Terangganu is the only one in the country on the Southern China Sea and it has now become a much-welcome stopover for the constantly-increasing number of leisure yachts on those waters. Power and sail boats from China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand or even as far as the UK, now make a stop at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina. Facilities are of a world-class level and further improvement and expansion are in the pipeline until the entire master plan is fully implemented.

The purpose-built facilities in Kuala Terengganu have nothing to envy, even when compared to Formula 1 tracks. The two-story building on the waterfront houses the media center, the enormous broadcasting center, the VIP & hospitality lounges, the sponsor booths as well as the sailors lounge and gym. All that, a few dozens of meters from the race course. One could claim the sailing stadium was invented there.

World-class facilities built at Ri-Yaz by Malaysian Entrepreneur Patrick Lim. Photo copyright SubZero Images

Big organization for a world-class regatta and year-round activities
The Monsoon Cup core team consists of 10 people that work full-time round the year while another five join the time approximately half a year before the start of the event. However, the bulk of people joins a few days before the start and can reach up to 150. This small army of people take care of every small detail on and off the water, ranging from race operations, media & TV operations, VIP & guest staff, technical staff to food & beverage staff, spectator activities or even at the airport, helping sailors & guests.

However, not all racing activities are focused on the week the Monsoon Cup takes place. The Malaysian Match Racing Championship and the Asian Match Racing Championship take place in the month prior to the Monsoon Cup. These two events serve as qualifiers for the actual regatta and provide two spots, one for a Malaysian skipper and another one from Asia. As a result, the months of October, November and early December are by far the busiest ones in Kuala Terengganu.

The purpose-built facilities don't become a ghost town though in the rest of the year. The organization has a busy program of corporate sailing activities, team building programs as well as two match racing schools. The first one is located in Kuala Terengganu and caters to non-sailors that get initiated to the sport of sailing while the second one, the Monsoon Sailing School, targets Malaysian sailors that want to hone their skills under the tutelage of experienced match racers. It was established in 2009 and is located in Putrajya, south of Kuala Lumpur. The Monsoon Sailing School is a first step in the creation of a permanent match racing fabric not only in that country but throughout Asia. In fact, in 2010, just its second year of existence, the Monsoon Sailing School attracted sailors from Turkey and the Philippines.

Ri Yaz Marina Building the Home of Monsoon Cup. Photo copyright SubZero Images

Making sailing popular in Malaysia and Asia
Like in the rest of South East Asian countries, sailing in Malaysia is still a niche sport, despite the rapidly increasing numbers of a relatively affluent middle class and the fact the country is surrounded by the sea. One of the targets of the Monsoon Cup organizers is to precisely break the myth sailing is only for the rich and this is gradually being achieved, according to Iqbal.

During the Monsoon Cup and its related events, over seven days, more than 100,000 people visit the public areas to watch the races and participate in the related activities. The vast majority of the crowds are local residents and the attendance figure is quite big if one considers that the entire population in the Kuala Terengganu area is about 390,000 people. The large majority of them come out to the opening concert which is a huge production. There is also a number of visitors coming from Kuala Lumpur or other regions of the country but the event caters mainly to the local population. For many locals the Monsoon Cup is an entertainment otherwise unavailable because the Terengganu state is quite conservative and, for example, there are no cinemas in Kuala Terengganu.

The drive to spread sailing to a grassroots level now comes as well from the event's main sponsor, the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports. The country's federal government, through this ministry, provides approximately 60-70% of the event's total budget. As a result, the ministry desires a return that is prominent throughout the year and not just in the few weeks running up to the event. Not only does the Monsoon cup have to put Malaysia on the world sailing map it needs to deliver sporting results. Through the various sailing schools the aim is to bring up the level of Malaysian sailors and why not have a fully-Malaysian team participating in the World Match Racing Tour in the not so distant future.

Finally, another main objective of the ministry, as a spin-off of the Monsoon Cup, is to establish and develop a local boat building and repair industry, which forms part of the Minister of Youth & Sports Dato’ Sri Ahmed Shabbery Cheek agenda of developing industries around sport and sporting events.

Karnival Monsoon draws a huge crowd of families. Photo copyright SubZero Images

Promotion, marketing and sponsorship
The Monsoon Cup brand is widely known around the country but Iqbal and his team don't rest on their laurels. Two months before the event they start their media campaign in the country's three major newspapers and a month later they also include the local media in Terengganu. The campaign consists of the usual advertizing banner but also, more importantly, a continuous stream of news and stories about the event. Advertizing on outdoor billboards along the main highways also forms part of their campaign while a very effective method, according to Iqbal, was used in 2008 and 2009 and consisted of placing billboards on 1,000 taxis in Kuala Lumpur.

In addition to the public sponsors, the Monsoon Cup counts among its suppliers some of the major Malaysian corporations. By far the most important ones are Telecom Malaysia known as TM that provides all the telecommunications and Internet infrastructure and Malaysian Airlines and its regional subsidiary FireFly that provide the air travel of sailors, guests, VIPs and the organization.

Oman Sail's Khamis Al Anbouri

2010-11-28T15:04:00.004+01:00

The following video doesn't hold any extraordinary, breaking information or show any spectacular incident. Nevertheless, I think that for the sport of sailing as a whole and its future, it might even be more valuable and more important than, let's say, the record-breaking achievements of l'Hydroptère.

It just shows the story of Khamis Al Anbouri, an Omani citizen that in a mere three years climbed from being a regular Omani citizen to becoming an internationally respected sailor who competes at the top of the game. It also shows that with the adequate grass-roots sailing training programs there is no reason whatsoever why Omanis, or citizens of any other country with practically no professional sailing tradition, couldn't become competitive sailors.

They will certainly not produce a new Russell Coutts next month but it would be an encouraging step if the new Adam Minoprio, Torvar Mirsky or Phil Robertson were Omanis, Malaysians or Indians, instead of the usual Australians or New Zealanders.

34th America's Cup team budgets: 20 or 120 million euros?

2010-11-27T22:42:00.013+01:00

How much would it cost to have a competitive challenger in the 34th America's Cup? It depends on who you ask. Sir Keith Mills, principal of the now-defunct America's Cup hopeful Team Origin, had stated that he needed 100 million pounds (120 million euros) for the British potential challenger to mount a successful campaign. Russell Coutts stated last September that the "smallest teams could operate on a budget of 40 million euros", which means the big competitive teams should have a considerably bigger budget. Finally, Iain Murray, CEO of America's Cup Race Management, told the media in Dubai on Thursday that approximately 20 million euros could be enough.

Our colleague Michele Tognozzi, editor of FareVela, talked to Silvio Arrivabene and asked him to give his expert opinion on what the costs are in this edition of the world's oldest sports trophy. Arrivabene knows what he's talking about having done two America's Cup campaigns with Mascalzone Latino, the most recent one as the operations manager, while in the 33rd America's Cup he was the construction and planning manager of Alinghi 5. If there's somebody that knows a thing or two about building big catamarans, it's Arrivabene.

Here's what Arrivabene had to say about budgets and the 34th America's Cup:

FareVela: Iain Murray talked about 20 million euros to participate in the 34th America's Cup. Does this figure seem plausible to you?
Silvio Arrivabene: First of all, we need to agree on what "participate" means. If one wants to be there without any ambition to succeed, then it could even be a conceivable figure, for one AC45, one AC72, one wing and a basic group but nothing more. Something similar to China Team in Valencia in 2007. No possibilities at all and a presence that will pass unnoticed. If, on the other hand, as it would seem logical in an event of the significance of the America's Cup, one has the ambition to win, I think it's a figure absolutely undersized and nothing remotely close to what instead we will need to spend.

FareVela: We are obviously interested in the second case, that of a team with the ambition to win. Can we enter into more details?
Silvio Arrivabene: I start by saying that I have carried out a study of the Protocol for some potential projects that had been conceived and as a result I rely on objective data. In summary, a team that wants to try to win must already have a couple of Extreme 40's for training, then a couple of AC45's (US$ 600,000 each just the boat), two AC72's and a development plan that foresees up to 8 wings (the maximum allowed by the rules), about 10 rudders and daggerboards (in a catamaran you always think in pairs) and a development of soft sails. For the aerodynamic research we assume a couple of engineers for the AC45's, a team of 3-4 engineers dedicated to the AC72's and the wings, in addition to the people directly involved in the construction.

FareVela: How much would all that cost?
Silvio Arrivabene: We suppose it's a new team with the maximum ambitions and a tested boat yard, such as Green Marine, with which I collaborated up to a couple of years ago. For the wing on USA17, 64 meters high, BMW Oracle has declared 100,000 hours of work. With a shared knowhow and an AC72 wing, 40 meters high, I think we could envisage 15,000 hours of work at an hourly rate of approximately 50 euros. I'm only referring to the boatyard cost, excluding materials, people and research. As a result, just for the construction of one piece it would be around 750,000 euros. We are talking about just one wing.

A big team needs 8 wings at 15,000 hours each, 4 hulls at 3,000 hours each, 4 rudders and 4 daggerboards. Just the hourly cost, with a calculator in hand, can reach 6 million euros, to which we need to add engineering and development, research and the people to do it. For an AC45 we would need approximately 21,000 hours of work. Just one wing corresponds to two thirds of an ACC Version 5 yacht.

In fact, it seems to me that if you aren't BMW Oracle you will find it difficult to build 8 wings, given the fact they have an advantage of at least two years in the sector in addition to unlimited resources. During AC33 they had no budget limits, now I think they also have prudent people internally, that care about that issue, for example I think of Murray Jones, but undoubtedly they are in an enormously advantageous position.

3D simulation of an AC72. Video copyright America's Cup

FareVela: Any other expenditures?
Silvio Arrivabene: We shouldn't underestimate material costs. There are pieces that need a lot of carbon, for example the daggerboards, the rudders that can cost up to 80,000 euros each. We have to keep in mind that just having the money will not be enough, but specific knowledge is also required that you either have it or you build it. To do that you need time with competent people available for two years and the possibility to test and develop. The America's Cup is not a one-design race, on multihulls speed is everything and the experienced people in that sector count for much. Such specialists are expensive.

FareVela: What about the sailing team?
Silvio Arrivabene: We have been told that the AC45's have a crew of 5 and the AC72's a crew of 11, but in order to have two AC72's you will need 22 sailors and you can't expect having the best without making a "reservation". They are called "retainer" contracts, a basic way to lock on to some sailors while you wait until you can use their services on the water, and have to be added to the 11 monthly salaries you would pay the sailors you hire right away.

In addition, on multihulls it won't be possible to have muscular neophytes fresh out of the gym or from rowing that accept a minimal 2,500 euros per month because they wish to be there. You will need experienced and skilled sailors with abilities and technical knowhow, unless you want to take some skilled kid out of the 470 and train him, but that will not be the case with our hypothetical team, that has the ambition to succeed. Between the design, sailing and shore teams, costs will rapidly increase for a 2-year campaign, the minimum if you hope to just be close to the Defender's abilities.

FareVela: What about the logistics?
Silvio Arrivabene: As far as transportation in concerned, it seems ACRM will have a ship where all equipment will travel, but every team will have to take care on its own of the international shipments and the construction of new pieces. You shouldn't think that there isn't always a new bow or rudder that has to be shipped to San Francisco or wherever the event or pre-event takes place. With two and a half years until the event, scheduled for September 2013, that's the reality, obviously excluding BMW Oracle.

FareVela: After we do all the calculations what figure do we get?
Silvio Arrivabene: I think that a plausible figure is around 100 million euros, in any case much more than the 60 million Coutts and Onorato were talking about. The 20 million euros conceived by Iain Murray are, I repeat, for a team that is only interested in participating, without any ambition.

FareVela: It goes without saying that in the America's Cup winning is the only thing that counts. Who can spend those figures?
Silvio Arrivabene: I repeat, it's not just an issue of having the money or not, it's also the experience and the people that count in order to achieve it. You may have the budget but still not be able to get through to the real challenge against BMW Oracle.

FareVela: Given the fact the strongest potential challenger, Alinghi, has just announced it won't be taking part in the America's Cup under these conditions, are we already heading towards a final between Coutts' BMW Oracle and Paul Cayard's Artemis?
Silvio Arrivabene: It's too early to say but instead of Artemis I always think it will be the Kiwis. Emirates Team New Zealand, if they ever decide to enter the America's Cup, have the right people even in the design team that has been strengthened with skilled people. Grant Dalton's own statement that ETNZ won't take part in the Cup unless they are able to win it, seems to be addressed at BMW Oracle so that, if within 6 months there are few teams taking part, they facilitate the participation of the kiwis. It counts having Emirates Team New Zealand in the event, there is no doubt.

FareVela: And the so promised show?
Silvio Arrivabene: These days we have seen in Dubai how the close encounters, the fights and the battles are the essence of match racing. We didn't miss the show in the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Speed alone doesn't bring any show, going at 25 knots all alone in the middle of the sea isn't so important, unless you are in the Volvo Ocean Race, I can assure you about that. I'm just back from a season on Esimit Europa 2, a 100-foot supermaxi. We rounded Sicily in the last Rolex Middle Sea Race fighting against the watch and giving our best, but we were all alone out there, that's the truth. If there's no fight, boredom comes quickly, can you tell me what's so spectacular in watching a Formula 1 car going at 300 kph by itself in a straight line? When I think about spectacular sailing, the Volvo Ocean Race and the TP52's come in mind, and for sure not the AC33 last February. You can go as fast as you want, even at 30 knots, but if there's no close fighting there will be no show and anyone that sails knows it.

FareVela: What are your personal plans?
Silvio Arrivabene: As I said, I sailed this season on Esimit Europa 2, as the navigator. It's a very complex boat with lots of technology and many systems so my role implied lots of work. We are now preparing the 2011 season. In addition, I'm involved with engineering consultancy in various fields. I've done three America's Cups, so I'm not interested in doing it just for the sake of it but an interesting project can always be stimulating.

34TH America’s Cup announces partnership with Louis Vuitton

2010-11-27T14:47:00.006+01:00

[Source: America's Cup] The next major step in realizing its new vision, the America’s Cup Event Authority introduced its first partner, Louis Vuitton. A continuation of its 30-year long association with the America’s Cup, the Paris-based fashion house will present the prize, the Louis Vuitton Cup, to the winner of the America’s Cup Challenger Series, as well as serve as Official Timing for the 34th America’s Cup.

“We are thrilled to announce today the continuation of our 30-year partnership with the America’s Cup. Having met with the team several times, we believe that the 34th edition will be the best America’s Cup yet,” said Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier.

In 2013, the Challenger Series will be staged with the winner earning the right to compete in the America’s Cup Finals. The Challenger series will be once again called the Louis Vuitton Cup, recognizing the brand’s long partnership with the America’s Cup.

In addition, Louis Vuitton will be Official Timing for the America’s Cup World Series competitions, promoting its watch collection.

34th America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Partnership announcement. From left, Bruno Troublé, Russell Coutts, Yves Carcelle, Richard Worth and Pietro Beccari. Dubai, 27 November 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / America's Cup

“We are extremely priveleged that our vision for the next America’s Cup has attracted the return of a company like Louis Vuitton,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority. “The 34th America’s Cup will culminate in 2013, marking the 30th anniversary of Louis Vuitton’s support of the sport of sailing, so we could not be more proud to see this great partnership continue and strengthen.”

Since 1983, the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series has been held whenever there has been more than one challenger team for the America’s Cup. Its role is twofold – to select the best challenger team from the teams presented and, to prepare the winner for success against the Defender in the following America’s Cup Finals.

“I have competed for the Louis Vuitton Cup three times in the past, so I know how important it is to the Challenger’s success. We welcome the return of Louis Vuitton and look forward to racing the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2013,” said Russell Coutts, CEO, BMW ORACLE Racing.

The Louis Vuitton Cup will be in the summer of 2013, with the America’s Cup Finals in early fall. The events will feature the AC72 wing-masted catamaran, a ground-breaking new boat designed to deliver unparalleled racing competition and on-the-water excitement.

Video: Second stage of production of the AC45

2010-11-27T13:51:00.002+01:00

Tim Smyth, Core Builders, guides us through the 2nd stage production of the AC45. Video copyright America's Cup

Phil Robertson annihilates world's top match racers

2010-11-27T12:39:00.000+01:00

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Rising young Kiwi sailing star Phil Robertson put in a magnificent performance on the last day of the Sunseeker Australia Cup to lift the trophy, defeating British skipper Ian Williams 3 – 0 in the final.

Robertson, who is a graduate of one of the toughest match racing academies in the world, run by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, had a roller-coaster ride through this regatta, going through the first day undefeated, before crashing to seventh place at the end of the round robin.

However he and his crew picked themselves up off the mat to win their quarter-final against current World Tour leader Mathieu Richard.

He lost his first semi-final race to Britain’s golden boy of sailing, Ben Ainslie, but came back again to win the next three, and finally outclassed Williams in a display of cool, calm sailing that defied his 23 years.

Stepping ashore with a face splitting grin Robertson said, “it’s great mate, it’s awesome,” as words tumbled from his lips, we loved it, just from the start of the day we haven’t lost a race today.

“We’ve just been in the groove, the boys were all just so relaxed, and just loving it, having a ball out there, and the course was pretty interesting, it was extremely shifty a lot of fun to sail, I think we jagged that last one but we’ll take it.”

All three final races were fought tooth and nail, but in the first two Robertson won by margins of 25 and 23 seconds, in the final confrontation the Kiwi picked up a penalty, but managed to build up sufficient lead to take his turn on the finishing line and grab the win, and the trophy by one second.

Talking about the event in general he said, “this is a build up for the Monsoon Cup really, that’s the reason we’re here, we wanted to work on the small things and it’s all come together, we were pushing it and trying to make it all work, so we’re obviously pretty confident going into next week.”

BMW Oracle reaches final of Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai

2010-11-26T21:14:00.003+01:00

[Source: BMW Oracle] BMW ORACLE Racing advanced to the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai, the fitting finale for America’s Cup Class monohulls, with a sterling performance in today’s semifinal round.

Led by skipper James Spithill, the American team, which won the 33rd America’s Cup in February, defeated the German/French All4One crew 2-0 to advance to the final where it will meet Emirates Team New Zealand, also a 2-0 winner in the semifinal round.

The winning formula for today was as it’s been throughout the regatta that began 13 days ago. Tactician John Kostecki and strategist Murray Jones called the windshifts with aplomb and trimmers Dirk de Ridder (mainsail), Ross Halcrow (headsails) and Joey Newton (spinnakers) kept the boat moving fast. Not to mention, the sailhandling at the turning marks was flawless.

“It’s nice to have the option to put the boat where you want and the guys take care of the rest,” said Spithill. “We’ve got the option to go toe-to-toe or, if JK and Murray see a shift, we can speed to that. The guys have been spot on throughout the regatta.”

Skipper James Spithill comments on the team's 2-0 win over All4One in the semifinal round of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Dubai 26 November 2010. Video copyright BMW Oracle

Spithill has been spot on too, especially in the pre-start sequence. Once again, he gave his crew the ability to call free races by winning the starts.

In the first pre-start, Spithill got a penalty on All4One for jibing too close. That penalty came in handy during the second upwind leg when All4One closed to within one length as the two crews combined for 25 tacks in a furious duel.

“We set the penalty up in the dial-up,” Spithill said. “We got control and forced him into a tight situation and he went for it. Turns out we didn’t need it, but it was nice to have that penalty in the back pocket.”

In the second race the two crews came off the line at opposite ends, but BMW ORACLE Racing was at speed at the pin end while All4One was tacking to starboard at the committee boat, making the French/German team slow off the line.

After entering onto the racecourse, BMW ORACLE Racing quickly tacked to port to get to the right and take advantage of the downspeed All4One and a right-hand windshift.

“The second start changed quite a bit during the pre-start,” Spithill said. “Initially there was a pin bias and we were going to take it, but then the wind went way right. We came off the line and JK called a tack right away. I think the fact we tacked so quickly put them under pressure.”

Tomorrow’s final against Team New Zealand pits Spithill against old rival Dean Barker. The two raced the Louis Vuitton Cup final during the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007. It’s a showdown Spithill is looking forward to.

“I’m convinced we haven’t seen our best yet, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Spithill said.

World Match Racing Tour unveils new points system and 2011 schedule

2010-11-26T11:09:00.005+01:00

[Source: World MAtch Racing Tour] The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has unveiled a new scoring system for the 2011 season to give a more even spread for teams in the top ten. The plans will see points awarded down to 10th place rather than 8th at each stage, while the spread in points between each position will be reduced.

With Tour Card Holders being guaranteed invites to six stages, the new scoring system will still see the team’s best five events count towards their overall position plus the points from the season finale, the Monsoon Cup which carries points worth 1.5 times more.

Under the new scheme the winner of each stage will still win 25 points but the runner up and third place will now receive 22 and 19 respectively compared to the existing model of 20 and 15. The table below shows the proposed breakdown, which will reward teams that perform consistently throughout the season.

WMRT will have nine places available for Tour Card holders in 2011, who will be competing for a bonus prize fund which has been doubled to USD500,000. The top three teams in this year’s WMRT will be guaranteed access to a card - the winner will receive their card for free while the second and third place will be able to secure their cards for USD10,000 and USD20,000 respectively.

Should any of the top three choose not to take up their card next year they will be able to transfer it to another top flight skipper, under the condition that the team taking it up consists of at least 60% of the same crew that won the Tour Card. Invitations for applications for Tour Cards are being distributed this week and must be returned by 17 January. Sailors wishing to find out more can contact WMRT Tour Director Craig Mitchell via www.wmrt.com.

The 2011 Tour will consist of a minimum of nine stages kicking off at Match Race France from 10-15 May and once again finishing with the Monsoon Cup from 22-27 November – a full schedule of events is also listed below.

2011 ISAF MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Stage	Date	Event	Location	Teams
1	May 10 – 15	Match Race France	Marseille, France	12
2	May 24 – 29	Match Race Germany	Langenargen, Germany	12
3	June 7 - 12	Korea Match Cup	Gyeonggi, Korea	12
4	June 22 - 26	Portimao Portugal Match Cup	Portimao, Portugal	12
5	July 4 – 10	Match Cup Sweden	Marstrand, Sweden	16
6	Aug 24 – 28	Danish Open	Bornholm, Denmark	12
7	Aug 30 – Sep 4	St Moritz Match Race	St Moritz, Switzerland	12
8	October 3 - 9	Argo Group Gold Cup	Hamilton, Bermuda	24
9	Nov 22 – 27	Monsoon Cup	K.Terengganu, Malaysia	12

With the Tour actively seeking to add a further six new venues by 2013, it is currently engaged in conversations with a number of interested parties. It is the aim of the Tour to provide new events with a specialist sailing advisor who can offer expert sailing experience and event management skills and is inviting people to apply for the shortlist of special advisers. Those interested should also contact Tour Director Craig Mitchell.

Mitchell commented, “The Tour is never standing still as we’re always looking to improve the experience for the teams, fans, media and public. We feel that the current scoring system is a little top heavy with some teams that perform well being left behind on the leaderboard. Even though match racing is a winner takes all sport we hope that the new system will keep the championship podium open for as long as possible, providing drama and excitement until the final cross.”

Alinghi announces sailing program; not to enter America's Cup; focus on Extreme Sailing

2010-11-25T21:58:00.002+01:00

[Source: Alinghi] Alinghi, two times winner of the America’s Cup, has today announced that it will not enter a team in the 34th edition of the prestigious sailing trophy and instead has launched a new programme that will see the Swiss team participating in the Extreme Sailing Series.

After a careful evaluation of the protocol and other initiatives taken by the American Defender and its Challenger of Record, Alinghi considers that the existing conditions make it impossible for the team to participate in the 34th America’s Cup.

Alinghi remains interested in the America’s Cup and will be closely following its developments in the coming months but for the immediate future it will concentrate its efforts in other world class challenges. The Extreme Sailing Series, a championship raced with 40-feet catamarans that is expanding geographically and commercially in 2011 whilst maintaining a truly level playfield and exciting competition, provides the perfect ground for Alinghi to develop its international sailing activity. In parallel, the team will continue to participate in the D35 series on Lake Geneva.

Alinghi won the 2008 iShares Cup. Cowes, 2 August 2008. Photo copyright onEdition

Video: Highlights from day 2 of the Sunseeker Australia Cup

2010-11-25T21:56:00.002+01:00

Highlights from day 2 of the 2010 Sunseeker Autralia Cup. Perth, 25 November 2010. Video copyright Sunseeker Autralia Cup

Mascalzone Latino Wins Fleet Racing at Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai

2010-11-25T20:43:00.003+01:00

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] The six international crews at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai hosted local dhow skippers today in three fleet races when competition resumed off the Dubai International Marine Club.

Italy’s Mascalzone Latino Audi won the day handsomely with skipper Gavin Brady scoring two first places. The French/German team All4One and Sweden’s Artemis Racing were second equal, while Emirates Team New Zealand was third.

Saeed Hareb, CEO of the Dubai International Marine Club, presented the fleet race trophy to Gavin Brady and presented commemorative medals to Brady and all his crew.

The Emirates Team New Zealand crew raced today wearing black arm bands and with their ensign at half mast in a somber reminder of the Pike River coal mine explosion in New Zealand that claimed 29 lives. The team is planning a brief on-water ceremony tomorrow morning to pay their respects to the lost miners.

Skippers of the four semi-finalists chose their starting positions and their boats tonight. BMW Oracle Racing chose to race fourth-seeded All4One while Emirates Team New Zealand will start against Synergy Russian Sailing Team.

Gavin Brady does his magic and helms Mascalzone Latino AUDI Team to two victories. Dubai, 25 November 2010. Photo copyright Bob Grieser/ousideimages.com/Louis Vuitton Trophy

“We chose All4One simply for the fact that they finished in fourth place,” said James Spithill, skipper of BMW Oracle Racing. “It’s never an easy decision but at the end of the day you have to go out there and beat them. It’s going to be a tough race. They’re not an easy team to race against.”

In the semi-finals the winners will be the first boats to win two races. The winners will race the finals on Saturday in a best of five series.

In today’s fleet racing, each of the four teams raced twice over the course of three races.

Brady’s finishes have been uneven over the past two weeks of racing in Dubai but today he and his afterguard of tactician Morgan Larson, navigator Steve Hayles, and masthead wind spotter Cameron Dunn, made no mistakes on flat water in a very shifty five to seven knot north westerly breeze.

In his first race Brady claimed the pin end of the line and pulled out to an early lead that increased as the race wore on. In his second race, Brady went for a port tack start behind the fleet before going up the middle of the course. He emerged at the weather mark with a commanding lead that he held until the finish.

“We wanted the left in the first race,” Brady said. “In these light air races you can’t be conservative. You have to really go for it so we went for a pretty aggressive start down at the pin end. For the second race we wanted to start to the right. We didn’t want to sacrifice a tack to get the right so we decided to do something that no-one else has done here and start on port tack and take the stern of all the boats at full speed.”

Ben Ainslie and Torvar Mirsky dominate the round robin at Sunseeker Australia Cup

2010-11-25T15:10:00.003+01:00

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Britain’s sailing superstar Ben Ainslie showed his class on the Swan River today, rising to the top of the leaderboard at the Sunseeker Australia Cup, to win the round robin stage of the regatta.

He won five straight races today, turning a fifth place at the end of day one, with a 3 – 2 scoreline, into first place with a scoreline of 7 – 2 this evening, sharing the top score with local skipper Torvar Mirsky, but taking the top spot on a tie-break.

Talking about his improved form Ainslie said, “that was a bit cleaner today, we had a little bit of rust yesterday, the guys were a bit tired having just flown in from Europe, but we felt a bit better today, and got things slightly smoother I think.”

Highlights from day 1 of the 2010 Sunseeker Autralia Cup. Perth, 24 November 2010. Video copyright Sunseeker Autralia Cup

Winning the round robin brings with it the privilege of choosing his quarter-finals opponent, and he has selected South African Ian Ainslie who finished fourth on the leaderboard.

One of the big areas of improvement for Ben Ainslie today was in his starting, generally getting off the line in control.

He commented, “it is difficult, because it’s so shifty, and with such a tight starting box, it really all happens in the last 30 seconds, but we pretty much got what we wanted in most of the starts.

“I guess they weren’t all perfect, they never normally are in match racing, but we ended up having control in most of the starts, and half way up the beat, but really on this course it’s so shifty it’s more about good speed, getting the shifts and good crew work when things are shifting around so quickly.”

It was Western Australian skipper Torvar Mirsky who defeated Ben Ainslie in the final of this event last year, so a repeat of this match in the final this year is still possible, no doubt with the British skipper hoping to reverse the result.

Another important game within a game being played out at this event is the fight for the last place available at next week’s Monsoon Cup, in Malaysia, the final and deciding regatta on this year’s World Tour.

The top placed skipper at the Sunseeker Australia Cup, who has not already qualified, will grab that slot.

Conditions on the Swan River’s Perth Water were very tough again today, with the seabreeze piping in at 15 to 20 knots, which on such a tight course is a real test of skill, fitness and agility.

The Sunseeker Australia Cup is hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and managed by Swan River Sailing.

RESULTS AT THE END OF THE ROUND ROBIN
1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) 7 – 2
2 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) 7 – 2
3. Ian Williams (GBR) 6 – 3
4. Iain Ainslie (RSA) 5 – 4
5. Keith Swinton (AUS) 5 – 4
6. Mathieu Richard (FRA) 5 – 4
7. Phil Robertson (NZL) 5 – 4
8. William Tiller (NZL) 3 – 6
9. Peter Nicholas (AUS) 2 – 7
10. Reuben Corbett (NZL) 0 – 9

Phil Robertson leads Sunseeker Australia Cup undefeated

2010-11-24T14:37:00.003+01:00

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] With skill and guile that belies his age, the young Kiwi skipper Phil Robertson manoeuvred his way through the first day of the Sunseeker Australia Cup undefeated in a field that would over awe considerably older skippers.

Most notable of the scalps he collected on the first day was last year’s winner Torvar Mirsky, the home-town boy who is currently fourth on the World Tour leader board, and hoping to capture the world title next week in Malaysia.

In other matches he downed fellow Kiwis Reuben Corbett and Will Tiller, who is one of his former crew, and another Perth skipper Peter Nicholas. Last week Robertson won the New Zealand Championships, one of the toughest national competitions on the planet.

Talking about the day’s action he said, “we’ve just come off our nationals, so the team is in pretty good shape, we’re just trying to improve on the small things now. I like the small race course here, it makes it that much more exciting, and it makes the pre-start that much more important, it’s good racing out there. I think in most of the races we came off pretty fair in the pre-start, which created a decent lead, but Torvar was definitely the hardest.”

Phil Robertson reports on day 1 of the Sunseeker Australia Cup. Perth, 24 November 2010. Video copyright Waka Racing

Behind Robertson the ladder is crowded with Frenchman Mathieu Richard, England’s Ian Williams and Torvar Mirsky all on a 3 – 2 score line.

Making up the top half of the leader board is British golden boy Ben Ainslie with three wins from five races.

The Swan River was at its best, with a healthy 15 to 18 knot seabreeze, and a cloudless sky. The Sunseeker Australia Cup is hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club and run by Swan River Sailing.

Results after day 1
1. Phil Robertson (NZL) 4 – 0
2= Mathieu Richard (FRA) 3 – 1
2= Ian Williams (GBR) 3 – 1
2= Torvar Mirsky (AUS) 3 – 1
5. Ben Ainslie (GBR) 3 – 2
6= Keith Swinton (AUS) 2 – 3
6= William Tiller (NZL) 2 – 3
8. Peter Nicholas (AUS) 1 – 4
9. Iain Ainslie (RSA) 0 – 2
10. Reuben Corbett (NZL) 0 – 4

2011 AUDI Med Cup Dates Published

2010-11-24T12:36:00.003+01:00

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Planning is well under way for the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit season which for the first time will feature both the TP52 Series fleet, racing under the new measurement rule which will take the Series forward from 2011, and the exciting new S40 one-design class which has been attracting worldwide attention since it was announced as the Circuit’s second class from 2011 onwards.

The 2011 season is set to follow a very similar schedule of dates as 2011, with one regatta in each of France, Italy, Portugal and two regattas in Spain. As yet most of the city venues have been decided, but final negotiations are continuing.

The 2011 dates will be:

Trophy 1 - Tuesday 17th – Sunday 22nd May
Trophy 2 - Tuesday 14th – Sunday 19th June
Trophy 3 - Tuesday 19th – Sunday 24th July
Trophy 4 - Tuesday 23nd – Sunday 28th August
Trophy 5 - Monday 12th – Saturday 17th September

The regatta format will be the same as previous seasons for the TP52s, racing starts officially each Tuesday and finishes Sunday with one coastal race at each regatta, usually on the Friday. The S40 programme has to be confirmed but will maximise their racing time and they will not race coastal races.

As usual the season’s finale, the last Audi MedCup regatta of 2011, runs Monday to Saturday to allow for a Saturday night final prize-giving party.

Niklas Zennstrom, RAN, winner of the 2010 Rolex Mini Maxi World Championship and brand new entry in the TP52 class. Photo copyright Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

In 2011 teams will be allowed two training days only at the venue immediately prior to the event.

The Audi MedCup Circuit event opens the week-end before to the competition commences with a Public Village full of activities open to visitors including an “Open Pontoon Day” the first Saturday

Announcement of the venue cities that will host the events are currently being studied as Ignacio Triay (ESP), Audi MedCup Circuit Director, explains: “We are finalising negotiations with venues at the moment. The principles remain the same and we expect to be returning to a number of the venues that proved so successful in 2010. We are very conscious of delivering what the owners like and also what the preferences are for our sponsor Audi.”

“On the one hand, returning to successful, known venues makes a lot of sense for everyone involved, it allows continuity for everyone: it allows the cities to build on their successful formula, it streamlines logistics for organisers, teams and hosts. And we have built good data on weather reliability and wind patterns for efficient race management on the water. But on the other hand, we all like to visit new cities for different reasons, not least to introduce new challenges for the competitors, which they enjoy,” continues Triay.

“At the moment we have agreements with most cities for 2011, but it is a difficult balancing act, one which we feel we have got right in the past, and we will not compromise to ensure that the next season is as good as 2010,” concludes the Audi MedCup Circuit Director.

Lights; Camera; Action; It's Sunseeker Australia Cup Time

2010-11-23T17:55:00.003+01:00

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] The superstars of sailing are here, the sun is shining and the fabled Fremantle Doctor is back from a week’s leave, bring on the Sunseeker Australia Cup 2010!

Sailing’s answer to Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Raffa are in town, Ben Ainslie and Ian Williams of Britain and Frenchman Mathieu Richard are the best in the world at what they do, race sailboats.

The skies over Perth are cloudless, and there is a strong wind warning for at least the next three days.

Compress these components into the confined space of Perth Water, right in front of the CBD, and you have a recipe for some serious action.

But it’s not all about the overseas “rock stars”, because last year Perth’s own up-and-coming world talent, Torvar Mirsky, beat the all these guys to collect the trophy, and it will take a crowbar to get it out of his hands.

There is also a trio of young Kiwis, bought up in the toughest match racing school on the planet, who have been making their mark on the world stage, these guys would love to win on Australian waters.

Throw in a South African and a couple of other talented locals, and the line up for the Sunseeker Australia Cup is red hot, and the Fremantle Doctor will only fan the flames.

Ben Ainslie, who has three Olympic golds and a silver, was the defeated finalist last year, beaten in two straight races by Torvar Mirsky, and defeat isn’t something that fits into his agenda, so expect a fight back.

Mathieu Richard has put in a big year on the International Tour, and has the world championship within his grasp, he will be looking to go into next week’s Monsoon Cup in Malaysia on a high, so a good performance in Perth is essential.

The Sunseeker Australia Cup will be four days of intense head-to-head competition that is too good to miss, hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, it is managed by Swan River Sailing.

SKIPPERS
1. Mathieu Richard FRA
2. Ben Ainslie GBR
3. Torvar Mirsky AUS
4. Ian Williams GBR
5. Reuben Corbett NZL
6. Ian Ainslie RSA
7. Phil Robertson NZL
8. Keith Swinton AUS
9. William Tiller NZL
10. Peter Nicholas AUS

Report: Three America's Cup World Series regattas planned in Palma de Mallorca

2010-11-23T12:31:00.009+01:00

Update 4pm: We obtained more concrete details on the negotiations between the Chamber of Commerce in Palma and BMW Oracle. It appears that BMW Oracle will only offer one event in 2011 but the city's desire is to stage 3 events (one each year, from 2011 to 2013) in order to get a better return on their expenditure. The hosting fee is 5 million euros and covers all three events. As per the Chamber of Commerce, Palma can't afford to spend more money.

The regattas, if the two parties come into an agreement, would be held between the months of April and July. August is off-limits in Palma because that is when the island's premiere event, the Copa del Rey, takes place. Other calendar issues that have to be taken into consideration are the Palmavela regatta and the Easter holidays. Palma being a major tourist destination, there will certainly be a shortage of hotel rooms during that period.

Finally, it is quite probable the Real Club Nautico Palma is involved with the organization of the event. In addition to the cash payment, BMW Oracle, among other things, requires mooring space for 50 mega-yachts as well as 30,000 square meters of empty space for the race logistics.

With approximately seven months left until the curtain-raising event of the brand new America's Cup World Series, it is obvious BMW Oracle are busy meeting with cities around the world that are interested in eventually becoming hosts of one, or more, events.

If one is to believe the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, it now appears that Palma de Mallorca is one of the cities that has been approached by the holder of the America's Cup. According to the article that appeared in today's edition, Russell Coutts was in Palma a few days ago and met with the President of the local Chamber of Commerce, in order to negotiate an agreement on a number of America's Cup World Series events.

The article claims that Palma was offered the possibility of holding three events during the period from April to July in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. In exchange, the Spanish city will have to pay Larry Ellison's team of total of 5 million euros in host city fees.

The author of the article considers this to be a surprisingly small amount, most probably due to the current economic crisis. In comparison, according to the article, the Louis Vuitton regatta in La Maddalena cost the local authorities 4 million euros and the regional government of Andalusia paid 1.8 million euros for the right to hold three Extreme Sailing events. These events being considerably less popular than an Americas Cup race, it seems that even the pinnacle regatta of the sport of sailing doesn't escape from the financial turmoil.

Finally, always according to the article, in addition to San Francisco and Palma, other cities that could stage America's Cup events are Newport, Venice and cities in Portugal, the UAE and Russia.

Five skippers vie for the World Match Racing champion title

2010-11-23T09:36:00.002+01:00

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] With five skippers still in with a chance of winning the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) as the series heads for the final event of the season at the Monsoon Cup, WMRT has drawn comparisons to the recent grandstand finish in Formula 1 which saw four drivers go into the final Grand Prix of the year with a shot at winning the title.

Just as F1 had a sting in its tail with Vettel, who went into the last race in third place, snatching the title, WMRT is being tipped to have an equally dramatic climax at the Monsoon Cup, which is being held at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa in Kuala Terengganu from 30 November to 5 December.

Matthieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team will go into the final event of the year with a 15 point lead over defending Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing while Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN is just two points further back. Australia’s Torvar Mirsky, Mirsky Racing Team and two-time World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar are also still in with an outside chance.

Sailing pundit Mark Chisnell, who has watched the action unfold throughout the season, has called into question championship leader Matthieu Richard’s preparation saying: “I was interested to see that he’s chosen to race in Perth just before the Monsoon Cup. Mathieu is very methodical in his preparation, and I’m sure he’s got a plan, but this year his worst results have come in events that followed closely one after another – not a particularly good omen for him.”

While Chisnell believes the race is too close to call between Richard, Minoprio and Ainslie, he has all but written off the chances of Williams and Mirsky adding, “Even if I was a betting man, I wouldn’t put a pound on it, it’s just too close. I’d only say that it will be Richard, Minoprio or Ainslie – too much has to go the way of Mirsky or Williams for them to come from behind and take it. But after that, it’s wide open.”

Chisnell has also warned of the impact the rest of the field will have in deciding the outcome. With all the skippers having to take part in the Qualifying Round Robin to win their place in the knock out stages no-one is guaranteed a place in the final.

Alluding to the importance of the rest of the teams, Chisnell said, “They could have a huge impact – last year, it was decided when Peter Gilmour beat Torvar Mirsky in the quarter-finals. Gilly couldn’t overhaul Minoprio to win it by then, but instead, he stopped the man who could.”

Vincenzo Onorato replies to criticism on his role in the 34th America's Cup

2010-11-22T18:29:00.016+01:00

Vincenzo Onorato, owner of Mascalzone Latino, Challenger of Record of the 34th America's Cup, has been widely criticized for his silence and the, allegedly, inexistent role his team has in shaping the current edition of the pinnacle event of the sport of sailing. Onorato being Italian received the bulk of the criticism in his home country. As a result, he used Italy's main sailing media, FareVela, to reply to his critics. We would like to thank our friend Michele Tognozzi, editor of FareVela, for allowing us to reproduce Onorato's letter.

Here's what the owner of the Challenger of Record had to say [Note: the translation of the original text in Italian is mine]:

"Dear Michele,

I read Fare Vela Online with interest, every day. I have also read the criticism leveled at my club, seen as a sleeping partner of the Defender rather than a Challenger of Record worthy of its name. I partly feel responsible for these opinions as a direct result of our scant communication on the work we are carrying out. Oracle and Mascalzone, and their respective yachts clubs, inherited a disastrous Cup in terms of image, a result of the long and, I point out, legitimate litigation with Bertarelli. Russell and I meet almost every week and our teams are in daily contact.

All decisions taken are thoroughly discussed and thought through. It is also true we are going through an international economic environment to say the least disastrous and this is a further incentive to act with utmost care and caution. My silence doesn't mean I'm not doing anything but that we are humbly working, among other things, on carrying water to our mill. I'm Italian and my mill is called Italy, I would like to take to our country a series of events of the next Cup, just like I did last summer in La Maddalena.

A Jesuit that taught me in school used to say: Look at the substance of things, not their form. That's what I'm doing.

Your faithful and devoted reader,

Vincenzo Onorato"

Mascalzone Latino is not the "sleeping partner" of BMW Oracle, according to Vincenzo Onorato

Here's what Michele Tognozzi wrote, regarding Onorato's letter [Note: the translation of the original text in Italian is mine]:

We thank Vincenzo Onorato for his prompt reply and for the attention with which he follows us. We would like to point out that FareVela Net has echoed the large number of readers that wrote, replying to our invitation to voice their own opinion on the Cup. Our doubts are simply those of the majority of emails we received.

With two years and a half left until the 34th America's Cup there are still many unknowns and Onorato's very admission of a "difficult international economic environment" can only give rise to questions on the real costs of the event, the potential participating teams and the role of the Challenger of Record, questions to which Onorato has promptly replied. Many of the questions, certainly, derive from the "scant communication on the work we are carrying out", as the owner of Mascalzone Latino Audi Team pointed out.

Video: The Dhow experience

2010-11-22T09:29:00.009+01:00

What do you get when the holders of the America's Cup crew a traditional Dhow on the Arabian Gulf waters? Just watch this very interesting video. I have to issue a strong parental warning though, this video contains footage of centuries-old traditional monohull sailing and thus might not be suitable for the Facebook generation.

Parental Advisory: Warning, these centuries-old yachts might not be suitable for the Facebook generation

BMW Oracle Racing Dominates Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai

2010-11-21T18:18:00.003+01:00

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] The American team BMW Oracle Racing sailed a near-flawless race today against Sweden's Artemis Racing to maintain their margin at the top of the leaderboard.

Everything didn’t go their way. Earlier in the day James Spithill and his team were defeated by the French/German team All4One whose helmsman Sebastien Col won the start and staved off determined American attacks, especially on the first three legs. It was only the second loss in the series for the American team.

Except for BMWOR which holds a four and a half point lead on 13 points, the leaderboard at the Louis Vuitton Trophy remained tightly-packed after the second day of competition in the second round

“We got two points for that race today. It’s a big win,” said All4One’s skipper Jochen Schümann. "BMW Oracle Racing has been very strong so far, so I would say it’s almost ‘bonus points’. We now have a realistic chance to make it to the semis, which is our goal here.”

Follow the leader. Barring any major mishap, BMW Oracle will finish the round robins at the top of the leaderboard. Dubai, 21 November 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

Sébastien Col, helmsman of the French/German boat said: “We achieved a really solid race. The key point was the first downwind leg, where we defended very well. We were leading at the first mark, and then we defended well with a few close jibes, which was kind of our weakness at the beginning of the event. After a day like this, we will really feel better controlling our competitor downwind."

Speaking of BMOR’s James Spithill, winner of the 33rd America’s Cup, Col said: “He and I are from the same generation. We raced together very often in youth world championships or on the match racing circuit. He has had an exceptional career these past four years. We’ve known each other for a long time, and it’s always nice to get a win against him.”

Ian Moore, the navigator of the American boat agreed that All4One had done an outstanding job. “It was a little disappointing to lose the first race, but give credit to All4One,” said Moore. “They started well and sailed impeccably well. We see a lot in these races that if you win the start it helps to go on and win the race, and that’s what they did.

“But you can’t let it get you down. You’re going to lose races in a tournament as long as this and we rallied in the second race. Jimmy got a fantastic start and our tactician John Kostecki did a nice job calling the race and picking the shifts.”

Moore said that after losing to the French/German team, “it was good to get a victory against a strong team like Artemis.”

The hard luck story of the day was the Swedish team Artemis Racing which lost two races, each worth two points, to drop from third place overall to fourth. They had started the day in third place, just one and half points behind second-placed Emirates Team New Zealand.

Artemis lost first to the Synergy Russian Sailing team even though the Russians were penalized for a collision in the pre-start. In one of the closest races seen in Dubai this week, Synergy skipper Francesco Bruni attacked and gained the lead before surrendering it while unwinding his penalty. He then fought his way back to finish first, only to lose his two finish points with a two-point deduction for hard contact.

In their second race Artemis was solidly defeated by BMW Oracle Racing.

It was tough day for Cameron Appleton and Artemis. Dubai, 21 November 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

Racing resumes tomorrow afternoon with race boats now scheduled to leave the dock at 1300 and the earliest warning signal at 1345.

Race organizers aim to complete the Round Robin competition on Tuesday. There will be a lay day on Wednesday followed by fleet racing on Thursday. The semi-finals and finals will be raced on Friday and Saturday.

Flight One, Race One, All4One def BMW Oracle Racing Team, 00:45 -
This was only the second race the Americans have lost. Sebastien Col had the starboard advantage at the entry, went nose-to-nose in a protracted dialup above the line against James Spithill, and led back to start at the pin on starboard. Coming into the top mark Spithill was pressing hard but the French/German alliance held the Americans out above the mark and led by eight seconds. Oracle stayed close and on the attack but Col held his nerve and pulled away on the last two legs.

Flight One, Race Two, Synergy Russian Sailing Team def Artemis Racing, 00:26 –
A collision before the start saw the Russian team facing a four point loss – two penalty points for hard contact in the collison and the prospect that Cameron Appleton and Artemis Racing would win the match and go up two points. Synergy’s Francesco Bruni sailed the race of his life to lead on the first beat, unwind the penalty at the top mark and hold off Appleton on the second beat to win the race and two points that were wiped out by a two point loss for hard contact.

Flight Two, Race One, Emirates Team New Zealand def Mascalzone Latino Audi, 00:10 – The Kiwis claimed the right at the start and despite early gains by Gavin Brady, steering Mascalzone Latino Audi, it was Dean Barker who led around the top mark. Brady remained in close contact as the breeze softened with the approaching sunset and it was only on the final run that the New Zealand team could feel comfortable about an imminent win.

Believe it or not, team owner Torbjorn Tornqvist was just an aft grinder today. Dubai, 21 November 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

Flight Two, Race Two, BMW Oracle Racing def Artemis Racing, 01:03 – The presence of team owner Torbjorn Tornqvist onboard was not sufficient to save Cameron Appleton and the Swedish from a sound defeat at the hands of James Spithill. After a protracted dialup, Spithill returned to start on the left on starboard with Artemis trailing by a few metres at the committee and also on starboard. Spithill was able to cross his opponent on the port tack half way up the beat and extended from there on every leg.

Provisional Results after Day Two of RR2:

1. BMW ORACLE Racing, 11-2, 13 pts
2. Emirates Team New Zealand, 7-5, 8.5 pts
3. All4One, 5-7, 6 pts
4. Artemis Racing, 5-8, 5 pts
=5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 5-7, 4 pts *
=5. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 4-8, 4 pts *

* A scoring penalty has been assessed by the umpires

Phil Robertson is the brand new NZ Match Racing Champion

2010-11-21T09:45:00.005+01:00

Phil Robertson was today crowned the Telecom New Zealand Match Racing Championship beating Josh Junior 3-1 in the final. Robertson joins Dean Barker, Chris Dickson, Gavin Brady & Rod Davis on the list of names engraved on the New Zealand Match Racing Cup.

For the first time in the Championships, a strong southerly breeze greeted the four skippers as they headed out on to the Waitemata Harbour to contest the finals. In the petit final, William Tiller was 1-0 up on Reuben Corbett. Corbett was a little too eager to get the match back on level pegging, crossing the start line early and gifting Tiller 3rd place overall.

Robertson started the day knowing he was 1 up on Josh Junior and his crew were determined to increase their 18 match unbeaten streak. However it was obvious Junior was not going to let Robertson have it all his own way and make the finals a clean sweep. Their matches produced toe to toe racing with both skippers sailing well in conditions more suited to the Wellington based skipper Josh Junior.

The brand new New Zealand Match Racing champions. Auckland, 21 November 2010. Photo copyright Brad Davies

Junior in keeping the pressure on Robertson in the first race of the morning copped a penalty leaving Robertson 2-0 up going into the 3rd flight. Junior pounced when an unusual slip in Robertson’s crew work led to a bad kite hoist. Despite Robertson having a real crack at Junior on the last downwind leg, there was not enough run way to get past and Junior crossed the finish line a mere 2 seconds ahead of his rival. 2-1.

In what turned out to be the last race of the day, Robertson and his crew had a great start, but with Junior bringing the breeze with him all the way down the course and slowly closing the gap it was a nervous skipper & crew who finally crossed the finish line 6s ahead to claim the win and the Championships, 3-1.

“We had a lot of fun out there, but it was hard work. We had some tight matches, despite what the deltas might show. We sailed well today in the final, but we had to, as there was a strong breeze today and you are vulnerable if you go hunting penalties in that breeze – it’s just not worth it” said Robertson after being presented with the New Zealand Match Racing Cup.

Phil Robertson sails to victory in the New Zealand Match Racing championship. Auckland, 21 November 2010. Photo copyright Brad Davies

I’m proud of where we finished in the Championships” said Junior. “I only put together our crew 5 weeks ago and we have been practising about 3 times a week since. We feel we really stepped it up coming in to the finals and we’re very pleased with our result. Phil sailed well and he was tough to beat. Coming 2nd for us is a great end to our Championships.”

Robinson will be feeling buoyed by his team’s performance. Next week they’re off to compete in their Sunseeker Australia Cup in Perth in which Tiller & Corbett are also competing. That will be the last match racing event in their build up to the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia in December.

FINAL RESULTS

1st - Phil Robertson
2nd - Josh Junior
3rd - Will Tiller
4th - Reuben Corbett
5th - Chris Dickson
6th - David Wood
7th - Dan Pooley
8th - Samantha Osborne
9th - Byeong Ki Park

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing recruits world-class sailing quartet

2010-11-20T10:11:00.008+01:00

[Source: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing] The 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race winning navigator, Jules Salter from the United Kingdom, heads a quartet of world-class sailing stalwarts signed up to the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team, which will contest the 2011/2012 round-the-world race.

In a major coup for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed outfit, Salter is joined by New Zealand’s Craig Satterthwaite as watchleader, Ireland’s Justin Slattery as bowman and the UK’s Simon Fisher.

And with skipper Ian Walker at the helm, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will likely boast one of the most experienced and decorated sailing teams on the Volvo Ocean Race’s Alicante start line next October.

“The impressive pedigree of these crew members is a clear signal of our intent to be a competitive force in the race,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA - which lead-manages the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team. ‘Further than challenging for competition honours, we hope the team’s knowledge and experience may be fully harnessed to leave a compelling legacy for Abu Dhabi in terms of reigniting a love of the sport among our own youth.”

Having been part of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 winning Ericsson 4 team and a runner up in the 2005/6 campaign aboard Pirates of the Caribbean, Salter, from the Isle of Wight, is one of the most revered navigators in top-level yacht racing. The 42-year-old father of two has also notched up victories in the 2010 Medcup Circuit and the 2010 Louis Vuitton regattas.

From left, Craig Satterthwaite from New Zealand, Simon Fisher from United Kingdom, Ian Walker from United Kingdom, Jules Salter from United Kingdom, Justin Slattery from Ireland, recruited for the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing campaign for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Abu Dhabi, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06 winner, Slattery - the bowman on American businessman Steve Fossett’s record-breaking 2004 world circumnavigation - joins on the back of an impressive run of form. Slattery finished runner-up in the 2010 Louis Vuitton series and won the Maxi One Design Worlds last year.

As part of the 2007 America’s Cup winning Alinghi team, as well as watchleader for 2009 Sydney-Hobart race victors Alfa Romeo, Auckland-born Satterthwaite also brings to the table a wealth of top-tier competitive experience.

And 32-year-old Fisher’s impressive Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup expertise over the last decade rounds off a world-class line-up of sailing talent for the emirate’s debut pursuit in the 39,000 nautical mile, round-the-world challenge - widely regarded as the ‘Everest of Sailing’.

"The confirmation of Jules, Craig, Si Fi and Justin as our first sailing team members shows just how serious ADTA is about being successful in this race. This is exactly the calibre of sailor you would like to have beside you in what will be probably the closest fought round-the-world race ever,” said Walker, who will guide the outfit through nine-months of intense, head-to-head sailing across four of the world’s most treacherous oceans and around six continents.

“In these four, we have a very strong foundation of race winning experience upon which to build the rest of the team."

ADTA is in the final stages of appointing the remaining members of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s 11-strong crew, which will include at least one UAE national. The Emirati selection programme is in its latter stages with 20 candidates shortlisted.

The hopefuls are currently preparing to undergo a demanding fitness and endurance programme to assess their mental and physical strength, before sea trials on the Arabian Gulf waters begin next month.

Abu Dhabi’s on-water ambitions are being equally matched by its on-shore preparations as the United Arab Emirates’ capital readies for its New Year 2012 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race prior to the yachting fleet embarking on its third leg to Sanya, China. The emirate will be the first Middle East stopover in the event’s 37-year history.

ADTA, which was behind the emirate's successful bid to become a 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race home port and the event’s first Official Destination Partner, believes the Abu Dhabi stop-over will be a race highlight and will give visitors a unique opportunity to connect with its centuries-old maritime heritage.

“Race followers can realistically anticipate a welcome like no other,” added Al Muhairi. “The UAE capital will be alive with a packed programme of activity and entertainment that will culminate in a memorable maritime experience and impress upon the attending and watching world Abu Dhabi’s mounting credentials as an international winter yachting destination.”

Phil Robertson moves to the New Zealand Match Racing Championships finals undefeated

2010-11-20T09:20:00.000+01:00

Phil Robertson has continued his domination of the Telecom New Zealand Match Racing Championships coming out on top of the Round Robin series with 15 wins from 16 races. A 3-0 win in the semi-finals advanced him to the finals and he ends the day 1-0 up in the first to 3 final series.

At the start of the day only two flights remained to determine the four semi-finalists. Robertson was already secure in top place with a 3 point advantage and it was all to play for between Josh Junior (starting the day on 10 points) and Will Tiller, Chris Dickson and Reuben Corbett, all on 8 points. Tiller had raced one more race than the others and was starting the day with a bye.

Flight 8 ended with wins for Dickson and Corbett, putting them on 9 points. Junior lost to Roberston so remained on 10 points.

In the crucial match between Dickson and Junior, Junior copped a penalty as the windward boat not keeping clear. Junior sailed well and managed to get rid of the penalty on the 2nd upwind leg. Whilst still behind he came back at Dickson and managed to slam dunk them after which Dickson’s crew fumbled their gybe set and it was game over. Junior crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of Dickson to take the win.

The win by Junior was enough to give Will Tiller the much sought after 4th spot after the two skippers ended the Round Robin both tied on 9 points. Tiller had beaten Dickson in their last match which broke the tie and thus advanced Tiller straight into the semi-finals. Corbett won over Park and finished on 10 points, with Junior on 11 and Phil Robertson with 15 wins from 16 races.

Robertson chose to race against Will Tiller in the semi finals leaving Corbett up against Junior. Robertson continued his dominating ways with a 3/0 win.

I’m pleased with our performance” Robertson said once back on the dock. “We’ve sailed well all championships, we’ve had good starts and been fast on the water. The only race we lost was to Byeongki Park from Korea when we didn’t have a great start. We ended up with a big split which we couldn’t recover from. Our core team of 4 have been sailing together for over 2 years now and we’re really starting to see results. It’s great.”

Robertson’s win in the semis meant he would be facing Josh Junior from the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Wellington, after Junior defeated Reuben Corbett 3/1.

With an eye to Sunday’s light and variable forecast, Race Officer Megan Kensington saw her opportunity to get one match of the finals underway. Tiller beat Reuben Corbett in the petit final. Continuing his winning ways, Phil Robertson beat Josh Junior by 23s.

Racing gets underway at 1000 hours tomorrow in the first to 2 for the petit final and first to 3 in the finals.

Kiwis Defeat Sweden to Retain Second Place at Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai

2010-11-19T17:40:00.007+01:00

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] After the end of racing today at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai the top of the leaderboard remained unchanged from yesterday.

However it stayed that way only because Emirates Team New Zealand redeemed itself in the last race of the day with a double-points victory against Sweden’s Artemis Racing.

Earlier in the day, the Kiwi boat skippered by Dean Barker, had dropped to third place after losing at the hands of fellow Kiwi Cameron Appleton steering Artemis Racing. Their match, the opener of the day, was the last single-points race in Round Robin One.

In Round Robin Two competition the USA’s BMW Oracle Racing, Italy’s Mascalzone Latino Audi and ETNZ all won their matches and posted double points.

Conditions for racing off the Dubai International Marine Club were ideal with a shifty northerly breeze that built to 14 knots and flat seas.

Cameron Appleton helms Artemis to victory over Emirates Team NZ. Dubai, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Serene and seemingly untroubled, the American boat skippered by America’s Cup winner James Spithill, now has an 11-point record, four and a half points clear of the New Zealanders. The rest of the field remains tightly bunched with only two and a half points between second and sixth boat.

“Spithill’s doing a fantastic job,” said Rod Dawson, tactician for the Synergy Russian Sailing Team that lost to Oracle. “He certainly got the better of us in the pre-start today. “Being behind with a deficit is one thing but carrying a penalty as well is just about impossible.”

Ian Moore, navigator for the American team, provided a glimpse from the inside. “We’re a lot more prepared than the last two regattas we did, with more practice time. Practice makes perfect. There’s no doubt about that.

“One of the things you’re seeing is that we’re starting very well. Everyone’s firing on all cylinders. It makes my life easy because you know what’s going to happen next. Everything is running smoothly. It’s a joy to behold, really. However you’ve got to keep that intensity and momentum up. You can’t let it go.”

Spithill marches on. Dubai, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Bob Grieser/outsideimages.com/Louis Vuitton Trophy

Speaking of their second match against Emirates Team New Zealand, Artemis tactician Iain Percy said: “We had a pretty even start and backed ourselves in a big shift. In the end it became almost too good because we overstood and gave away that gain. At the top mark it came down to a few metres and unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough.”

Ray Davies, tactician on the Emirates boat said: “The start is very important on this course. We wanted to be to the right and we were to the right. It was close at the top mark but we had a piece of them by a couple of metres.”

There will be no Louis Vuitton Trophy racing tomorrow. Instead, the skippers and ten crew members from each of the International America’s Cup Class boats will join Arab sailors to compete in a 60-foot traditional dhow race.

Organized by the Dubai International Marine Club, it will be the first time that outsiders have ever competed in the sleek, lateen-rigged craft that celebrate centuries of Arab commerce, fishing, and pearl diving.

The six dhow skippers attended a special press conference and joined their counterparts, taking part in the draw to decide choice of boats for the race that will start tomorrow afternoon.

Flight One, Race One, Artemis Racing def Emirates Team New Zealand, 00:27 -
The Swedish boat steered by Kiwi Cameron Appleton won handsomely, claiming second place overall for Round Robin One, half a point ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand, his opponents in this race. The New Zealand afterguard performed dismally in the pre-start, gifting the race to the Swedish team. The Kiwis were trailing Artemis on starboard 20 seconds before the gun when Dean Barker tacked onto port. He was late. Unable to lay the committee on port, he tacked onto starboard on the line three boat lengths behind Appleton, losing the right-hand advantage and any chance of redemption. From there, it was a procession.

Nice win of Artemis over Emirates Team NZ. Dubai, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Flight Two, Race One, BMW Oracle Racing def Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 00:48 -
Oracle’s James Spithill held Francesco Bruni away from the start line as the seconds ticked down. At the start gun the boats were still luffing head to wind well below the committee. The Russians made an attempt to hook Spithill and the umpires flagged a penalty. Spithill took another 43 seconds to gather momentum and cross the start line, with the Russians tucked away three boat lengths astern. Bruni never got close and finished still carrying the penalty.

Flight Three, Race One, Mascalzone Latino Audi def All4One, 00:24 -
Gavin Brady skippering the Italian boat held Sebastien Col above the start line before circling the committee, making a perfect start and claiming the right side of the course. Col and the French/German boat were delayed getting back and conceded a boat length as racing started. Col drew level in fresher conditions at the top mark but Brady was again able to push him away from the mark to round first. Col kept it close on the run and was only one a half boat lengths behind as they gybed for the bottom mark. Then the French/German spinnaker pole went overboard in an untidy spinnaker drop that left sail plastered all over the foredeck.

Sloppy crew work onboard ALL4One that results in a broken spinnaker pole. Dubai, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Paul Todd/outsideimages.com/Louis Vuitton Trophy

Flight Four, Race One, Emirates Team New Zealand def Artemis Racing, 00:32 –
After losing their first race today to Artemis Sailing, Emirates Team New Zealand lined up for their second start side by side with the Swedish team. Both boats were head to wind nine seconds before the start and they started together on starboard with Artemis to leeward. Dean Barker had claimed the right side of the course and he quickly split away. When they met again at the weather mark the Swedish boat had slightly overstood and Barker used his starboard tack advantage to herd Cameron Appleton away from the mark. The delta was ten seconds.

Provisional Results after Day One of RR2:

1. BMW ORACLE Racing, 10-1, 11 pts
2. Emirates Team New Zealand, 6-5, 6.5 pts *
3. Artemis Racing, 5-6, 5 pts
=4. All4One, 4-7, 4 pts
=4. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 4-7, 4 pts *
=4. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 4-7, 4 pts

* A scoring penalty has been assessed by the umpires

Report: 34th America's Cup would cost the city of SF as much as US$ 128 million

2010-11-19T10:06:00.009+01:00

Related Documents
- Budget Analyst's Office report on 34th America's Cup in San Francisco

[Source: San Francisco Examiner] A new report might have taken the wind out of The City’s sails regarding the economic benefits of hosting the America’s Cup sailing race.

It would cost San Francisco as much as $128 million to host the 34th America’s Cup, offsetting the economic benefits, according to a the report released Thursday. It is the second economic report concerning what San Francisco could gain — or lose — by hosting the prestigious regatta.

The America’s Cup will be held in 2013 and the location will be announced at the end of this year, according to officials with BMW Oracle Racing. The team — backed by Oracle CEO and billionaire Larry Ellison — won the race in February and has the right to determine the date and location for the next event. San Francisco, Valencia, Spain, and a site in Italy are the only regions mentioned that are under consideration.

The new report — produced by Harvey Rose of the Budget Analyst’s Office — said San Francisco stands to gain $22 million in new revenue, yet it would incur costs of $64 million, resulting in a net loss of $42 million.

The net loss would skyrocket to $128 million or more if The City follows through with the deal it has put on the table — permanently signing over 2 acres of the waterfront for future development.

Supervisor Chris Daly, who has railed against the cost of the prestigious race, asked whether The City should go ahead and make the red carpet a little more plush. “It’s a huge giveaway. I’m interested if it’s even legal in terms of a gift of public funds,” Daly said.

Mayor Gavin Newsom accused Daly of trying to torpedo a plan that studies have shown would inject as much as $1.4 billion into the local economy and enhance San Francisco’s international image. The figures stated by the mayor come from a previous report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Beacon Economics that was released in July.

“Chris Daly is looking to say no,” Newsom said Thursday before the report was released. “He is trying to find a way to kill this.”

The mayor’s staff said they always knew it would cost money to host the America’s Cup. Newsom said The City cannot reap the returns unless it makes some investments in infrastructure.

The Mayor’s Office said the new analysis is “misguided” and does not consider the long-term tax benefits The City would receive. “We have serious concerns about what’s an inaccurate analysis about the long-term development rights and costs associated with it,” said Tony Winnicker, Newsom’s spokesman. “We have serious work to do with [Rose’s] staff.”

Sink or swim?

The America’s Cup sailing race could end up costing The City a lot of money.

$35.8 million: Cost to Port of San Francisco for construction and tenant relocation
$17.7 million: Lost lease revenue to Port
$1 million: Cost of police services
$3 million: Muni costs
$6.6 million: Various other department costs