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Ben Ainslie to join ORACLE Racing for America’s Cup defense
Posted on 10 January 2012
Ben Ainslie, Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor of all time, is set to become a full-time member of ORACLE Racing’s sailing squad for the 34th America’s Cup defence on Francisco Bay in 2013.
Before then, Ainslie will compete with his new team, Ben Ainslie Racing, on the America’s Cup World Series circuit.
Ainslie, 34, has won three gold medals and one silver at four Olympic Games. In August he’ll represent England in the Finn class at the London 2012 Olympics where he’ll be aiming for a fourth consecutive gold medal before switching his attention to the America’s Cup.
“For me, as a British sailor, London 2012 is an incredible opportunity to race on home waters in the Olympics,” said Ainslie, a 10-time world champion. “My focus is 100 percent on that.”
At the conclusion of the World Series regattas in 2013, Ainslie will switch to ORACLE Racing full time as an afterguard member, alongside the likes of four-time Cup winner and team CEO Russell Coutts, skipper Jimmy Spithill, tactician John Kostecki, two-time Olympic silver medallist Darren Bundock and four-time Laser world champion Tom Slingsby.
from the Americas Cup newsletter………..
On joining ORACLE Racing Ainslie said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity, I have a huge amount of respect for Russell, Jimmy and everyone involved. I think with the direction the Cup has taken in the last few years, it’s actually really important that ORACLE Racing win again and it continues on the path that it has taken. I’m very excited about it and hopefully I can help the team retain the Cup.”
Welcoming Ben to the America’s Cup, Coutts said: “It’s fantastic for the America’s Cup that we’ve got a three time Olympic gold medallist, four time Olympic medallist, hopefully soon to become five. The America’s Cup without Ben would be a little bit like Wimbledon without Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
He’s the number one sailor in the world right now and it’s fantastic to have him involved in our team.”
Greetings yachties,
In this issue:
Ben Ainslie Racing – Press Conference,
Costa Concordia Tragedy,
Disabled Sailing World Championships 2012 Port Charlotte, Florida,
Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2012, Day 4,
Volvo Ocean Race – Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways In-Port Race, here,
Volvo Ocean Race – leg 3 start live here – on youtube here,
Laura Dekker – more Dutch niggle,
MV France,
MV Rena – stern sinks – 200+ images here,
Jules Verne Trophy – VPLP,
Team Sanya – latest update,
Sailing X perince – latest issue here,
The Digest : Oracle Racing – latest issue here,
Scuttlebutt USA – latest issue here,
Lucky Russians,
Jenyne Butterfly giving us her usual stunning performance to round off our National Pole Dancing Championships,
The Kite Show,
Enjoy
Upon departure from the port of a Giglio, an island off the northwestern coast of Italy, the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a reef, tearing a 50 meter-long gash in her hull. Reports indicate the ship’s captain, Commander Paolillo, attempted to steer the ship toward shallower waters to enable an easier lifeboat evacuation. A reported 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew were onboard when she grounded.
UPDATE: The captain of the cruise ship COSTA CONCORDIA has been arrested by Italian police as an investigation into Friday night’s grounding is launched. Officials said Saturday that captain of appears to have taken the vessel very close to the shore for reasons that are still unknown.
Weather at the time of the incident was calm with waves were under 3 ft. There is word that the ship had made an emergency stop in Marseille on January 8th but those reports have not been confirmed.
Deal keeps Team NZ in Cup hunt
By Dana Johannsen
It was an important victory as there are nine teams listed on the America’s Cup website as “challengers”, but only three of those – ETNZ, Luna Rossa and Artemis – have paid the entry fee to the main event.
While the world series, sailed in identical AC45 catamarans, has attracted several new teams, these teams have not been able to secure the funding to mount a challenge for the America’s Cup proper next year.
Dalton said that Oracle helmsman Sir Russell Coutts’ promises to cut the costs of competing in the cup were nothing more than “empty promises from a team funded by a billionaire”.
“The 45s to a point have masked that because a lot of teams have signed up for that because you can be in a 45 for bugger all, and you need a lot to be in the cup.”
Abu Dhabi clinch last gasp victory
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing clinched victory by little more than one minute over PUMA in a thrilling finish of the first stage of Leg 3, continuing their winning streak in home waters.
Within two miles of the finish Abu Dhabi skipper British Olympian Ian Walker stole the lead from Team Telefónica, who had held pole position over the fleet from the start of the 106 nautical mile race to Sharjah.
The first Emirati team to ever compete in the race crossed the finish line at 1629 UTC, scoring the maximum six points and boosting their points tally to 31.
PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG netted five points for second place, finishing just one minute and 16 seconds behind Abu Dhabi. Groupama sailing team earned four points for third, Telefónica placed fourth for three and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand will receive two for fifth.
Winning the sprint capped off a stellar week of racing for the locals, who leave their homeport as heroes having also won the Etihad Airways In-Port Race on Friday.
listen to Nico from on board Camper here
Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways In-Port Race – winner
Hometown heroes Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing claimed their second inshore victory on Friday, winning the Etihad Airways In-Port Race in front of thousands of local supporters.
Abu Dhabi, who take six points for a dream victory in front of their home fans, were followed by Groupama sailing team in second and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand in the third podium place. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG were fourth, followed by overall race leaders Team Telefónica in fifth.
Skipper Ian Walker said it was great to win on home turf: “We so wanted to win the race so we were prepared to take risks. We knew if we could win it would be very special for everyone.”
“We’re involved in a nine-month odyssey round the world but today is the most important day for Abu Dhabi. We have never seen this many boats out on the water to watch racing, and there are lots of people out who are new to sailing. Right now all they are seeing is their country flag being waved. It’s a real thrill for that to happen.”
Double-header starts with Etihad Airways In-Port Race today
Double points are at stake over the current race weekend in Abu Dhabi, starting with today’s Etihad Airways In-Port Race — another chance for fans to see the Volvo Open 70s battling head to head over a short inshore course from 1000 GMT.
Pro-Am racing just off the Abu Dhabi Destination Village in Abu Dhabi, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race
Etihad Airways in-Port Race preview – Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Click to play Etihad Airways in-Port Race preview – Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12
Six points are on offer for first place in the third in-port race of the race’s current edition and with a further six points available for the winners in the Leg 3 Stage 1 sprint starting on Saturday there are real chances for teams looking to shake up the overall leaderboard.
The Etihad Airways In-Port Race starts at 1400 local time (1000 UTC/GMT) today and the course will be set up to last 60 minutes. The race will be broadcast live here on volvoocenarace.com and in glorious HD at new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace. (For full details on how to follow the race click here).
According to forecasts, winds could be very light, though whatever the conditions Ian Walker, skipper of the home team Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, can expect ardent support from fans at the first Middle East stopover in the race’s 38-year history.
“It’s amazing just how passionate the fans here are,” said Walker. “You get this feeling that everyone just wants you to do well, and it makes you want to do your very best. I’m pretty confident things will turn out well for us.”
(google translation)
Compulsory education officials are already busy with the end of the world of the 16-year-old girl, Laura Dekker sail. They have her father Dick Dekker summoned for an interview because his daughter was not enough work from school, reports the Volkskrant on Wednesday.
Because the father refused to show up, threatened, Regional Office Compulsory Oosterschelde region in November a report to the Council for Child Protection. Ultimately, this did not happen.
The attendance office would stir because Laura in September compared with the NIS said she has quit school. She would be too busy with sails. In addition, Laura ‘in weeks’ homework is not returned to her school, the World School in Lelystad.
The action of compulsory education officials, according to his father ensured that the suspicion of Laura towards the Dutch government has been brought to a climax. She would feel that officials do everything possible to ruin her festive inauguration. If all goes well, they have two weeks in St. Maarten hailed as youngest solo yachtsman around the world.
In the NOS Youth News said Thursday if the girl does not want to return to the Netherlands, but to New Zealand to want. “The mentality is better there.”
The Dutch flag has replaced them with the flag of New Zealand. Her lawyer Peter de Lange, according to the Volkskrant attendance officers are furious that just before the end of the journey again stirring. Relying on the Open Government Act, he wants all documents in the case publicly given.
Jules Verne Trophy: the long story of Banque Populaire V
The genius of Maxi Banque Populaire is rooted in twenty years of reflection starting as far back as Lyonnaise des Eaux Dumez which VPLP designed for Olivier de Kersauson in 1993. The same design under the colours of Sport Elec snapped up the first Jules Verne Trophy for VPLP in 1997. The record, at that time, was 71days, 14 hours and 18 minutes, 8 seconds. Fourteen years later 26 days has been knocked off that record by the same group of naval architects. But VPLP did not pole-vault into this position; it has been a phased process.
Sport – Elec was refitted and upgraded until its final incarnation as IDEC aboard which Francis Joyon won the solo round the world record in 2004 and the solo transatlantic record in 2005.
In 2001 VPLP launched Geronimo which was designed from scratch for de Kersauson. At 34m / 110’ it was a larger, improved version of Sport Elec and Geronimo went on to win the Jules Verne Trophy in 2004 which then stood at 63 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes, 46 seconds.
These VPLP maxi-trimarans were revisited by Franck Cammas and informed the design of Groupama 3. His 104’ / 31.5m trimaran was inspired by Geronimo but of course also strongly influenced by Cammas’ ORMA multihull experience aboard the VPLP 60’ trimaran Groupama 2.
Together VPLP and Groupama design team debated whether to go for a larger boat or, alternatively, to keep her as light as possible whilst getting an added competitive edge from focusing on performance factors such as foils, rudders, and added sail area from the square topped main. The result was very successful, and Groupama 3 brought the round the world record down to 48 days 7 hours 44 minutes and 52 seconds in March 2010. The trimaran proved to be fast and light and exercised the advantages of appendages, particularly in the Atlantic crossings, but dealing with heavy seas in the Southern Ocean was clearly a challenge.
When Pascal Bidégorry came to VPLP, he had a clear vision of what he wanted: a record breaking trimaran with the Jules Verne Trophy as the ultimate goal. Bidégorry also had many years experience on the ORMA circuit and had observed the strengths and weaknesses of all the maxi trimarans that had gone before. The essence of the design brief Bidégorry gave VPLP was to keep all the advantages of Groupama 3 and improve on her limitations. Bidégorry wanted a more muscular trimaran that was able to take on tough conditions while maintaining a high average speed throughout. Together they arrived at a heavier but more durable and powerful trimaran. As a consequence the designers had to add length to balance that extra weight and Maxi Banque Populaire became the largest sailing trimaran in the world at 131’ / 40m.
Team Sanya spent a sleepless night at sea as they continued to sail cautiously towards the safe haven port to complete Leg 2 and collect valuable overall race points.
“The waves come out of nowhere, salt is constantly stinging your eyes and all the while your supposed to be in control of this 70 foot machine” David Swete – helmsman, Team Sanya
Despite encountering strong winds, large ocean swells and stinging salt water spray overnight, the six-strong Sanya crew managed to maintain speeds around 11 knots.
“People can only imagine what its like out here,” commented Dave Swete from the helm at around 0300 last night.
“The waves come out of nowhere, salt is constantly stinging your eyes and all the while your supposed to be in control of this 70 foot machine.
“I don’t think any of my mates I went to school with would understand.”
This post is tagged americas cup, Ben Ainslie, Ben Ainslie Racing, Costa Concordia Tragedy, Disabled Sailing World Championships 2012 Port Charlotte, Florida, giving us her usual stunning performance to round off our, Jenyne Butterfly, Jules Verne Trophy, Laura Dekker, Lucky Russians, MV France, MV Rena, National Pole Dancing Championships, Oracle Racing, Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2012, russell coutts, Sailing X perince, scuttlebutt, TEAM SANYA, The Digest, The Kite Show, volvo ocean race, Volvo Ocean Race - Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways In-Port Race, vplp
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