Measurement Procedures for the 33rd America’s Cup published

The Société Nautique de Genève today issued the Measurement Procedures for the 33rd America’s Cup

Following the suggestion of New York Supreme Court’s Justice Kornreich, the America’s Cup defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), has published the measurement procedures for the 33rd America’s Cup Match scheduled to start on 8 February 2010 in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

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Live Bites From Hugo Boss and Alex Thomson During the Fastnet.

Smart Sponsorship Activation at the Open Championship.

Several Open60s will be competing in the FastNet race this year and all have to get value for their sponsors. Alex Thomson and the crew onboard HUGO BOSS will be inviting the world to share life onboard the record breaking Open 60 with seven live feeds a day during the Rolex Fastnet Race. Racing kicks off at midday this Sunday 9th August, when the onboard HUGO BOSS cameras will go live 10 minutes before the start at 1150. Live feeds will then follow every 3 hours after the start enabling HUGO BOSS to share all the action live from the race course with people online.

Skipper Alex Thomson says:

“We have always been able to send back video and do live interviews, but we thought it would be great to go to the next level and test the boundaries of what is possible. I hope it will give people a real insight into life onboard and share the race with us.”

The first feed from onboard will start at 1150 until 1210 on Sunday, where you will be able to watch the start live.

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Valencia Sailing talk to Alinghi and why RAK

The island at the Al Hamra Village, Ras al-Khaimah, UAE proposed venue for the 33rd America’s Cup  Copyright © / Alinghi

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Images and story leak by this guy;

Stingray

The Wall Street Journal

The America’s Cup Heads to the Persian Gulf

Alinghi Picks United Arab Emirates for Showdown With BMW Oracle; Mideast as Sports Destination

By REED ALBERGOTTI  And DARREN EVERSON

In a move that spotlights the Middle East’s new role as a sports powerhouse, the Swiss sailing team Alinghi and its yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève, said Tuesday that the 33rd America’s Cup sailing race will be held at Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates for the first time.
High Seas, High Stakes

Alinghi officials confirmed the decision in interviews a day before the closely watched announcement.

Ras al-Khaimah, which literally means “top of the tent” in Arabic, is located in the southern part of the Persian Gulf about 134 miles from Abu Dhabi and 100 miles form the southern coast of Iran. In a statement, Fred Meyer, vice commodore of the Société Nautique de Genève, said the venue “offers perfect weather and great sailing conditions for a match in February.”

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UAE Drug Transshipment Issues -

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th…ok/geos/ae.html
The UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE’s position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

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another map here

another link here

Seabreeze.com.au

‘Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, will be the Host Country for the 33rd America’s Cup’

The America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi, and its yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève, today announced the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup in February 2010.

‘We are pleased to announce that Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, will be the Host Country for the 33rd America’s Cup,’ said Fred Meyer, Vice-Commodore of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG). ‘This is a venue that offers perfect weather and great sailing conditions for a Match in February; the authorities have shown tremendous interest in, and support for hosting the America’s Cup; and the country has experience in organising first-class sporting events such as ATP tennis, PGA golf and Formula One. They will make a purpose-built island available at the Al Hamra Village in Ras al-Khaimah to provide the America’s Cup teams, sponsors and fans with an outstanding venue.’

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His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah, expresses his satisfaction: ‘It is a great moment for us to host the America’s Cup here. It is significant because it reflects how the Emirates have become a place for hosting international events. It is a reflection on what we have achieved in terms of becoming the destination for tourists and trade and industry and is a reflection of our integration in the world at large. This announcement reflects the nature of our country and its aim of becoming host to many nationalities who live side by side in peace. It is a hope and dream that this is the kind of space that we want to have on our globe. It is a great moment for us to host this prestigious event and to welcome all the sports people to the UAE and to Ras al-Khaimah to watch this great event; we are looking forward to its success.’

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While Alinghi 5 is been prepared to be airlifted to Genoa on Friday, weather permitting, SNG has announced the venue for the 33rd AC Match.

It was long rumored that Valencia could have been the place as there was a mutual consent for that venue for a match that was planned for May 2009. The last judgment in reference to the venue still mentions that possibility or any other place that SNG would select.

Now the whole discussion that will arise is the interpretation of the ‘any other place’ mention. It does refer in a way to a place coherent with the Deed of Gift; therefore it cannot be a lake as in Lake Geneva.

more here

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper and four-time America’s Cup winner
(Photo credit: Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi)

lots more Americas Cup news and background here

Golden Gate Reply

Can sailing help promote brands? How good is the sport for sponsors?

We ask Henrik Sund, Brand Director at the brand agency Grow in Stockholm what he thinks about it. The agency works amongst others for several global clients such as Bentley, Ittala, Yale / Assa Abloy and Helly Hansen.
·                     WYRF: Is sailing an interesting sport with regards to promoting brands?
Henrik Sund

Henrik Sund: “Absolutely. However the size of the brand, its business arena and target audience set some limitations. For small national brands, a Volvo Ocean Race or an America’s Cup is too big and expensive whilst a partnership with a local regatta or grand prix boat will bring more leverage. Like in all joint ventures, it is essential to determine clear goals and to sign up with the right team or club that respects and understand those goals. Sailing is great as a brand building vehicle. It covers so many different areas and levels, from multinational races to grass root sailing and family life.

·                     WYRF : What are the best platforms within the sport?

Henrik Sund: “That’s a difficult question and there isn’t just one answer to it. It obviously depends on what your brand goals are, what brand equity you possess and what budget you have. Is it a one shot or a step in a longer brand building commitment? Once you have answered those questions and defined your brand platform, there are several professionally run events and teams out there.

·                     WYRF : What are the different steps in the brand promotion process (supposing you start from scratch)?

Henrik Sund: “First of all you need a solid platform to start from, a brand platform. That platform defines brand heritage, brand objective, brand essence, value proposition amongst other things. When you have that solid, you will know what type of event or partnership you want and need. Identifying and developing a brand platform is the key for a successful future. It involves all levels within a company and it must be signed and agreed with the board of directors. From there on it’s an easy walk…
After the brand platform is set, the objectives with a partnership need to be set and validated internally. At this stage is time to start meeting potential suppliers of the services and objectives you have set up.”

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What is the future of web based TV channels? Is there a sustainable business model?

In the last 2-3 years, we have seen a wealth of new ‘broadband TV channels’ launched and aimed at the sailing market. With so much free content available on the internet, can these channels sustain a realistic business model?  We ask Brice Lechevallier, co-Editor of the Swiss online channel Skippers TV, what his recipe is, and why he believes web based television channels could be the future of regatta TV coverage.

·                     WYRF: You recently launched a web based sailing TV channel. What are your objectives with the channel?
Brice Lechevalier (c) Jean-Guy Python

Brice Lechevallier: “There is a demand from the public, who want to see more sailing movies and more easily. We wanted to provide both the pleasure and the information to the public by providing a televised version of our magazine Skippers. It is also a better way to handle daily news than a quarterly magazine. Finally, it provides an online archive and gives us the possibility to co-produce films about local events that would normally be under-exploited from a media perspective.
·                     WYRF: What is the business model? How do you make money out of it?

Brice Lechevalier: “Skipper.tv is accessible 24 hours a day for free; it is financed by advertisement and co-productions.
·                     WYRF: There seems to be a llarge number of new web based TV channels. Is there space for all of them?

Brice Lechevalier: “We are the first in Switzerland, which is always an advantage. Skippers also benefits from a certain credibility and legitimacy, which is definitely a competitive advantage. We also have a very useful worldwide network. As far as I know we are the only ones to offer such a complete content in a French and German environment on yachting related subjects such as regattas, cruises, shows, boat yards, interviews, prototypes and records. We also offer free ads. At the end of the day, the professionals and the Internet users will make their choice and we will have to adapt.
·                     WYRF: What is the recipe to break through in this competitive environment?

Brice Lechevalier: “It is a mix between the quality of the content, the knowledge of the industry, the quality of the personal networks, the capacity to quickly obtain a good visibility and develop the visitors’ loyalty, as well as a precise cost control and an optimal budget planning.
·                     WYRF: With sponsors budgets tightening, could web based televisions be the future of regatta TV coverage?

Brice Lechevalier: Considering the development of new means to create and distribute footage, I think it has become inevitable. It needs however to be included in a wider mix of media.

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Planning for a big fleet in the 2011-2012 Around Australia Ocean Race & Rally to visit ‘outback Australia’ is well underway.’ reports Event Director Bob Williams.

The Around Australia Ocean Rally for Cruisers is a circumnavigation of Australia spanning 12-13 months starting in early 2011 with yachts from Western Australia being the first to start and heading east keeping ‘Australia To Port’ to meet with yachts joining the Rally as it progresses up the east coast of Australia before going ‘across the top’, around the west coast, back across the Great Australia Bight, and back up the east coast until all yachts participating have completed their start/finish port-port circumnavigation.

One big adventure!

Bob Williams  AAOR&R 2011
Says Williams ‘I’ve just spent the last four days in Broome, Western Australia – ‘Around Australia Ocean Race Stop-Over Port’, and one of the principal ‘Rally Rendezvous Ports’ around the coastline of Australia in the course of visiting and briefing people at our principal stop-over rendezvous ports around Australia and I couldn’t be happier.

‘I met with the Shire President of Broome Mr Graeme Campbell, the Broome Port Harbour Master, Captain Vic Justice, Pilot/Deputy Harbour Master Ken Burleigh, Operations Manager Rob Wilkinson, several of Broome’s leading business people, sporting club people, and was able to give an address on the Race and Rally event to Broome resort hotel people and Western Australian Tourism people. The response from all quarters was extremely positive.

With its proximity to the Kimberley archipelago region Broome is no stranger to visiting yachts of all descriptions. Combined with a 10 metre tidal range the logistics for safe anchorage of a big fleet of visiting yachts are not to be underestimated but is a challenge the Broome Port people are willing to help resolve.

more here

Buccaneer Archipelago Kimberly Region WA North West – 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally for Cruisers

Accumulating Entries For A Melges 32
Mega-Double Header On The West Coast —
North Americans and U.S. Nationals Play
Back-To-Back Weekends

The very first Melges 32 North American Championship will take place on September 6-8, hosted by the Sausalito Yacht Club in Sausalito, Calif. and happening the very next weekend is the 2009 Rolex Big Boat Series on September 10-13. Hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, this event will serve as the rescheduled 2009 U.S. National Championship.

Thus far, six entries are on the board with more on the way. Those that made the July 31 early entry deadline are Philippe Kahn, Jim Swartz, Bob Hesse, Derek Campbell and fleet newcomers Burton Benrud.

This is an exclusive opportunity for Melges 32s to experience San Francisco Bay racing at its best, not to mention get a taste of the ultimate competition that will unfold at the 2010 Melges 32 World Championship. Same place, same time frame, same awesome Melges 32 racing!

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is gearing up to provide forecasts for surface currents (speed and direction) of Indian Ocean from next year. A high computing system is being installed at INCOIS for this purpose. Presently  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. provides forecasts on ocean currents.
Some interesting features of INCOIS and Indian Ocean current forecasts are:

* INCOIS

o is located at Hyderabad as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India
o maintains Tsunami Warning System
o provides: Potential Fishing Zone Advisories, Web Geographical Information Systems (GIS) interface, Ocean State Forecast, Value Added services to the shipping industry on payment
o has Ocean Tutor, Ocean Calculator, Ocean Dictionary

* Indian Ocean current forecast

o is necessary for shipping industry, fishery department to understand the behaviour of the sea to plan their operationsIndian_Ocean
o to help scientists study the way heat transfer takes place in the Indian Ocean and the effects on global temperatures
o to help seafarers on sailing expeditions
o to help Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations accurately
o to support in the field of: oil spill response at sea, harmful algal bloom monitoring, water quality assessment
o to understand about marine debris

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Hurricane Season 2009: Tropical Storm Enrique (Eastern Pacific)

August 4, 2009

Two New Eastern Pacific Storms Born: Enrique and Tropical Depression 8E

Tropical Depression 8e’s (left) and Tropical Storm Enrique’s (right) clouds in the early morning hours of August 4, 2009. > View larger image The GOES-11 satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression 8e’s (left) and Tropical Storm Enrique’s (right) clouds in the early morning hours of August 4, 2009 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project The seventh and eighth tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific Ocean formed late yesterday and are chasing each other in the open ocean.

One of them has already been named “Enrique” as it has strengthened into a tropical storm, while the other, located in front of it (to Enrique’s west) was named “Tropical Depression 8E (TD8E).”

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Tropical Storm Morakot Forms in Western Pacific

AIRS instrument infrared image of Morakot on Aug. 4 at 12:47 a.m. EDT that shows how large the storm is. > View larger image
NASA’s AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of Morakot on Aug. 4 at 12:47 a.m. EDT that shows how large the storm is, as it heads west toward Chin.

Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen While tropical storm Goni is poised to make landfall south of Hong Kong, China, another new tropical storm, Morakot, is now expected to make landfall south of Shanghai by the weekend.

Tropical storm Morakot, also designated as Storm 09W (“W” for western Pacific) had sustained winds near 45 knots (52 mph) on Tuesday, August 4 at 12:47 a.m. EDT (0447 Zulu Time). The storm was located near 22.4 north and 134.5 east, or about 440 miles east-southeast of Okinawa, Japan. Morakot is moving west-northwest near 9 knots (11 mph).

Morakot formed late at night on August 3, and is expected to intensify to a category 1 typhoon before it makes landfall.

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Just when you thought……you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Port has rights over starboard, leeward boat must keep clear, rules! what rules? The AC is about enter a new world of make believe.

by Cory E. Friedman/Scuttlebutt

What Justice Kornreich added in her decision that previously was not mentioned is something really new and different – no rules. You heard that right. Société Nautique De Genève (SNG) can change any rule in any way at any time up to the “start of the race.” SNG is not limited by Rule 86.1(b) as to what rules it can change. Although it might get its wrist slapped by International Sailing Federation (ISAF), it can throw out the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) altogether and institute something completely different at any time of its choosing.

Thus, when Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) shows up with every muscle and neuron programmed to execute every match racing move instinctively, SNG can announce: “By the way, we are going to round to port, port will have right of way over starboard and windward will have right of way over leeward. You are really going to like our rules. We have been practicing them for months and think they are great – once you get used to them.” Indeed, although it might owe ISAF a few Euros, and get some grief from ISAF, SNG can send ISAF and its International Jury packing and appoint a jury of three blind mice, with no right of appeal.

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This post is tagged Alinghi AC33, cory friedman, enrique, ggyc, incois, melges, morakot, nasa, scuttlebutt, sng, tropical depression