The Cup : The After Party
The America’s Cup trophy will return to San Francisco and the BMW Oracle Racing team’s patron club, the Golden Gate Yacht Club, as the team wraps up the California leg of its America’s Cup Victory Tour presented by Oracle and BMW EfficientDynamics.
The tour ended on a high note in San Diego on Sunday in a day that started with a public ceremony hosted by Mayor Jerry Sanders on board the aircraft carrier USS Midway.
‘I’d like to thank Larry and his team for bringing the America’s Cup back,’ Mayor Sanders said. ‘This has been an epic struggle and I for one appreciate everything he and his team have done.’
BMW ORACLE Racing Video Gallery.
BMWOracle Youtube channel here
Highlights from Race 2 of the 33rd America’s Cup (extended version) from Valencia Sailing
New Zealand yachting official Harold Bennett faced extreme pressure as principal race officer in the America’s Cup this week, as former Cup holders Alinghi tried to exert their influence.
It is understood the race committee, comprising members of Alinghi’s representative yacht club, the Societe Nautique de Geneve, staged a mutiny before the start of the second race to prevent it from going ahead.
The start was delayed for four hours while officials waited for the wind to pick up. With the cut-off for the start looming, Bennett ordered the postponement flag down around 4pm local time, but the race committee refused.
It is believed SNG’s race committee did not want to start the race, claiming the waves were in excess of 1m – Alinghi’s sea state tolerance.
In an email to yachting colleagues yesterday, Bennett described the behaviour.
“I have never seen such disgraceful behaviour on a committee boat, trying to influence the PRO [principal race officer] to the point of ordering me to stop the [start] sequence,” wrote Bennett.
Unwilling to back down, Bennett called on the help of Oracle’s representative on his committee boat
America’s Cup Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett (NZL)
banishes Swiss official Nicolas Grange (SUI) from the
committee boat’s flybridge control center.
Apparently, for insubordination. ISAF report here
We really wanted to put Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) and his yacht club Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) behind us.
We really wanted to move forward to America’s Cup 34 in a very positive way.
In fact, we even wanted to salute Ernesto for his commitment to his team, his passion for America’s Cup, and his sportsmanship.
On Sunday, we learned you can’t have everything.
In fact, when it comes to Ernesto –and his Swiss confreres – you had better be prepared to be disappointed.
First, Firmenich
If you were expecting Pierre-Yves Firmenich, Commodore of Société Nautique de Genève, to be courteous and salutary at the ceremony in Valencia when the America’s Cup trophy was passed to Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco (GGYC), well, you were mistaken.
Firmenich couldn’t find the words to congratulate his peer, Commodore Marcus Young of GGYC, on his victory on the water. He couldn’t even shake his hand. The only thing he had to say to the world was that he was pleased to win the trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2003.
Now Commodore Firmenich is a gentleman of the old order, held in high esteem in Switzerland, and in business circles around the world.
But there was no courtesy from Firmenich on Sunday. We are forced to conclude, therefore, that no courtesy was intended, therefore no honor was shown.
That absence of honor sits on Firmenich’s doorstep.
If that wasn’t enough, as the excitement of BMWOracle Racing (USA)’s victory settled, we learned about the bizarre behavior of SNG representatives on the official Race Committee boat, just prior to the start of Sunday’s race.
ISAF report released 28th May 2010 here
Valencia Sailing
The future of the America’s Cup according to the new Defender
Less than 24 hours after winning the 33rd America’s Cup in Valencia, BMW Oracle held a press conference to talk about the sailing and technical aspects of the winning campaign but, more importantly, shed more light on the future of the world’s oldest sports trophy. Still, the bottom line from the press conference is that there is nothing decided yet, according to Russell Coutts, just sketchy outlines of BMW Oracle’s intentions. The message Coutts wanted to convey was that they will try to take the lessons from past editions, avoid repeating the same errors and have an “open dialog with all participants”. It is important to move forward quite quickly but without rushing into a decision.
Independent Management
Independent management of all the on-the-water aspects of the regatta is the cornerstone of BMW Oracle’s philosophy as the new Defender, according to Russell Coutts. All race officials, umpires, measurers and jury members will be completely independent from the defender, although it is not clear yet what form this independent body will have. Coutts stated various times throughout the conference that his team’s aim is to make the edition that starts today a better event than the previous ones, where all competitors will have fair and equal rules.
more here
Greetings yachties,
The yacht race is now over, will the lawyers be put out to pasture? Or are there more throws of their dice to be had? Only time will tell, in the mean time share in the glory that is the Americas Cup, a yachting regatta like no other.
Enjoy
more BMWOracle Racing press videos here
It was won on the water.
It was won by a high-tech flagship – one that was beautifully, but reluctantly designed, built and sailed to satisfy a Deed of Gift race that never should have happened.
It was won by a brilliant team – one that was brilliantly led, brilliantly managed, and brilliantly responsive to every challenge in what became the most complex, confusing, and frustrating America’s Cup in history.
Above all, it was won by the world’s most persistent – and patient – sailor.
Not only did Larry Ellison (USA), make one great leadership decision after another – including hiring Russell Coutts (NZL) as chief executive, supporting his team throughout the darkest days of the campaign, and above all, investing in the most advanced design and technology ever developed for an America’s Cup yacht.
But on behalf of the Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco (GGYC), the head of BMWOracle Racing also invested in initiatives to protect the honor and integrity of America’s Cup.
Responding to a ludicrous protocol for the management and conduct of AC33, Ellison went to the mat for fairness, competitiveness, and a level playing field.
Now he has won even that.
At the post-race press conference, Ellison announced that America’s Cup 34 will be a multi-challenger event, developed in partnership with teams who enter, with independent juries and race committees, and independent management.
Russell Coutts added that the boat design rule would also be developed in consultation with the teams.
At his own press conference, the Swiss defender Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), head of Alinghi, mourned the loss of the America’s Cup he loved.
These were the fastest races in America’s Cup history, and he lost. But it could have been a different kind of event, which he could have won.
During the race on Friday, and particularly today, he had plenty of time to contemplate what might have been.
Alinghi put forth a tremendous effort today in its attempt to defend the 33rd America’s Cup. The Swiss team from the Société Nautique de Genève led for most of the first leg of the triangular course, but couldn’t hold off the Challenger BMW Oracle Racing. Alinghi lost the race by 5m26s and the America’s Cup Match, 2-0.
Team president and principal helmsman Ernesto Bertarelli congratulated his competitor after the race: “Congratulations to the BMW Oracle team. The boat was faster, there’s no question about that.”
Today’s race was postponed for more than six hours from the scheduled start time of 10:06 as, similar to Friday, the race committee waited for the wind to settle. Around 16:10 the race committee set a windward mark bearing 100 degrees, just south of due east, and the two crews started at 16:25. Bertarelli guided Alinghi 5 onto the race course on port tack about mid-line, despite receiving a penalty. The crew wanted the right side of the course, hoping for the favourable wind shift. Almost 14 minutes into the race Alinghi 5 tacked to starboard and into a right-hand wind shift that lifted the 90ft load waterline catamaran into the lead. For the next 35 minutes or so both boats held starboard tack with Alinghi, now steered by Loïck Peyron, to windward of the challenger and holding the lead in the wind shift.
Alinghi crossed the challenger near the windward mark, but lost the lead when it tacked to port to approach the mark. The challenger led by 28 seconds at the first mark and then, propelled by its wing, increased that lead by more than 2 minutes at the second mark.
Alinghi was created in 2000 by Ernesto Bertarelli and won the 31st America’s Cup at its first try in 2003, defeating Team New Zealand 5-0 to become the first European team to win the Cup. The Swiss team successfully defended the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007 defeating Team New Zealand again 5-2.
Quotes from Alinghi:
Ernesto Bertarelli, team president and principal helmsman
“The thing that comes to mind right now is that over the last 10 years anyone who has ever come close to the Alinghi team understands what I feel now. There’s a unique warmth, unique spirit, unique friendship that ties any person who has either worked, cheered, come close and met the Alinghi team, so I’m very proud of our team and what we have achieved over last 10 years.”
Most significant moment: “The best part is not actually having the silver trophy, the best thing is having a team which is successful, which has a spirit, which wins…goodness knows we won. If there’s any team over the last 10 years that has won, it’s Alinghi. Now, these last two races we did not win. We were disadvantaged. We didn’t have a boat quite fast enough. But I think with what we were given, with the odds we had, we did our best and we showed we were not going to lie down and give up and forfeit. We just wanted to fight as hard as we could and that’s what we did. We exit with our head high and proud of our achievement so far.”
Will you continue? “It’s not for me to decide the future of the Cup anymore. I will wait to see where the future is going to take us and then I will decide.”
Rolf Vrolijk, principal designer
“The whole team here is of course disappointed. We have worked for this for 10 years and at the end you want to win. That’s why you do this. Everybody did a really good job. I think we did the best we could in the time we had. We’re quite happy the boat today showed some performance against the other boat. Maybe with more time we would have done better, but I think we will all survive again!”
Brad Butterworth, team skipper and tactician
“We were a bit disappointed the whole thing is over in two races, but you have to hand it to Oracle. What they wound up with is like a plane, not a boat. So they deserve to beat us. They went very fast and sailed well. Give all credit to them.”
On the pre-start penalty: “We had a little problem; the start line was difficult to get to at our end. There were a lot of boats near the port end and we had to gybe around and were late to the starboard end. And that was full of boats too. We were a couple of seconds late and got a penalty, but that wasn’t going to decide the race.”
On the last 10 years: “It’s always been good. Tonight’s a bit of a disappointment because we lost, but we’ve been sailing together since 2001 and here it is 2010. We’ve had a fantastic record. I’ve always enjoyed this team. The people we’ve had are fantastic. It’ll be some of the best memories forever.”
The best of the quotes from the two press conferences BMW ORACLE Racing and Alinghi, featuring Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts, James Spithill, John Kostecki, Ernesto Bertarelli and Brad Butterworth.
Quotes
BMW ORACLE Racing Team (USA):
Larry Ellison (USA) team founder and afterguard BMW ORACLE Racing (USA):
“ It is a fabulous experience I am very proud to be part of this team and I am exceptionally proud to bring the America’s Cup back to the United States of America for the first time in a very long time.”
James Spithill (AUS) skipper-helm BMW ORACLE Racing Team (USA):
“ What a fantastic race. Firstly I would really like to congratulate Alinghi for bouncing back today. They were coming out there swinging. We knew they were a champion team and they showed that again today. Full credit to them it was one hell of a boat race. I tell you enjoyed every minute of it.”
It was good to see the reaching race, I think you’ll appreciate the boats getting together and showed how exciting it can be.
John Kostecki (USA) tactician BMW ORACLE Racing Team (USA):
“ This is huge. I have been dreaming about winning the America’s Cup for 25 years and so it is a very special moment. It is a great team and this was very much a team effort. Everyone put in a lot. It was a difficult project especially with the wing sail, and there was some testing times.”
Russell Coutts (NZL) CEO and afterguard BMW ORACLE Racing Team (USA):
“ I think this was a very challenging event. Even two or three months ago I was not sure that we could have our team working effectively enough to beat these guys. I know, because I was in team Alinghi and I know how good they are. It was a fantastic effort on our behalf to have beaten them and certainly I hope to see them back and competing in the America’s Cup.”
Larry Ellison (USA) team founder and afterguard BMW ORACLE Racing Team (USA)
….one his thoughts on possible venues for the 34th America’s Cup in response to questions about San Francisco and Valencia:
“ I think we are open to considering a lot of options. We will talk to San Francisco, to Valencia…..Valencia have been fantastic hosts to the last two America’s Cups. And as you know we pushed very hard to hold this Cup in Valencia. It was not the Defender’s first choice, and overall we enjoyed sailing the 32nd and the 33rd America’s Cup in Valencia.”
Americas Cup_Deed_of_Gift
The first race of The Cup
Windfinder.com forecasts for Valencia here
wind directions
wave heights
The bloggers at Sailing Anarchy have a few more weather links to play with here
Sailing Anarchy Americas Cup Forums here
Valencia Sailing
Alinghi blog here
Alinghi TV here
Alinghi Friends here
Alinghi iphone app
Alinghi images here
Americas Cup TV here
BMWOracle blog here
BMWOracle Live Streaming here
33rd Americas Cup on twitter
33rd Americas Cup on facebook
33rd Americas Cup on RSS feed
33rd Americas Cup Photo Gallery
33rd Americas Cup Videos
There are many ways to keep up with all the action from the America’s Cup Match, whether you’re here with us in Valencia, or half a world away on your computer or mobile phone.
AMERICA’S CUP PARK – BIG SCREEN TELEVISION
The big screen television in the America’s Cup Park will be showing live-action from the race course, along with features, packaged programmes, and highlights.
Forums on Sailing Anarchy Links
ON TELEVISION
Through the agreements with the European Broadcasting Union, which reaches 56 territories and has an audience of over 650 million and, globally, with Sports News TV spanning 160 territories, broadcasting to over 1.4 billion people and also with Transworld Sport with a global audience of over 302 million, the America’s Cup News packages are assured of a massive international audience of over 2 billion viewers.
Among the broadcasters are Great Britain’s BSkyB, TVE/Teledeporte and Canal 9 in Spain, French based Eurosport and Showtime in the Middle East. Broadcasters will take all of the America’s Cup output, including the 26 minutes race day Highlights package, Race News package as well as the 52 minutes summary wrap up programme at the end of the event.
A full listing will be available soon.
ON-LINE
WWW.AMERICASCUP.COM
The official America’s Cup website keeps you posted with news reports, feature stories, videos and pictures and all the official information of the 33rd America’s Cup in English, Spanish and French
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
For the first time in the history of the America’s Cup, races will be broadcast live free of charge on www.americascup.com. Video feed will be supplemented (in French and Spanish) with a Live Ticker animated by the best sailing experts
Amended Sailing Instructions
Published 6th February 2010
more Sailing Anarchy AC forums
