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

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.

Two additional challengers apply for the 34th America's Cup

[Source: America's Cup Race Management] Event organizers today confirmed receipt of the first entries for the 34th America’s Cup in 2013.

"We're only a few hours into a five-month entry period, so to already have a total of four entries is a very positive sign,” said Iain Murray (AUS), Regatta Director for the 34th America's Cup and CEO of America's Cup Race Management (ACRM).

The 34th edition of the sport's oldest international competition has been renewed and revitalized by a move to spectacular wing-sailed catamarans, as well as a three year program of racing in venues around the world and a new emphasis on innovative television and new media programming.

“The competitors who applied for entry today join the previously declared Italian challenger Mascalzone Latino. BMW ORACLE Racing submitted its defense application today,” Murray said.

“The other two teams will not be named as their “The other two teams will not be named as their applications are being verified. Throughout the five-month entry period, ACRM will announce the time and date when an entry has been accepted. Each team will release details of its entry publicly at their discretion. Additional entries are expected soon,” Murray added.

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 from Nov. 1, 2010, to Mar.
31, 2011.

Facebook generation?

It is exactly one week ago that Russell Coutts, during a presentation in his team's base in Valencia, argued that a change in the America's Cup was necessary since his target audience would now be the "Facebook generation" and not the "Flintstones generation" as it has been the rule in the previous editions. Since the Facebook generation, according to Coutts' argumentation, wants cool and fast boats, the only way to achieve this is with multihulls.

Although I personally disagree with the choice of boat, arguing about that is meaningless. This is the America's Cup and the Defender will always take the decisions that minimize the risks of defeat. Given the liberty to set the rules of the game, nobody would be naive enough to give up any advantage they might have. Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts have decided that the best option is for the next edition of the Cup to be sailed on 72-foot wingsail catamarans, so we have to live with that and move on.

Facebook generation or "old guys in blue blazers" for the Frank Sinatra generation? Valencia, 13 September 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / America's Cup

Yet, in the presentation there was a discrepancy, in my opinion, between the message and the way it was conveyed. If the target audience was indeed the Facebook generation why have a show where the old-age stereotypes about sailing are perpetuated once again? With all respect to the commodores of the two yacht clubs, does anyone think that a dull presentation with white-haired old people wearing blue blazers was the right approach? It seemed as if the target wasn't the Facebook generation but rather the Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin generations. One wouldn't expect to have Justin Bieber sing before Coutts made his speech but why not bring a young sailor to make the pitch, especially concerning the Youth America's Cup?

Adam Minoprio is still the world's number one match racer but having now crossed over to the "dark side" by joining Emirates Team NZ, I understand he wouldn't be very welcome in the BMW Oracle base. Still, there are several young, aggressive and successful sailors. Take Torvar Mirsky, Keith Swinton or Phil Roberston. Why not give the stage to them to talk about how "cool" the new boats are and how exciting the Youth America's Cup will be. In fact, I think it's one of the best concepts we heard in the presentation last week and I was surprised how nobody had thought about it in the past. It appears it was an original idea of Tom Ehman, surprisingly another member of the blue-blazer-wearing crowd.

I hope it was just teething problems of the new America's Cup organization and it will be fixed in the near future. They might want to have a look at this video to check what kind of sports the Facebook and YouTube generation is practicing. That's definitely "cool stuff"!

America's Cup Valencia press conference: Ask your questions

Greetings from Valencia where the all-important America's Cup press conference will take place tomorrow Monday at 1pm local time. As you can easily see at the top of this website, the press conference will be streamed right here live.

Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW Oracle, and Vincenzo Onorato, president of Mascalzone Latino, will sign the Protocol governing this edition of the world's oldest sports trophy and then will go on making some of the most important announcements so far. The first announcement concerns the year the Cup will take place, the second one will be about the boat to be used and finally, the new Protocol will be made public. I'm sure the potential challengers will be paying close attention to what is announced. Even if the venue of the Cup is not revealed tomorrow they will have plenty of information to digest in the following days.

As always, if there is something you like to have asked during the Q&A session just leave a comment.

Year, new fast boat and fair Protocol rules will be unveiled September 13th

[Source: BMW Oracle] Organizers for the 34th America’s Cup plan on September 13 to host a press conference in Valencia to reveal three of the four cornerstones of the next competition:

- The year in which it will be held
- The new Class of Boat for the competition
- The competition rules (The Protocol)
- The objective for the 34th America’s Cup has been to create the fairest-ever competition, sustainable to teams and their partners with transformed racing to attract the widest possible audience for an event planned for either 2013 or 2014.

A new, dynamic and exciting class of boat will be revealed. The year of the 34th America’s Cup Match will also be confirmed.

Negotiations over the host city venue – the fourth cornerstone – continue, but organizers are confident of making an announcement ahead of the December 31 objective.

The Protocol is now finalized and will be formally signed by the defending Golden Gate Yacht Club and the Challenger of Record, Club Nautico di Roma, in a live-streamed ceremony on the official America’s Cup web site www.AmericasCup.com.

WHAT: 34th America’s Cup Press Conference

WHY: 34th America’s Cup year, Protocol and new class of boat announced

WHEN: September 13, 2010

TIME: 1300 CET

WHERE: BMW ORACLE Racing Team Base, Port America’s Cup, Valencia, Spain

WHO: Russell Coutts (CEO BMW ORACLE Racing Team) Vincenzo Onorato (syndicate head of Challenger of Record, Mascalzone Latino)

Manolo Ruiz Elvira talks to Valencia Sailing

The second part of our report on today's designers meeting in Valencia is actually an interview with Manolo Ruiz Elvira, the Spanish designer of BMW Oracle. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to talk to the rest of the designers for a very simple reason. The meeting actually came to an end 15 minutes before the scheduled time, so when I arrived, all 20 had already gone to Valencia's commercial port in order to have a very close look at the America's Cup winning trimaran, BOR90, that is still stored in the temporary tent. Like children in a candy store, the designers spent more than an hour examining the monster trimaran up close and since it was getting late none of them went back to the BMW Oracle base.

During the following days we will try to have the feedback from other participants in the meeting.

Valencia Sailing: Let's first start our talk with some basic questions about the discussion process concerning the new design rule. Without any doubt you had the who's who of international yacht designers in the meeting this morning. What prerequisites did you have for attendance? Who was asked to come?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Basically, the idea was to have people that have America's Cup experience and that could analyze what we are talking about. It is still a very early stage but there will be a chance to listen to the opinion of all that really have an opinion on the technical side.

Valencia Sailing: Did they have to sign a non-disclosure agreement before coming into the conference room?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: No, on the contrary the whole idea is to make this process as open as possible and it has really been an open discussion.

Valencia Sailing: Are all participants on an equal footing here? Can they all contribute to the discussions or is there anyone with a simple "observer" status?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Everybody, including ourselves from BMW Oracle, is in a pretty similar role. There is a difference though, because there has been some work beforehand to at least prepare, not alternative concepts, but at least some ideas to put on the table to help the discussions. During the meeting though everybody gave their feedback, something that is really appreciated.

Valencia Sailing: Is this the first meeting and how many such meetings are scheduled?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Yes, this is the first meeting and basically the start of the entire process, but we haven't set any schedule for future meetings yet. Don't forget it's not going to be us that will develop the rule and the idea today was to collect the feedback from the other participants. At this point there is some idea what the process is and the schedule is for the future until we get to the rule but this was just one specific meeting. From now on there will be an open line to receive the feedback.

Valencia Sailing: The schedule seems tight. You have announced the rule would be released before the end of September, exactly four and a half months from today. Is it feasible? Is it realistic?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: I think it's realistic. It's a tough job but there are good references, other boats we can refer to so there is a lot of work that has already been done, whatever rule we may end up with. Whoever might finally write the rule will take advantage of that knowledge but the most critical and difficult part is to make the initial definition of the class beyond the points we started with today which was just what we wanted to achieve out of the new class.

Valencia Sailing: What do you want to achieve?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: I think it has been widely discussed and the idea is to have a more modern boat, that is fast, fun to sail and basically dynamic enough so that races are interesting with the trailing boat having enough chances to overtake.

Valencia Sailing: Once the rule is released who will be able to have access to it? Will it be made public?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Of course, once it's released it will be absolutely public. Even before that, there will be drafts and the teams and sailors will have a chance to provide feedback but once it's released, it will be for the entire world. Actually, I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be that way.

Valencia Sailing: Let's get back to the "initial definitions". You have appointed Bruce Nelson and Morelli/Melvin to come with the "basic concepts". What guidelines did you give them for the elaboration of those concepts?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Basically, the very simple ones I mentioned earlier of what we wanted to achieve out of the boat and very little beyond that, obviously our concern that costs should be contained but, again, not much; what type of boat and racing we wanted to achieve. They both are designers with a known background and being independent from us what they actually got was the general idea. The proposal they came up with are basically ideas to discuss, not alternatives to choose from.

Valencia Sailing: Concerning Morelli/Elvin, your official press release states they are "unaligned" with either your team or Mascalzone Latino. Still, weren't they involved with the design of your America's Cup winning trimaran, right here in Valencia three months ago? How can they be called "unaligned"?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Well, they did collaborate with us in the past in some aspects of design. They had a limited involvement in some aspects and I consider them to be independent. In fact it doesn't make a difference because we are not asking them to develop a new class rule. I think they are perfectly independent and nobody has raised any concern whatsoever.

Valencia Sailing: Who will actually write the rule?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: It will be a person or persons appointed to carry out this task and they will be completely independent from either us or the Challenger of Record. It hasn't yet been defined but I don't think it will be difficult to reach an agreement on that.

Valencia Sailing: Talking about agreements, I have a very simple question. Discussions and consultations are good and nice but who takes the final decision? Are issues voted and the majority rules or is it Russell Coutts, Ian Burns or you that makes the final call? Who has the last word?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Well, the last word will be between the heads of the teams. The aim of those discussions and collection of all that information is to help us take a decision that we think will suit the majority. I think the answer will come by itself.

Valencia Sailing: I can't believe that your team hasn't been developing, or at least outlining, a new rule in 2009, or earlier, for the 34th America's Cup. Isn't it tempting to skew this design meetings towards something that better suits your plans?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: That hasn't really happened. Even going back to 2007 when I was with Alinghi, we didn't have the time to seriously plan, other than talks over coffee, what the next class would be because we were really focused on winning that America's Cup. This time it has been exactly the same, I would even say more intense. So, really, before winning the 33rd America's Cup there was no chance to even think about that. After that, of course we thought and talked about that but looking at a completely open space from monohulls to multihulls and lighter and heavier ones, we didn't have more than anecdotal or philosophical talks about what we thought would make for good races. We didn't go any further than that. Actually if something was discussed it was about how we could make the process in a way that it isn't even perceived we would try to gain an unfair advantage. In fact, one of the main reasons this process is taking place is to make all the other teams understand that this is the case.

Valencia Sailing: So, you actually give up one of the main weapon the Defender has.
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: I don't think it's a significant weapon and it hasn't been, in my experience at least. In the last 20 years the changes in the ACC rules have been incorporating interpretations and making a few tweaks. In 2003 the change to version 5 was a little bit bigger but whole process was done between Alignhi and BMW Oracle, in consultation with the other teams in a reasonably open way. In this edition of the Cup we are not trying any advantage and, honestly, I don't think that it has traditionally been there.

Valencia Sailing: Let's move now to the specifics of today's meeting. How would you judge it?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: It was positive. In general terms, it was an exposition of the basic and simple requirements for the concepts that were presented. Then Bruce Nelson and Pete Melvin presented those options and we talked about them. We talked about pretty much anything, obviously about the advantages and disadvantages of monohulls or multihulls. We then went a little bit into the specifics of the rules, for example how we thought it would be easier to contain costs or how open the rule should be in terms of promoting creativity but at the same time keeping close racing. Many of the requirements are self conflicting and at the end we will have to find compromises. The basic idea was to put them on the open and start discussions on those topics.

Valencia Sailing: What was the feedback and initial reaction to the concepts presented today? Do you feel anyone was surprised or was it more or less what they had expected?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: They had an approximate idea of what we were going to look at, so I don't think anyone was shocked and if they were they did a good job in hiding it. They knew what we were going to look at but the difference is that we looked at philosophical options with numbers on the table, a few technical numbers that would help a little bit better to understand what the chances are those concept would provide good racing. Those and anything in between, actually.

Valencia Sailing: According to your press release, three options were discussed. Two different multihulls and one monohull. Can you give us more details on that?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: First of all, the multihulls are trimarans. It could have been different but it looked as an option that would better adapt itself to this concept of racing.

Valencia Sailing: Trimarans with wings or with conventional rigging?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Actually, the proposals were with soft sails but, obviously, the possibility of a wing was also on the table. It has its complications but it also has its attractive points. It was very brief and we didn't go into any technical details. Nevertheless, the original proposal was with conventional sails. Regarding the mutlihull two sizes were proposed that would provide different costs and different boat performance and as for the monohull there was one basic concept but we looked at different displacements, keel draft or ballast alternatives. I wouldn't say it was one concept for the monohull but rather a family of concepts.

Valencia Sailing: What was the feedback on the number of hulls? Do you feel there was a preference for monohulls over trimarans?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: We expected there would be more reluctance to the multihull option, basically because of the uncertainties and the lack of knowledge but there were interesting discussions about how match race regattas would happen with trimarans. I guess that the main doubt comes from the uncertainty and the lack of known references and there were designers that favored multihulls and other that favored monohulls. At this stage the point is to try and get the best possible equation and, as I said before, there will be additional feedback beyond the meeting.

Valencia Sailing: The meeting is now over, what is the next step?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: The next step is getting feedback in a more organized way after everybody had an opportunity to think more in depth about what we discussed. Get more feedback in a more formal way in the next few days. Hopefully, in the next few weeks we'll have a better idea about the basic concepts rather than a completely open space as it was this morning.

Valencia Sailing: Have those concepts been done with a specific venue in mind? Take Valencia for example. Even if its chances of holding the Cup are very slim, it does make a lot of difference designing a boat for Valencia to one for San Francisco.
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Regarding the point you mention, it has been a requirement to whichever boat we have, to be able to sail in a really wide range of wind conditions, from 5 knots to be able to finish a race at 35 knots, I wouldn't say to sail efficiently but at least to cross the finish line. Obviously there is going to be a range where the boats sail better but no specific venue was discussed.

Valencia Sailing: What boat would you personally like to see?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: That's a very difficult question. I want to see boats that sail faster but I have to admit I really enjoyed sailing with the AC class...

Valencia Sailing: That should probably be my question number 0. Why should we change boats at all? The WSTA, the same body that will probably have an important role in this Cup, is claiming that its races with these boats are "exciting" and "close". It's also cheaper because those boats already exist.
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: Sure, but there has been progress. One area where a lot of people think there is room for improvement is downwind. Having more dynamic, lighter and faster boats downwind should provide better chances to overtake and make the race more interesting. We can also incorporate advanced technological features to the boats.

Valencia Sailing: Does that mean getting rid of the grinders and throwing them away?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: No, not at all. I think everyone agrees we need the grinders aboard. This is a sports competition and we really look forward to seeing the grinders aboard.

Valencia Sailing: Regardless of the type of boat we might eventually have, was there any discussion today about the number of yachts allowed per team?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: That's probably more an issue of the protocol but in general the idea is about 2 boats rather than 1. Again, that wouldn't really be part of the rule.

Valencia Sailing: Last but not least, concerning BMW Oracle, what is the schedule after the new rule is finally released? Do you have a calendar for the design and construction of the first new yacht?
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: It is probably too early to know and it would strongly depend on the general plans of the event. The very immediate one is to be ready to put our hands on the design and start as quick as we can. The day after the rule is released we can start designing but we don't have yet a schedule for the construction of the first boat. We have to look at how the event develops and it is still too early for that. At this stage we only know what day we are going to start designing. We will start thinking and wondering before that but we'll be at the same position with all other teams. At this process we will all have the same information at the same time.

Valencia Sailing: Thanks a lot Manolo for the interesting talk we had, but you still haven't replied to my question on who will take the final decision in the discussion process. You diplomatically avoided answering.
Manolo Ruiz Elvira: It's difficult to answer, in theory it would be Larry Ellison if he wanted to take it. In theory it would be a decision to be taken by Larry Ellison and Vincenzo Onorato, if they wanted to take it. Nevertheless, I don't think this will be the case. I strongly doubt Larry Ellison would take a decision against the general opinion. Nor would Russell Coutts. I'm convinced we will always try to reach an agreement based on consensus. Obviously, not everybody will be happy with every decision but I repeat I would be very surprised if any decision was taken against the majority. The entire process will stop depending on us very shortly and in fact the idea is that nobody involved with a team is also involved in actually writing the rule. For that reason, you can consider that today's meeting was to gather information in order to write, let's say, a "manual" for the people that will finally write the new rule.

Gavin Brady talks to Valencia Sailing about Mascalzone Latino, the America's Cup and Beau Geste

Valencia Sailing talked to Gavin Brady on Tuesday morning, while waiting, in vain, in the Mascalzone Latino base for the breeze to pick up. The kiwi sailor will be the Challenger of Record's skipper and helmsman in the Louis Vuitton regattas in Auckland next month and is currently with the rest of the crew in Valencia, training with the Italian team's ITA-90. Unfortunately, the combination of no breeze and huge swell with waves of over 2 meters grounded not only the Italian yacht but also Azzurra and ALL4One. If Harold Bennett hadn't fired the gun on Sunday, 5 minutes before the time limit, we would certainly be right now in a long period of delays in the 33rd America's Cup as the weather this week is awful.

Valencia Sailing: You will be the skipper and helmsman of Mascalzone Latino AUDI Team in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Auckland next month. Is this a one-off agreement or the start of a longer term involvement with the Italian team?
Gavin Brady: Right now we are focused on the Louis Trophy in Auckland and the reason we are here in Valencia is to get ready for that regatta and as this happened we were in the middle of the America's Cup and Larry with Vicenzo agreed to work together. A lot has happened in the last 48 hours but right now the team is focused with AUDI to go down to Auckland and put a new team. Auckland is a very difficult place to race this time of the year and for us it will be like doing our first marathon and doing it in the hills. It's probably the most difficult place in the world to take a new team. Obviously, all crew has already sailed Cup boats but we are a new team and it takes time to reach the level we want.

When we get to Auckland we will be lucky if we even get two hours of sailing before the races because with only two boats you hardly get any time to practice. They allocate the boats and we get approximately a couple of hours a day but if it's too windy or without enough wind we lose the practice day. So, the reason we came to Valencia is just in case we don't get any time to prepare ourselves in Auckland. There are some things progressing towards the America's Cup but right now we entirely focused on Auckland.

Valencia Sailing: Will Mascalzone Latino take part in all the Louis Vuitton events this year?
Gavin Brady: We have committed to do the first two events. The other two events are a very long way away and for the moment our focus is on Auckland and La Maddalena. One of the advantages of the Louis Vuitton series, compared to the Acts of the 32nd America's Cup, is that logistically it's a lot easier. To do the Louis Vuitton regattas in Dubai or Hong Kong is some plane tickets, some accommodation and putting the crew together. It's very simple, so keeping flexibility right now is key. The intention is to sail those events but they are a long way away and, as I said before, a lot can happen this week in the America's Cup. We need to keep that in the back of our minds.

Valencia Sailing: One of the key points that will be decided is the new America's Cup yacht. What would you like to see if it was up to you?
Gavin Brady: I've done a lot of match racing in one design boats, I've done the match race circuit, I've been involved with the Volvo races and the America's Cup and I actually enjoy the development of a new boat, something different. The sports of sailing is progressing quite quickly at the moment with IRC. The IRC allowed people to really start experimenting while IMS was very confining. While the America's Cup have been out of action for 2-3 years, people have been out sailing boats like the one I put together, Beau Geste.

I think it needs to be a fast boat downwind because fast boats downwind create passing opportunities and exciting racing. I think the boats have to be borderline out of control, so that you see the world's best sailors controlling their boats. In the history of the America's Cup maybe just two boats have lost control. I like to see a boat that is more dynamic, faster and more exciting. A lot of people think that this doesn't produce good match racing but it's actually quite the opposite. If you took two SM40's and two Melges 32 without any doubt in my mind the most fun for the sailors and the media will be the Melges 32, because of the action.

Mascalzone Latino's ITA-90 sitting on her cradle as the bad weather won't allow any sailing. Valencia, 16 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia Sailing: What about the two giant multhulls that raced in the 33rd America's Cup two days ago. Would you envision a smaller version of them, 70-80 feet, becoming the next America's Cup class? Would you be in favor of that?
Gavin Brady: When I think about match racing in the America's Cup in multihulls it's very difficult for me right now to comprehend where the gains are and how it would be. It will be like learning to sail again. I don't know whether it's a good or bad thing because to be honest I haven't had any experience in match racing these boats. In fact nobody has because there is only two match races that have been done in these giant yachts. Some people might say it was quite interesting other might argue it was boring because once you've seen the spectacle of the speed there isn't much more.

Valencia Sailing: That's also true but they allow you to have a more than decent race with only 4-5 knots of wind which wouldn't be the case with the current ACC boats.
Gavin Brady: Yes, for sure. I think that Version 5 is done and dusted. I don't think anybody disagrees it's time to bring a new rule or even a modified Version 6. There's a lot of things you can do with those boats and I know one thing for sure. Right now, the people in control of the future have a very open mind. So whatever they come up with, it will be spectacular, even if it's monohulls. You should be able to sail with 4-5 knots of wind. If there is wind on the water you should sail.

I'm a big believer that the postponement flag should be taken off the committee boats, put into a glass cage and broken only in case of an emergency. You know, when Captain Cook sailed around the world he didn't have the opportunity to postpone races because it was too windy or too light. I believe that if a race is scheduled at 12 o'clock it should always start at 12 o'clock and if you want to consider yourself among the best sailors of the world you should be able to sail under all conditions.

Valencia Sailing: Whatever the new rule is are you in favor of having only one boat per team?
Gavin Brady: I think that trying to police new rules will create more problems. Take for example the teams that had one boat last time. One thing we've learned about carbon fiber is that you can do a heck of a lot modifications. If you look at USA-87, we made enormous modifications. Even if we could modify up to 49% of the boat, that was still a lot of modifications and the amount of man-hours spent and cost to make these modifications are extreme. It isn't much different to building a second boat.

You know, the industry and sport of sailing rely on technology and I think that inhibiting teams from innovating is counterproductive. I agreed when they came with the rule limiting the boats from five to two. Sure, you don't want the big teams to build five boats, that's crazy. I do think though that two boats is realistic. In addition, if we didn't have two boats, I wouldn't have been given my first opportunity on an America's Cup boat, because I was on AmericaOne. I started at the B boat and eventually moved to the race boat. Without that opportunity I wouldn't have made it to the 200 America's Cup. The same goes with the younger designers or boatbuilders. I don't think we should stop growth and there's a lot of growth coming from the second boat.

To be honest, any team short of money will have spares for the race boat. You have to have two of everything. You can't seriously go to the America's Cup with just one mast. So, if you are going to build two masts you might as well put the second one on the B boat. You are going to have a spare keel, a spare rudder, a spare fin, spare winches, so if you are really concerned about money you can always take parts from the second boat. The bottom line is that we are just talking about the hull and I don't think this is going to make the difference between an America's Cup team competing or not.

Valencia Sailing: One idea to reduce costs Russell Coutts mentioned in yesterday's press conference was imposing blackout periods where teams couldn't train. Do you agree with that?
Gavin Brady: You could have done that in Valencia last time pretty well but how would that have worked for Team NZ in Auckland when it's summertime there? As you know Team NZ practiced there during European wintertime. So, if you prohibit wintertime training in Valencia you could then favor Team New Zealand because they can afford to do two-boat training over there. It would be interesting to see how they write such a rule but it would be very difficult to impose blackout periods. Imagine your boat gets damaged or breaks and then it takes you about a month to repair. You then tell your sailing team to come back in a month to launch the boat and sail it. Well, what do you do if it's a blackout period?

Beau Geste sailing in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Porto Cervo, 12 September 2009. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Valencia Sailing: Do you agree with the Defender racing the Challengers?
Gavin Brady: At the end of the day, if Alinghi raced in the Louis Vuitton Cup last time I think we would have learned more from them than they would have done from us. We didn't know until the 1st race that they were so fast. If you are a challenger and you get to the America's Cup then you are in the game. Whether you have raced the Defender or not that doesn't make much difference. As a challenging team I'm much more focused on the rest of the challengers rather than the defender. If you get to the America's Cup you know you are fast, you know you have a good team. But in order to get there you have to beat all other challengers and I think that a lot of teams get very focused on the defender.

Valencia Sailing: Let's now talk about Beau Geste.
Gavin Brady: Beau Geste has been an incredible experience. Karl and I chose to build a very specialized boat. I moved to Auckland and I was there from the design to the build, throughout the whole process. As a sailor, I learned so much during the build process that it will help me in the America's Cup or any other top race in the future. I believe it is essential to actually see and be part of one of those big maxi yachts being built. There is a lot of thing that you learn during build that will help you get advantages and the areas of the build that you can really explore and make big gains was a good experience. I feel now that going through that experience could be a requirement for an America's Cup skipper. If you are hands on during the build of the boat you realize how much potential there is and how much speed you can get before it even touches the water. I also think that Karl Kwok is one of the best owners in the sport. He's very involved but also gives you the freedom to go out and do what you think is right.

Valencia Sailing: Could Beau Geste be the new America's Cup boat?
Gavin Brady: Absolutely. Racing that boat is unbelievable and it sails with just 3 knots of wind. If we do a 5-mile leg downwind, we could sail it with just four people and be competitive. The reality is that it's amazing how you sail once you take the spinnaker pole off the boat and you put power winches on, how few people you need. The only issue you have with the big boats is the weight of the sails and getting those damn things down. In Beau Geste we have developed a very unique furling system and we can furl our biggest spinnaker in just 22 seconds and it's a spinnaker much bigger than an America's Cup spinnaker and go round the mark and still have it up the mast. We have been developing systems onboard Beau Geste that I think will change the way we will sail maxi boats in the future.

Valencia Sailing: Do grinders have a place in the future of America's Cup sailing?
Gavin Brady: We put the power winches onboard Beau Geste for different reasons. We are racing IRC, we are racing offshore and you are racing offshore you want to reduce weight, you want to get the crew off the boat. When you racing inshore you are not so much worried about the weight of the crew. The system we developed can also be implemented with grinders and you need for pedestals to do the things we do with power winches. Karl decided not to put the pedestal because we didn't want the extra cost of hotel rooms, flights and all the expenses related to all the people. We knew we were going to race Atlantic races, Transpac races and Bremuda races, so you don't need all those grinders onboard when you cross 3,000 miles across an ocean. The way we developed the systems on Beau Geste, like our furling system or the way we pull sails up and down, there is nothing that couldn't be done with pedestals.

I think the America's Cup will stay with the pedestals because it adds excitement to the sport of sailing and because grinders have a lot of power in match racing not just pulling the sails but the techniques and skills. they shouldn't be called grinders, they should be called second trimmers. On an America's Cup grinders do more trimming than trimmers themselves. If somebody is a good grounder, the trimmer should hardly ever talk to him. There is often an illusion that these big guys get on the boats and are told to move the handles. There is a lot of technique in grinding.

Beau Geste sailing in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Porto Cervo, 12 September 2009. Photo copyright ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Mascalzone Latino, Challenger of Record for 34th America’s Cup

[Source: BMW Oracle] A challenge has been received from the Club Nautico di Roma. GGYC is pleased to confirm that the Italian club will be the Challenger of Record for 34th America’s Cup.

We look forward to working in close partnership with CNR and their challenging team – “Mascalzone Latino” owned by world champion sailor Vincenzo Onorato – to reinvigorate the America’s Cup. Mascalzone Latino competed as a challenger for both the 2003 and 2007 America’s Cup.

GGYC and CNR have pledged to start a dialogue and wide-ranging discussions with the America’s Cup community, including existing and prospective teams.

The objective is to ensure that the 34th America’s Cup is built on the foundations of the competition’s unique past as well as on a shared vision for its future.

As USA crosses the finish Line, GGYC accept the Club Nautico di Roma as challenger of Record. Left to right, Melinda Erkelens (GGYC) - Norbert Barjurin (GGYC) - Marcus Young (GGYC) - Alessandra Pandarese (Club Nautico di Roma)- Vincenzo Onorato (Club Nautico di Roma). Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

Mascalzone Latino Audi Team unveils its plans

[Source: Mascalzone Latino Audi Team] Two of the best known names in the yachting world have chosen to join forces, creating the Mascalzone Latino Audi Team.

"I am very proud of the fact that Audi, a prestigious car company with such great tradition in sponsoring the sailing world, has chosen to link its name to Mascalzone Latino", commented Vincenzo Onorato. "I would like to thank the President of the Volkswagen Group, Dr. Tartaglione, the Director of Audi Italy, Dr. Frisch and the Director of Audi Marketing, Dr Migliorini for the trust they have put in us. We share the values of excellence and of fair competition as an incentive to constant improvement, as individuals, as a team and from a technology development point of view."

Vincenzo Onorato's team will be racing in several classes and on different race courses, focusing mainly on the Louis Vuitton Trophy, on the one-design Farr 40 and on the Melges 32 class.

The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) and Louis Vuitton have announced the next venues of the Louis Vuitton Trophy for 2010 and early 2011. The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series took place in Auckland in February of last year and the Louis Vuitton Trophy was held in Nice in November 2009. The format calls for two weeks of match racing (one on one duel) with America's Cup Class yachts provided by the organization.

Participating teams, top professionals in the sailing world who for the most part have matured experience in previous America's Cup campaigns, rotate on board during individual "flights". A "flight" is jargon for a single race, in which teams display their seamanship skills and tactical intelligence. Emirates Team New Zealand will host the next leg of the Trophy, taking place from the 9th to the 21st of March in Auckland.

Italy will then host the European leg at La Maddalena in Sardinia. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team will be doing the honors from the 22nd of May to the 6th of June. Third on the calendar, the Middle Eastern stop-over in Dubai from the 13th to the 28th of November followed by China in 2011. Racing will take place in Hong Kong from the 9th to the 24th of January.

"La Maddalena will be at the center of media interest right at the beginning of the summer season and attention will be directed to the new infrastructure created for the G8 summit, later transferred to L'Aquila for the well-known reasons", underlined Vincenzo Onorato. He then continued: "This success was possible thanks to the decisions taken by the Government and by Dr Guido Bertolaso, who has asked me to coordinate the event. As the "hosting team", Audi Mascalzone Latino Team wants to offer all competitors the best hospitality. My heart full thanks also goes to those who welcomed us, the Region of Sardinia, that is sponsoring our team in all stages of the Louis Vuitton Trophy, and that here is represented at the highest institutional level by the President of the Region Ugo Cappellacci. Sardinia is a region with an enormous untapped potential, both in terms of nautical tourism and of all it offers as a whole. The interior landscape is extraordinary, but still unknown to most. The Louis Vuitton Trophy is a global event and Sardinia will have the opportunity of being added by travelers to their "Italian Grand Tour".

Mascalzone Latino launches 1st boat for LV Series

One month exactly separates us from the start of the newly-created Louis Vuitton World Series and the Mascalzone Latino shore crew launched earlier today in Valencia the first of the Italian team's yacht that will be used in the circuit's opening event in Nice, and probably in all other Mediterranean venues. The two Italian boats being so similar we don't know whether it was ITA-90 or ITA-99.

Mascalzone Latino shore crew preparing one of the team's ACC yachts. The second one is still in the shed. Valencia, 30 September 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Latino shore crew preparing one of the team's ACC yachts. The second one is still in the shed. Valencia, 30 September 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Latino shore crew launch the first yacht for the LV World Series. Valencia, 30 September 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

As for the other pair of boats that will be raced in Nice, both Bruno Troublé and Grant Dalton had stated in the Paris presentation on the 8th of September that an agreement had been reached with Desafío in order to use the Spanish team's yachts, ESP-88 and ESP-97. Yet according to an article by The Independent's Stuart Alexander it seems that that agreement didn't materialize and as a result, Team Origin and BMW Oracle will provide their yachts, GBR-75 and USA-76, respectively. Both of them are 2003 yachts, updated to Version 5. The former is the ex SUI-75, Alinghi's trial yacht in the 31st America's Cup in Auckland, that also raced in the 2006 Louis Vuitton Acts in Valencia.

This must explain the recent activity in the BMW Oracle base and the arrival of various trucks yesterday noon, one of them with an ACC bulb, probably of the British yacht. I'm not sure whether the hull of GBR-75 is already in Valencia. We'll have more updates tomorrow.

The BMW Oracle base with obvious signs of activity. Valencia, 30 September 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Origin's GBR-75 sails for the first time. Valencia, 14 July 2007. Photo copyright Nico Martinez.

Mascalzone Latino's ACC boats getting ready in Valencia for the Louis Vuitton Series

After a action-packed week in Cartagena where Emirates Team New Zealand were crowned kings of the Mediterranean, Valencia Sailing is back in Valencia and the Port America's Cup. The void created by the absence of the America's Cup and the end of this year's AUDI Medcup circuit seems to be filled with the Louis Vuitton World Series. The opening event of this newly-founded professional circuit in Nice, France is just a month and a half away and time will be short for the organization and teams to get ready.

Here's a quick picture from the Mascalzone Latino base in Valencia. The Italian team's shore crew has started preparing ITA-90 and ITA-99 since they will be the ones the 10 teams will race in Nice, together with Desafío's ESP-88 and ESP-97. We will have more in-depth coverage in the days to follow, particularly on the details of how you "water down" 4 America's Cup yachts and try to make them as equally matched as possible. Stay tuned.

Finally, on the opposite side of the basin, there was considerable activity going on in the BMW Oracle base with cranes, containers and trucks everywhere. We are not sure whether this is due to the Challenger of the America's Cup getting ready to move to the venue of the event in Ras Al-Khaimah.

Mascalzone Latino's ACC boats fitted out for the Louis Vuitton Series. Valencia, 21 September 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis

Rolex Farr 40 World Championship ready to rumble

[Source: Regatta News] For the 26 crews gathered in Porto Cervo for the twelfth Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, the last few days have been a frenzy of checks and practice, as the main event looms large on the horizon. With ten nations represented, this year's Championship is a truly international affair. Ten races are scheduled, every one of which will count. The margin for error will be unfriendly and small. No one could be accused of trying to talk the talk ahead of this event, but tomorrow we will have a clue as to who is prepared enough to walk the walk.

The nine Italian crews with the reigning and back-to-back three-time champion in their midst, are undoubtedly pre-start favourites to put forward a worthy winner. They will not have it all their own way. The heavy hitters from the USA count a two-time former champion in their ranks and the Australian teams are stacked with top-quality sailors. The French and Germans field immense experience and are capable of the consistency required to win. The Danes and Greeks are not here to make up the numbers. And, whilst the crews from Great Britain and the Ukraine may be outsiders in the Farr 40 Class, with a changeable weather forecast offering a mix of light and strong conditions over the four days of racing, there remains room for even those with the longest odds to dream.

Atalanti, owned and helmed by Stratis Andreadis, trains on the eve of the World Championship. Peter Isler is calling tactics. Porto Cervo, 23 June 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

All eyes will be on Vincenzo Onorato and Mascalzone Latino (ITA), gunning for an unprecedented fourth title, following their unprecedented successful title defence in 2007 and an equally unprecedented third in a row victory last year. Onorato put his marker down at a light-wind Rolex Capri Sailing Week a month ago holding his nerve the best to secure overall victory. Onorato, though, is an archetypal superstitious Neapolitan and never discusses his prospects. However, with his trusted lieutenant and tactician, Adrian Stead, alongside him and a crew with exceptional experience in the winner's circle, few would argue against his headline billing.

The Rolex Farr 40 Worlds were last held in the Mediterranean mecca of big boat racing in 2003, when Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone (ITA) emphatically blitzed the opposition winning with a race to spare. Mezzaroma has finished in the top ten of the Championship every year since and is certainly a contender to revisit former glories this year. Evidence of ambition was plain to see in Miami in March and then again in yesterday's practice races.

Nerone, owned and helmed by Massimo Mezzaroma, trains on the eve of the World Championship. Vasco Vascotto is calling tactics. Porto Cervo, 23 June 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

Mezzaroma is openly positive, "I know that Sardinia is a lucky place for us, every time we've been racing here we do a good job. We are confident we can have a good Championship." Sailing once again with tactician, Vasco Vascotto, Mezzaroma has reason to be self-assured. He has made only one crew change since 2003 and the weather forecast is for some wind for the first part of the event at least, "we are pretty comfortable with every condition, but with strong wind we feel better. I certainly prefer a windy week for us; 2003 was very windy with 20-25 knots."

Class President Jim Richardson and Barking Mad head the clutch of American boats, champing at the bit to recover some bragging rights in a preserve that used to be their own, until the rest of the world got wind of how rewarding sailing in the Farr 40 could be. Richardson won the first ever Worlds back in 1998 and followed it up in 2004 with a win in San Francisco, but significantly he and his compatriots have yet to convert a victory outside the USA (and the Bahamas - before any one calls in a correction). Along with Richardson, Helmut Jahn/Flash Gordon, Doug Douglass/Goombay Smash and Alex Roepers/Plenty will be aiming to put the record straight and prove they can travel.

The Australians have come the furthest to be here and have some longstanding pedigree in the Farr 40 Class. John Calvert-Jones was the first from Downunder to take the world title back in 2000 in Newport, Rhode Island. Richard Perini snuffed out the opposition on a tiebreak in Sydney in 2005 and, whilst neither is still active in the class, their legacy remains. Mark Walsh won with Calvert-Jones in 2000 and is part of Lang Walker's Kokomo crew here. Guido Belgiornio-Nettis and his Transfusion crew won the 2008-09 Australian Championship sailing Perini's former Worlds-winning boat.

Belgiorno-Nettis is taking a lot on. Despite a self-evident family connection with Italy, he is certainly not at home sailing in Italian waters. "This is the first time we've sailed in the Med on the Farr 40; we've only ever sailed in Australia," he explains. "We're also sailing a different boat and have only had a week to get used to it."

Barking Mad, owned and helmed by Jim Richardson, trains on the eve of the World Championship. Terry Hutchinson is calling tactics. Porto Cervo, 23 June 2009. Photo copyright Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

So, whilst happy to be at the Worlds, Belgiorno-Nettis is understandably circumspect, "it's very exciting. We're as prepared as we're going to be for the time being. We're still a young crew, we're still learning; so I think this is going to be a regatta to give us a feel for how we fit into the world elite of the Farr 40s. We've only been in the class for a couple of years now, but we've been working with a pretty consistent group. It's part of the secret.if there is a secret!"

Sailing on Transfusion as tactician is Tom Slingsby a two-time Laser World Champion, one of a number of highly-successful dinghy sailors competing here; more on some of the others over the course of the event.

For the moment sit back, relax and enjoy the peace. The 2009 Rolex Farr Worlds gets underway tomorrow and according to Geoff Stagg, of the Farr 40 Class Management Committee, "we're in for a treat. Watching twenty-six forty-footers on the line. going into a mark is a lot of action. Anything can happen. Anything."

The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2009 is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the Farr 40 Class Association. Racing will be held in the waters off Porto Cervo, Sardinia from Wednesday, 24 June to Saturday, 27 June.

Vincenzo Onorato: Go to hell Alinghi

"I'm happy with BMW Oracle's victory. I would like to remind that it was Mr. Bertarelli who excluded Russel Coutts from the last America's Cup edition: the world's greatest regatta without the greatest sailor of all times! Go to hell Alinghi and all these teams of sly professionals that hypocritically supported them up to now.

The regatta will now be back on the water, as the judges of the NY Supreme Court wrote and ratified. We will watch the third millennium's super match between Oracle's and Alinghi's monster trimarans in a challenge similar to the OK Corral gunfight."

Vincenzo Onorato

Note: The link to Wikipedia's entry for the 1957 western film was added by Valencia Sailing and was NOT part of Onorato's statement. Who's going to be Burt Lancaster and who will take Kirk Douglas' role?

Alessandra Pandarese, Mascalzone's legal advisor, comments on the last oral hearing in NY Court

Mascalzone Latino published today on their website a brief interview with Alessandra Pandarese, their legal advisor, concerning the last oral hearing in the America's Cup court case that took place two weeks ago in Albany. The interview was done in Italian and the translation is mine, meaning there could be some small errors or mistakes. Nevertheless, the general picture is crystal clear. Pandarese sees a victory for GGYC as the only positive outcome and hopes the judges decide in favor of the American yacht club.

Question: What is your view on the oral hearings?
Alessandra Pandarese: The times for oral arguments were very, very short and each of the 2 parts had 15 minutes available that were divided according to their plan. First of all, GGYC's lawyer had 10 minutes then SNG's and CNEV's lawyers split their 15 minutes and finally, GGYC's lawyer used her remaining 5 minutes for her closing arguments.

Time was so short that it was impossible to repeat written arguments and I think that during the audience there has been a barrage of questions from the judges who showed they had in-depth knowledge of the issue. The arguments concentrated on the key element, that is whether the prerequisites had to be satisfied when the challenge was presented and in particular whether the annual regatta had to have taken place before the challenge was presented. Obviously, Alinghi's position was the opposite and the questions focused mainly on these points. Still, the judges asked for clarifications regarding the mechanism in the America's Cup with which challenges can become multiple challenges. In my view, GGYC's defense showed in an efficient way that the mutual consent aspects are succedent and that the challenge must meet the prerequisites the moment it is received by the defender.

Question: What are the possible outcomes?
Alessandra Pandarese: We have to wait for the decision. The decision could have the most varied content. We hope the court decides in the sense it approves GGYC's view, which we have supported and consider to be the one that guarantees a future for the America's Cup by guaranteeing that no ad hoc challenger can be established by the defender. Only that way there can be a real and true counter party, something that hasn't been verified in this case. We hope that a general principle be established in that sense,

Obviously, everything lies in the hands of the judges. They could decide not to accept GGYC's view and rule in favor of Alinghi. There are even intermediate outcomes such as the possibility the court sends the case to a higher level in order to obtain further clarifications. This is a gray area and I'd rather not consider it. The sailing community and the America's Cup community want to have a decision that is either black or white.

Question: What will happen if GGYC wins and what if SNG wins?
Alessandra Pandarese: IF BMW Oracle wins there are two possible outcomes. Either the Deed-of-Gift match, as we all know, or a negotiation with the Defender, something that Oracle is willing to do, as stated to the judges. As a result, it is possible to have a future multi-challenger event. If Alinghi wins, they have stated numerous times they would hold a multi-challenger event but the rules are under discussion. These are the most probable outcomes although they are not sure.

Question: Can the court rule against both parties, GGYC and SNG?
Alessandra Pandarese: No matter what the issue could be in a legal case, commercial or sports, there can always be surprises. In my opinion this is a very marginal outcome but still an issue raised by Alinghi in the case concerns the lack of clarity in GGYC's certificate and challenge. As a result, in theory this is also an issue to be considered by the court. As we said there can be intermediate outcomes but we will have to face them once they are made public. For that reason we'll have to wait for the decision.

Mascalzone Latino ready for the 2009 Farr 40 season

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] 2006, 2007, 2008: three World Championships, three victories...Since three years Mascalzone Latino has been Farr 40 World Champion in charge and is ready to defend the title in 2009.

The title, won for the first time in Newport in 2006, was won again in 2007, when Vincenzo Onorato and his crew beat Alinghi by Ernesto Bertarelli; then it was again won after a neck-and-neck final against his compatriot Joe Fly in 2008.

The season will open with the usual Acura Key West Race Week from January 19th till 23rd, followed by the Acura Miami Grand Prix on the second weekend of March, event related to the Key West appointment for the attribution of the Acura Grand Prix Awards.

Mascalzone Latino racing at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship. Miami, 17 April 2008. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Foster

On April 24th and 25th Mascalzone Latino will be in Porto Rotondo for the lap of the Farr 40 European Circuit, then they will take part in the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, from May 21st till 23rd.

This year the World Championship will be held in the waters of Porto Cervo from June 24th till 27th; before that, always in Porto Cervo, the Pre Worlds regattas will take place.

The crew of Mascalzone Latino for the 2009 season won't change: Vincenzo Onorato will be at the helm helped by Adrian Stead as tactician, Matteo Savelli and Andrea Ballico (trimmer), Davide Scarpa (bowman), Gerry Mitchell (mainsail), Marco Cornacchia (pitman), Adriano Figone (mast), Tim Burnell (navigator) and Roberta de Paoli Ambrosi (jolly).

Vincenzo Onorato has been in the Farr 40 Class since 1999.

Mascalzone Latino racing at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship. Miami, 19 April 2008. Photo copyright Rolex / Daniel Foster

Vincenzo Onorato writes letter to Ernesto Bertarelli

Dear Ernesto,

I have read the list of the last - minute registered teams to Your America's Cup.

You would forgive my insolence, but in such a very short time a number of teams without history or "art" have been promptly and immediately accredited to the highest world sailing competition. These teams "by chance" have filed an Amicus brief against GGYC - BMW Oracle Racing team. The above would be nearly - and I repeat nearly - marginal if you would have not taken more then an year to issue a confirmation letter of acceptance of our Club and Mascalzone Latino! You asked for the proof of the existence of Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia which has more then a century of history and participations into two America's Cup.

The matter raises existential questions: which rooms near the sea I have visited in the last decades in Naples? Where I have had dinners hundreds of times thinking to be my yacht club? Should I now question whether my club exists? I' m proud of my Neapolitan origins . You Mr Bertarelli , you should be ashamed to offend my club and the city it represents only because we have supported Oracle arguments. You could make other amicus brief being signed by teams which from the America's Cup expect anything but a loyal competition; the so called "professional" of sailing which means those who wish to make money from sailing, have not always honoured our sport, too eager for money and not for the competition. Congratulation to Russell who has the courage to give up with you, and to Ellison to defend our sport. A pray: for once please reply to me, and do not hide you behind your "rubber wall" which does not honour you .

Vincenzo Onorato

P.S.: I kindly ask you to provide me with the proof that all the other teams registered have paid the registration fee as we have done!

Mascalzone Latino withdraws from the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

Dear friends and supporters,

It is with deep regret that I inform you to have withdrawn the entry of our team from the next Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

This decision is the result of a lengthy deliberation, and it doesn’t reflect my wish. It is due to the difficult international economic situation which is making nearly impossible to find sponsors that would cover, even partially, the operational costs for a participation aiming a good performance.

Further, making a low level’s participation to the Auckland regatta would mortify our aspirations for an event which deserves the maximum standard in terms of sport and organization.

My great sorrow in giving up is mostly for Louis Vuitton which is , in my opinion, the only depositary of the Cup's tradition and dignity.

For this reason, I wish “good wind” to this event and to all participants and I hope its promoters will keep on with their dedication into our sport with the same passion they always had.

On our part, while waiting for the America’s Cup to find a reasonable and viable way to be pursued, Mascalzone Latino confirms its participation into 2009 Farr 40 Class regatta.

Vincenzo Onorato

Vincenzo Onorato: "Discussion should be open to all"

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (R.Y.C.C.S.) and Mascalzone Latino accepted the invitation by America's Cup Management to participate to the November 11th 2008 meeting at Société Nautique de Genève (S.N.G.) in Geneva.

At the meeting the team representatives were requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to keep the discussion strictly confidential among only the participants.

Mascalzone Latino's representative to the meeting, Alessandra Pandarese, expressed the team's firm view that in the current circumstances discussion should be open to all interested parties, including Golden Gate Yacht Club (G.G.Y.C.), as one of the disputing parties.

Therefore, Mascalzone Latino chose not to sign the non-disclosure agreement. In response, the Mascalzone representative was not admitted to the meeting room, nor was she permitted to explain her team's position to those in attendance.

"We regret for not having been admitted to the today's meeting. Besides we don't understand the reasons of all this secrecy, nor the reasons of G.G.Y.C.'s exclusion" - said Vincenzo Onorato. "Another opportunity to discuss in an open forum has been lost, but I wish that all challengers, including G.G.Y.C., and the Defender would gather in another meeting soon."

Letter from Vincenzo Onorato

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] With reference to the last meeting held on October 30th in Geneva among the Société Nautique de Geneve, Alinghi and the challengers to the 33 America’s Cup, Mascalzone Latino apologizes for not having attended due to previous commitments and confirms its participation to the next meeting scheduled on November 11th.

It further occurs to me to say that, even if we would have attended last week meeting, we would have not signed the letter with the request to the Golden Gate Yacht Club to withdraw the case before the New York appeal Court. As we have said several times, Mascalzone Latino agrees with Oracle’s goal to organize an event with fair rules in order to give all challengers a chance to win. The most simple solution, in order to put and end to this dispute, is to go back to the 32nd America’s Cup Protocol.

With respect to the class of yacht, it doesn’t make sense to create a new class, while the world is getting through the deepest economic crisis after the one in 1929.

A new class means new immediate investments for research, and at the same time throwing away a class with more than 100 boats already built.

In order to make the Cup face both the external trauma due to the current economic crisis, and the internal trauma due to the Alinghi’s Protocol and the legal dispute, it’s necessary to go back, at least one more time, to the ACV5 which have already guaranteed exciting regatta. This would help increase the teams’ participation in the event with a low budget - why not using the yachts from the last edition of the America’s Cup - and above of all, with a realistic economic sense in the search for sponsors.

Mascalzone Latino to take part in Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

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

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

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

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

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