Do yacht clubs really matter in the America's Cup?

According to the Deed of Gift, the basic set of rules that govern the America's Cup, "any organized yacht Club of a foreign country, incorporated, patented, or licensed by the legislature, admiralty or other executive department, having for its annual regatta an ocean water course on the sea, or on an arm of the sea, or one which combines both, shall always be entitled to the right of sailing a match for this Cup". In the 32nd edition of the world's oldest sailing event, a few exceptions were granted. The Spanish challenged through their national sailing federation, the Chinese through the newly-created Qingdao International yacht Club, while finally the Germans opted as well for a previously non-existent club.

Then in June 2007, Alinghi lowered the bar even further and together with their sinister bedfellows, the then President and Vice President of the Spanish Sailing Federation, Gerardo Pombo and Manuel Chirivella, created the Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV) in a week in order to have a hip-pocket challenger of record for the 33rd Cup. Although duly registered as a yacht club, the CNEV didn't exist beyond paper. BMW Oracle filed a lawsuit and the rest is history.

Start of the first race of the 2010 Aleph Cup. La Grande Motte, 27 November 2010. Photo copyright Aleph Yacht Club

However, and despite its rhetoric during the long and tedious legal battle of the 33rd America's Cup, the current Defending yacht club, Golden Gate Yacht Club, accepted and validated on Friday, December 10th, a formal challenge by a yacht club that is a barely a month old (officially registered on November 4th) and held the first edition of its annual regatta just two weeks ago, on November 27th.

We are referring to the newly-created Aleph Yacht Club that will be represented by Aleph Team France, the team headed by Bertrand Pacé and Alain Gautier. I think this is another proof that the yacht clubs are mere technicalities and the organizers focus instead on the credentials of the project rather than the underlying club and of course you could hardly get stronger credentials in France than the duo Pacé-Gautier. The yacht club, obviously, meets the criteria set by the Deed of Gift, but just the strict minimum.

The offices of Aleph Yacht Club are in Paris and their regatta was held at the premises of the Yacht Club de La Grande Motte (YCGM) in southern France. This is understandable since the French capital is not anywhere near an "ocean water course on the sea, or on an arm of the sea". It's puzzling though that not one single member of the club took part in their first ever annual regatta, as per the score table!!

Maybe that's why the America's Cup is still at the pinnacle of our sport and if they ditch that antiquated rule they might just become another circuit like the Volvo Ocean Race or the AUDI Medcup.

Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas to end in 2010

[Source: World Sailing Teams Association] The World Sailing Teams Association, together with Louis Vuitton and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, will not develop the proposed Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong any further.

The proposed world class sailing event, featuring some of the top racing teams in the world competing in Version 5 America’s Cup class boats, would have been scheduled for Victoria Harbour in January 2011. It has become clear however, that many of the teams involved are focusing their resources on their preparations for the 34th America’s Cup.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas have provided sailing teams and their partners with high level racing whilst the 33rd America’s Cup held in Febuary 2010 was limited to one defender and one challenging team.

Now, the America’s Cup is back on track as a multi-team event with fair rules managed by a neutral authority and multiple America’s Cup Championship regattas culminating in the next Match. The new holder of the America’s Cup, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, will confirm the venue of the 34th America’s Cup, and timing (2014 or 2013) later this year.

A South East Asia venue is under consideration for one of these ACC regattas.

WSTA and the Louis Vuitton Trophy would like to thank both the Hong Kong government and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club for the efforts they have made to date and the commitment they have shown in the preliminary planning stages for the event.

Building on the success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series held in February 2009, the World Sailing Teams Association, in conjunction with Louis Vuitton, has already held three Louis Vuitton Trophy events in Nice, France, in Auckland, New Zealand and in La Maddalena, Italy.

The last regatta will be held in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

ISAF Race Officials Committee Report On The 33rd America's Cup Released

Related PDF documents

ISAF Race Officials Committee Report On The 33rd America's Cup

[Source: ISAF] On 15 April the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) referred to the ISAF Race Officials Committee (ROC) reports from the ISAF-appointed International Jury Chairman and the ISAF-appointed Principal Race Officer for the 33rd America's Cup.
Yesterday 27 May, ISAF sent the Findings and Report of the ISAF Race Officials Committee with regard to the 33rd America's Cup together with all attachments referred to in the Report to the Société Nautique de Genève and the Golden Gate Yacht Club.

The completion of Regatta Report Forms is a standard requirement of Principal Race Officers, International Jury Chairmen and Chief Umpires at international or major events.

The purpose of the report system is to provide an assessment of the ISAF appointed officials and to learn from incidents or exceptional situations that happened during an event. Several changes to The Racing Rules of Sailing and changes in the ISAF Race Official Manuals have been made as a result of situations described in Regatta Report Forms.

The report includes clear recommendations and the ISAF Executive Committee will appoint the necessary working parties to determine whether and what changes may be needed to be made to the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and the ISAF Regulations in light of the findings of the report.

The BMW Oracle America's Cup USA Tour visits San Francisco on Thursday

Who: BMW ORACLE Racing invites you to join an opportunity to meet team members and see the America's Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. San Francisco Bay sailing star John Kostecki, the team's tactician on the America's Cup-winning race crew, will be part of the panel.

What: On the occasion of opening day of Strictly Sail Pacific, the West Coast's largest sail-only boat show, Golden Gate Yacht Club's winning team is bringing the America's Cup to Jack London Square to thank the East Bay for the outpouring of support for the team's victory in the 33rd America's Cup. Team members will be available for a poster signing before a team presentation and Q&A.

When: Thursday, April 15, 2010

Noon: The America's Cup trophy arrives to Jack London Square and is on display until 7pm.

5 PM: Team members Ian Burns (AUS, Design Coordinator); and race crew members Brad Webb (NZL, Bow); and John Kostecki (USA, tactician) will sign free team posters.

6-7 PM: A public presentation and ceremony including video from the 33rd America's Cup, Q&A session with members of the winning race crew and design.

Video: BMW Oracle's 3M riblet film

Video copyright BMW Oracle

Alinghi and BMW Oracle reach agreement; all lawsuits dropped

Related PDF Documents

- Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, as signed by SNG/Alinghi - GGYC/BOR

[Source: BMW Oracle] An agreement has been reached with the previous America’s Cup Trustee, Société Nautique de Genève, that all outstanding litigation in the New York courts concerning the recent 33rd match will be dropped by both sides.

This includes GGYC’s Breach of Fiduciary Duty (“BFD”) claim against SNG, as well as all other claims over the design and construction of yachts Alinghi 5 and USA. GGYC’s yacht USA won the 33rd Match on February 14 off Valencia, Spain.

“In place of controversy, we seek consensus. Instead of continuing argument, we are pleased to have reached agreement,” said GGYC Commodore Marcus Young.

GGYC’s representatives have started a consultative process with regard to the venue, timing, format and type of boat for the 34th America’s Cup. GGYC and the Challenger of Record, Club Nautico di Roma and its sailing team Mascalzone Latino headed by Vincenzo Onorato, are cooperating closely in this.

“Good decisions not hasty decisions – this is what the Cup community wants,” added Russell Coutts, CEO of GGYC’s sailing team BMW ORACLE Racing.

“Our focus is on looking ahead and making the 34th edition of the oldest trophy in international sports the best America’s Cup yet.”

Discussions will continue over the next six months with the details of the 34th Cup confirmed during 2010.

“We will do our best to fulfill Larry Ellison’s vision of a competition which respects the Cup’s unique tradition whilst moving forward with the latest technology to attract an even wider audience,” commented Coutts.

America's Cup win for BMW Oracle; mission accomplished for HDS

[Source: HDS] On February 14th, 2010 in Valencia, the black trimaran of the American Challenger, BMW ORACLE Racing, equipped with a wing of 68 meters, beat the catamaran of the Swiss Defender, Alinghi, to win the 33rd America’s Cup Match. Many talents from the French marine industry (sailors, naval architects, technicians and engineers) contributed to the development of what just might be the fastest racing boat of its size ever built. Among them, experts from HDS have shared in this technological challenge and contributed to the birth of the largest wing ever built for a sailing yacht.

In nearly twenty years, HDS, the company from Brest has written some of the most beautiful pages of modern sailing history. Specialists of structural engineering, these “men living in the shadows” follow the sailors and their teams in the design of always larger, lighter, more reliable and more efficient yachts.

From the Vendée Globe monohulls, to multihulls such as Groupama 3, Banque Populaire V or the Hydroptere, this team led by Hervé Devaux has collected no less than five records in 2009. This same team, internationally recognised, has also been involved in eight editions of the America’s Cup, which is a different world, where design and creativity have no limits.

Summer 2009, Anacortes (USA), apparent structure of the main element of the wing. The lower part is used as a mast and all the vertical parts stiffens the profile and is then covered with a film used in aviation. Photo copyright Steven Robert/HDS

Multihulls - a new challenge for the cup
The legal battle of this 33rd America’s Cup has often overshadowed the sporting side of the event and has also forced the designers into a ' no mans land' of constantly changing deadlines, different venues and new timelines.

In July 2007, BMW Oracle Racing challenged the Swiss Defender. The U.S. team then began work on the design of a maxi trimaran and called upon the French firm of architects Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prevost and HDS for the design. Both are widely recognised as leaders in the field of multihulls. Hervé Devaux, Aurélien Miller et Steven Robert then join the adventure. The latter remembers: “We knew that, potentially, the racing could have started one year after that initial challenge, so we had to work fast. We extrapolated what we knew (Orma trimarans, Groupama 3 ...) by scaling up to a 90-foot beam. We determined loads and defined the structural concepts of the yacht, masts and appendages. Legal proceedings were continuing and we gained more time to conduct a real development campaign. The measurements of hundreds of sensors were analyzed in order to optimise every element. Every kilogram saved was invested in new systems to improve performance. From a versatile boat - a good 'all-rounder' - we went to a pure racing machine. With modifications to the floats, bows, masts and appendages, the trimaran had already gone through several significant changes before the wingsail arrived.”

An early manuscrit of Hervé Devaux's drawing during the wing lift arm's design. Photo copyright Hervé Devaux /HDS

The wing is the thing
In 1988, the American catamaran Stars&Stripes beat the massive monohull KZ1 from New Zealand - in large part, due to a rigid wing sail. The BOR design team, under the direction of Kiwi Mike Drummond, was seriously thinking about the possibility of integrating this concept, this time for the trimaran. “We joined a small team with Hervé, developing the first steps of the secret project of the wing” continues Steven. “The ‘go-ahead’ was given on the 1st April, 2009. I then moved to the production site of Anacortes (USA) where nearly 70 boatbuilders were involved in the project. All day, I supported the engineering and in the evenings I would finalise some of the designs! After five months of construction we assembled the wing in San Diego. Those of us who saw the birth and development of the wing sail were beginning to get accustomed to its size... but when on the 10th of November the two cranes lifted it for the first time and it was attached to the boat - that was a very special moment. The boat was already flying a hull later that same afternoon and the sailors returned to the base with a big smile… We already had some of our answers.”

From an initial 60 meters, the wing was then extended to 68 meters, for an overall surface profile near 650 square meters, more than the double that of a Boeing 747 wing. The sail consists of a main wing element and eight moving flaps. No less than 450 carbon/nomex sandwich panels and reinforcements straps have been assembled, representing nearly two kilometres of tapings.

Mike Drummond (NZL, BOR design team dir.) and Jean-Marc Normand (FRA, shore team) conduct some tests with a Class A wing in San Diego. Photo copyright Aurélien Miller /HDS

10 times less loading
Despite its construction and the huge logistics involved in using the wingsail, this prototype is a beacon of simplicity. “The wing simply replaces the mainsail. So we get rid of the issue of mainsail leech tensions, mast/boom links and all the systems involved in controlling the shape of such an enormous mainsail. The optimal shape exists on the wing without any effort. In light conditions, it generates about 2.5 tons of loads on the platform compared to 20 to 25 tons for a conventional rig - a ratio of 1 to 10 with about an equal weight,” explains Steven. “To cover the frames of the wingsail, we chose a film used on aircraft, for example, which perfectly shrinks over the frame when heat is applied. It is ultimately that film tension which has guided us in our calculations to design the skeleton of the wing more than the forces generated by the aerodynamics loads.”

Exchange of expertise
In this campaign, the boundaries between the “French world” of multihulls and the Anglo-Saxone, monohull culture of the America’s Cup have faded, allowing designers to mix their knowledge and exchange ideas. “For HDS, this experience has put us in an international mode, making us experience other design methods and manufacturing techniques. We have, I think, sometimes guided the team to more pragmatic choices as we usually do with projects having smaller budgets and where we find similar constraints of time,” says the 31-year old engineer “From a personal standpoint, this was also an opportunity to experience the daily life of a team and to win the America's Cup in my first campaign!”

BMW Oracle's skin-friction reduction riblet film: Sorry, confidential

When three weeks ago, 3M sent out a press release regarding the use of its skin-friction reduction riblet film on the hull of BMW Oracle's USA in Valencia during the 33rd America's Cup, we contacted 3M in order to learn more about that cutting-edge technology. Unfortunately, 3M people were tight-lipped, due to the confidentiality agreements signed with the then Challenger of Record. For your information, these were our questions and the, very brief, answers we received:

Question: What material is the riblet film made of?
Answer: Plastic microreplicated materials with riblet structure (See press release).

Question: How is it applied on the hull of the yacht and at what stage of the
hull's construction?
Answer: The backside of the film has a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

Question: What is the total weight of the film?
Answer: Confidential information.

Question: What is the height and spacing of the riblets?
Answer: Confidential information.

Question: How much reduction in skin friction was achieved?
Answer: Confidential information.

Question: The only time previous to last month the riblets were used (in
the America's Cup) was in 1987 on Stars & Stripes. How different was the
2010-version of the film from the older one?
Answer: The new riblet film is different than the material used on Stars & Stripes Sailboat in 1987 and was designed in cooperation with BMW ORACLE team for the higher speed of the new BMW ORACLE sailboat.

Question: Is there an estimate of the cost?
Answer: There is no cost information that can be provided at this time.

Question: Assuming the ban on its use was lifted do you see this technology
trickling down to smaller racing yachts?
Answer: This and other marine opportunities are being considered.

Question: Finally, there are reports on the internet that in addition to the
film, there was a polymer that was discharged from the hull in order to
further reduce skin friction. Can you give us more information on that?
Answer: This is a question which you would have to direct to BMW Oracle.

We have also forwarded the same questions to Mike Drummond, BMW Oracle's chief designer, and hope we'll get more information.

ISAF Confirms Receipt of 33rd America's Cup Report Forms

[Source: ISAF] The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) today confirmed the receipt of the Regatta Report Forms from the ISAF Race Officials appointed to the 33rd America's Cup Match.

The Regatta Report Forms were received from the ISAF appointed Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett and the Chairman of the International Jury David Tillett. They will be sent to the ISAF Race Officials Committee who will review the contents and make recommendations if deemed necessary.

The completion of Regatta Report Forms is a standard requirement of Principal Race Officers, International Jury Chairman and Chief Umpires at international or major events.

The purpose of the report system is to provide an assessment of the ISAF appointed officials and to learn from incidents or exceptional situations that happened during an event. Several changes to The Racing Rules of Sailing and changes in the ISAF Race Official Manuals have been made as a result of situations described in Regatta Report Forms.

The 33rd America’s Cup Match was sailed last month off the coast of Valencia and decided in two matches between Société Nautique de Genève defending the Cup with team Alinghi against Golden Gate Yacht Club, and their racing team BMW Oracle Racing. Team BMW Oracle Racing won the Match 2–0.

ISAF appointed the Race Officials team to the 33rd America’s Cup Match to ensure fair play on the water.

ISAF thanks Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett for carrying out his duties under very difficult conditions; ISAF supports all his decisions, likewise the Jury under the chairmanship of David Tillett and the Umpire team led by Bill Edgerton. All those involved should be congratulated for maintaining their independence and the high ISAF standard of race management and adjudication.

ISAF congratulates Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and the entire BMW Oracle Racing team from the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco, USA on winning the 33rd America's Cup. ISAF looks forward to working with the Defender and the Challengers involved in the 34th America's Cup.

Oracle's technology behind BMW Oracle's victory

Related audio

Ian Burns talks about Oracle's technology in the 33rd America's Cup

The excellent BMW Oracle blog has just published a very interesting interview with Ian Burns, team design coordinator, who goes into details about how Oracle's database technology helped BMW Oracle win the 33rd America's Cup in Valencia.

It is really worth listening to the entire interview, it isn't just a simple Oracle infomercial and Burns explains how Oracle's databases helped the design and sailing teams sieve through the mind-boggling amount of data and, ultimately, win the 33rd America's Cup.

SNG writes to the GGYC regarding the ongoing litigation

[Source: Alinghi] Société Nautique de Genève writes to the Golden Gate Yacht Club requesting that - for the good of the sport - the GGYC agrees to end all litigation concerning the 33rd America’s Cup and all prior Cups...

The SNG reiterates that it stands ready to withdraw its challenges to the Deed compliance of GGYC’s boat, and to exchange a mutual release regarding all claims arising out of the 33rd America’s Cup and all prior Cups:

Ms. Melinda Erkelens
BMW ORACLE Racing

5 March 2010

America’s Cup

Dear Melinda,

I write to request, once again, that GGYC agree to end all litigation concerning the 33rd America’s Cup and all prior Cups. We previously made that request to you by letter dated February 18, 2010, in which we asked GGYC to covenant “that all litigation shall now end,” and affirmed our intention to “cease litigation against GGYC and to assign, transfer and deliver the Cup, and all related rights, to GGYC as soon as possible.” Similarly, by letter dated March 3, 2010, our New York counsel reached out to yours to follow up on their many attempts made on behalf of SNG “to determine whether the parties could resolve all litigation.”

To date, GGYC has not agreed to end the litigation that has now been pending for over two years. To facilitate bringing our disputes to an end and the transfer of the Cup, I reiterate that SNG stands ready to withdraw its challenges to the Deed compliance of GGYC’s boat, and to exchange a mutual release regarding all claims arising out of the 33rd America’s Cup and all prior Cups. I hope, for the good of the sport, that GGYC is prepared to do the same.

I look forward to learning your position as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Meyer

Vice-Commodore

Cc: Marcus Young, Commodore GGYC
Pierre-Yves Firmenich, Commodore SNG

Report: Alinghi paid Ras al Khaimah $5 million

Now that the 33rd America's Cup is done and dusted and while we are waiting for news on its 34th edition, there was an interesting piece of information that caught our attention this morning. According to an article that appeared today in Arabian Business, Dr Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA), stated that despite his Emirate not holding the 33rd America's Cup, the $2 million spent on it were a good investment since they "put RAK on the world map".

According to the same article, Dr Massaad, also said the amount invested by the emirate to overhaul its infrastructure ahead of the race fell far short of the reported $120m, and that its partner in the bid, Swiss racing syndicate Alinghi, had refunded $5m of the state's costs.

According to what Dr Massaad had stated to us in his interview last August, "the Crown Prince is taking this event as an opportunity to make significant infrastructure investments for Ras Al Khaimah but the infrastructure for the event itself is ready. The island is ready but the government is spending around 100 million US dollars for general infrastructure in the emirate as a whole." Apparently, the Emirate spent much less than that.

Meanwhile in Valencia... Alinghi are emptying their base

That's life used to sing Frank Sinatra. You're riding high in April, shot down in May. Or better said, that's the America's Cup. One day you are the defender and two weeks later the future is uncertain. As we reported a few days ago, Alinghi are emptying their base and when we checked this morning, Alinghi 5 had already left. I suppose she was towed to the commercial port in order to be shipped to some unknown destination. Her bowsprit was also on a truck ready for transportation.

Although it is quite understandable for Alinghi to be moving somewhere else, it is puzzling to see the same activity going on at the base of the current Defender, BMW Oracle. There was plenty of activity in their base with a number of containers being taken away. Where to? San Diego, San Francisco or Newport?

Alinghi are emptying their base while the bowsprit of Alinghi 5 is ready to be shipped. Valencia, 25 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi are emptying their base. Valencia, 25 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle are also emptying their base. Valencia, 25 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Video: Highlights from Race 2 of the 33rd America's Cup (extended version)

I know this is old news but so far we had only published the shorter 5-minute version of the final race's highlights. So, here you have the full 26 minutes. Enjoy it while we are waiting for any news on the 34th edition of the world's oldest sports trophy.

Highlights from Race 2 of the 33rd America's Cup (extended version). Valencia, 14 February 2010. Video copyright 33rd America's Cup

Video: Highlights from Race 2 of the 33rd America's Cup

The best photos from the final race of the 33rd America's Cup

Larry Ellison bring the America's Cup back to the US. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Carlo Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

BMW Oracle beats Alinghi in the 2nd race and wins the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Alinghi

BMW Oracle beats Alinghi in the 2nd race and wins the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Alinghi

BMW Oracle beats Alinghi in the 2nd race and wins the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Alinghi

BMW Oracle beats Alinghi in the 2nd race and wins the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Alinghi

BMW Oracle wins the 33rd America's Cup

[Source: BMW Oracle] BMW ORACLE Racing, the American challenger, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, won the 33rd America’s Cup Match on Sunday in Valencia, sweeping past the Swiss defender, Alinghi, to a 2-0 victory.

This was an historic race for the oldest trophy in international sport, featuring two of the most innovative boats on the planet. BMW ORACLE Racing’s trimaran, USA, powered by the largest wing sail ever built, proved to be the faster of the two multihulls, overpowering Alinghi’s catamaran in both races.

Today marks the culmination of the San Francisco team’s 10-year quest for the America’s Cup, sailing’s pinnacle event. Founded by Larry Ellison (USA), the team is led by CEO Russell Coutts (NZL), now a four time Cup winner, and James Spithill (AUS), the skipper and helmsman of USA.

"It’s an amazing feeling," said Spithill. "The amount of work the whole team has put into this boat and now to go two races without any issues – you just have to hand it to the shore guys, the boatbuilders and all of the support team and designers. They gave us an awesome tool."

"It’s absolutely an awesome feeling," added Larry Ellison. "I’m really proud to be part of this team. I couldn’t be more proud."

After a long postponement on Sunday afternoon, racing started at 16:25 in 7-8 knots of wind.

There was an unusual start to the race, with Alinghi entering the start box very late. In fact, they were on the wrong side of the start box at the 5-minute gun, forcing the Umpires to assess a penalty.

BMW ORACLE Racing started with more speed, but Alinghi held held the right hand side of the race course and prospered early when the wind shifted to the right. At one point, the advantage line was as big as 600-meters to the Swiss.

But before the top mark, the BMW ORACLE Racing crew made a perfect layline call. After tacking on the line to the mark, BMW ORACLE Racing saw Alinghi cross ahead, but cede the inside position at the mark to USA, and that was all the advantage the challenger would need to lead around the mark by 28 seconds. From then onwards, the powerful USA boat extended its lead, to cross the finishing line ahead by 5.26.

"It was an awesome race. It was touch and go," Spithill said. "We didn’t see that shift going as far right as it did and that made it pretty exciting early on."

At one point, Alinghi was flying a red protest flag, but the team quickly confirmed after finishing there would be no protest.

With the win, BMW ORACLE Racing becomes the first U.S. challenger to win the Match since Dennis Conner hoisted the Cup with his Stars & Stripes team in Fremantle, Australia in 1987. Today also marks the first win for an American team since 1992 when Bill Koch’s America3 successfully defended the Cup in San Diego.

33rd America's Cup - Day 7 - Race 2: LIVE blogging

BMW ORACLE WINS

THE 33RD AMERICA'S CUP

IN VALENCIA

6:45pm Alinghi officially informs the race committee they will not proceed with their protest.

6:37pm Alinghi do their penalty turn and cross the finish line 5:26 behind BMW Oracle. Nevertheless, the protest flag is still flying.

6:31pm BMW Oracle crosses the finish line.

6:25pm The sun will set in 10 minutes and the 2 yahcts are in the final stretch to the finish. BMW Oracle are comfortably ahead.

6:05pm BMW Oracle sails towards victory in the final leg. Alinghi still has protest flag but there is no information on what it could be.

5:56pm Alinghi rounds gybe mark 2:44 behind BMW Oracle

5:53pm USA is first to the gybe mark.

5:40pm USA is 1,500 meters ahead of Alinghi 5

5:34pm 9 miles from mark 2 USA seems faster, topping 30 knots at moments.

5:29pm USA and Alinghi blaze at 30 knots towars mark 2.

5:24pm BMW Oracle rounds top mark 28 seconds ahead of Alinghi.

5:20pm BMW Oracle gets ahead.

5:19pm Alinghi crosses ahead of BMW Oracle. Alinghi tacks slowly.

5:10pm BMW Oracle reach port layline and tack

5:10pm Protest flag by Alinghi.

5:00pm Incredible role reversal in this race. Alinghi is the clear leader, BMW Oracle the laggard.

4:53pm Huge right shift benefits Alinghi!! The Swiss extend lead to over 500 meters.

4:48pm Great tactical call by Brad Butterwoth. The right pays for Alinghi that leads by 300 meters.

4:44pm One third up the 1st beat, Alinghi is leading by 100 meters.

4:41pm Alinghi sails into better wind and leads by 80 meters. Loïck Peyron is helming Alinghi 5.

4:33pm Alinghi tacks, we are heading towards the first crossing.

4:33pm Both boats are on port tack, USA has 500-meter advantage.

4:28pm USA tacks first.

4:26pm Alinghi struggles at the start. BMW Oracle crosses the line and goes left, Alinghi right.

4:21pm Alinghi receives penalty for not being outside the start box.

4:16pm Wind speed is between 6 and 8 knots throughout the course.

4:14pm The postponement flag is down and the race course axis is set at 100º. This is a must-win race for Alinghi!!!

4:00pm Postponement flag to go down at 4:14pm, race to start at 4:25pm.

3:45pm It's looking better by the minute and it seems we'll have a race right before limit time.

3:25pm The wind is stabilising in direction, around 150-degrees. It's still quite light but we see the TV helicopters take off!!!

2:45pm Good news, it seems we are going to have a race! Harold Bennett and the race committee are cleaning the start area.

2:10pm Unfortunately, we are still under postponement. The breeze is not there.

12:52pm The race committee boat is moving in order to set a new course. The breeze is still too light, no more than 2-3 knots.

12:50pm Nothing new to report. Racing is still postponed, waiting for the breeze.

12:10pm While we are waiting for the breeze to build up, rumors abound in the press center and the sailing media. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy's largest sports newspaper, if BMW Oracle wins the America's Cup in Valencia, Mascalzone Latino will become the Challenger of Record and the 34th America's Cup match will take place in Newport, Rhode Island in 2013.

In fact, Alessandra Pandarese, Mascalzone Latino's legal counsel, is reported to currently be aboard Larry Ellison's Rising Sun, in order to present the challenge, if and when USA crosses the finish line ahead of Alinghi 5. We are waiting for the photo of Pandarese wearing the BMW Oracle outfit, enjoying Valencia's nice sunshine.

11:54am Race committee raises the postponement flag. It's still too light over the race course. In fact, this is exactly what our MeteoSim model was forecasting for noon.

11:25am It's still light throughout the race course. The official 33rd America's Cup twitter page gives 3 to 5 knots. Here's the map with the race committee boat's position. Harold Bennett probably thinks there is better chance for the breeze to build up much closer to the coast than in the previous days.

Map of the race committee boat position for Race 2 of the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Copyright Valencia Sailing

10:55am Should we buy the domain name www.newportsailing.com or www.raksailing.com?

10:45am Alinghi 5 and USA are now in the start area with very light breeze. Check Alinghi's twitter page for all the latest info and photos.

Alinghi 5 and USA are now in the start area. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright alinghi

33rd America's Cup - Day 7 - Race 2: Preview

Good morning from sunny and cold Valencia. The 2nd race of the 33rd America's Cup is scheduled to take place at noon and Harold Bennett will try to start the triangular race, positioning the committee boat some 12 nautical mile north east of Port America's Cup.

The race is scheduled to start at noon and it currently looks it is going to be a a light-breeze day. That might give Alinghi some options and as Nils Frei, Alinghi trimmer, states "it's going to be a tactical situation. We hope to do the best we can and have a good race."

Wind forecast
MeteoSim wind maps for Sunday, 12pm made on Sunday, 9pm

Team crewsBoth teams will have the exact same crew lineup they had in Race 1

Alinghi Crew List:
Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (NED), Bow 1
Curtis Blewett (CAN), Bow 2
Jan Dekker (RSA/FRA), Bow 3
Rodney Ardern (NZL), Pitman
Simon Daubney (NZL), Trimmer upwind
Nils Frei (SUI), Trimmer downwind
Warwick Fleury (NZL), Mainsail trimmer
Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI), Traveller
Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), Helmsman
Brad Butterworth (NZL), Tactician
Murray Jones (NZL), Strategist
Juan Vila (ESP), Navigator
Loïck Peyron (FRA), Floater
Peter Evans (NZL), Pre-start

BMW Oracle Crew List:
Brad Webb (NZL), Bowman
Simone de Mari (ITA), Pitman
Ross Halcrow (NZL), Jib Trimmer
Dirk de Ridder (NED), Wing Sail Trimmer
Joey Newton (AUS), Wing Sail Caddy
John Kostecki (USA),Tactician
James Spithill (AUS),Skipper/Helmsman
Matteo Plazzi (ITA),Navigator
Thierry Fouchier (FRA), Aft Pit
Matthew Mason (NZL), Mast

Alinghi 5 docks out for the 2nd race of the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle design press conference

BMW Oracle held a very interesting press conference on Saturday afteroon where 5 members of the design team shared some very detailed information about the wing and the onboard electronics.

It's a long video, in 5 pieces but it's really worth viewing it.

BMW Oracle design press conference, part 1. Valencia, 13 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle design press conference, part 2. Valencia, 13 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle design press conference, part 3. Valencia, 13 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle design press conference, part 4. Valencia, 13 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle design press conference, part 5. Valencia, 13 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing