BMW Oracle wins Round One of Louis Vuitton Cup by beating Emirates Team New Zealand in Flight 11. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget/BMWOracle Racing
BMW Oracle vs China at start of Flight 2. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget/BMWOracle Racing April 30, America's Cup. It was a day of close racing and surprise finishes at the Louis Vuitton Cup where the bottom ranked China Team earned its first win of the competition over the leader, BMW ORACLE Racing, when the American team lost its headsail on the first upwind leg.
That wasn't the only upset of the form guide however. The French Areva Challenge, disappointed with its Round Robin One performance, went out and won its first two matches of Round Robin Two, while +39 Challenge suffered two devastating losses in matches that were desperately close right up until the finishing line.
Conditions on Monday were excellent for racing, with sea breezes of up to 15 knots on both race courses. The wind eased later in the day, but never dropped below 9 knots.
FLIGHT 2
Few would have expected BMW ORACLE Racing, leader after Round Robin One, to fall to the bottom ranked boat, China Team. But after showing better speed in the pre-start and early up the first beat, the headsail pulled out of the headfoil on the American boat. The BMW ORACLE Racing team eventually solved the problem and raised a genoa for the second upwind leg, but by then the deficit was too great, and China Team picked up an unexpected two points.
The French Areva Challenge led Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team for the entire first beat rounding just 8 seconds ahead at the top mark. Just short of the leeward gate, Areva helmsman Sebastian Col luffed Mascalzone hard and in the process managed to put a penalty on the Italians for failing to keep clear. The Italians slipped around in the process, but were down a penalty. Areva had just pulled ahead by the weather mark where the Italians attempted to get rid of their penalty by luffing the French but the Umpires judged both boats clean. On the final run Mascalzone pulled ahead but not far enough to carry out their penalty turn in time, Areva earning a welcome win.
At the helm of +39 Challenge, Iain Percy did a great job locking Desafío Español 2007 out at the committee boat in their pre-start. The Italian team started ahead and after a prolonged tacking duel up the first beat, +39 sailed the Spanish off to the right side of the course rounding the weather mark 23 seconds ahead. +39 were looking comfortable with a 29 second advantage at the leeward gate until they broke their headsail sheet early on the next beat allowing the Spanish to regain ground. The Italians remained ahead but rounded the top mark for a second time with a precarious 9 second advantage. On the run, the Spanish were able to roll past +39 Challenge within sight of the finishing line to take the win by just one second.
Team Shosholoza got ahead of United Internet Team Germany on the first beat and extended around the course to finish 1:23 ahead. Similarly after edging ahead of Victory Challenge on the first beat Luna Rossa managed a comfortable win, ahead by 27 seconds when they crossed the finishing line.
FLIGHT 1 - Postponed Matches 4 and 5:
The final matches from Flight 1 were held following Flight 2 on the south race course. In the race between Emirates Team New Zealand and Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team there was a massive tacking battle up the beat, the two boats evenly matched, until the New Zealanders benefited from a shift to help them around the weather mark. Emirates Team New Zealand extended down the run but almost lost their advantage on the second beat when a shift caused the Italian team to draw level. The New Zealanders rounded the top mark 33 seconds ahead and were safe for their victory when the spinnaker pole broke on the Italian boat, knocking a crew member overboard. He was grabbed and hauled back on board and the team proceeded to follow the Kiwis across the finishing line.
+39 Challenge had its second close race of the day, this time against the French Areva Challenge. The two boats were neck and neck up the first beat with +39 pulling ahead to round 17 seconds ahead at the weather mark, a lead they maintained at the leeward gate. But following a tacking duel on the second beat Areva pulled ahead to round the weather mark 7 seconds in advance. +39 kept it close on the run and in the latter stages managed to roll past to windward. After both boats put in a hasty final gybe for the line, the halyard came loose on +39's spinnaker causing it to bulge forward in front of the boat, dragging across the back of FRA 93, resulting in the Italian team picking up a penalty. But by this stag, close to the finishing line, the race already belonged to the French.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Monday's Races:
FLIGHT 2:
Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) beats United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1.23 Delta
China Team (CHN 95) beats BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98) 3:15
Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) beats Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 0.27
AREVA Challenge (FRA 93) beats Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99) 2:26
Desafío Español (ESP 97) beats +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 0:01
Bye Emirates Team New Zealand
Round Robin 2 - Flight 1:
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) beats Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99) 0:25
AREVA Challenge (FRA 93) beats +39 Challenge * (ITA 85) 1:11
Bonus Pts
Matches Sailed
Matches Won
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-12-10 23 Total Pts
2. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-12-10 23
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-11- 8 20
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-11- 8 19
5. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-12- 7 16
6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-11- 6 14
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-11- 7 14
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-12- 6 13
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-11- 2 6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-11- 1 3
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-11- 1 3
Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.
http://www.americascup.comU.S. Multihull ChampionshipMelbourne, FL. Racing was exciting until the last day (Saturday), when no wind showed up on the waters off host club Melbourne Yacht Club in Melbourne, FL., For John Casey (Longwood, Fla.) and John Williams (Jacksonville, Fla.), that was good news. The two Floridians demonstrated a very consistent performance throughout the regatta by winning every race they competed in, earning the National Championship title and US SAILING's Hobie Alter Cup.
It wasn't as easy for the winners as it sounds, Casey/Williams were closely followed by Olympic medalist and US Sailing Team member John Lovell and his wife Katy Pilley-Lovell (both from New Orleans, LA), who finished second in every race. Third place went to John and Tiffany Tomko (both from Canyon Lake, TX). The Hoyt Jolley Sportsmanship Trophy was awarded to Matt McDonald (Merritt Island, FL).
First held in 1987, the U.S. Multihull Championship is sailed annually, each year in a different multihull class at a different venue. The U.S. Multihull Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., which sponsors all of US SAILING's National Adult Championships. This year's Championship was sailed on Blade F16s, supplied by Vectorworks. For complete results, photos, and daily reports from the event, visit the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmhc
April 29, America's Cup. Sunday on the north race course saw the first Flight of action in Round Robin Two of the Louis Vuitton Cup. A close battle between Shosholoza and Victory Challenge was the highlight of the day, although China Team had some surprises for Luna Rossa early in that match as well.
On the south race course, racing was postponed less than a minute before the start, when a large wind shift rolled over the race course. Unfortunately, the shift signalled a dying breeze, and racing had to be postponed for the day.
The top two teams at the conclusion of Round Robin One picked up where they left off as both BMW ORACLE Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge earned relatively straightforward wins on the day.
FLIGHT 1:
In Flight One of Round Robin Two BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa had what were billed as routine races against the two bottom teams United Internet Team Germany and China Team. True to form skipper Chris Dickson's San Francisco-based team got ahead early on the first beat and pulled away to finish 3:17 ahead, but the race was more dramatic between the Italians and Chinese.
A late dial up in the pre-start resulted in Luna Rossa starting nearly 30 seconds behind. Luna Rossa slowly dragged past China Team up the beat, but the Chinese rounded only 18 seconds behind the powerful Italian team. Luna Rossa extended down the run, rounded the leeward gate but as they began their upwind leg, China Team had to quickly gybe to avoid them as they had just started to drop their spinnaker. This caused the Chinese to drape the spinnaker over the side of the boat. It filled with water, stopping the boat for precious seconds before they let it run free in the water behind them. From then onwards, Luna Rossa romped away to get its first two points on the board for Round Robin Two.
There was also leeward gate action in the much closer battle between Victory Challenge and Team Shosholoza. After an early advantage to the Swedes, Shosholoza pulled ahead in the latter part of the first beat to round 31 seconds ahead at the weather mark. After swapping the lead twice on the run, Team Shosholoza was ahead coming into the leeward gate, pressed up close to the wind, following a big wind shift to the right. That's when the end of their spinnaker pole broke. The South Africans managed to stay ahead on the third leg, but their 16 second lead at the weather mark was not enough. With Shosholoza unable to use a spinnaker pole, Victory Challenge was able to overhaul them on the final run to win by 52 seconds.
The remaining Flight One matches on Juliet Course were postponed due to a lack of wind and will be held after Flight 2 on Monday.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Sunday's Races:
1. BMW ORACLE Racing beats United Internet Team Germany 3:17 Delta
2. Victory Challenge beats Team Shosholoza 0:52
3. Luna Rossa Challenge beats China Team 2:57
4. Emirates Team New Zealand postponed Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
5. Areva Challenge postponed +39 Challenge
Bonus Pts
Matches Sailed
Matches Won
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-11-10 23 Total Pts
2. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-11- 9 21
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-10- 7 18
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-10- 7 17
5. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-11- 7 16
6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-10- 6 14
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-10- 6 12
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-10- 4 9
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-10- 2 6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-10- 1 3
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-10- 0 1
Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.
Round Two: Restarts Tuesday.http://www.americascup.com
BMW Oracle wins Round One of Louis Vuitton Cup by beating Emirates Team New Zealand in Flight 11. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget/BMWOracle Racing
April 28, America's Cup, Saturday: he remaining races of Round Robin One were sailed on Saturday at the Louis Vuitton Cup and BMW ORACLE Racing split its matches on the day to stay at the top of the table. The home team,Desafío Español 2007, beat the American team in Flight 10, handing BMW ORACLE Racing its first loss of the round. But skipper Chris Dickson and his crew recovered to beat Emirates Team New Zealand, securing first place.
Luna Rossa Challenge won both its matches on the day, to finish clear in second place, with the Kiwi team dropping to third. Desafío Español 2007 rode its victory over BMW ORACLE Racing to a fourth place finish in Round Robin One.
Conditions were excellent for racing with a 10 knot Northeasterly breeze on the race area set up just outside Port America's Cup. A large spectator fleet enjoyed the sunny Saturday weather along with some excellent Louis Vuitton Cup match racing. All of the matches featured fierce pre-starts followed by some classic match racing, as befits racing among the top six challengers.
Round Robin Two begins on Sunday with Flight One scheduled to begin with a warning signal at 14:05.
FLIGHT 10
Of the three matches the biggest upset came when Desafío Español 2007 thrilled the weekend spectators by being the first team in Round Robin One to beat BMW ORACLE Racing. While Chris Dickson's crew had their bow in front coming off the starting line, at the first cross the Spanish were ahead and slowly extended on the left side of the beat to round the weather mark with a 14 second advantage. From here Karol Jablonski at the helm of the Spanish team managed to extend on the run reaching the leeward gate 32 seconds ahead. Desafío Español 2007 continued to increase its lead over the next two legs to take a great win for the Spanish team.
One of the closest races was between the two top Italian teams: Luna Rossa and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team. Jes Gram-Hansen, behind the wheel of Mascalzone Latino's ITA 99, got the better of Luna Rossa's James Spithill in the pre-start, winning the right and starting with an early lead. Up the beat after a lengthy tacking duel the Latin Rascals managed to hang on to their advantage, rounding 23 second ahead. Luna Rossa closed on the run, and finally on the second beat Luna Rossa prevailed by making gains on the left hand side of the course. Spithill's team rounded the top mark 35 seconds ahead and extended on the final run to take the win by 49 seconds.
The pre-start between Emirates Team New Zealand and Victory Challenge was an unusual one with no dial up. Eventually, Victory Challenge luffed the New Zealand team as both boats were early to the line. Emirates Team New Zealand gave up a lot to start to the right, but this strategy paid off quickly and the Kiwis held a slim advantage up the beat, which they extended the rest of the way around.
FLIGHT 11
In one of the most aggressive starts seen in Round Robin One, both boats were early to the starting line, closer than normal to the pin. Chris Dickson at the helm of BMW ORACLE Racing managed to lock Emirates Team New Zealand the wrong side of the line, and then took them well beyond the pin at the time of the start gun. While the New Zealanders tacked around to start, BMW ORACLE gybed and stalled in the process, allowing Barker and his team to end up getting the upper hand off the start line.
BMW ORACLE made small gains up the beat and were first to the port layline. Here Emirates Team New Zealand tacked inside them and the two boats rounded simultaneously with BMW ORACLE on the outside the closest rounding we have seen in this round robin. The New Zealanders mistake was to gybe to the left as BMW ORACLE stuck to the right and with big separation between the two boats, the Kiwis could do nothing as their rivals benefited greatly, reaching the leeward gate 27 seconds ahead. Despite a long tacking duel up the second beat, Emirates Team NZ were unable to get back into the match and Chris Dickson's team finished ahead by 38 seconds, to take first place in Round Robin One, relegating Emirates Team New Zealand to third overall.
The most competitive race, came between Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team and Victory Challenge. The Swedes held a small lead up most of the first beat until the boats swapped sides, the Italian team gaining the right side, to round just three seconds ahead. While the run was close between the boats, with Victory briefly taking the lead, Mascalzone pulled ahead at the final stage to round 19 seconds in front. Mascalzone defended well up the second beat until allowing the Swedish team to take the right where they drew level and then pulled ahead as they headed for the port layline. Victory Challenge led around the weather mark with an 18 second advantage, pulling out an extra 10 seconds on the final run to secure its fifth victory of the first Round Robin.
The final match between Luna Rossa andDesafío Español 2007 could not have been more different. Instead of massive tacking duels up the beat, both boats opted for a long drag out to the left of the course before tacking back in, the Italian team slowly easing itself ahead to round the weather mark 19 seconds in front. From here the Spanish didn't manage to re-engage and Luna Rossa crossed the line with a 37 second final delta.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Saturday:
Flight 11:
4. Victory Challenge beats Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team 0:28 Delta
5. Luna Rossa Challenge beats Desafío Español 2007 0:37
6. BMW Oracle Racing * beats Emirates Team New Zealand 0:38
Bonus Pts
Matches Sailed
Matches Won
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-10-9 21 Total Pts
2. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-10-8 19
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-10-7 18
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-10-7 17
5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-10-6 14
6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-10-6 14
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-10-6 12
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-10-4 12
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-10-2 6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-10-1 3
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-10-0 1
Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.
Flight 10:
The race took place in light conditions, with the Race Committee having to make a number of course changes as it tried to keep the course oriented on a windward-leeward axis in shifting conditions.The two yachts started even with USA 98 claiming the initial advantage by winning the right hand side of the course. However, a persistent windshift to the left favoured the Spanish team and Desafío Español led around the first mark by 14 seconds and then extended around the track to record a win by 1 minute.
As USA 98 crossed the finish line behind the Spanish team, it was carrying a red flag, indicating the team is considering a technical protest against the Race Committee.
Flight 10:
4. Luna Rossa Challenge beats Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team 0:49
5. Emirates Team New Zealand beats Victory Challenge 1:41
6. Desafío Español 2007 beats BMW Oracle Racing 1:00
Bonus Pts
Matches Sailed
Matches Won
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3- 9-8 19 Total Pts
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4- 9-7 18
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3- 9-7 17
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3- 9-7 17
5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2- 9-6 14
6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2- 9-5 12
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-10-5 12
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-10-4 9
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-10-2 6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-10-1 3
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-10-0 1
Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.
The Jury for the Louis Vuitton Cup has denied a request from Areva Challenge for redress (Flight 11, Friday). The French team claimed it had properly completed its penalty turn and finished ahead of Team Shosholoza. At the time, the Race Committee scored Areva Challenge as not finishing. In its decision, the Jury said: "From the evidence presented, the Jury is not satisfied that Areva Challenge sailed completely to the course side of the finishing line after completing its penalty. In cases where the judgement of the Race Committee is being questioned, the Jury needs clear and convincing evidence to reach a conclusion that the action of the Race Committee was improper. The evidence did not meet that standard. The request is denied."http://www.americascup.com
French Olympic Week, The USA Yngling team of Sally Barkow (Chenequa, Wis.), Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) and Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) will bring home yet another medal from the spring European circuit: this time a silver medal from the Semaine Olympique Française de Voile (French Sailing Week), in Hyéres, France. Barkow and her team won today's final, double point medal race, after another battle with Great Britain's team led by Sarah Ayton, who picked up the bronze. The Russian team led by Ekaterina Skudina secured their overall lead, which they held throughout the week.
"This is a great end to our month in Europe," said Barkow. "We faced some tough racing. We made some mistakes throughout the week, which caused us to learn valuable lessons for when the pressure is on. I'm glad we could have an exciting, successful medal race to finish the series." "Good breeze and tight scores made the medal race quite exciting," said Howe. "We won the pin and sailed hard."
Yngling: net total 1. SKUDINA Ekaterina/KRUTSKIKH Diana/IVANOVA Natalia RUS 10-4-1-6-(21)-1-1-(13)-3-10-5 46 pts 80 pts 2. BARKOW Sally/HOWE Carrie/CAPOZZI Debbie USA 13-2-8-5-9-2-4-(16)-(24)-5-1 50 90 3. AYTON Sarah/WILSON Pippa/WEBB Sarah GBR 9-(25)-6-(17)-1-5-8-5-10-2-2 50 92
Semaine Olympique Française FridayThe big breeze that the sailors had been looking forward to all week finally reared its head late yesterday and continued today, providing the perfect conditions for an exciting finale in Hyeres. Steady winds and significant waves during the medal races translated into a different game of racing than the rest of the week. Barkow's team said they changed their tactical style to match race their competitors in order to gain positions.
"When the wind is steady and settled and there is some rhythm to the shifts, sailboat racing is a fun game of inches gained and lost, but that's not what we've experienced for the last five days," the team wrote in their daily newsletter. "For those without the nerve, this was fingernails-bitten-to-the-bone uncertainty."
Barkow's team is ranked the number one Yngling crew on the 2007 US Sailing Team and was named US SAILING's 2005 Team of the Year. Barkow was also named US SAILING's 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
Best USA Laser Radial (105 entrants): 4. USA - Anna Tunnicliffe 6. USA - Paige Railey 470 Men (113 entrants): 8. USA - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/Dave Hughes Laser (188 entrants): 9. USA - Brad Funk Finn (68 entrants): 17. USA - Zach Railey 470 Women (60 entrants): 26. USA - Erin Maxwell/Isabelle KinsolvingAn International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 1 event, Semaine Olympique Française attracted approximately 900 boats from 58 countries. The event included five days of racing culminating with today's medal races, which followed the new Olympic format, lining up the top 10 teams in each class on the starting line on the final day of racing. Today's medal races were sailed consecutively on a course set close to the shore to provide spectators a better view. The competition was raced in 10 of the 11 classes chosen for the 2008 Olympic Games: 49er, 470 (Men & Women), Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, Neil Pryde RS:X (Men & Women), Tornado and Yngling. In addition, racing was held for two of the three classes selected for the 2008 Paralympic Games: 2.4mR and Sonar.
For complete results, including the final standings of the other US Sailing Team members and Americans who competed in the event, visit the event website at: http://sof.ffvoile.net
April 27, Texas International Boat Show, Corpus Christi, Texas, April 27 - 29th: go to: http://www.txintlboatshow.com/Dynamic/allfs.htm
America's Cup, Valencia. It was challenging day for the Race Committee at the Louis Vuitton Cup on Friday, when the gradient Easterly breeze flirted around the seven knot lower limit for racing for much of the afternoon. On the northern most course racing started on time in nine knots of wind and the two scheduled matches in both Flights 10 and 11 were completed.
It was a different story for the matches scheduled on the southern race area, where the wind was never suitable for racing. The race officials brought the Juliet race course up to the north race area, but the wind was no better and Matches 4, 5 and 6 were postponed for the day. The remaining matches in Flight 10 and Flight 11 are now scheduled for Saturday.
That means the top six teams on the leaderboard all have critical matches left to sail to complete Round Robin One. The matches that were raced on Friday were important for the bottom teams on the ranking, and no less exciting for that. +39 Challenge had a great day, earning its first four points of the regatta, while the French Areva Challenge suffered a heartbreaking setback in its match against Shosholoza, the Umpires judging it didn't execute its penalty turn properly at the finishing line, allowing the South Africans to win the race.
FLIGHT 10
The match between Areva Challenge and United Internet Team Germany took place on its own. Due to further technical troubles with its keel China Team did not start its race against +39 Challenge on the north course.
The French and German match was a game of gains and losses with the French leading up the first beat through a tacking duel which culminated in a collision between the two boats up by the windward mark. Two penalties were awarded, the Umpires judging each team to be partially at fault for the collision. The effect of the double penalties was that neither team emerged burdened by a penalty turn. Jesper Bank managed to slip ahead coming out of the incident, and led into the weather mark. The United Internet team led comfortably down the run rounding the leeward gate 30 seconds ahead. Areva Challenge did well on the right hand side of the second beat, its FRA 93 seeming to handle the increased chop of the waves better than United Internet Team Germany's GER 89, to the extent that by the weather mark they round ed 38 seconds ahead. The German team were unable to challenge the French further and Areva went on extend down the run, winning with a final delta over one minute.
FLIGHT 11
In the match between United Internet Team Germany and +39 Challenge, both teams urgently needed to get points on the board. Throughout the first beat the lead shifted to and fro between the boats. At the weather mark Jesper Bank's German team rounded 29 seconds ahead as +39 gybe set around, heading for the left side of the run. On this leg Iain Percy's team gained enough ground to squeeze inside the Germans at the leeward gate rounding just 3 seconds astern.
On the second beat, the racing remained equally close and at the weather mark +39 were just 11 seconds behind. Once again Ian Walker, tactician for +39 chose the left side of the run and finding better pressure on this side of the course slowly extended, level and then ahead. Having rounded all three marks in the lead, United Internet Team Germany reached the finish line 57 seconds astern of the Italian team.
Given its form earlier in the series Team Shosholoza were favourites for its race against Areva Challenge. Both boats were approaching the starting line early causing Team Shosholoza to circle around, losing speed, as their French rivals spun behind the Race Committee boat. As the French hit the line with speed, the South Africans remained stalled and ended up crossing the starting line 31 seconds behind Areva.
Impressively Paolo Cian and the South African team fought back up the beat, with Areva covering them tack for tack. The South African team showed superior boat speed, caught up with Areva and by luffing the French team, put a penalty on FRA 93, as the Umpires judged the Areva squad failed to keep clear. Shosholoza rounded the weather mark 30 seconds ahead. On the run the tables turned once again as the South Africans exploded their third spinnaker in two days. The French overtook to round the leeward gate 25 seconds ahead. Areva comfortably led around the weather mark for the second time and down the final run extended enough to attempt to carry out the penalty turn before Shosholoza finished.
In the event, Areva had enough time to round the end of the finish line and appeared to win, crossing just ahead of Shosholoza. But in executing the turn, the French boat (mast) never fully passed back on to the course side of the finishing line as the Rules demand, and thus, they didn't finish the race, giving the win going to Team Shosholoza.
Friday's Racing:
Flight 10:
1. Areva Challenge beats United Internet Team Germany 1.09 Delta
2. +39 Challenge won China Team DNS
4. Luna Rossa Challenge postponed Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
5. Emirates Team New Zealand postponed Victory Challenge
6. BMW Oracle Racing postponed Desafío Español 2007
Flight 11:
1. +39 Challenge beats United Internet Team Germany 0.57 Delta
2. Team Shosholoza won Areva Challenge failed to finish properly
4. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team postponed Victory Challenge
5. Luna Rossa Challenge postponed Desafío Español 2007
6. Emirates Team New Zealand postponed BMW Oracle Racing
Bonus Pts
Matches Sailed
Matches Won
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3- 8-8 19 Total Pts
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4- 8-6 16
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3- 8-6 15
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3- 8-6 15
5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2- 8-6 14
6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2- 8-5 12
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-10-5 12
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-10-4 9
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-10-2 6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-10-1 3
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-10-0 1
Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.
http://www.americascup.comFrench Olympic Sailing Week, Hyeres, France. Strong Easterly winds finally arrived on Thursday, delivering with it the waves that provided exciting races to decide the top ten for Friday's medal race. In the Yngling class, the three Dutch teams made it to the top ten and qualified for the medal race. After a slow start to the regatta, the British boats helmed by the Athens Gold medallists Sarah Ayton and Shirley Robertson are also in Friday's race. Three British teams have also secured a place in the 49er class Medal race, while three French teams in the Men 470 are placed among the top 5. The Medal races will be scheduled Friday from 11:00 am to 2:15 pm.
Despite the double points in the medal race, Canadians Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle have already won the Tornado class, as has RS:X Men entrant Tom Ashley (NZL). Drama was on the Laser Radial course for American Paige Railey, who broke her top section just prior to the start of the morning race. Able to replace it with the help of her coach, she later learned that the support she received was too close to the start time, forcing her to drop out from the race after her finish. Teammate Anna Tunniclife remained steady with an 8-5 in the Laser Radial, while 470 Men Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes (USA) started their day strong by winning the first race. -- Full Results: http://sof.ffvoile.net
Top 3 results plus top North Americans Tornado (43 entrants): 1. CAN - Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle, 22 pts 2. GRE - Iordanis Paschalidis/ Konstantino Trigonis, 45 3. ITA - Francesco Marcolini/ Edoardo Bianchi, 46 Yngling (29 entrants): 1. RUS - Ekaterina Skudina/Diana Krutskikh/Natalia Ivanova 37 2. GBR - Sarah Ayton/Pippa Wilson/Sarah Webb, 46 3. USA - Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi, 49 Laser Radial (105 entrants): 1. NOR - Elin Maria Samdal, 39 2. BEL - Evi Van Acker, 40 3. NZL - Jo Aleh, 44 5. USA - Anna Tunnicliffe, 51 6. USA - Paige Railey, 52 470 Men (113 entrants): 1. FRA - Nicolas Charbonnier/Olivier Bausset, 35 2. FRA - Pierre Leboucher/Vincent Garos, 40 3. GRE - Mantis Panagiotis/Theodoros Polichronid 45 8. USA - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/Dave Hughes, 84 Laser (188 entrants): 1. AUS - Michael Blackburn, 42 2. SWE - Johan Wigforss, 50 3. CRO - Tonci Stipanovic, 62 9. USA - Brad Funk, 73 Finn (68 entrants): 1. DEN - Jonas Hoegh Christensen, 25 2. GRE - Emilios Papathanasi, 27 3. NZL - Dan Slater, 54 17. USA - Zach Railey, 108 470 Women (60 entrants): 1. ITA - Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol, 31 2. GER - Stefanie Rothweiler/Vivien Kussatz, 37 3. FRA - Ingrid Petitjean/Nadege Douroux, 55 26. USA - Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving, 153 RS:X Men (108 entrants): 1. NZL - Tom Ashley, 15 2. ISR - Shahar Zubari, 33 3. FRA - Julien Bontemps, 39 33. CAN - Zac Plavsic, 129 RS:X Women (71 entrants): 1. GBR - Bryony Shaw, 18 2. ESP - Blanca Manchon, 24 3. CHN - Yin Jian, 25 33. CAN - Dominique Vallee, 139 49er (74 entrants): 1. GBR - Chris Draper/Simon Hiscocks, 42 2. GER - Marcus Baur/Hannes Baumann, 53 3. AUT - Nico Luca Delle/Karth Le Resch Nikolaus 56 34. CAN - Rob Dale/Hunter Lowden, 169April 26, America's Cup, Valencia: Spanish rising, Kiwis falling at the Louis Vuitton Cup Thursday. Desafío Español won both its races on Thursday to climb higher up the leaderboard, while BMW ORACLE Racing remains undefeated at the Louis Vuitton Cup. Near the top of the table, Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge beat Emirates Team New Zealand to remain in the top three on the points table.
Racing conditions were excellent with an Easterly wind of 10 knots blowing across the race areas. The conditions were gusty and shifty, leaving plenty of passing lanes for the tacticians to discover. And the Umpires were busy on Thursday as well, with penalties the deciding factor in a number of races.
FLIGHT 8:
The first match saw United Internet Team Germany pick up an unexpected penalty in a pre-start port/starboard incident. While Desafío Español won the early advantage and took the favoured right, the Germans regained ground later on the first beat to round the weather mark 13 seconds behind. The Germans once again chose the correct side going left on the run and ended up just 9 seconds astern at the leeward gate. On the second lap the speed of ESP 97 along with superior tactics prevailed, and the Spanish finished 52 seconds ahead.
Areva Challenge and Victory Challenge provided dramatic action in their match. The Swedes gained the upper hand in the pre-start causing Areva to start 15 seconds behind. The French team entered into a tacking duel with the Swedes up the right side of the beat. Areva was allowed to take the right and during the tacking duel the Swedes picked up a penalty for tacking too close. Matters went from bad to worse when Areva pulled ahead on the race course, to round the weather mark with a 7 second advantage. The Swedes pulled in front on the second beat, rounding the weather mark 9 seconds ahead, but still holding a penalty. Magnus Holmberg and his team outgunned the French on the run and were just able to carry out their penalty turn in time to squeeze across the finishing line ahead of the French.
The duel between Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and Team Shosholoza was no less tense. After an early advantage to the Italians, a tacking duel at the latter stage of the first beat saw the Italians lead around the weather mark just 8 seconds ahead. The Italians sailed well on the run extending their lead to 38 seconds on the run after the South Africans ripped their spinnaker. However another prolonged tacking duel on the third beat saw the South Africans recover once again to round with an 8 second deficit. An ambitious gybe set at the second mark rounding momentarily delayed Shosholoza who once again began closing on the Italians down the left side of the course. But just out from the finish, Shosholoza ripped another spinnaker and could only watch as Mascalzone Latino sailed on to victory.
+39 failed to threaten BMW Oracle Racing in their match and China Team did not start its match against Emirates Team New Zealand, after returning to shore with technical difficulties, allowing the Kiwis two easy points.
FLIGHT 9:
The bad news in this match started early for Dean Barker when the Italian boat put a penalty on the New Zealanders early in the pre-start, after the Umpires judged the Kiwis hadn't kept clear in the dial-up. The two split at the start with Luna Rossa heading out to the left gaining the advantage. The Italians pushed the New Zealanders out beyond the starboard layline, luffing them up beyond the weather mark, eventually rounding just 10 seconds ahead. Emirates TNZ lost more on the run rounding 26 seconds astern. But on the final run, they edged ahead of the Italians. However their margin wasn't large enough to complete a penalty turn and after a failed attempt to luff Luna Rossa in an effort to offset the penalty, they finished 48 seconds astern after completing their penalty turn.
In their match with BMW ORACLE Racing, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team pulled out a small lead when they were first to catch a favourable shift on the beat. The result was a prolonged tacking duel. After a brief respite in the middle of the beat, the tacking duel resumed and during this the Italians picked up a penalty for tacking too close. On the port layline into the weather mark BMW ORACLE overtook the Italians to leeward to round the top mark 20 seconds ahead. Mascalzone Latino didn't lose heart repeatedly gybing down the run, but the Americans then began to show their greater horsepower to win by 1:38.
After their rig and appendage issues and with no wins in Round Robin One, +39 Challenge put up a strong showing against Team Shosholoza. Following an intense tacking battle up the first beat the South Africans rounded the weather mark 13 seconds ahead. +39 continued to hound the South Africans on the run rounding the gate mark on their transom but were ultimately unable to get past Shosholoza who won by 26 seconds.
Victory Challenge led Desafío Español out of the start, but was outpaced by the Spanish on the left of the beat and despite the Swedes splitting from the Spaniards on the final leg enabling them to draw level, Desafío put two more points on the board winning by 35 seconds.
China Team once again forfeited their race, due to keel problems, handing Areva Challenge two easy points.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Thursday's Races:
Flight 8 1. Desafío Español beats United Internet Team Germany 0.52 Delta 2. Victory Challenge beats Areva Challenge 0.05 3. Emirates Team New Zealand won China did not start 4. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team beats Team Shosholoza 0.56 5. BMW Oracle Racing beats +39 Challenge 2:14 Flight 9 1. Desafío Español beats Victory Challenge 0.35 2. Luna Rossa Challenge beats Emirates Team New Zealand 0.48 3. Areva Challenge won China Team did not start 4. Team Shosholoza beats +39 Challenge 0.26 5. BMW Oracle Racing beats Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team 1.38 Provisional Leaders Bonus Pts - Matches Sailed - Matches Won - Total Pts 1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-8-8 19 2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-8-6 16 3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-8-6 15 4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-8-6 15 5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-8-6 14 6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-8-5 12 7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-9-4 10 8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-8-3 7 9. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-8-1 3 10. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-8-0 2 11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-9-0 1 Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.Flights 10 and 11 are on for Friday April 27, which would complete the schedule for Round Robin 1. If these flights are completed, the schedule rolls right into Round Robin 2 on Saturday, where each team will get one more race against each other. It will be at the close RR2 when the top 4 teams advance to the semi-finals. The forecast for Friday is for lots of clouds, lighter but steady breezes from northeast, and the risk of rain. Temperature is expected to be about 61 degrees F.
http://www.americascup.com
French Sailing Olympic Week, Hyeres, France: Not a breath of wind Wednesday morning in Hyeres, however slowly building to a light 6 knots and then gradually increased to 8 by mid afternoon. This has been the theme for some time, but it may all be coming to an end, as the forecast for Thursday is for the easterly wind, fresh and strong, to be blowing straight into the bay from the only direction where the islands will not tame the waves. If the current leaders are positioned due to their light air prowess, look for that to be revealed as the strong winds and seas move in.
With the qualifying stage of the event completed, all the top North American teams are now positioned in the Gold flight. The next goal is to be in the top ten by the end of Thursday, wherein those positions than move on to the Olympic-style medal race on Friday. Continuing to climb in the standings is the American 470 Mens team of Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/Dave Hughes, who are now on the bubble in 10th. American Finn sailor Zach Railey is moving up as well, but will need to overcome an 8 point deficit to continue sailing on Friday. -- Results: http://sof.ffvoile.net
Results of Top North Americans (position / total entrants): Tornado - Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle CAN, 1/ 43 Yngling - Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi USA, 2/ 29 Laser Radial - Paige Railey USA, 2/105 Laser - Brad Funk USA, 5/188 470 Men - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/Dave Hughes USA, 10/113 Finn - Zach Railey USA, 14/ 68 470 Women - Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving USA, 18/ 60 49er - Rob Dale/ Hunter Lowden CAN, 29/ 74 RS:X Women - Dominique Vallee CAN, 36/ 71 RS:X Men - Zac Plavsic CAN, 54/108
Wednesday: Flight 7 - BMW Oracle wins against AREVA Challenge (Delta: 2.54). April 25, America's Cup, Valencia, Wednesday: For the second consecutive day, good racing conditions blessed the waters off Port America's Cup in Valencia and two full flights of racing were completed. Conditions were ideal for America's Cup racing with winds up to 13 knots on the south race course and between six and 10 knots on the north race area.
BMW ORACLE Racing remains the only team to be undefeated at the Louis Vuitton Cup, today securing a win over Areva Challenge in Flight 7. The Americans are at the top of the table, one point ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand.
It was also a big day for the home team of Desafío Español who earned two wins to climb the leaderboard. The Spanish side made a nice passing move over Shosholoza in the last match of the day, diving inside the South African team around the windward mark to eke out a small advantage. The Spanish extended to win the race and move into fifth place overall.
Flights 8 and 9 of Round Robin One are scheduled on Thursday when a frontal system is expected to bring cloudy skies, the possibility of rain and an Easterly 10 knot breeze.
FLIGHT 6
After their close race earlier with BMW ORACLE and following a big win over Luna Rossa yesterday, all eyes were on Team Shosholoza as they lined up with the top challenger on the Louis Vuitton Ranking, Emirates Team New Zealand. The two boats were evenly matched out of the start and after a long tack out to the left, Paolo Cian at the helm of the South African boat tacked towards the Kiwi boat. The two boats carried out an extensive tacking duel up the first beat, with Emirates Team New Zealand slowly pulling away to round the weather mark 23 seconds ahead. While the New Zealanders were unable to extend dramatically over the South Africans, they did manage to slowly gain seconds on each leg to win by 1:23.
Surprisingly the closest match of this flight was between Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and United Internet Team Germany. At the helm of the German boat Jesper Bank and his team chose well in heading right and despite being the underdog kept it close with the Italians during a tacking duel off towards the starboard layline. The two boats were metres apart all the way up the beat, but the Italians slowly pulled away rounding the top mark with a 22 second advantage. The German team was unable to threaten the Italians in any great way for the remainder of the race, although they made nice gains from a shift on the final run to finish just 24 seconds behind.
Areva Challenge did equally well in its race against Luna Rossa, but still fell short of winning. Following their two defeats yesterday, the Italians added a welcome two points to their total on the scoreboard, with Areva finishing just 33 seconds behind. Victory Challenge sailed +39 Challenge over the port layline, then extended to win by 55 seconds while, as expected, Desafío Español dispatched China Team without drama.
FLIGHT 7
Team Shosholoza came good once again in the entertainment stakes in its match with Desafío Español. Held on the south course, this race started in winds gusting near 15 knots - the most seen so far at this Louis Vuitton Cup.
Shosholoza was nearly locked out at the committee boat end of the start line but won the favoured right while the Spanish charged away toward the pin. The two boats took a long leg out to the left side with Shosholoza a nose ahead. After a tacking duel, the boats still neck and neck, Shosholoza narrowly led around the weather mark with the Spanish on their transom. But the South Africans appeared to have problems on their spinnaker hoist, while the Spanish crew work was slick and with a faster hoist on ESP 97, the Spanish drew level and then slowly pulled ahead. From the leeward gate rounding where they were 20 seconds astern, the South Africans were never again in contention. The only minor hiccup came when a bowman on the Spanish boat briefly fell overboard as they rounded the leeward gate, but he was retrieved by the crew as they passed by.
A surprisingly close match took place between two of the Italian teams as Luna Rossa and +39 Challenge had a good battle. On the first beat Iain Percy's team on +39 claimed the right, putting them ahead of Luna Rossa. This situation remained the same in spite of a prolonged tacking duel out towards the starboard layline. +39 Challenge was in good shape leading into the weather mark until they tacked too early, following an aggressive luff from Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill. The two extra tacks into the mark let the powerful Luna Rossa through and from there they went on to win by 1:22.
In BMW ORACLE Racing's match against Areva Challenge, Larry Ellison's well polished team pulled ahead on the first beat, ultimately finishing the race ahead of the French team by an impressive 2:54 margin. Similarly despite a brave pre-start from Jesper Bank at the helm of United Internet Team Germany, Emirates Team New Zealand outshone the German team and finished ahead by more than one minute.
Finally Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team race turned into a walkover when China Team suffered damage half way up the first leg of the race course and were forced to retire.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Wednesday Races:
FLIGHT 6: 1. Luna Rossa beat AREVA Challenge 0.33 2. Victory Challenge beat +39 Challenge 0.55 4. Desafío Español 2007 beat China Team 2.01 5. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team beat United Internet Team Germany 0.24 6. Emirates Team New Zealand beat Team Shosholoza 1.23 Flight 7: 1. BMW ORACLE Racing beat AREVA Challenge 2.54 2. Luna Rossa Challenge beat +39 Challenge 1.22 4. Emirates Team New Zealand beat United Internet Team Germany 1.03 5. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team won, China Team did not finish 6. Desafío Español 2007 beat Team Shosholoza 0.57 Provisional Leaders Bonus Pts - Matches Sailed - Matches Won - Total Pts 1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-6-6 15 2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-6-5 14 3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-7-5 13 4. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-6-5 12 5. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-6-4 11 6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-6-4 10 7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-7-3 8 8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-6-2 5 9. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-7-1 3 10. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-6-0 2 11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-7-0 1 Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.America's Cup Weather. At a media briefing this morning (Wednesday), the Alinghi weather team, Jon Bilger and Jack Katzfey explained to the media the recent weather pattern that has been plaguing the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup. They gave the statistics of sailing days in Valencia from 2000 until now and an explanation of the tools they use to make their weather predictions. Alinghi team skipper, Brad Butterworth, was also present. Here are some of the frequently asked questions, answered:
1. Why do we have this irregular weather pattern in April?
"This April is very unusual in the sense that we have an atmospheric block over Europe which is not atypical, but it is a particularly strong block and the position of it is what is causing these weak winds over Valencia for a prolonged period," explains Jack Katzfey.
2. What are the statistics on sailing in April, May and June?
"The statistics from 2000 to 2007 are very good for April, May and June. They vary between 80 to 90% of sailing days. However the percentage this month has been just 50% versus the 80/90% so you can see that this has been an exceptionally bad year," explains Jon Bilger.
3. How do you make these weather predictions - what tools do you use?
"There are basically three things that you need, the first is analysis of the atmosphere, then you need a model of the atmosphere in which you input the analysis, then you run the model to give a prediction. That is a basic tool that most meteorological offices use to predict the weather," explains Jack Katzfey.
4. What is the Meteorological Data System and why was it set up?
"The MDS is made up of 21 weather buoys on the two race courses and some of them are further off the coast, plus six land based stations. All the teams have received the same data, this is the first time this has been done and it has been very useful. The motivation for doing this, was to avoid duplication of resources by having several weather boats from different teams sitting next to each other and to provide more detailed information on course winds. The desire to reduce costs of competition in the Cup was the initial motivation in creating this system," Jon Bilger.
5. What influence did Alinghi have on the selection of Valencia?
"Influence, none at all, the Alinghi weather team was commissioned by America's Cup Management to supply a report on Valencia weather among eight other cities. ACM then made the selection through a bidding process, about which you will need to ask them for any detail", Jon Bilger.
6. Have Alinghi's long-term predictions for June changed?
"No", Jon Bilger.
7. Armed with this year's weather data to add to the existing data, would you still recommend Valencia to hold an LVC in April/May and the America's Cup Match in June?
"Yes of course, you can see from the data that this has been an exceptionally bad month, it has
been unlucky, but any venue at any time can suffer from this sort of thing. The weather is the
weather after all and it is uncontrollable", Jon Bilger.
8. Knowing what you know now, what other venue for the America's Cup would you have recommended?
"We still stand by our analysis that Valencia is a good sailing venue, it should not be judged on a single meteorological event" Jon Bilger.
French Olympic Sailing Week, Hyeres, France. Despite the continuance of light winds, the 6 racing committees succeeded in hosting 36 races to bring most classes up to date with their schedule. Many of the classes have been split into groups for qualifying, and today was the last qualification stage. The finals will start Wednesday and the fleets will be spread in Gold, Silver, Bronze and Emerald groups depending on their fleet size. With the worst race dropped from the overall results, a few changes could appear in the classifications. Only the Lasers have an insufficient number of races to allow a discard, so the division into the final groups will be made counting all races. Despite the light air, the weather has been a treat - dry and warm, as opposed to windy and wet, reportedly the norm for this time of year. Similar conditions are expected for Wednesday, but forecasters predict the winds to begin to build by Thursday.
The top North American teams continue their upward trend, with four teams now in podium position. Most impressive is the Canadian Tornado team of Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle, who rolled a 1-2 today to lead their event. The American Yngling team of Barkow/ Howe/ Capozzi is a mere 4 points out of first, with American Laser sailor Brad Funk showing remarkable consistency (5-1-7-3) to also be in second. The chance for a medal in the Laser Radial class improved significantly with the drop race, as Anna Tunnicliffe remained in third while Paige Railey moved up to fourth after being able to drop the DNF she received Monday when she sailed a flight race with the wrong group. -- http://sof.ffvoile.net
Results of Top North Americans:
position / total entrants
Tornado Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle CAN, 1/ 43
Yngling Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi USA, 2/ 29
Laser Brad Funk USA, 2/188
Laser Radial Anna Tunnicliffe USA, 3/105
470 Men Mikee Anderson-Mitterling / Dave Hughes USA, 12/113
Finn Zach Railey USA, 17/ 68
470 Women Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving USA, 28/ 60
49er Rob Dale/ Hunter Lowden CAN, 36/ 74
RS:X Women Dominique Vallee CAN, 34/ 71
RS:X Men Zac Plavsic CAN, 53/108
US SAILING's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has selected 16 American sailors to compete at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 13-29, 2007. The sailing competition of the 2007 Pan American Games will feature nine events, including three Olympic classes Laser (Men), Laser Radial (Women) and RS:X (Men and Women) - and five non-Olympic, open classes - Hobie 16, J/24, Lightning, Snipe and Sunfish.The members of the 2007 Pan American Games Sailing Team are:
Hobie 16 Bob Merrick, Branford, CT./Eliza Cleveland, Branford, CT.
J/24 Daniel Borrer, St. Augustine Beach, FL./Nate Vilardebo, Tampa, FL.
Patrick Wilson, Savannah, GA./Josh Putnam, Augusta, GA.
Laser Andrew Campbell, San Diego, CA.
Laser Radial Paige Raile, Clearwater, FL.
Lightning David Starck, Buffalo, NY./Jody Starck, Buffalo, NY./Bill Faude, Chicago, IL.
RS:X Men Ben Barger, Tampa, FL.
RS:X Women Nancy Rio, Cocoa Beach, FL.
Snipe Augie Diaz, Miami, FL./Tracy Smith, Newport, RI.
Sunfish Paul Foerster, Rockwall, Texas
These athletes qualified for the 2007 Pan American Games Sailing Team after winning a select regatta previously determined as a qualifying event for each class. If a winner declined the opportunity, the spot was offered to the next placed team at the qualifying event. The OSC then nominated the team to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Athletes must be U.S. citizens to qualify for the team, members of US SAILING and the classes they sail in."We have a talented group of seasoned athletes who have competed at previous Olympic and Pan American Games,² said Team Leader Scott Iklé (Geneva, N.Y.). ³They know the stakes. They are going to sail hard."
A complete overview of the athlete selection procedures and individual class web sites for the 2007 Pan American Games is available at: www.ussailing.org/olympics/PanAm
Tuesday - BMW Oracle Racing beating Luna Rossa Challenge.
Gilles Martin-Raget/BMWOracle Racing
April 24, America's Cup, Valencia, Spain. Sea breeze conditions returned to Valencia on Tuesday allowing two full flights of races to be completed at the Louis Vuitton Cup. There was plenty of action on the race course where the South African Team Shosholoza earned an impressive victory over Luna Rossa Challenge. The Italian Luna Rossa team began the day undefeated, but eventually lost both races on the day, dropping their second match of the afternoon to BMW ORACLE Racing.
By the end of racing on Tuesday, it was the American boat that would be at the top of the table, undefeated in five matches.
As expected, the battle to be included in the top four challengers is fierce. Only the top four will qualify to advance to the Semi Finals and three teams currently occupy that spot, with Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, Victory Challenge and Shosholoza all on 8 points from 3 Louis Vuitton Cup victories. The home team, Desafío Español 2007, sits one point further back.
FLIGHT 4:
Team Shosholoza claimed the scalp of Luna Rossa in perhaps one of the most significant matches of Round Robin One. At the helm of the South African entry, Paolo Cian was able to edge ahead on the left of Luna Rossa off the starting line, and with the Italian team showing no speed advantage upwind, skipper James Spithill instigated a tacking duel. However the South Africans, showing considerable poise, lost nothing from this duel to lead around the weather mark. The South Africans showed the way down the run and made no mistakes in their crew manoeuvres. After a lengthy tacking duel up the second beat, the Shosholoza crew kept their cool and the Italian team were unable to do anything than follow the South African underdogs all the way to the finish.
The Shosholoza match upstaged what many assumed would be the fight of the day between Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and Desafío Español, who are felt to be the most likely contenders for the all-important final place in the four team Semi Finals. After an aggressive pre-start between helmsmen Karol Jablonski on the Spanish boat and Jes Gram-Hansen, starting helmsman for the Italians, the Spanish controlled the start and the first beat, bouncing the Italian team beyond the starboard layline, pulling out a lead the Latin Rascals were unable to recover.
In other matches, Emirates Team New Zealand comfortably beat Areva Challenge, the Kiwis sailing safely and confidently, while Victory Challenge were unable to match the speed of BMW ORACLE Racing, and Jesper Bank's skill prevailed in United Internet Team Germany's against China Team, where one crewman fell over board and had to be picked up by a chase boat.
FLIGHT 5:
The best match of Flight 5 took place between Luna Rossa Challenge and BMW ORACLE Racing. This was previewed as a battle between undefeated teams, but by the time this second match of the afternoon for both teams started, Luna Rossa had already fallen to Shosholoza. This was a close race all the way around and after an aggressive pre-start, both boats raced out to the left side of the course, with BMW ORACLE Racing in a more powerful position to the right. Skipper Chris Dickson converted tactically powerful advantage into an 8-second lead at the top mark. This tiny margin was only just extended to 15-seconds when the teams reached the top for the second time and Luna Rossa was able to attack on the final run to the finish. But in the event, Dickson held his nerve and the Americans remained undefeated by virtue of a 6-second victory.
The other matches in Flight 5 weren't as close, with +39 Challenge falling behind in the pre-start and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia extending the rest of the race. Emirates Team New Zealand out-sailed the Spanish to win by 1:12, while Victory Challenge had more pace than United Internet Team Germany. And Shosholoza won its second victory of the day by beating China Team.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Scheduled Races Tuesday
FLIGHT FOUR 1. Emirates Team New Zealand beats Areva Challenge 1:55 2. Desafío Español 2007 beats Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia 0:39 4. United Internet Team Germany beats China Team 4:01 5. Team Shosholoza beats Luna Rossa Challenge 0:36 6. BMW ORACLE Racing beats Victory Challenge 1:18 Bye - +39 Challenge FLIGHT 5 1. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team beats +39 Challenge 1:12 2. Emirates Team New Zealand beats Desafío Español 2007 1:12 4. Victory Challenge beats United Internet Team Germany 0:56 5. BMW ORACLE Racing beats Luna Rossa Challenge 0:06 6. Team Shosholoza beats China Team 2:05 Bye - AREVA Challenge Provisional Leaders (Bonus Pts - Matches Sailed - Matches Won - Total Pts) 1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3-5-5 13 2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-4-3 10 3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-5-3 9 4. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-4-3 8 4. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-5-3 8 4. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-5-3 8 7. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-4-2 7 8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-4-2 5 9. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-5-1 3 10. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-4-0 2 11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-5-0 1 Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won.Flights 6 and 7 are scheduled for Wednesday, with all eyes on Team Shosholoza to see if they can continue their strong performance against Emirates Team New Zealand and Desafío Español. See the complete schedule at http://www.americascup.com/en/americascup/program/calendrier.php
Tuesday.
Photo: Photo: © Guilain Grenier/www.raget-martin.com
French Olympic Sailing Week, Hyeres, France. The sailing conditions were again challenging Monday with a light and shifty sea breeze allowing for minimal racing in most classes. One of the challenges when running large Olympic events like this is in course management, and when the wind direction is not stable, the quality of racing can be sacrificed. Comments Carrie Howe of the American Yngling team, "There are six race courses positioned inside this 27 square mile bay off Hyeres, and our course was tucked under a peninsula with the sea breeze coming down one side and fighting with a land breeze dominating the other side. There was breeze on both sides of the course, and both sides were paying, so it was necessary to make some tough calls."
As a group, the North American contingent mostly made a charge today in the standings, moving up from their position of the previous day. Americans Anna Tunnicliffe and Brad Funk made the greatest leaps in the Laser Radial and Laser fleets respectively, but positions are also quite strong in the Tornado and Yngling classes. The bad news of the day befell Americans Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving (470 W), who more than doubled their score by rolling a 51st, and Paige Railey, who inexplicably scored a DNF for Monday's first race, dropping her from 6th to 19th overall in Laser Radial. -- http://sof.ffvoile.net
Results of Top North Americans position/total entrants: Laser Radial - Anna Tunnicliffe USA, 3/105; up from 11th Laser - Brad Funk USA, 4/188; up from 17th Tornado - Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle CAN, 4/ 43; up from 6th Yngling - Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi USA, 4/ 29; up from 6th Finn - Geoffrey Ewenson USA, 19/ 68; up from 24th 49er - Rob Dale/ Hunter Lowden CAN, 21/ 74 470 Men - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/Dave Hughes USA, 22/113; up from 23rd 470 Women - Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving USA, 26/ 60; down from 9th RS:X Women - Dominique Vallee CAN, 38/ 71; up from 48th RS:X Men - Zac Plavsic CAN, 53/108; up from 60th
Monday.April 23, America's Cup. Light conditions continue over the waters off Valencia on Monday, racing was postponed in Flights 4 and 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup. It was a clear, bright and sunny day, but the sunshine generated a weak sea breeze that battled the Northeasterly gradient wind to a stalemate. At altitude, the gradient wind was blowing onshore at up to 15 knots, but this only suppressed the circulation so vital to developing a strong sea breeze.
On Monday, winds never exceeded the seven knot threshold that would allow fair racing on either race course and at 16:10 (9:10 CDT), the Race Committee postponed racing for the day. Under the revised schedule for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the postponed flights of racing are rescheduled to Tuesday.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Scheduled Races for Tuesday:
Scheduled for Tuesday: FLIGHT FOUR 1. United Internet Team Germany vs. China Team 2. Team Shosholoza vs. Luna Rossa Challenge 3. Victory Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 4. Areva Challenge vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - +39 Challenge FLIGHT 5 1. China Team vs. Team Shosholoza 2. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Desafío Español 2007 4. Victory Challenge vs. United Internet Team Germany 5. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 6. +39 Challenge vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - AREVA Challenge
Photo: © Guilain Grenier/www.raget-martin.comFrench Olympic Sailing Week, Hyeres, France. Sunday: Light and shifty conditions provided tactical racing for the first day of the 39th edition of the French Sailing Olympic Week in Hyeres, France. This Grade 1 World Ranking event is also one the events on the new World Sailing Tour; 920 boats from 58 countries are in attendance, with the highest participation coming from France (106 boats), Great Britain (62), and China (50). The difficult conditions on Sunday created some surprises in some classes where the usual favourites didn¹t perform as expected. The Star fleet is not represented at this event, where after a 2-hour postponement to wait for sufficient winds, the Laser and 49er fleets were the only groups not to complete 2 races.
The highlights for the North American contingent was seeing the Canadian Tornado team of Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle win the final race of the day, and to see American Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey post a 4th and 5th in her first European event of the season. Unfortunately, the top placing North American Laser sailor in the Olympic event two weeks ago in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Andrew Campbell (USA), suffered a sprained wrist and broken thumb during a training incident, and has been forced to return to the US for treatment. The weather forecast for Monday is suggesting light conditions again. -- http://sof.ffvoile.net
Best USA position/total entrants Laser Radial - Paige Railey USA, 6/105 Tornado - Don Thinschmidt/Drew Wierda USA, 34/ 44 Yngling - Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi USA, 6/ 29 470 Women - Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving USA, 9/ 60 Laser - Brad Funk USA, 17/188 470 Men - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling / Dave Hughes USA, 23/113 Finn - Geoffrey Ewenson USA, 24/ 68
Sunday: BMWOracle Racing beats Team Shosholoza Flight 3.April 22, America's Cup, Valencia. The light conditions prevailing at the Louis Vuitton Cup continued on Sunday but the gradient breeze proved just strong and stable enough for fair racing. One flight of racing was completed in front of a large spectator fleet eager to see America's Cup action.
Flight 3 started after a brief postponement in 8 knots of Northeasterly breeze. This flight should have been routine for most of the bigger teams over their smaller rivals, but this was not the case in many of the matches.
Most surprising was China Team which led Magnus Holmberg's powerful Victory Challenge team for two thirds of the first beat. They were then overhauled by the Swedes who proceeded to extend, scoring the highest finish delta (3:50) of the five races.
There was more upset for BMW ORACLE Racing when Team Shosholoza led the American boat off the start, again claiming the favourable right side. Paolo Cian and his young Shosholoza crew did a superb job fending off Chris Dickson's vastly experienced team and led them around the first lap of the race course, despite dropping their spinnaker in the water at the leeward gate. But in the closing stages of the second beat the South Africans were finally overhauled and Dickson then prudently covered Shosholoza to preserve the win.
United Internet Team Germany also looked strong on the right of the first beat against Luna Rossa. Behind the wheel of the Italian boat James Spithill engaged the German team's Jesper Bank in a tacking duel in the latter stages of the first beat to take control. While Luna Rossa led for the rest of the race it was by no means a walk over for the Italian team, who won by just 50 seconds.
On the south course, there was further upset in the match between Areva Challenge and Desafío Español when the French underdogs led off the line. They were eventually overtaken by the Spanish team who led round the top mark. But disaster struck on the Spanish boat when, during their first gybe, the end of their spinnaker pole broke. Although Karol Jablonski and his Spanish team caught up on the second beat, they were crippled by their broken pole on the run to the finish and Sebastien Col and has French team went on to secure an important win.
In the final match on the south course +39 Challenge gained the right at the start, but were unable to match the pace of Emirates Team New Zealand who scored a large win against Iain Percy's team.
With the wind going soft in the late afternoon, Flight 4 was postponed until Monday, when Flights 4 and 5 are now scheduled.
Louis Vuitton Cup -
FLIGHT 3 1. Luna Rossa Challenge beat United Internet Team Germany 0:50 2. Victory Challenge beat China Team 3:50 3. BMW ORACLE Racing beat Team Shosholoza 0:47 4. Areva Challenge beat Desafío Español 2007 2:06 5. Emirates Team New Zealand beat +39 Challenge 2:41 Bye - Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team Scheduled for Monday: FLIGHT FOUR 1. United Internet Team Germany vs. China Team 2. Team Shosholoza vs. Luna Rossa Challenge 3. Victory Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 4. Areva Challenge vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - +39 Challenge FLIGHT 5 1. China Team vs. Team Shosholoza 2. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Desafío Español 2007 4. Victory Challenge vs. United Internet Team Germany 5. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 6. +39 Challenge vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - AREVA ChallengeApril 21, America's Cup, Valencia. Saturday: On the first scheduled weekend of racing at the Louis Vuitton Cup a large spectator fleet assembled on a sunny and warm Saturday to watch the action, but once again the wind didn't cooperate, and there was no racing. It's the fifth day to have racing postponed due to a lack of wind.
The challengers have agreed to amend the racing schedule to allow for the disruption caused by the postponements. Each of the Round Robin One flights will now be conducted in order and Round Robin One will be completed before Round Robin Two begins.
Fortunately, the forecast for Sunday is more promising. A stronger Easterly gradient wind should allow racing in Flights 3 and 4, on what is forecast to be a mainly clear Sunday.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Scheduled Races for Sunday:
FLIGHT 3 1. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. United Internet Team Germany 2. Victory Challenge vs. China Team 3. BMW ORACLE Racing vs. Team Shosholoza 4. Areva Challenge vs. Desafío Español 2007 5. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. +39 Challenge Bye - Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team FLIGHT 4 1. United Internet Team Germany vs. China Team 2. Team Shosholoza vs. Luna Rossa Challenge 3. Victory Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 4. Areva Challenge vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - +39 Challenge
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
Friday 10:30 CDT Photo: BMW Oracle leads United Internet Team Germany
April 20, America's Cup, Valencia. On the fifth day, they raced. Following four difficult days where racing was postponed due to a lack of wind, the Louis Vuitton Cup started on Friday with Flights 1 and 2. The Italian Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team were the early heroes, beating the top ranked challenger, Emirates Team New Zealand in Flight 1. The Italians won their second match as well, to vault up the leaderboard.
Racing took place in light conditions with winds between six and 10 knots. Before racing, the challengers agreed to change the schedule for the remainder of the Louis Vuitton Cup in order to make up for the lost days. Flights in Round Robin One will be sailed in order, and completed, before the beginning of Round Robin Two.
FLIGHT 1:
Racing started on time on the south course where BMW ORACLE Racing and Luna Rossa scored predictable wins respectively over United Internet Team Germany and China Team.
The closest race down south was between evenly matched Victory Challenge and Team Shosholoza. Paolo Cian at the helm of the South African boat won the start causing Victory Challenge to tack away. Victory was bounced out to the starboard layline by Shosholoza but the two boats remained neck and neck up the beat, with Victory just managing to hold on to round the top mark 16 seconds ahead. Despite the South Africans remaining close the Swedish team were able to extend, particularly down the final run, to win by 46 seconds.
The biggest upset came on the north course. In the match between Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and Emirates Team New Zealand, the Italians benefited from choosing the right side of the course out of the start and quickly pulled ahead. Dean Barker and his crew were unable to challenge them on the first beat with the Italians rounding the top mark 19 seconds ahead. The Kiwis appeared to have a small speed edge on the run, reaching the leeward gate on the transom of Mascalzone Latino, but Vasco Vascotto and team sailed their own race for the next two legs and led Emirates Team New Zealand across the finish line ahead by just 15 seconds, earning a tremendous victory for the Italians.
FLIGHT 2:
While there was no overturning of the form book as there was in Flight 1, Team Shosholoza entered the history books, putting South Africa's first ever point on a Louis Vuitton Cup scoreboard when they led United Internet Team Germany around the race track to win by a comfortable 1:10.
BMW ORACLE Racing's match against China Team was decidedly one sided, Chris Dickson and his crew leading Pierre Mas' Franco-Chinese team from the start, and going on to finish 4:36 ahead.
The margin was not so large for the match between Victory Challenge and James Spithill's crew on board Luna Rossa. Magnus Holmberg at the helm of the Swedish entry got the better of Spithill in the start and was able to keep his boat ahead for much of the first beat. But eventually, the speed of Luna Rossa prevailed, the Italian team getting another two points on the board, finishing ahead by 1:07.
The most aggressive pre-start of the day was when Desafío Español 2007 flew into the pre-start box and straight into the losing end of a port-starboard incident with +39. However the Spanish led out of the start and with their better boat speed had pulled out a large enough lead to carry out their penalty turn before rounding the top mark, without losing their lead. +39 tried valiantly but the Spanish extended as the wind went light on the final run to cross the line 2:45 ahead.
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team proved again that their ITA 99 has pace. While skipper Vasco Vascotto kept it close in their match with the French Areva Challenge team, they were barely challenged and crossed the finish 1:41 ahead, and scoring their second win of the day.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Provisional Results: FLIGHT 1 1. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team beat Emirates Team New Zealand 00:15 2. AREVA Challenge beat +39 Challenge 1:09 4. BMW ORACLE Racing beat United Internet Team Germany 2:00 5. Victory Challenge beat Team Shosholoza 0:46 6. Luna Rossa Challenge beat China Team 2:07 FLIGHT 2 1. Desafío Español 2007 beat +39 Challenge 2:45 2. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team beat AREVA Challenge 1:41 3. Team Shosholoza beat United Internet Team Germany 1:10 4. BMW ORACLE Racing beat China Team 4:35 5. Luna Rossa Challenge beat Victory Challenge 1:07 Louis Vuitton Cup - Round Robin One - Provisional Leaderboard: Position Team Bonus Pts Matches Sailed Matches Won Total Points 1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98) 3 2 2 7 pts 1. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3 2 2 7 3. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2 2 2 6 4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3 1 1 5 5. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4 1 0 4 5. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2 2 1 4 5. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2 2 1 4 8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1 2 1 3 9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2 2 0 2 10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1 2 0 1 10. China Team (CHN 95) 1 2 0 1April 19, America's Cup, Valencia, Thursday - Conditions proved unsuitable for racing again at the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia. Four full days of racing have now had to be postponed due to the wind never having been strong and stable enough to start a match.
On Thursday, there were moments in the afternoon when it appeared as if the wind gods would smile on the competitors and provide enough of a sea breeze for racing. But conditions were never stable across the race areas for a long enough time to start a race. In fact, measurements from the race course areas rarely showed the wind breaking through the 7 knot barrier.
For teams, fans and race organisers alike, it has been a frustrating week: "As event organisers, we are obviously very disappointed with the current situation," acknowledged Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of the organising authority for the 32nd America's Cup. "Four days of racing have been lost due to the unusual weather circumstances across Southern Europe. A situation like this couldn't be anticipated. None of the historical weather data recorded for this period of the year in Valencia showed the possibility of four consecutive non-sailable days. In fact, for the eight Louis Vuitton Acts that took place here only two full days of racing were lost.
"This situation clearly affects the running order of the competition and we are currently in discussion with the Regatta Director and the Challenger Commission to determine what, if anything, should be done as far as the racing schedule for the next few days is concerned."
Despite the frustration at not having suitable conditions, the competitors supported the decision not to race: "The Race Committee did the right thing," said BMW ORACLE Racing strategist Eric Doyle. "We would rather have no racing than bad racing. Everybody understands that this sort of thing happens."
Flights 1 to 8 of Round Robin One have now all been pushed onto reserve days or deeper into the schedule. On Friday, the first reserve day of Round Robin One, Flights 1 and 2, which were lost on Monday, are scheduled to be raced.
Louis Vuitton Cup - Matches scheduled for Friday: FLIGHT 1 1. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 2. +39 Challenge vs. AREVA Challenge 4. United Internet Team Germany vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 5. Team Shosholoza vs. Victory Challenge 6. China Team vs. Luna Rossa Challenge Bye - Desafío Español 2007 2007 FLIGHT 2 1. Desafío Español 2007 vs. +39 Challenge 2. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team vs. AREVA Challenge 3. United Internet Team Germany vs. Team Shosholoza 4. China Team vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 5. Victory Challenge vs. Luna Rossa Challenge Bye - Emirates Team New ZealandNO BLOW... NO GO... It's painful having to report that on Wednesday the third consecutive day, Valencia was windless and races had to be cancelled, once again. The weather was practically a repeat of Monday's and Tuesday's conditions and the breeze never went over 6 knots. As a result, the race committee decided to send everybody back to the Port at 4pm.
According to Chris Bedford, BMW Oracle meteorologist, this phenomenon is unusual but not atypical. In fact his team started collecting meteorological data on Valencia's water since 2004 and in that year there was a 5-day period early in May with extremely light winds, similar to the conditions we are experiencing since Monday. It's an unfortunate coincidence to have this period right at the beginning of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Concerning to-day - Thursday, his forecast is for light winds, much similar to today's conditions. He isn't "horribly" optimistic and if we are lucky we might have one race. Friday isn't extremely promising either but the weekend there will be some improvement.
The main reason behind phenomenon is the still small temperature differential between land and sea. Despite the seemingly summer conditions with blue and sunny skies, the land doesn't heat up sufficiently in order to create the thermal breeze. During the night the minimum temperature drops into single digits and sunshine isn't strong enough to raise land temperature to the desired level.
Today's races have been rescheduled, with Flight 5 taking place next Tuesday, 23 April. Since all reserve space has already been allocated in Round Robin 1, Flight 6 will now be the second flight of the first day of Round robin 2, exactly a week from now. -- Valencia Sailing, http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com
As done thus far this week, the scheduled flights for Thursday - Flights 7 and 8 - will continue as planned. With Friday originally held as a reserve day, it will now be used to host Flights 1 and 2. The remainder of the make-up schedule for Flights 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Round Robin 1, is being integrated into the race calendar that can be read here: http://www.americascup.com/en/americascup/program/calendrier.php
Flight 7 1. BMW Oracle Racing vs. Areva Challenge 2. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. +39 Challenge 4. United Internet Team Germany vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team vs. China Team 6. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Team Shosholoza Bye - Victory Challenge Flight 8 1. Victory Challenge vs. Areva Challenge 2. BMW Oracle Racing vs. +39 Challenge 4. Desafío Español 2007 vs. United Internet Team Germany 5. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Team Shosholoza 6. China Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand Bye - Luna Rossa Challenge
Wednesday 10:28 CDTApril 18, America's Cup, Valencia, Spain. Light conditions continue to disrupt the schedule at the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia. After three scheduled race days, no matches have been sailed in Round Robin One.
On Wednesday, race officials and the 11 teams returned to the race course area to the North and South of Port America's Cup, but conditions were similar to the two earlier days this week: plenty of sunshine and clear skies, but still not warm enough to drive the sea breeze.
At 16:05, Principal Race Officers Peter Reggio and Harold Bennett postponed racing for the afternoon for the third consecutive day. The postponed flights are now scheduled next week.
Flight 5 will be the second flight of racing on the reserve day on Monday. Flight 6 is bumped to the first day of Round Robin Two, where normally, just one flight of races is scheduled. (The scheduling of one flight per day in Round Robin Two allows for such an eventuality). With the postponement today, the first day of Round Robin Two, Wednesday, 25th April, will now also include Flight 6 from Round Robin One.
Representatives from the Race Committee spoke with the media late Wednesday afternoon saying the conditions posed a challenge to sailors, organisers and America's Cup fans alike. "It is frustrating, but we can only wait for fair conditions. There's nothing else that can be done," said Javier Esolano, the second race official for Juliet Race Committee on the south race area. "The teams don't want to race when the conditions are this uncertain and I think they are quite glad we don't start races race on days like today. Maybe in previous Louis Vuitton Acts they didn't mind taking the risk but now there is a lot more at stake. Today the MDS buoys furthest from the shore weren't registering more than four and a half knots."
Editorial Comment from Sailtexas: Could be the Wind God has sympathy with +39 team needing time to repair their broken mast - after the unsportsmanlike decision by certain other competitors - not to allow +39 to use the gift from the United Internet Team Germany of their spare mast.
Scheduled matches on Thursday: FLIGHT 7 1. BMW ORACLE Racing vs. AREVA Challenge 2. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. +39 Challenge 4. United Internet Team Germany vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team vs. China Team 6. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Team Shosholoza Bye - Victory Challenge FLIGHT 8 1. Victory Challenge vs. AREVA Challenge 2. BMW ORACLE Racing vs. +39 Challenge 4. Desafío Español 2007 vs. United Internet Team Germany 5. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Team Shosholoza 6. China Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand Bye - Luna Rossa ChallengeWomen's High Performance Dinghy Evaluation at Hyeres, France, with some of the world's top women sailors putting the six-boat line up through their paces. The 29er, 29erXX, RS800, Cherub Daemon, Carbonology GT60 and International 14 have all submitted their entries to the Evaluation Event, being held in advance of the decision on the ten events for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Evaluation events have become an important part of ISAF's commitment to develop the sport of sailing at the very highest level and make the most of new and exciting technologies. Women's sailing has grown massively since the first all-female event at the 1988 Olympic Games. In Athens the sport showed a massive 32% increase in participation by women athletes compared to four years earlier and ISAF is looking to build upon this growth.
Dina Kowalyshyn (USA), member of the ISAF Equipment Committee, Equipment Control Sub-Committee and Women's Forum, is chair of the Evaluation Panel, which also includes 1998 World Sailor of the Year Carolijn Brouwer (NED). ISAF Vice-President George Andreadis (GRE) is also in Hyeres. Amongst the sailors nominated by MNAs to sail the six boats are world #4 Women's 470 crew Sylvia Vogl (AUT) and Carolina Flatscher (AUT).
The opening day of the Evaluation Event saw all six boats out on the water in 5-6 knots of breeze.
The six boats for the trials in Hyeres are:
29er A skiff one-design, designed by Julian Bethwaite, launched in 1998
29erXX A skiff one-design, designed by Julian Bethwaite which features a carbon mast and double spreaders on the existing 29er hull
Cherub Daemon A skiff one-design, designed by Simon Roberts and Richard Taylor to fall within the 2005 UK Cherub Class Rules
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Carbonology GT60 A project by David Chisholm using a design by Paul Bieker, with the Master plug currently in production
International 14 Established 75 years ago, the twin trapeze skiff is a well known development class
RS800 A skiff one-design designed by Phil Morrison, with some modifications to the existing RS800 deck mould
April 17, America's Cup. Valencia, 17 April, 2007 - The weather hasn't been kind to the sailors to this point at the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia. For the second consecutive day, the sunny skies weren't able to generate a strong enough sea breeze to enable racing. Both scheduled flights of racing were postponed until a later date.
If you're not trying to race America's Cup boats, the weather in Valencia this week has been beautiful with clear, sunny skies and temperatures just above 20 degrees. On Monday, a bank holiday in the city, over 51 000 spectators took advantage of the sunny, warm conditions to enjoy the atmosphere and take part in the activities in Port America's Cup.
But there hasn't been enough power in the spring sun to heat up the land to the point where it sucks in the air from over the race course area, generating the renowned Valencia sea breeze which offers consistent racing conditions.
On Tuesday, all of the race crews and their boats assembled on the two race course areas in preparation for the scheduled 14:15 race start. But at the appointed time, the Race Committee postponed the start on both courses. As on Monday, the teams, regatta organisers, and spectator boats held station until late afternoon in an effort to get racing underway. But the wind never registered above five knots and a start was impossible.
The first scheduled reserve day on Friday is now in play with Flights 1 and 2 scheduled. Flights 3 and 4 will take the next available racing slot which means Flight 3 would be the second flight of racing on Sunday, and Flight 4 on the second reserve day, next Monday.
Scheduled matches on Wednesday: FLIGHT 5 1. China Team vs. Team Shosholoza 2. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Desafío Español 2007 4. Victory Challenge vs. United Internet Team Germany 5. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 6. +39 Challenge vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - AREVA Challenge FLIGHT 6 1. China Team vs. Desafío Español 2007 2. Team Shosholoza vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 4. AREVA Challenge vs. Luna Rossa Challenge 5. United Internet Team Germany vs. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team 6. +39 Challenge vs. Victory Challenge Bye - BMW ORACLE RacingAmerica's Cup. First there was the winged keel, then came 'plastic fantastic', the 'hula' and now a swinging keel is being touted as a potential America's Cup trump card in Valencia.
It has emerged one of the teams, possibly defender Alinghi, has engineered a breakthrough that could give them a huge advantage. Team New Zealand believes the hype surrounding a supposed revolutionary keel is being overplayed - Click here for full article
* More on that keel from Sail-World.com:
Over the past couple of days rumour control in Valencia has it that one of
the competitors in the 2007 America's Cup has developed a so-called canting
keel.
Further investigation has revealed that the keel does not cant, but rather
a way may have been found to reduce the amount of keel strut deflection as
a 20 tonne bulb is suspended away from the hull of a heeling America's Cup
yacht.
What the ACC Rule does not restrict is the amount of lateral deflection of fixed appendages, and it would be beneficial for any team to be able to restrict that lateral deflection of the keel due to the weight of the bulb. Twenty tonnes at the end of a 4.1 metre deep keel must cause considerable deflection, more perhaps than the one degree 'tilt' that is being bandied about and which would be equivalent to an extra 325kgs on the windward rail.
If any team is able to reduce this by one degree more than the rest, it will be a case of 'game over' early, but the entire presumption that a team has found a loophole in the rule is unlikely and has the decided odour of a red herring. Should, however, the sneaky scientists have found a way - and who knows how their devious minds work - it will make Benny Lexcen's winged keel look very agricultural. -- Click here for full article in Sail World N.Z.
* Excerpt from Stuart Alexander's editorial in the Independent:
Vibrant Valencia has turned into violent Valencia and today it will become
vicious Valencia, as the serious business of knockout trials for the 11
challengers for the America's Cup begins.
Gangs of street robbers have invaded the city and are making life a misery for foreigners as security is concentrated on the bases around the newly developed Port America's Cup. The shine on what should be a glittering event is being tarnished.
There are squabbles and wind-ups around the dock. A Maori flag has been flying over the Alinghi compound opposite Team New Zea-land, stirring memories of how they were treated by extremists in 2003.
The America's Cup has always been a cut-throat game and this 32nd defence seems unlikely to break that mould. There are, however, major changes.
What claims, at 156 years and counting, to be sport's oldest trophy is being presented in a new, more populist and commercial guise. The format, which includes a lot of pre-cup racing, was dreamed up by the defender and agreed to by Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle, as challenger of record.
No fewer than 187 crew will dock out each day but only one woman, the American Katie Pettibone, with France's Areva team, is likely to be among them. The strain, both physical and mental, of continuous racing - 20 events over the next 22 days - is made worse by success, including the major hurdle of having to peak twice in less than four weeks for the team which eventually races Alinghi.
That should be either Team New Zealand or BMW Oracle, who are both blooding the newest of their two boats, but either could be sideswiped by unforeseen problems.
The shape of things to come was indicated by what is likely to be the backmarker, the debutant Team China. "We are determined to be in the America's Cup for the long term," said the syndicate head, Chaoyong Wang -- Click here for full article in The U.K. Independent
April 16, Advanced Racing Clinic, Long Beach, CA. The world-class instructors weren't the only role models at the California International Sailing Association's windy 30th annual Advanced Racing Clinic concluding last weekend at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. A few of the students also stepped up.
One was Michael Menninger, 17, of Costa Mesa. At the awards ceremony Sunday following the championship regatta on the final day Menninger received first prize---a sailing wetsuit---for winning the Laser Radial class. Then moments later it was realized there had been a scoring error in his favor and against Philip Crain, who was already on his way home to Houston, Tex.
Crain, also 17, had been scored a maximum of 20 points for not finishing the third race, but the coaches suspected otherwise, and Menninger told them, "He finished no worse than sixth in that race, maybe better."
That was later confirmed with a phone call to Crain, and his revised fifth-place finish gave him a two-point edge. Menninger is the son of Bill Menninger, a well-known offshore and big boat sailor.
"You win some and lose some," the younger Menninger said later. "[Crain] did sail a pretty good regatta."
Meanwhile, the usual CISA Clinic Sportsmanship awards voted by the coaches and the sailors' peers were presented to Philip Lozier, Coronado, in the Radial class; Cody Shevitz, Santa Barbara, 29ers; Andrew Mason, Corona del Mar, International 420s; Matt Wenner, Los Angeles, Lasers; Nicole Popp, Tampa, Fla., Club 420s, and Ryan Lee, San Diego, CFJs.
There were 118 sailors ages 13 to 18 from 16 states stretching from Hawaii to Maine. All were selected based on the resumes. About one-third were girls. Several were sons or daughters of well-known successful sailors, and Ian Towill, 15, is the younger brother of Mark Towill, 18, a member of Roy E. Disney's Morning Light team currently training for the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii, the Towills' home.
Regatta winners 29ER (11 boats)---Danny Cayard, 18, Kentfield, Calif./Max Binstock, 17, Belvedere, Calif., 3-1-1-1-2, 8 points. LASER (12)---Caleb Paine, 16, San Diego, 4-1-2-3-2-2, 14. LASER RADIAL (19)---Philip Crain, 17, Houston, 4-1-5-2-1-2, 15. INTERNATIONAL 420 (8)---Chris Barnard, 15, Newport Beach/Chris Segerblom, 14, Costa Mesa, 1-1-3-2-1-3, 11. CLUB 420 (13)---David Harrison, 16, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Alex Swerdleff, 17, Miami, Fla., 1-1-1-1-3-1, 8. CFJ (11)---Cameron Forsberg, 17, Long Beach/AJ Robinson, 16, Long Beach, 8-7-4-1-2-2, 24.Full Results: http://www.abyc.org/upload/SailwaveResultsForCISAClinicRegatta2007.htm
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
April 16, America's Cup. No wind but Top Model Tatiana Patitz who was 18th "man" onboard BMW ORACLE Racing USA 98 - but as there was no wind there was no racing for the first day of Louis Vuitton Cup.
On Tuesday, racing is scheduled to begin in Round Robin One. The challengers race two full Round Robin series with only the top four advancing to the Semi Finals. The winners of each Semi Final best of nine will advance to the Final, from which the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will emerge.
The postponed matches will be pushed to the first available racing slot, which is the Reserve Day on Friday. On Tuesday, racing is scheduled to continue with Flights Three and Four, as previously scheduled.
Scheduled matches on Tuesday: FLIGHT 3 1. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. United Internet Team Germany 2. Victory Challenge vs. China Team 3. BMW ORACLE Racing vs. Team Shosholoza 4. Areva Challenge vs. Desafío Español 2007 5. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. +39 Challenge Bye - Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team FLIGHT 4 1. United Internet Team Germany vs. China Team 2. Team Shosholoza vs. Luna Rossa Challenge 3. Victory Challenge vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 4. Areva Challenge vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 5. Desafío Español 2007 vs. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Bye - +39 Challenge Monday's schedule now scheduled: For the Reserve Day - Friday. Flight 1: 1. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand 2. +39 Challenge vs. Areva Challenge 3. Bye Desafío Español 2007 4. United Internet Team Germany vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 5. Team Shosholoza vs. Victory Challenge 6. China Team vs. Luna Rossa Challenge Flight 2: 1. Desafío Español 2007 vs. +39 Challenge 2. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Areva Challenge 3. Bye Emirates Team New Zealand 4. United Internet Team Germany vs. Team Shosholoza 5. China Team vs. BMW ORACLE Racing 6. Victory Challenge vs. Luna Rossa Challenge+39 back sailing:
At the +39 base, in the meantime, the shore team and the technicians went on working to fix the broken mast. The profile is again in one piece, but the lamination, the curing and the mounting of the whole structure is still to be done. It is a task that will be handled on the first days of next week. Nobody is making any precise schedule but it seems that by the half of the first Round Robin the Marstrom mast will be stepped again on +39.
Super model Tatjana Patitz meets model athletes - the native of Hamburg is due to go aboard with BMW ORACLE Racing in Valencia on Monday, 16 April, and will be experiencing the fascinating "Formula One of Sailing" live and up close in the official race.
The position of 18th man is unique in the international world of sports, because this is as close as it gets. The America's Cup 2007 in Valencia is not only the highlight of the year from a sports point of view. Sports-mad Tatjana Patitz is well known throughout the world. The team of CEO and Skipper Chris Dickson believes that the model will bring them luck. In all likelihood, her presence on the yacht will further boost the motivation of the crew on the first regatta day of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Patrizio Bertelli, Head of the Luna Rossa Syndicate, this morning at the press conference stated: "The races will be very close and interesting. The quality of the Challengers is high and all the teams are competitive. It would be a mistake to try to identify ahead of time which could be our worse opponent in the finals."
Concerning the format of this edition Patrizio Bertelli, Head of the Luna Rossa Syndicate, stated: "I think that the Act formula has been interesting. I believe instead that the round robin series as it is structured now is wrong, there are too few of them. It would have been better to have an additional round robin and instead cancel the last Act, which served no purpose."
Speaking then about the possible format of the next edition the President and CEO of Gruppo Prada said: "I am totally against a version of the America's Cup held every two years; it is too short of a time span to put a team together and create a project which holds any vision. The great risk is that of standardizing the technical aspect and racing then with one-designs. We mustn't change the true nature of the America's Cup by changing it into a racing circuit similar to the many ones that already exist, taking away the prerogatives of the Defender. To transform the America's Cup into a circuit would be dangerous and would take away its charm. If the America's Cup is to take place every two years we will weigh our participation." -- http://www.lunarossachallenge.com
The tears will not just be before bedtime, they will start at breakfast and run all day when the America's Cup regatta, in the form of the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination series, starts here in Valencia tomorrow.
"This is a festival of misery and sado-masochism," says Luca Devoti, the ever-bubbling boss of the cash-strapped and so far luckless ugly duckling of the trio of Italian teams, +39. He makes no bones about the pressure that all of these 11 challenger teams from nine countries will face over the next 21 days, in which they all have to complete 20 races. It is, he says, as intense as the Tour de France.
It is also as nerve-racking as a relegation battle. At the end of two rounds in which they all sail against each other once, only the top four will go through to the challenger semi-finals. Seven, after the sweat of up to three years' work and the expenditure of millions and millions of euros, will suddenly have no reason to be ready for a working day that can run from 6am to 10pm. -- Stuart Alexander in the Independent, he's got a podcast linked up from the article as well: http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2449914.ece
Pulling no punches: Bob Fisher's editorial in Sail-World.com:
Valencia is not all that it was cracked up to be. Ask the newspaper
journalist whose car tyre was stabbed and whose cash and keys were removed
from his jacket while he changed that rear tyre; ask the television
journalists whose carefully chained bicycles were not there when they
returned; ask the two young ladies working for a syndicate who were robbed
of money in the street; ask anyone who has walked the smelly streets and
felt the full power of the odour of the drains. Ask around.
Any number of light shows and firework displays will not hide, or in any way ameliorate, the underlying climate of crime and filth that pervades the city. It is not a fit place to hold the America's Cup, an event that increasingly becomes 'made for television' and where the weather is sufficiently unreliable that the first day that Sky was due to air live coverage (of Act 13), racing was abandoned for the day.
Yet despite the seemingly dreadful state of Valencia, the crowds are flocking to the Cup Village and the two million mark of visitors has already been passed, even with the fortress-like state of the compounds.
Hopes of another America's Cup in 2009 evaporated with only three of the owners, Ralph Dommermuth of United Internet Team Germany, Stephane Kandler of Areva, and Vincenzo Onorato of Mascalzone Latino, in favour of a two-year return to action. Bertarelli clearly stated that he didn't think it should be a circuit, which was strange as he and Ellison had created just that. Full article at http://www.sail-world.com/nz/index.cfm?nid=32639
http://www.americascup.com
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
April 14, America's Cup, 11 teams are ready for action at the Louis Vuitton Cupwhich begins on Monday afternoon, with the first warning signal scheduled to fire at 14:05.
11 challengers from nine countries are racing for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the right to battle Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Match. On Saturday, the 11 skippers, along with Michel Bonnefous , the CEO of the organising body of the 32nd America's Cup and Yves Carcelle, the President and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier, sat down with the media at the opening press conference.
Michel Bonnefous spoke of the success of the four-year programme of racing, with 13 Louis Vuitton Acts, which is a prominent feature of this 32nd America's Cup. He said the event is expecting to welcome visitor number 2-million over this weekend preceding the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Yves Carcelle said the success of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series is apparent in the winning rate of the Challenger against the Defender. "I think it is highly symbolic that in 1983, the first year that Louis Vuitton gave its name to this competition, to share the passion that we all hold for the Cup, the first winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup went on to win the America's Cup and brought it to Australia. Since then, four times out of six, the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup has won the America's Cup.now (this time) we will see."
The challenging skippers are certainly anticipating close racing, hard competition, and intense action. The purpose of the Louis Vuitton is to identify the eventual challenger, and to ensure that team is battle-hardened enough to compete strongly with the Defender. The format of this edition is compressed - seven teams will be eliminated by May 7th.
"It's not like years gone by where there's been enough time to do some testing between Rounds," says Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker. "You are pretty limited in what you can change and how much you can develop, so you need to be going well right from the beginning to give yourself a chance at the end."
"This could be as competitive as the closest and most hard-fought Louis Vuitton Cups that we've seen in the past," agrees Peter Isler, the navigator for BMW ORACLE Racing. "Compared to the two Louis Vuitton Cups in Auckland, you might say we have a deeper fleet this time.so I think it'll be interesting.the racing will be close, and I think it'll be the closest Louis Vuitton Cup ever."
Each of the teams with a choice of two boats to race in the Louis Vuitton Cup have announced they will select the newest of their boats, meaning NZL 92 and USA 98 will make their competitive debuts on Monday.
The 12 teams of the 32nd America's Cup will participate in an opening Boat Parade on Saturday evening at Port America's Cup, beginning at 21:30. The light and sound show includes fireworks and special effects, paying tribute to the teams fighting for the Auld Mug.
On Monday, racing is scheduled to begin at 14:15 in Round Robin One. The challengers race two full Round Robin series with only the top four advancing to the Semi Finals. The winners of each Semi Final best of nine will advance to the Final, from which the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will emerge.
April 13, Team NZ Defends Decision to Race against Alinghi. Team New Zealand today defended their decision to race informally against America's Cup holders Alinghi, days before the battle for yachting's biggest prize begins in earnest.
Team NZ pitted themselves against Alinghi this week, upsetting other challengers concerned about the benefits the Swiss syndicate received from the exercise. Sailing and operations director Kevin Shoebridge agreed there had been some controversy in Valencia over the move. He declined to comment on a report that the two races with Alinghi ended at 1-1. "I'm not allowed to talk about this," he said with a laugh.
Shoebridge, who is in his sixth cup campaign, rejected the suggestion that informal races could produce misinformation because one side could be "sandbagging", or holding something in reserve. "That's an interesting conspiracy theory that has been going on for years now in the America's Cup, but I've never ever been in a boat that's sandbagged," he said. "It's a nice thing for people to talk about, but I honestly don't think it happens. These boats are so close in design I don't think there's the luxury of doing that." -- full article http://www.stuff.co.nz/4025087a1823.html
30th AnnualAdvanced Racing Clinic, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach, Calif. Spring break is just a rumor to 118 of the country's best young sailors - two of which are from Texas.
Laser Radial sailor Philip Crain, and 29er Taylor Lutz, both from Houston, who may feel like school is a relief after they complete the California International Sailing Association's 30th annual Advanced Racing Clinic Thursday through Sunday at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.
On and off the water, a world-class faculty of instructors will run them through 12-hour days of sail trimming, boat handling, tactics and other nuances of sailboat racing climaxing in championship racing the final day.
Director Robbie Dean said, "Because this is the year before the Olympics, coaches were hard to come by, but we have an awesome group." In fact, some of his CISA staff hope to be at Qingdao next year. The list, by class assignments:
29er---Zack Maxam, Andy Mack and Cameron Biehl, Olympic campaigners all.
CFJ-Billy Uniack, Casey Hogan.
Laser---Nick Adamson, John Pierce, Chris Wenner.
Laser Radial---Carisa Harris-Adamson, Richard Feeney, Adam Deermount, Lauren Maxam.
C-420---2004 Olympian Peter Wells, Jamie Malm, John Farrar, David Hughes.
I-420---2000 Olympic silver medalist Pease Glaser, Paralympic campaigner Nick Scandone, Brian Doyle, Mikee Anderson.
April 12, America's Cup Cup. The hard work continues at the base of the Italian Challenger +39. Easter holidays are over, they have been celebrated with 'carbon fibre spaghetti' as an Italian daily titled. The bottom part of the (mast) profile has already reached already 'phase two', that is to say to the lamination process. 'Positioning from 50 to 100 skins of unidirectional fibre - explains the team's shore manager Sebastiano Morassutti- is the second step. Before there was gluing, layering and laminating. The third phase is the curing, that will be done in the oven that was given us by the Shosholoza team and which is ready to work.
For superstition too, I'm not making any definitive programme. Let's say that we are hoping to substitute the mast during the first Round Robin. There are 12 to 14 people working now, some from the Soleri and Sicilcraft shipyards, some from the mast builder Marstrom, the whole shore team, 2 technicians and, in shifts the whole sailing crew and the design team.' On +39 is already stepped a generation 4 mast, that will be tested over the next days by the crew led by Iain Percy before the start of Round Robin 1.
On Monday 16 April, Percy, Walker, Bruni, Trujillo and Co. will then find themselves face to face with the competitors from Areva Challenge and the Spanish hosts of Desafio Espagnol. -- +39 media as posted on the Sail-World website - http://www.sail-world.com/uk/index.cfm?nid=32532&rid=3
April 11, 2007 Rolex Women's Match, Liz Baylis (San Rafael, Calif.) and her San Francisco Women's Match Racing Team won the 2007 Rolex Women's Match, hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.) from April 5-9. Sailing with Baylis were crew members Lee Icyda (Stuart, Fla.), Karina Shelton (Watsonville, Calif.) and Suzy Leech (Simsbury, Conn.).
A total of 10 teams competed in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 match-racing regatta, where world match racing champion and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.) conducted the two-day match-racing clinic that preceded competition in Sonar keelboats. With the win, Baylis, along with second-place finisher Rachel Silverstein (St. Petersburg, Fla.), gained an automatic invitation into the Rolex Osprey Cup, an ISAF Grade 1 regatta, to be held October 18-22, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
The race committee held 17 flights of matches, for a total of 85 matches. The last day of racing was shortened slightly with the cancellation of the last flight of matches. Established in 2002, the Rolex Women's Match annually strives to improve opportunities for women sailors.
Final results 2007 Rolex Women's Match: 1. Liz Baylis, San Rafael, Calif., Lee Icyda, Karina Shelton, Suzy Leech 2. Rachel Silverstein, St. Petersburg, Fla., Jee Lee, Kristen Herman, Becca Thomas 3. Sandy Hayes, Scituate, Mass., Nancy Haberland, Cindy Olsen, Kiki Zainea 4. Rossana Ramos, Brasilia, Brazil, Raquel Aimone, Mariana Lacerda, Sandra Branchine 5. JoAnn Fisher, Annapolis, Md., Linda Hiller, Emma Jones, Lindsay Bartel 6. Arabella Denvir, Irvington, Va., Jessamine Lewis, Lisa Denvir, Saskia Van Rijt 7. Maegan Ruhlman, Charleston, S.C., Martha Fisher, Amy Linton, Ashley Jerman 8. Louise Bienvenu, New Orleans, La., Sarah Paisley, Jenn Millar 9. Verian Aguilar, St. Thomas, USVI, Kelly O'Brien, Christine Thompson, Jessica Rosenberg 10. Karen Park, St. Petersburg, Fla., Trisha Birkenstock, Liz Laborde, Merrill VarnResults and photos are posted on the St. Petersburg Yacht Club website www.spyc.org and the Rolex Women's Match website www.rolexwomensmatch.org
April 10, America's Cup, Act 13. It is a sobering thought for the 11 pretenders to Alinghi's America's Cup that even with a string of bad starts from helmsman Ed Baird and even using the slower of the team's two boats, the Swiss defenders still walloped the opposition in the seven-race Act 13, which concluded at Valencia on Saturday. Now Alinghi has two months of splendid isolation to iron out helmsman issues and develop even more speed while the 11 challengers try and eliminate each other through four rounds of selection trials.
Ed Baird, given the nod over fellow American Peter Holmberg, admitted to his shortcomings in five starts out of seven. "I didn't start very well this week, but fortunately the finish is where you get your points," he admitted.
Perversely, precisely because of Baird's starts, SUI 91's recoveries were aided by clear air. Yet most of the gains came from speed, crafty positioning by skipper Brad Butterworth and polished crew work. -- By Tim Jeffery, The Telegraph, full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2007/04/09/sosail09.xml
April 9, America's Cup - Act 13. - Excerpt from Bob Fisher's commentary in Sail-World.com: Lessons have been learned, the first of which is that the defender will be difficult to depose. Using the first of its new boats, SUI-91, it demonstrated that it had speed to burn. The only saving grace for the challengers was that it was using new sails - and they looked superior in every respect.
The defender will have three months to develop its two boats without the distraction of racing and that bodes ill for its opponents. In 2003, they continued developing the boats in a leapfrog manner throughout the Louis Vuitton Cup and that wrought dividends. Doubtless, without distraction, Alinghi can do more than any of the challengers, and they have a boat in hand.
Bruce Farr, better than most, knows the value of development time and claimed that the alterations that were performed on BMW Oracle Racing's USA-87, in which almost the maximum of 50% of the hull was changed, effectively gave them a third boat. That option is still available to Alinghi. -- Full article at http://www.sail-world.com/nz/index.cfm?nid=32454&rid=6
38 Trofeo Sar Princesa Sofia, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The excellent weather conditions of the Bay of Palma were finally present on the last day of competition, where the 12-14 knots of wind offered spectacular racing in the medal race of the 38 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre. Only the top ten sailors of each Olympic class sailed in the Medal Race, with 8 of the eleven classes claiming North American entrants in the finale. Finishing any event strongly is a key to victory, and North Americans proved dominant in the double-point final medal race. The most prevailing examples were the leading American Yngling team of Barkow, Capozzi, and Howe, holding off the only team that could beat them, Mexican Laser Radial sailor Tanias Elias Calles Wolf winning the final race to move up to second overall, with the 470 Womens team of Maxwell and Kinsolving rolling a second place to also garner second overall.
This event was the first of several major European regattas for top Olympic contenders this spring, where the challenging conditions and wicked weather proved to be the theme for most of the week. Of the entrants that were surprisingly outside of the winner's circle, Laser Radial sailor Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) said, "Sure, I'm disappointed, but I'm taking a lot away from this event in experience and lessons learned. Everyone agrees that this was an impossibly difficult week for weather. I know I have the same raw boat speed as the others and I'll be practicing and then applying those lessons in Hyères, at the Semaine Olympique Française, two weeks from now."
Event website: http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/dinghy/index.html
Final Positions of Top North Americans: Yngling 33 boats Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Capozzi (USA, 1st); Sarah Bury/ Martha Henderson/ Katie Abbot (CAN, 27th) Laser Radial 91 boats Tanias Elias Calles Wolf (MEX, 2nd); Lisa Ross (CAN, 13th); Anna Tunnicliffe (USA, 17th) 470 Women 68 boats Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving (USA, 2nd); Amanda Clark/ Sara Mergenthaler (USA, 15th) Star 41 boats Hamish Pepper/ Brad Nichol (NZL/ USA, 3rd) Laser 138 boats Andrew Campbell (USA, 8th); David Wright (CAN, 13th); Michael Leigh (CAN, 16th); Brad Funk (USA, 19th) Tornado 58 boats Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle (CAN, 8th); Johnny Lovell/ Charlie Ogletree (USA, 22nd) Finn 55 boats Christopher Cook (CAN, 10th); Zack Railey (USA, 12th) 49er 80 boats Tim Wadlow/ Chris Rast (USA, 10th); Dalton Bergen/ Zack Maxam (USA, 19th) RS:X Women 67 boats Nikola Girke (CAN, 30th) RS:X Men 112 boats Alain Bolduc (CAN, 31st) 470 Men 116 boats Stuart McNay/ Graham Biehl (USA, 32nd Gold flight); Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes (USA, 9th Silver flight)Optimist South-American Championship, Niteroi, Brasil. Raul Rios of Puerto Rico did just enough in the final race to fend off a strong late challenge by Antoine Screve (USA) and take the open title by just two points in the 185-boat/ 17 nation IODA South American Championship. Russell Kan, the youngest member of last year's world-beating Singaporean team was third. For the South American Champs title, an OCS in the final race by Lucas Swan (BRA) gave the prize to the pre-regatta favourite Bennie Grez (CHI), who was 8th at last year's Worlds.
Among the girls, Rachel Lee of Singapore retained the crown won last year by her compatriot Griselda Khng. A much-improved Marlena Fauer (USA) took silver. -- Robert Wilkes, IODA Secretary Optimist South Americans, full results at http://www.cncharitas.com.br/sulamericano.html
1. PUR RAUL RIOS M 113,000 52,000 3,0 2,0 9,0 3,0 5,0 2,0 2,0 12,0 31,0 9,0 30,0 5,0 2. USA ANTOINE SCREVE M 139,000 54,000 1,0 15,0 OCS 1,0 12,0 3,0 22,0 2,0 12,0 6,0 1,0 1,0 3. SIN RUSSELL KAN TSUNG LIANG M 187,000 61,000 3,0 11,0 OCS 15,0 4,0 9,0 2,0 6,0 3,0 OCS 7,0 1,0 Next Best USA: 14. USA MARLENA FAUER F 180,000 102,000 4,0 39,0 4,0 12,0 1,0 25,0 1,0 18,0 2,0 2,0 39,0 33,0 15. USA MATT WEFER M 172,000 107,000 11,0 29,0 21,0 32,0 13,0 3,0 12,0 6,0 2,0 33,0 7,0 3,0April 8, Vuitton Ranking for challengers is complete. Based on this ranking, the challengers have been assigned bonus points which they'll carry with them into the Louis Vuitton Cup. This ranking will also be used to complete the pairing list for the challengers and determine who sails whom on which day, including start line entry.
At the top of the table is Emirates Team New Zealand who won the ranking by 11 points over BMW ORACLE Racing. The Kiwis will now take four bonus points with them into the Round Robin portion of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Luna Rossa Challenge, BMW ORACLE Racing and Desafìo Español have earned three bonus points.
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia, Victory Challenge +39 Challenge and Shosholoza have earned two points, with the South African team making a late charge in the last few Louis Vuitton Acts to move up the standings. +39 Challenge was awarded the two bonus points as redress by the Jury, following an incident in Race Three of Act 13.
Areva Challenge, United Internet Team Germany and China Team settle for one point, the French having dropped in the ranking following a 10th place finish in Act 13.
The bonus points can be considered a 'head start' in the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series. Each victory in the two Round Robin series of the Louis Vuitton Cup is worth two points. At the conclusion of Round Robin Two, only the top four challengers will advance to the Semi Finals, with the other seven teams eliminated.
With four bonus points, Emirates Team New Zealand starts the Louis Vuitton Cup with the equivalent of two wins, the second group of three half a win less and so on down the list. The bonus points are a handy head start, a little insurance and potentially extremely valuable at the end of the Round Robin stage when it comes to determining who advances to the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Finals.
The Louis Vuitton Ranking will also be used in certain tie-breaking scenarios, although if the breaking the tie means eliminating a team from further competition, a three race sail-off system will be employed.
Racing in Round Robin One of the Louis Vuitton Cup begins on April 16-17, when 11 Teams will compete for 4 places.
The Semi-Finals: May 14-25.
Finals: June 1-12.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will face Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Match: June 23-July 7.
Race 6. Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
April 7, Louis Vuitton Act 3. Valencia, Saturday - On a day that dawned with torrential downpours and fickle winds, by race time the skies had cleared and the wind soon stabilised to the point where the Race Committee could start the races after only a short delay. On the water, Alinghi continued its dominant performance in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, posting a second place to go with a fourth race victory, to win its fourth consecutive fleet racing Act.
The home team, Desafío Español, pleased the holiday weekend crowds by winning the first race of the day, whilst Shosholoza accomplished its goal for Act 13 - the South Africans finished seventh in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, which was good enough for Shosholoza to overhaul the French Areva Challenge on the Louis Vuitton Ranking, snatching a bonus point. At the top of the Louis Vuitton Ranking, Emirates Team New Zealand's position as top challenger in Act 13 confirmed its place atop the challenger ranking and the four bonus points that go along with it.
There was plenty of action throughout the fleet racing Act, which also marked the debut of the 2007 configuration of Port America's Cup. By the time Saturday's attendance totals are factored in, over 230 000 people will have poured into the Port, including a record of more than 63 000 on Friday. On Saturday evening, the crowd saw Alinghi accept the trophy for Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, its eighth Act win in 13 Louis Vuitton Acts.
RACE 6:
At the start, the pin end seemed popular but Team Shosholoza was well over prior to the gun and as they were locked in among the pin-enders the South Africans had trouble rounding back to restart. The big teams pulled out an early lead, heading out to the left, Alinghi on its own having had a relatively peaceful start out at the committee boat end of the line.
Sailing conservatively up the middle of the course, minimising tacks and keeping out of trouble, it was Karol Jablonski at the helm of the Spanish team Desafìo Español 2007 who finally nosed ahead about two thirds of the way up the first beat.
The rest of the race was fairly processional with the Spanish showing calm nerves, good boat handling and a flash of downwind speed despite a strong assault from the Swiss defender. Towards the finish Alinghi made a final charge but this was not enough and Desafìo Español's ESP 97 got its first gun of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, finishing just seven seconds ahead.
After a strong performance Friday, Luna Rossa found itself on the wrong side of both beats to finish a disappointing eighth. This sets up an exciting final race between Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia and Luna Rossa for top Italian team in Act 13.
RACE 7
In perhaps the most outstanding demonstration of their exceptional boat speed and crew work, the final race of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 saw Alinghi claim victory - its fourth in this regatta - despite starting almost 40 seconds behind the fleet, after another poor start.
While China Team got off to a strong start, on the first beat it was Desafìo Español, still buoyant from its win in the previous race, along with BMW ORACLE Racing and Luna Rossa who were all contending for the lead. By the top mark, it was Larry Ellison's American team who rounded the weather mark in first place followed by the Spanish and Luna Rossa.
But the Umpires judged Desafìo Español to have tacked too close to Luna Rossa approaching the top mark. The Spanish were forced to carry out a penalty turn but in the process they passed too close to Areva Challenge and Thierry Peponnet raised his protest flag aboard the French boat. The Umpires then penalised Desafìo Españoll for a second time, pushing them well down the fleet.
Luna Rossa stuck to BMW ORACLE Racing like glue on the first run, allowing Alinghi, now up to third, to remain on its own out to the left. At the leeward gate Alinghi dropped its spinnaker early and came into the mark fast, rounding up sharply and tacking out to the left side, leaving BMW ORACLE and Luna Rossa team to head out to the right. In the latter stages of the beat a short tacking duel took place between BMW ORACLE and Luna Rossa and this combined with a useful shift allowed Alinghi to pull into the lead and Vincenzo Onorato's Latin Rascals able to overtake their Italian rivals on Luna Rossa.
Alinghi rounded the top mark ahead of BMW Oracle by 15 seconds with Mascalzone 16 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa. The final run saw no change of position among the leaders and Alinghi comfortably scored their fourth win by 39 seconds. A third place for Mascalzone Latino secured their third place overall in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, just one point back of Emirates Team New Zealand who placed second overall.
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Provisional Results and Leaderboard
(finishing position / points scored)
(finishing position / points scored)
1. Alinghi (SUI 91) 4/9 1/12 1/12 1/12 3/10 2/11 1/12 78 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 84) 5/8 3/1 4/9 5/8 1/12 3/10 6/7 64
3. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 3/10 6/7 5/8 2/11 4/9 5/8 3/10 63
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 7/6 5/8 2/11 3/10 2/11 8/5 4/9 60
5. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 87) 1/12 4/9 7/6 4/9 10/3 6/7 2/11 57
6. Desafìo Español 2007 (ESP 97) 8/ 2/1 3/10 9/4 6/7 1/12 7/6 55
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2/11 8/5 10/3 7/6 5/8 7/6 9/4 43
8. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 12/1 11/2 6/7 8/5 7/6 4/9 8/5 35
9. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 9/4 10/3 8/5 10/3 8/5 10/3 5/8 31
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 6/7 9/4 DSQ 6/7 9/4 9/4 10/3 29
11. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 10/3 7/6 5/8 DNS DNS DNS DNS 17
12. China Team (CHN 95) 11/2 12/1 9/4 11/2 11/2 11/12 1 1/12 15
April 6, US Sailing Team Wins Gold, Bronze at Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta in Spain. For the second year in a row, the USA Yngling team of Sally Barkow (Chenequa, Wis.), Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) and Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) won the 2007 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In a competitive fleet of 36 entries, Barkow and her team battled fluky and frustrating conditions to ultimately finish in first place today, ahead of the British team led by Sarah Ayton. In the 470 Women's class, fellow US Sailing Team members Erin Maxwell (Stonington, Conn.) and Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.) secured third place in a fleet of 71 entries. This event was the first of several major European regattas that the US Sailing Team and other top Olympic contenders will compete at this spring.The major theme surrounding this year's Princess Sofia Trophy was the challenging conditions and wicked weather. For several days this week, rain showers and little wind led to delayed starts or cancelled races, leaving competitors stranded, cold and unhappy. "The regatta had very trying conditions this year, yet the US Sailing Team had a great showing with two medals," said High Performance Director and Head Coach Gary Bodie (Hampton, Va.).
"I am proud of the way we handled such tricky conditions," said Carrie Howe. "It was a long week of unexpected changes, and it was hard to stay on top of everything. We just kept fighting and making up for unlucky moments and capitalizing on lucky moments." On Thursday, during the ninth race, the team adapted quickly when two cruise ships plowed through their course in the middle of a rain shower, and they were trapped in the destructive wake. "We gambled and sailed the opposite jibe, split and gained 15 boats on the last run. It was a regatta saver."
"Sally, Debbie and Carrie battled back against some tough breaks," added Bodie. This is only the second time Barkow's team has competed at the Princess Sofia Trophy, and both times have resulted in wins.
Maxwell and Kinsolving's third-place finish exceeded their expectations, after only quitting their full-time jobs two weeks ago to pursue their Olympic sailing campaign. "We did not know what to expect going into the event, since many of the other teams have been doing much more training than us. We were pleased with our consistency in a variety of conditions," said Kinsolving.
Queen Sofia, who the regatta is named after, will present the trophies to the top three winners in each of the 11 Olympic classes, as well as the Dragon class, tonight at the Palacio de Congresos del Pueblo Espanol in Palma de Mallorca.
The Princess Sofia Trophy, which included five days of racing culminating with today's medal races, is one of six regattas in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup Series for Olympic classes. For complete results, including the final standings of the other US Sailing Team members who competed in the event, please visit the event website at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org
For Barkow and her team, this major win launches their European regatta tour this spring. They will stay in Palma for another week to train with their coach James Lyne, and then they will travel to Hyères, France to prepare for Semaine Olympique Française de Voile (French Sailing Week), which begins April 19.
Race 5. Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
Louis Vuitton Act 13, Friday Race 4 & 5. Two races were completed on schedule on Friday as ideal racing conditions returned to Valencia. Both Alinghi and Luna Rossa posted strong results on the day; each earning a pair of top three finishes. The Defender, Alinghi has now won three of five races and consolidated its position at the top of the table with a win and a second place.
The wind was building throughout the day, from 10 knot Easterlies up to nearly 15 knot Northeasterlies. The wind conditions were more typical of what Valencia provides in the summer, but with an unusual large swell running, some boats suffered..
BMW ORACLE Racing had an issue with its genoa track during the second race. As the team tried to pull up its headsail after the first run, the sail pulled out of the track, damaging it to such an extent that the team couldn't raise a genoa for the remainder of the race. China Team sailed most of the second race without a mainsail due to equipment problems..
RACE 4 In the fourth race of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 fleet racing, Alinghi secured its third consecutive win, confirming the Defender is still the benchmark by which all the teams should measure themselves at the 32nd America's Cup..
The start was clean with the exception of a tight bunch-up at the Committee boat end of the line, which resulted in Luna Rossa and Desafío Español being penalised and forced to take a turn. By taking a conservative route up the first beat, and minimising the number of tacks they had to make, Alinghi were able to nose out the slightest of leads ahead of Shosholoza who had done well out to the right of the first beat. Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Ben Ainslie pushed a little too aggressively when tacking near BMW ORACLE Racing and the Umpires assessed a penalty turn, pushing the Kiwis down the fleet.
At the top mark Mascalzone Latino's ITA 99 edged inside the South Africans to take second place, with fleet racing specialists Vasco Vascotto and Flavino Flavini clearly relishing the competition. Alinghi sailed the rest of the race conservatively and extended on every leg as those astern were mixed in their own private battles culminating in a tense photo finish between BMW ORACLE Racing and Luna Rossa, with James Spithill's team gaining third place over Chris Dickson by a fraction of a boat length..
RACE 5 With the starting line quite even, Alinghi was squeezed out at the start and forced to tack, crossing behind most of the fleet, a poor start for the Swiss defenders, who sailed out to the right. Soon after the start Emirates Team New Zealand's NZL 84 and Luna Rossa's ITA 94 were neck and neck for the lead on the right hand side of the course..
With some aggressive manoeuvring between many of the boats, Luna Rossa managed to keep its nose clean to lead around the top mark ahead of the Kiwis. Impressively, Alinghi had re-joined the top of the fleet, rounding in third. Astern of the Italian team, Emirates Team NZ and Alinghi both carried out gybe sets, taking their own personal match race out to the right side of the course. The run saw Luna Rossa extend while in an intimidating display of raw boat speed Alinghi rolled past Emirates Team New Zealand to take second..
Up the second beat Ed Baird at the helm of Alinghi was hounding Luna Rossa culminating with the Swiss coming in from the left, just metres from the top mark, and tacking too close to the Italians. While Alinghi led around the top mark they were immediately penalised for the tack and obliged to carry out a penalty turn shortly after the rounding the spreader mark dropping them back to third place. Metres out from the finish and any three of the lead boats could have grabbed victory, but in the final seconds Emirates Team New Zealand nosed ahead to take their first victory of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, leaving Luna Rossa second and Alinghi third..
The race was disappointing for BMW ORACLE Racing who damaged the headfoil and for the second beat they were unable to hoist a headsail, finishing 10th.
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Provisional Results and Leaderboard (Revised) as of Friday:
(finishing position / points scored)
1. Alinghi (SUI 91) 4/9 1/12 1/12 1/12 3/10 55 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 84) 5/8 3/1 4/9 5/8 1/12 47
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 7/6 5/8 2/11 3/10 2/11 46
4. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 3/10 6/7 5/8 2/11 4/9 45
5. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 87) 1/12 4/9 7/6 4/9 10/3 39
6. Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) 8/ 2/1 3/10 9/4 6/7 37
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2/11 8/5 10/3 7/6 5/8 33
8. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 6/7 9/4 DSQ 6/7 9/4 22
9. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 12/1 11/2 6/7 8/5 7/6 21
10. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 9/4 10/3 8/5 10/3 8/5 20
11. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 10/3 7/6 5/8 DNS DNS 17
12. China Team (CHN 95) 11/2 12/1 9/4 11/2 11/2 11
America's Cup. Some interesting 'second opinions' on BYM News:Alinghi is fast, ridiculously fast and the team is a dream.
BMW/Oracle is fast but need to sort some bits and pieces out if they want to catch Alinghi.
Emirates New Zealand are very fast but so far in this act have been inconsistent.
Desafio Espanol are definitely working on their boat speed and team work and may have a few surprises in store.
Luna Rossa have a lot of pace but it just seems that there is something missing.
Mascalzone look great but seem to waste winning opportunities.
Shosholoza proved that they could be up there with the big boys after yesterdays result but today they were way off the pace and blew the second race when the head foil failed.
Areva is way off of the pace and needs a lot of work to be done if they are to have any chance at all in the Louis Vuitton.
United Internet have problems.
Victory Challenge have big problems.
+39 Challenge have had the most rotten luck anyone could wish upon them.
China Team: What can I say apart from that the paint job looks great (Come on guys, even the waiters in my local chinese takeaway have started cheering for the Spanish boat) -- http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=5903
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
April 5, Louis Vuitton Act 13, the Jury has ruled in the protest between +39 Challenge and United Internet Team Germany and awarded redress to the Italian team. In terms of the incident on the water, the Jury ruled that the German team broke Rule 10 (opposite tacks) and Rule 14 (avoiding contact) of the Racing Rules of Sailing. Areva Challenge, originally protested by United Internet Team Germany, was absolved of any blame in the incident.
Areva Challenge can be seen (in photo at left) on port tack passing ahead of +39 on starboard, while United Internet Team Germany can be seen on port tack entering from right.
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
For Redress, the Jury awarded +39 Challenge a fifth place finish in Race Three of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 (no other positions in the race are affected).
In addition, +39 Challenge will hold on to the two bonus points it would earn from its current position on the Louis Vuitton Ranking table, regardless of its result in Act 13.
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
Further, the Jury ruled that the fairest solution for all boats was to allow +39 to accept the offer of the use of a Version 5 mast from United Internet Team Germany. The Jury acknowledges that this would require a Protocol amendment which it recommends.
Full costs have been directed against United Internet Team Germany.
The full written decision from the Jury is expected to be issued on Friday.
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Provisional Results and Leaderboard (Revised) as of Thursday:
(finishing position / points scored)
1. Alinghi (SUI 91) 4/9 1/12 1/12 33 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 87) 1/12 4/9 7/6 27
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 84) 5/8 3/1 4/9 27
4. Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) 8/ 2/1 3/10 26
5. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 7/6 5/8 2/11 25
6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 3/10 6/7 5/8 25
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2/11 8/5 10/3 19
8. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 10/3 7/6 5/8 17
9. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 9/4 10/3 8/5 12
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 6/7 9/4 DSQ 11
11. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 12/1 11/2 6/7 10
12. China Team (CHN 95) 11/2 12/1 9/4 7
Earlier - Race officials announced that racing today (Thursday) is abandoned because the wind is too unstable (NW 6 knots). They are hoping racing will resume tomorrow. This means the reserve day on Saturday will also have to be used.The next attempt to start 4th Fleet Race of Act 13 is scheduled for 14:15 (CET). Friday
+39 Challenge, who were dismasted during racing on Wednesday, spent the day working on their old mast and have indicated they will be ready to race on Friday.
Jack Katzfey from the Alinghi weather team comments on the conditions: "The forecast was for a bit more wind but the showers came over and killed all hope of any decent breeze. It was very shifty out there and all over the place - no condition for racing."
Is this typical for Valencia in April?
"Spring in Europe is generally quite variable. These conditions are not atypical but when you compare it to the last two years, we haven't had conditions like this. These are fairly untypical especially for such a long period of time. It's very cold and rainy for sunny Valencia!"
And what are conditions looking like for tomorrow?
"Tomorrow looks like it could be breezy, north-easterly breeze 16 to 18 knots and it looks like there could be some quite big waves coming. Right now it looks like it's going to be sailable unless the waves get too big."
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-Raget
L'Hydroptère beats two World Records subject to official ratification by ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Council:
44,5 knots over 500 meters and 41,5 knots over one nautical mile. These are the exceptional speeds which have enabled l'Hydroptère to beat two world records, subject to official ratification by ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Council.
Tornado European Championship, Palma, Mallorca, Spain: Day 3 of the Tornado Europeans saw three races run,
in offshore breeze ranging from 12 knots in the first race and getting up
to 20 knots throughout the day.
All entrants (not just European) - Top 3 & best USA: 1. AUS 8 Darren Bundock / Glenn Ashby 11-2-1-1-7-12-15-14-1 49 pts 2. GRE 7 Pashalidis Iordanis/ Trigonis Konstantinos 7-13-6-14-6-3-20-2-13 64 3. RUS 97 Kirilyuk Andrey / Ushkov Valery 3-1-17-7-12-17-14-12-9 75 Best USA: 22. USA 808 John Lovell / Charlie Ogletree 13-DNC-7-22-11-OCS-12-19-11 154
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-RagetApril 4, Louis Vuitton Act 13. It was another difficult day to be racing on the waters off Valencia. The wind was strong, but still very shifty, and no lead was safe until the finish line had been crossed. But in these very difficult conditions, it was the Defender of the America's Cup, Alinghi, who excelled, earning two race victories to vault into the overall lead.
Behind them, the mixed up results mean five boats are within two points of second place, with BMW ORACLE Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand a shade ahead of Desafio Espanol, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team and Luna Rossa.
The second race was where the action was on Wednesday, as strong conditions early in the race tested men and machine. A very close first leg saw nearly the entire fleet converge at the top mark, and in close quarters, the new mast on +39 Challenge came tumbling down. Shortly afterwards, United Internet Team Germany who were in close proximity when the +39 Challenge rig came down, also retired from the race. Then, on the second beat upwind, Shosholoza saw its jib pull out of the forestay track, pushing the South Africans to the back of the fleet. They would go on to finish the race however.
Then, on the final run to the finish, the race turned upside down with trailing boats bringing wind down the course with them. At one point, just a few hundred metres from the finishing line, at least six boats appeared capable of earning the victory. Alinghi emerged from the pack, tacking on the downwind run, and squeezing in ahead of a charging Luna Rossa.
RACE 2: On Tuesday it was Alinghi who had to restart, but today in a strong 16-knot breeze it was BMW ORACLE Racing and Areva Challenge who broke the line. Alinghi's Ed Baird was late into the right-hand of the line and had to tack away to find clear air. Not that this was a bad move because it meant the Defender was one of the first teams over to the rain cloud that was skewing the breeze around to the right.
Desafio Espanol led in the early stages and was tussling with Alinghi up the right-hand side. However, at the first mark Alinghi had taken a narrow lead ahead of Spain, with Luna Rossa a few boatlengths back and just ahead of Shosholoza in 4th place. With the wind having shifted so severely, the downwind leg called for an early gybe and in the strong conditions this really showed the teams with the best boathandling. BMW ORACLE Racing executed a perfect gybe-set and soon leapt from 8th up to 4th, while the Kiwis climbed from 5th to 3rd place.
Luna Rossa slipped back into 5th with the team now leading a trio of Italian boats in the middle of the fleet - Luna Rossa, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and +39 Challenge. With the wind so far round to the right, the whole fleet sailed directly to the leeward gate so there were few overtaking lanes. However China Team slipped further behind when its boom vang broke, allowing the mainsail to sky up in the air, billowing and uncontrolled.
The Race Committee moved the windward mark to realign the course for the final lap, but by now gaps had started to appear in the fleet, with Alinghi appearing strong at the head of the fleet. Around the final mark, Victory Challenge slipped to 11th after a tight mark rounding, allowed Areva Challenge and United Internet Team Germany to sweep past.
After a final gybe that looked a little out of control, Ed Baird maintained a firm grip on SUI 91 to finish first ahead of Desafio Espanol who looked delighted with 2nd place in a testing race.
RACE 3: At the start, it was Desafio Espanol's turn to break the line too early, forcing the green boat back to restart. BMW ORACLE and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team took excellent starts and these teams respectively took charge of the left and right-hand side of the first windward leg. Alinghi had made a poor start and was forced off to the right-hand side in the wake of Mascalzone, but Ed Baird turned on the afterburners aboard SUI 91 to seize the lead at the first mark.
Just behind Alinghi and Mascalzone, the fleet was converging on the windward mark from both sides of the course and the boats came dangerously close to each other - this was when the +39 mast came down and the German team retired from the race.
Things settled down for a while, but towards the top of the final windward leg, BMW ORACLE found a good windshift to pull back on level terms with Alinghi and sneak around the top mark just ahead. Chris Dickson sailed to a lead of a few boatlengths down the final run, but the wind had a nasty surprise in store. First it died, then a new wind arrived from a new direction. As the new wind arrived, the boats were struggling to make the finish with their spinnakers and foredeck crew hurriedly scrambled to hoist jibs as the wind switched around 180 degrees. Spinnakers were flailing wildly and BMW ORACLE's spinnaker pole shattered under the load.
Then the wind died again, and with just 200 metres to the finish, any one of six or seven teams could have won the race. In the end Alinghi scrambled across the line first, ahead of two teams that had not featured in the race until the moment it mattered, with Luna Rossa and the Spanish stealing 2nd and 3rd. BMW ORACLE, after a fortunate victory yesterday couldn't repeat the experience, falling to 7th across the line.
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Provisional Results and Leaderboard
(finishing position / points scored)
1. Alinghi (SUI 91) 4/9 1/12 1/12 33 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 87) 1/12 4/9 7/6 27
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 84) 5/8 3/1 4/9 27
4. Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) 8/ 2/1 3/10 26
5. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 7/6 5/8 2/11 25
6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 3/10 6/7 5/8 25
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2/11 8/5 10/3 19
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 9/4 10/3 8/5 12
9. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 6/7 9/4 DNF 11
10. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 12/1 11/2 6/7 10
11. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 10/3 7/6 DNF 9
12. China Team (CHN 95) 11/2 12/1 9/4 7
Photo: ©Gilles Martin-RagetRace One, we now have the full report (our April 3 report with photo was sent to us on the internet from the BMWOracle photo boat as the race finished).
The final season of the 32nd America's Cup opened with racing on a complicated spring day in Valencia. The changeable weather meant the leaderboard was shuffled on each leg of the race course, with a massive wind shift on the final run of the first race denying +39 Challenge a fairytale ending.
Instead, BMW ORACLE Racing charged out of nowhere, passing six boats on the final run, with the South African Shosholoza team close behind. +39 Challenge, after leading for most of the race, was forced to settle for a heartbreaking 10th place. The Italian team had been fortunate just to make the starting line on Tuesday afternoon, after sailing with a new mast for the first time after sunset on Monday.
In one of the most extraordinary races ever witnessed in America's Cup racing, BMW ORACLE Racing sailed from 7th to 1st on the final fickle run of Race 1 in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13. Starting in 7 knots of breeze, the American team had won the left-hand end of the start line an hour and a half earlier but, with Emirates Team New Zealand next to them, sailed into oblivion as the boats on the right started to benefit from better wind from that side of the race track.
Alinghi who broke the right-hand end of the start line too early and had to go back to restart, then found themselves on the favoured side, climbing all the way back to fourth place at the top mark. Meanwhile, +39 Challenge tactician Ian Walker liked the look of the breeze on the right-hand side and made a break away from the rest of the fleet working up the left. The gamble paid off, launching +39 Challenge into a comfortable lead which it held for the next lap and a half of the two-lap course. The right-hand side of the course had been paying throughout, and not surprisingly the first few boats gybed around the final mark to consolidate their advantage.
Alinghi and BMW Oracle on the other hand, saw something new on the left-hand side of the race course near the top of the second windward leg. Both made late gains there, and elected to pursue that side on the final run to the finish as well. +39 skipper Iain Percy, attempting to protect his lead, sailed down the middle of the course. But the Italians broke a spinnaker, before sailing into a wind hole from which they would never recover. The pack in the middle of the course slowed down while Ed Baird steered SUI 91 around the outside with Chris Dickson not far behind.
BMW ORACLE held further to the left and started to threaten the leaders on board Alinghi. As both boats converged, with Alinghi holding starboard right of way, Dickson launched USA 87 into a gybe while the foredeck crew executed a perfect peel to a new spinnaker midway through the manoeuvre.
This proved the winning move as Alinghi was forced away to the right. The Defender never recovered as the American boat sailed off to a whopping winning margin of 3 minutes 34 seconds as the wind became very light and variable.
The Race Committee then kept the fleet at sea for 90-minutes, hoping the shifty conditions would settle enough to have another race. But at 18:00, racing was cancelled for the day.
Two races are scheduled for today - Wednesday.
Flight 1 results: 1. BMW Oracle Racing (USA 87) in 1:25:41 2. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) at 3:34 3. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (ITA 99) at 4:18 4. Alinghi (SUI 91) at 5:04 5. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 84) at 5:16 6. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) at 5:33 7. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) at 5:51 8. Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) at 6:15 9. AREVA Challenge (FRA 93) at 9:26 10. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) at 9:43 11. China Team (CHN 95) at 10:40 12. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) at 20:32The America's Cup 1851 - 2007. Airdate: Friday, April 13, 2007 at 6:00pm CDT. This special features interviews with many of the top names in sailing including Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli, BMW Oracle Racing Chairman Larry Ellison, past America's Cup champions Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Russell Coutts, Bill Koch, Halsey Herreshoff, Gary Jobson, Tom Whidden, David Elwell, designer Olin Stephens, journalists John Rousmaniere and Peter Montgomery and painter John Mecray.
The America's Cup is now 156 years old. This one hour documentary Friday, April 13, 2007 at 6:00pm CDT, follows the highlights of the Cup, the personalities, and the highs and the lows from 1851 to Valencia in 2007, with newly discovered footage, and photographs highlight the first person accounts of the interviewees.
Click here for exclusive preview of this ESPN Classic program
April 3rd, Louis Vuitton Act 13, Tuesday Fleet Racing - Day 1. 16:05 Great opening win for BMW ORACLE Racing. USA 87 came from 8th place on the final leg and turned the tables to take a convincing win more than 500 meters ahead of the fleet.
Final Order - Fleet Race 1:
1st BMW ORACLE
2nd Shosholoza
3rd Mascalzone
4th Alinghi
5th Team New Zealand
6th Team Germany
7th Luna Rossa
8th Desafio Espanol
9th Areva
10th +39
11th China Team
12th Victory Challenge
The Race Committee (17:11 hrs) after trying to set a new course - wind South 5 KTS, canceled further racing for Tuesday.
April 3, America's Cup beting - following on last week's release of odds for the America's Cup in Valencia by Australian and Italian bookmakers, British bookmakers William Hill have annouced their latest odds for the America's Cup. William Hill have:
8/11 Team Alinghi, the Swiss entry and reigning champions, favourites to win again.
3/1 Emirates Team New Zealand are the second favourites for the event
which gets underway in April, with the US entry
9/2 BMW Oracle Racing third
favourite.
Hill also offer:
6/1 Luna Rossa Challenge, Italy
25/1 Desafio Espanol,
Spain
33/1 Mascalzone Lationa, Italy
50/1 Victory Challenge, Sweden
66/1
39 Challenge, Italy
66/1 Areva Challenge, France
80/1 Team Shosholoza, S
Africa
80/1 United Internet Team, Germany
100/1 China Team.
Hill's spokesman, Graham Sharpe said: 'In previous stagings of the Cup we have seen a lively, if somewhat specialised betting market, but with a much larger international audience than ever before likely to have a betting interest, courtesy of the internet, we hope to see a record betting turnover approaching one million pounds (1,967,942.22 USD) industry-wide for the first time.' -- Sail World, http://www.sail-world.com/uk/index.cfm?nid=32138&rid=3
Rolex Women's Match, St. Petersburg, FL. With women's match racing a hot topic at the recent International Sailing Federation (ISAF) meetings, organizers of this week's Rolex Women's Match are expecting a strong showing. From April 5-8, at host St. Petersburg Yacht Club, women match racers will take part in the unique format of half-clinic, half-competition with the winner and runner-up gaining automatic invitation into the Grade 1 Rolex Osprey Cup next October in St. Petersburg. This year's intensive clinic a combination of skills and rules instruction followed by round robin racing in Sonar keelboats on Tampa Bay will be run by Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), an internationally recognized sailing educator, coach, competitor and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
"Betsy Alison joined us for the first time last year to conduct the match racing clinic and she was well received by the participants," said Pat Seidenspinner (St. Petersburg), co-organizer with Tom Farquhar of the Rolex Women's Match. "In addition to being one of the world's most recognized competitive sailors and a past world match racing champion, Betsy is an equally accomplished and sought-after coach. We are thrilled to have her return and share her knowledge."
Two of the registered skippers are making their debut at the Rolex Women's Match, Rossana Ramos (Brazil) and Verian Aguilar (St. Thomas, USVI) who counts this regatta as her second match racing experience. Aguilar recently competed along with crew member Kelly O'Brien in the North American qualifier for the Nations Cup. Her goal for St. Petersburg is ³to gain experience, learn and have fun," she said.
The ten skippers, with crew members, competing: 1. Verian Aguilar, St. Thomas, USVI, with Kelly O'Brien, Christine Thompson, Jessica Rosenberg 2. Liz Baylis, San Rafael, Calif., with Lee Icyda, Karina Shelton, Suzy Leech 3. Rossana Ramos, Brazil, with Raquel Aimone, Mariana Lacerda, Sandra Branchine 4. Meagan Ruhlman, Charleston, S.C., with Martha Fisher, Amy Linton, Ashley Jerman 5. Sandy Hayes, Scituate, Mass., with Nancy Haberland, Cindy Olsen, Kiki Zainea 6. Rachel Silverstein, St. Petersburg, Fla., with Jee Lee, Kristen Herman, Becca Thomas 7. JoAnn Fisher, Annapolis, Md., with Linda Hiller, Emma Jones, Lindsay Bartel 8. Karen Park, St. Petersburg, Fla., with Trisha Birkenstock, Liz Laborde, Merrill Varn 9. Arabella Denvir, Irvington, Va., with Jessamine Lewis, Lisa Denvir, Saskia Van Rijt 10. Louise M. Bienvenu, New Orleans, La., with Sarah Paisley, Jenn Millar and one crew to be announced.Established in 2002, the Rolex Women¹s Match annually strives to improve opportunities for women sailors. Results and photos are posted on St. Petersburg Yacht Club website www.spyc.org and the Rolex Women's Match website www.rolexwomensmatch.org.
April 2, U.S. Youth Multihull Championship. Long Beach, CA. Third-place finishers were Chase Shaw (Baycliff, TX) and Alex Scanlon (Kemah, TX). California must have cured whatever ailed Evan Miller and Alexander Stewart as the Panama City, Fla. sailors won the U.S. Youth Multihull Championship for US SAILING's Arthur J. Stevens Trophy Saturday and Sunday. Eighteen teams competed on new Nacra SL16 catamarans in conjunction with host Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's annual Olympic Classes Regatta that featured Finns, Lasers and a handful of Stars. The youngsters - boys and girls ages 13 to 18 - sailed inside the breakwater and enjoyed Long Beach's fresh sea breeze of 10 of 12 knots all weekend.
Miller, 16, and Stewart, 18, and, edged first-time catamaran competitors Andrew Mason, 17, and crew Chris Segerblom, 14, of nearby Orange County by half a point. Stewart arrived in town last week carrying a stomach flu that was running through his family, and when it hit Miller Friday their participation was doubtful.
"I thought we wouldn't be able to do it," Miller said, "but we felt better Saturday, and [Sunday] we were fine. I guess we'll leave whatever we had in California."
They stayed at Mason's house, which despite their illness must have benefited both teams. Mason and Segerblom told them about sailing at Long Beach, while Stewart and Miller offered tips about sailing multihulls to their rivals who had never sailed anything with more than one hull until six days before the event.
Mason said, "When someone told us the Youth Multihull Championship was here we said, 'That sounds like fun.'"
They flipped four times on a windy practice day last week, started the regatta with 2-6-2-2 finishes Saturday and then won a race Sunday to give the Floridians a run to the wire.
Graham Gardner (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) received the Hobock sportsmanship award.
Final results: 1. Evan Miller / Alexander Stewart Panama City, FL. 1-2-3-3-1-1, 8 points 2. Andrew Mason / Chris Segerblom Corona Del Mar, CA./Costa Mesa, CA. 2-5-2-2-1-1.5, 8.5 3. Chase Shaw / Alex Scanlon Baycliff, TX./Kemah, TX. 2-6-4-2-2-1, 11Complete results, daily reports, and photos of the Championship can be found on the event website at www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/multihull
32nd America's Cup. Regatta Director Dyer Jones released a list of boats the 12 teams have 'declared' as their eligible race boats for the 32nd America's Cup. 19 boats are ready to race when the battle commences on the waters off Valencia.
Each team is permitted to declare up to two boats. The main restriction on eligibility hinges on the country where the boat was built. To be eligible to race in the ultimate, decisive season of the 32nd America's Cup, the boats must be built in the country of the challenge.
Thus, Victory Challenge, whilst building just one new boat, has been able to declare both SWE 96 and SWE 73 (built and raced in the last America's Cup in Auckland). But China Team, having built CHN 95, is unable to declare either CHN 69 or CHN 79 as they were built in France for a French team in the last Cup.
Teams declaring two boats: Alinghi SUI 100 SUI 91 BMW ORACLE Racing USA 98, USA 87 Luna Rossa Challenge ITA 94, ITA 86 Emirates Team New Zealand NZL 92, NZL 84 Desafio Espanol 2007 ESP 97, ESP 88 Victory Challenge SWE 96, SWE 73 Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team ITA 99, ITA 90 Teams with one declared boat: +39 Challenge ITA 85 Team Shosholoza RSA 83 Areva Challenge FRA 93 United Internet Team Germany GER 89 China Team CHN 95http://www.americascup.com
2007 Tornado European Championship / Mats Nyberg Trophy El Arenal, ESP, Day One (Sunday), looked promising, as the breeze filled early under clear skies. But it was not to last, as a layer of cloud cover moved over Mallorca, and the south westerly breeze became increasingly unstable as it decreased. After abandoning the first attempt at a race, the fleet has completed Race 1 and the Championship is underway.
Olivier Backes & Paul-Ambroise Sevestre (FRA) took the win, followed by Leigh McMillan & Will Howden (GBR), and Andrey Kirilyuk & Valery Ushkov (RUS). As this report is being written, the fleet has abandoned Race 2. Racing is finished for the day.
1. FRA 3 Olivier Backes/Paul-Ambroise Sevestre 1 points
2. GBR 436 Leigh Mc Millan/Will Howden 2
3. RUS 97 Kirilyuk Andrey/Ushkov Valery 3
Best US:
13. USA 808 John Lovell/Charlie Ogletree 13
New Orleans, LA./Houston, TX.
http://www.tornado.org/html/news_article.asp?ArticleID=208
Photo: ©Ivo.Rovira/Alinghi
April 1, Sunday was unveiling day at Port America's Cup, the morning when all 12 teams had to drop the protective skirts that had been guarding the underbodies of their race boats. A traditional Valencian 'mascleta' of fireworks opened the countdown to unveiling at 09:00. Within half an hour, all the team bases were open to media and other team members.
With 19 boats unveiling at once, and the updated Port America's Cup ready to welcome visitors, the day took on a tone of celebration as the public were invited to the team bases from 11:30, where sailors and designers from other teams could be seen taking the measure of the competition. By 16:00, over 40 000 people had passed through the doors of Port America's Cup.
Photo: Gilles MARTIN-RAGET
Although there were no visible breakthrough design innovations on the scale of the winged keel that Australia II rode to victory in 1983, many observers were astonished by the range of solutions to the same basic design question posed by the America's Cup Class Rule.
"Walking around the place, I am surprised that there are so many configurations around the teams, basically because we thought we'd done a pretty good job with (closing up) the Rule," said Rolf Vrolijk, the lead designer of Alinghi. "We thought the boats would all be the same. But it's not like that and we see clearly that the different design groups and teams have opted for different directions, and I think that makes it a bit more interesting."
Among the more visually clear differences were those seen in the size, shape and configuration of the keel bulbs on different boats. Some teams, like Emirates Team New Zealand, sported a short, fat bulb on one boat, and a long, thin, 'cigar' style bulb on the other. Luna Rossa showed off a radical hull underbody on ITA 94, which was marked by hard angles, slab sides and a flat bottom.
On Monday, the 12 skippers will attend a press conference to give their views on the upcoming decisive season of the 32nd America's Cup.
April Fools Day! The day each year that regular readers of Scuttlebutt Europe [like myself at SailTexas] look forward to each year - the following from Scuttlebutt Europe #1194, April 1:
America's Cup - As the skirt drops, lawyers stop the sailing. In a development that Michel Bonnefus called "devastating", the descendants of King James I of Aragon (1208-1276) have obtained a restraining order on America's Cup management and the city of Valencia, preventing any "commercial use of waters" claimed by the Montpellier family. That includes the entire sailing area for Act 13, the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the America's Cup.
"We've been quietly negotiating this for many months, even offering a significant 'incentive' payment to the family to quit their claim on the area but they've pushed this to the brink and have found a receptive ear with a local judge with monarchist leanings," said an attorney for the America' s Cup who insisted on anonymity.
The heart of the claim rests with the fact that in 1238 when James I conquered the city of Valencia, he did not annex it to the kingdom of Aragon or Catalunya, but made it into an autonomous kingdom within the group of States under his sceptre. That historical quirk has never been addressed by any subsequent court or national body. Thus the claim that the entire city of Valencia still falls under the ownership and rule of James' descendants apparently has enough validity to warrant this unprecedented action.
"Oh, this is a legal scholar's dream case" said Enrique Chata-Ortega, chancellor of Madrid's famed University Alfonso X El Sabio. "We have 800 years of history to sort through, this could take years to resolve. Ultimately I believe the family's claim will lose in court but that's little consolation now to the event organisers who are prohibited from launching."
A spokesman for the Montpellier family denied rumours that they pushed for an injunction after being denied a position as "17th man" aboard the Spanish syndicate Desafio Espanol: "We're Catalans, not Spaniards! If all we wanted was 17th man it would be with those cute Latin Rascals... Madame de Montpellier would love to be seated immediately behind Nacho and Flavio..."
Legal wranglings continue as the deadline approaches...
Click here for full April 1, Scuttlebutt Europe #1194
This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four -- Mark Twain.