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Archive for tag America's-cup

Postponement flags - quote of the week

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

Quote by Gavin Brady, skipper of Mascalzone Latino, in an interview with Valencia Sailing.

Audi vs BMW in 34th America's Cup

After BMW Oracle Racing’s victory in the 33th America’s Cup, we are already looking forward to the 34th America’s Cup. Three years ago, quite a few teams expressed their interest in participating in the Cup, but it needs to be seen how much of those teams can find the funds needed to mount a multi-year campaign.

It’s now up to BWM Oracle Racing and Mascalzone Latino - Audi team to agree on the location, date and format of the next America’s Cup. One thing I would like to assure everyone about the 34th America’s Cup is that there will be a completely independent jury and completely independent umpires,” said Larry Ellison. “It will be an independent company that manages the next America’s Cup and it will be a level playing field for all competitors.”

Newport, Rhode Island is named as possible venue of the 34th America’s Cup. Newport was the home of the Amercia’s Cup for all matches between 1930 and 1983, when the Cup left the USA for the first time since it’s inception and moved to Freemantle.

BMW Oracle (USA) wins first race of the 33th America's Cup

After months and years of legal battle and 2 postponed races on monday and wednesday, the 33th America’s Cup finally started today on 14:35. The breeze was rather light (5 to 8 knots), but the boats had no problem racing at 20 to 25 knots around the 20 mile race course in front of Valencia.

It was a very interesting race where both boats showed that they truly are the best multihuls ever built. Lots of people seriously doubted if a deed of gift match (the first in over 20 years) would be an interesting match race or if one of the boats would be really superior to the other one, as was the case in 1988. Twenty years ago Dennis Conner’s giant catamaran “Stars and Stripes” then won 2-0 with a delta of more than 18 minutes on both matches.

The Swiss Alinghi team took the lead at the start after BMW Oracle missed theirs, but lost terrain quickly. BMW Oracle’s wing proved very powerful both up- and downwind and contributed to their win. In the end they had more than 3500 meter lead over the Swiss Alinghi team. The next race is scheduled for sunday, February 14th 2010.

America's Cup 2010: first race postponed till Wednesday

Today was the first day of the real battle of the 33th America’s Cup, one of the biggest and most anticipated sailing events ever. I am not going to write about the legal battles that preceded this day, not writing about the use of engines or wings, about the strange fact that we have a “winter” race in the northern hemisphere. I hope I don’t have to write about the final decision that the court of New York still has to make about the use of 3DL technology by the swiss team…

Because of all the legal battles, we have a strange America’s Cup ahead of us. One without strict rules. In fact, the only rule concerning the yachts is that the length-over-water should not exceed 90 feet. Both teams chose a multihull with a huge mast, but the comparison stops there. Alinghi chose a catamaran with “traditional” (although high-tech) sails, while team Oracle went for the extreme: their trimaran is powered by a huge rigid wing.

The first of thee matches had to take place today, but was postponed to Wednesday Feb 10th, due to a lack of stable wind.

Cutting Edge technology for 33th America's Cup

Cutting Edge you say? Have a look at this blade-sharp hull of Alinghi’s giant 90 feet catamaran for the 33th America’s Cup which will (probably) be held in February 2010.

Areva (ACC FRA-93) out sailing

Who said they don’t make beautiful yachts anymore?

Areva (ACC FRA-93)

I agree, the old J-class yachts like Endeavour had superb lines, but look at this picture of FRA-93 (Areva Challange) training for the 32th America’s Cup.

Acrobatics onboard an Americas Cup Class yacht

The bowman in action onboard one of Desafio Español 2007’s yachts.

Acrobatics onboard an ACC yacht

Beautiful picture by Nico Martinez.

Emirates Team New Zealand vs Desafio Español

Team New Zealand beat Desafio Español in the semi-finals of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, the challanger series for the America’s cup taking place in Valencia, Spain.

Desafio Espanol vs Emirates Team New Zealand

Have a look at this beautiful art-photo by Carlo Borlenghi, on of the official America’s Cup photographers.