How To Save the America’s Cup

27 03 2008

It seems the America’s Cup is heading back to court.

Again.

So SailJuice will stay away from this tedious topic until it shows signs of returning to a sailing contest.

I will just draw your attention to an open letter written by Mascalzone Latino boss Vincenzo Onorato, one of the disgruntled ‘non-Challengers’. It’s called How To Save the America’s Cup. He makes a few sensible suggestions (which admittedly are worth diddly in the strange netherworld of the 33rd AC) and he drops a few bombshells too.

You can read Vincenzo’s full text here.

Here’s a bit to whet your appetite (if you’ve got any appetite left for this legal borefest. Even John Grisham lost interest months ago):

“Following the launch of the challenge, ACM sent us an invoice for fifty thousand euros which we paid immediately. Are we perhaps the only ones to have done so to date? They replied in writing that they would accept our challenge only if we withdrew our declaration filed with the Supreme Court of New York. This is not required by the protocol, but it is clear that Alinghi writes and rewrites the rules to suit its needs.

“I answered by reminding them that a citizen accepts the laws even if he doesn’t agree with them and that in a democracy there is freedom of speech and criticism. The simple metaphor was not understood. ACM/Alinghi replied by claiming a public abjuration. It would have been pointless to remind them that the last Italian forced to make such a strong retraction was Giordano Bruno, in medieval times under the Holy Inquisition…

“It’s a harsh precedent that will weigh on the future of the Cup and those who love sailing, but leaving irony aside, we must seriously consider that this event has been profoundly damaged by Alinghi. The sponsors have disappeared and people are tired of all these controversies.”


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: ,
Categories : Vincenzo Onorato

Rule 42: Are the kinetics transgressors cheats or victims?

24 03 2008

Was Lijia Xu unlucky to lose the gold at the Women’s Laser Radial Worlds last week, after her disqualification from the final race due to excessive kinetics? Or should the Chinese sailor count herself lucky to hang on to silver?

It depends on how you view kinetic infringements, I suppose. It wasn’t so long ago that Paige Railey fell foul of the system on two big occasions – racking up three RR42 penalties which up until recently was sufficient to see you disqualified from the whole regatta. Railey was booted out of the 2006 Worlds and then at the Rolex Miami OCR in early 2007. You could argue that Railey got what she deserved, if the American sailor was pushing the limits to such an extent when the penalty was so harsh.

But are pumping, ooching, or other forms of kinetics really the worst misdemeanours that we see in sailing? I don’t think so. And yet they are punished more harshly than almost anything else in the sport. Under the old system, disqualification from an entire regatta was a penalty far too far.

The punishment must fit the crime.

So at least ISAF has relaxed the penalities to the point where non-discardable disqualification from the race (DNE) – and not the series – is the penalty for your third RR42 infringement. This is a step in the right direction. I doubt this would have happened under Paul Henderson’s watch when he was President of ISAF.

Here’s a clip from an interview he did with Sailing Anarchy about a year ago. Anarchy asked the past President:

If a sailor gets three yellow flags for Rule 42 violations, should they be considered as a cheater?

Henderson:

I consider it anarchy. They have decided that they will change the game to “Air Rowing” and not play by the game called “Sailing”.

Sailing uses “wind” not “air”. Wind is moving air and is a natural action on the sails not a contrived action of fanning against air.

The “Air Rowers” believe that they can gain an advantage by knowingly breaking the rules which I guess is cheating. The Rules give the benefit of the doubt to the sailors by allowing 3 flags then they are sent home.

Read the rest of the article to understand the full extent of Paul’s objection to ‘air rowing’.

That, if I may say so, is an extremist’s viewpoint. Kinetics are a legitimate part of a sailor’s armoury. Kinetics done well, will accelerate the boat. Kinetics done badly, will slow the boat down. So kinetic propulsion is a skill.

Now, I’m not saying kinetics should be a free-for-all. Pumping and ooching certainly shouldn’t run unchecked, and in many cases I think they are probably policed at about the right level. But unlike Paul – who would probably want to see the old rule of being kicked out of the whole regatta for a third infringement reinstated – I still think the new, softer rule is too harsh.

My suggestion would be a 720 degree turn for any infringement picked up by the on-water judges. 720 for first offence, second offence, third, fourth and however many more times a sailor might be foolish enough to stray the wrong side of the grey line. A 720 is a big penalty in a fleet as closely fought as an Olympic class like the Laser Radial. If a 720 doesn’t curb the fleet’s general behaviour regarding RR42, then increase it to a 1080 turn! But don’t disqualify them.

Unlike Paul’s interpretation of this misdemeanour, where he seems to view Rule 42 infringers as premeditated cheats, this is patently not the case. The whole area of Rule 42 is a big grey wishy-washy place, open to all kinds of interpretation. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the whole list of interpretations which I’ve pasted at the bottom of this post. Knowing how far to push your kinetics is part of the game, but just because you stray the wrong side of the grey line doesn’t make you a cheat.

Let me give you an example which I witnessed at the start of the Medal Race at this year’s 49er World Championships in Melbourne. It was blowing about 18 to 20 knots, with a choppy sea. The Ukrainian team, Rodion Luka and George Leonchuk, were lining up the for start, trying to maintain their position when an umpire whistled them for excessive rudder sculling and forced them to take a 720 penalty. In the process of taking the penalty they capsized and were very late off the line. It blew their chances of winning the regatta and they had to settle for bronze.

Now, the capsize is not the umpire’s fault, but if he knew what effect a heavily-sculled 49er rudder has on forward propulsion – ie none whatsoever – then he wouldn’t have felt the need to penalise the UKR team in the first place. You can scull a 49er rudder all day and it will get you absolutely nowhere. Certainly not in 18 knots’ breeze! The only reason why skippers do it is to stop the boat going head to wind and stalling.

CORRECTION: Although I did ask after the Medal Race what had happened, it seems I didn’t ask the right people, as the umpire in question, John Doerr, sent in this reply. My apologies to John for the error. I have repeated his comment here. “I happen to have been the judge that gave UKR the penalty at the recent 49er Worlds. The penalty was given following a protest by AUS for a port/starboard incident. It had NOTHING to do with rule 42. It is a real pity that Andy did not check his facts before using this incident to make his point. I hope he will issue a correction. John Doerr.“

One coach, of a team who are reigning world champions in their Olympic class, says the big problem is the consistency at which umpires police the kinetics on the water. What one umpire deems as acceptable, another will say is punishable.

This is yet another reason why sailors should not be disqualified from races. Even if the umpires were running a system that was consistent – and when you read the interpretations below, you will see that they will never be able to achieve this, no matter how hard they try – disqualification from a race is a ridiculously harsh penalty. ISAF has made a step in the right direction, but it needs to go further. A 720 for every infringement, and leave it at that.

Question: What do you think is the appropriate penalty for infringing Rule 42? Who are you with?

  • The Henderson ‘Hang ‘em’ brigade?
  • The ISAF ‘chop off the offending limb’ scenario, which exists now?
  • The Andy Rice woolly liberal ‘smack them on the bottom twice’ alternative – ie 720s every time?
  • Or is there a ‘fourth way’ that hasn’t been mentioned here?

Remember, the punishment must fit the crime…


INTERPRETATIONS OF RULE 42, PROPULSION

INTERPRETATIONS OF TERMS USED
A term used as stated below is shown in italic type. Other terms that are specific to rule 42 are defined in the rule.
Background rolling is the minimum degree of rolling caused by the waves.
Body pumping is the movement of a sail caused by in and out or up and down body movement.
A flick is the effect caused by body movement or pulling in or releasing a sail that is so abrupt that the normal shape of the sail is changed and almost immediately returned to the original shape.
A pump is a single pull on a sail that is unrelated to wind or waves.
Repeated means more than once in the same area on a leg.
A roll is a single-cycle athwartship movement of the boat during which the mast goes to leeward and back to windward, or vice versa.
Torquing is repeated fore and aft or rotating movement of the body.
Yellow light area is a phrase used when it is not clear that an action is prohibited. It is unlikely that a boat in the yellow light area would be protested, but it is possible. If the action is repeated, the likelihood of a protest will rapidly increase.

42.1 Basic Rule
Except when permitted in rule 42.3 or 45, a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed. Her crew may adjust the trim of sails and hull, and perform other acts of seamanship, but shall not otherwise move their bodies to propel the boat.

INTERPRETATIONS (Basic)
BASIC 1 An action that is not listed in rule 42.2 may be prohibited under rule 42.1.
BASIC 2 A kinetic technique not listed in rule 42.2 that propels the boat, and is not one of the permitted actions covered in rule 42.1, is prohibited.
BASIC 3 An action prohibited in rule 42.2 cannot be considered as permitted under rule 42.1.
BASIC 4 Except when permitted under rule 42.3, any single action of the body that propels the boat (in any direction) with the effect of one stroke of a paddle is prohibited.

42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:

INTERPRETATION
BASIC 5 An action listed in rule 42.2 is always prohibited, even if it fails to propel the boat.
42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:
(a) pumping: repeated fanning of any sail either by pulling in and releasing the sail or by vertical or athwartships body movement;

INTERPRETATIONS (Pumping)
PUMP 1 Fanning is moving a sail in and out not in response to wind shifts, gusts or waves.
PUMP 2 Pulling in and releasing a sail in response to wind shifts, gusts or waves is permitted, even if repeated (see rule 42.1).
PUMP 3 Except when permitted under rule 42.3(c), one pump may be prohibited under rule 42.1.
PUMP 4 A flick of a sail resulting from the sudden stopping of an eased sheet is permitted.
PUMP 5 One flick of a sail due to body pumping, or a pump not permitted by rule 42.3(c), is in the yellow light area. Body movement that does not result in a flick of a sail does not break rule 42.2(a), but may break other parts of rule 42.
PUMP 6 Repeated flicks of a sail due to body pumping are prohibited.

42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:
(b) rocking: repeated rolling of the boat, induced by
(1) body movement,
(2) repeated adjustment of the sails or centreboard, or
(3) steering;

INTERPRETATIONS (Rocking)
ROCK 1 A roll of the boat caused by a gust or a lull followed by corrective body movement to restore proper trim is permitted by rule 42.1.
ROCK 2 One roll that does not have the effect of a stroke of a paddle is permitted.
ROCK 3 Background rolling is permitted. A boat is not required to stop this type of rolling.
ROCK 4 Adopting any static crew position or any static setting of the sails or centreboard, even when stability is reduced, is permitted by rule 42.1 and is not prohibited by rule 42.2(b).
ROCK 5 A single body movement that is immediately followed by repeated rolling of the boat is prohibited.

42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:
(c) ooching: sudden forward body movement, stopped abruptly;
INTERPRETATIONS (Ooching)
OOCH 1 Torquing to change the fore and aft trim of the boat in phase with the waves is permitted, provided it does not result in pumping the sails.
OOCH 2 Torquing on flat water is prohibited.

42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:
(d) sculling: repeated movement of the helm that is either forceful or that propels the boat forward or prevents her from moving astern;

INTERPRETATIONS (Sculling)
See interpretations of rule 42.3(d).

42.2 Prohibited Actions
Without limiting the application of rule 42.1, these actions are prohibited:
(e) repeated tacks or gybes unrelated to changes in the wind or to tactical considerations.

INTERPRETATION (Tacking and Gybing)
TACK 1 In a steady wind and in the absence of tactical considerations, a boat that tacks or gybes more than twice in quick succession breaks rule 42.2(e). In light wind a boat is in the yellow light area if she tacks or gybes noticeably more frequently than nearby boats.

42.3 Exceptions
(a) A boat may be rolled to facilitate steering.

INTERPRETATIONS (Rolling to Facilitate Steering)
ROCK 6 Heeling to windward to facilitate bearing away and heeling to leeward to facilitate heading up are permitted.
ROCK 7 Repeated rolling not linked to wave patterns is rocking prohibited by rule 42.2(b), even if the boat changes course with each roll.

42.3 Exceptions
(b) A boat’s crew may move their bodies to exaggerate the rolling that facilitates steering the boat through a tack or a gybe, provided that, just after the tack or gybe is completed, the boat’s speed is not greater than it would have been in the absence of the tack or gybe.

INTERPRETATIONS (Rolling while Tacking or Gybing)
ROCK 8 Body movements that exaggerate rolling and cause a boat to sail out of a tack or a gybe at the same speed as she had just before the manoeuvre are permitted.
ROCK 9 It is permitted to move the mast to windward of vertical at the completion of a tack or a gybe.
BASIC 6 After a tack when a boat is on her new close-hauled course, movement propelling the boat like a stroke of a paddle is prohibited under rule 42.1.
BASIC 7 When the speed of a boat clearly drops after she accelerates out of a tack or a gybe, and there is no obvious change of wind speed or direction, the exception in rule 42.3(b) does not apply and the boat breaks rule 42.1

42.3 Exceptions
(c) Except on a beat to windward, when surfing (rapidly accelerating down the leeward side of a wave) or planing is possible, the boat’s crew may pull the sheet and the guy controlling any sail in order to initiate surfing or planing, but only once for each wave or gust of wind.

INTERPRETATIONS (Surfing and Planing)
PUMP 7 A pull of the sheet and guy made to attempt to surf or plane when surfing or planing conditions are marginal is permitted even if the attempt is not successful.
PUMP 8 If a boat repeats an unsuccessful attempt to plane or surf, she is in the yellow light area.
PUMP 9 Each sail may be pulled at a different time, but only as permitted by rule 42.3(c).
PUMP 10 It is only necessary for surfing or planing conditions to exist at the position of a boat for her to be permitted to make one pull of the sheet or guy.
PUMP 11 Surfing or planing may be possible for some boats but not for others. This can be caused, for example, by local gusts or by waves from a motorboat. Also, lighter crews may be able surf or plane when heavier crews cannot.

42.3 Exceptions
(d) When a boat is above a close-hauled course and either stationary or moving slowly, she may scull to turn to a close-hauled course.

INTERPRETATIONS (Sculling to Turn the Boat)
SCULL 1 Provided the boat’s course is above close-hauled and she clearly changes direction towards a close-hauled course, repeated forceful movements of the helm are permitted, even if the boat gains speed. She may turn to a close-hauled course on either tack.
SCULL 2 After a boat has sculled in one direction, further connected sculling to offset the first sculling action is prohibited.
SCULL 3 Sculling to offset steering of the boat caused by backing a sail is prohibited.

42.3 Exceptions
(e) A boat may reduce speed by repeatedly moving her helm.
(f) Any means of propulsion may be used to help a person or another vessel in danger.
(g) To get clear after grounding or colliding with another boat or object, a boat may use force applied by the crew of either boat and any equipment other than a propulsion engine.


Comments : 18 Comments »
Tags: ,
Categories : Kinetics, RR42

Strewth safely back in Hong Kong

22 03 2008

The TP52 Strewth, which lost its keel in the early hours of Friday during the Rolex China Sea Race, arrived safely back in Hong Kong this afternoon under power. The boat was hauled out at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where it will be inspected and the cause attempted to be determined.

Skipper Geoff Hill was obviously relieved to be safely ashore with his crew, saying, “We were very lucky. I can’t think of any other race boat that’s come back without a keel after 200 miles.” Describing the incident Hill said, “We had just gone past Ffreefire and Hi Fi. We were sailing a bit off the wind doing about 12 knots in 25 knots, sailing about 80 degrees off the breeze. I think we had a number four and the main up. We had most of the crew on the rail and the boat was going really, really well. We weren’t pushing any harder – we’re very conscious of it and you can’t win races if the crew and boat don’t get there.

“When the accident happened, there were two cracks and the bolts broke: the first time, the boat shivered and we thought tension or something had happened and we kept on racing. The second one, the boat actually tipped. And because of the big broad stern, it swung around rather than tipped over. Then the guys brought the boat up into the breeze and then we let the sails off so that there wasn’t any pressure.

“We did a Sea Safety instruction course before the start of the race so we had a buddy system and everybody had their harness and gear on, and so we had them all on deck within a couple of minutes. We had the sails down, we assessed the situation and got the life raft out and then we started to balance the boat, we put water in down below.

“Then we started to marshal our resources because we realized that we were 200 miles from anywhere. And it was closer to go back to Hong Kong than it was to go to the Philippines. And so we elected — even though it seemed like a long way to go without a keel — that we would try. Very stressful night, everyone was on deck awake. Next morning, just before the ‘sked’, we spoke to the race office again and they had been in touch with some of the other competitors. And we saw Cloud (the Beneteau 44.7, in IRC Racing 2, skipper Olivier Decamps) on the horizon, nicest cloud we’ve ever seen!

“They came to our aid and, very unselfishly, gave up their race, and they’re a very good boat, they would have done very well (in the race). They escorted us back and I think that is true seamanship. I think that’s one of the spirits of racing. I’ve done quite a few Rolex races, mainly the Rolex Sydney Hobart, but I’ve done Newport Bermuda too, and I think that is real spirit of competitorship, you give up yourself to stand by, and they escorted us all the way back and that was fantastic.”

Hill concluded, “(ISAF) Category 1 safety is very important, crew training is important, and we would not have survived if we had not had that experience. I had just gone and done my course. I had done the course before but I didn’t renew it, and the last thing the guy told me was, ‘If you are out there long enough, it’ll happen to you’. But I didn’t think it was going to be that quickly!”


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Rolex China Sea Race

Strewth! The keel’s fallen off

22 03 2008

strewth-tp52-hong-kong-sailjuice.jpg

TP52 Strewth’s keel and bulb have come off, less than a day into the inaugural Rolex China Sea Race from Hong Kong to the Philippines. It happened at 0400 hours local time, but fortunately all crew onboard are safe. The boat remained upright and watertight, and the crew have moved all heavy equipment down as low as possible in the bilge, and have filled their tanks with sea water to add stability. They have also unshipped the boom and stowed it below.

Strewth was 170 nautical miles east-southeast from Hong Kong and is now motoring back to Hong Kong at 3.5 knots. The Beneteau 44.7 Cloud diverted to Strewth’s position and has been standing by to offer assistance.

Meanwhile, in IRC Racing Division, the frontrunners – Ffreefire, Hi Fi, Fortis Mandrake, and Full Metal Jacket have been racing within 30 miles of each other in about 12 knots of wind, with Ffreefire leading, currently making nine knots. They are expected to finish sometime today, Saturday.

Photo of Strewth above, copyright: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Rolex China Sea Race

Mee & Wagstaff win Fireballs

22 03 2008

mee.jpg

The Fireballs have just finished a stunning World Championship in Pattaya, Thailand. It was a close fight all week between a British and Aussie team (shades of what seems to happen in many Olympic contests these days). But in the penultimate race the Brits, Matt Mee and Richard Wagstaff, luffed their Aussie rivals Nathan Stockley and Sam Muirhead at the start. This put both teams back in the pack, except that Mee/Wagstaff found the fast forward button to get their way back up into the top three by the finish.

The Brits (pictured above) won the Worlds with a race to spare.

The new World Champions sat out the last race, while Stockley and Muirhead sailed the last race to defend 2nd place. However, a rare capsize put them back in the pack again, and allowed Dave Wade and Ben McGrane to sneak past them and grab the runner-up spot on the podium by a single point. A painful conclusion for the Aussies, but a great event for the class, with 70 boats contesting the series.

Full results from the Fireball Worlds here:


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Fireball

Xu’s DSQ gives Radial Worlds to Steyaert

20 03 2008

sarah-steyaert-wins-radials-sailjuice.jpg

Sarah Steyaert has won the 2008 Women’s Laser Radial World Championship in New Zealand, a great result for the French sailor whose previous best was 6th in 2006. The world title looked to be heading China’s way until series leader Lijia Xu was disqualified from the final race when an umpire gave her an on-the-water penalty for excessive body movement.

Steyaert seized her chance. “I saw her take the flag, and I knew that I had to finish in the top 14 – I knew the points. And I did it, so I knew I had the World Championship.” Xu, who won the Worlds in 2006, had to be satisfied with the silver medal, still a long way ahead of the rest despite that last-race disqualification.

If Xu was disappointed with silver, Skandia Team GBR’s Andrea Brewster was delighted with bronze. This regatta was part of an ongoing trials event for four sailors vying for British selection. At the first trials event at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in January, Brewster finished 16th and behind her three rivals – a position which she believes worked to her advantage at the Worlds.

“It’s been a tough week, but I came here with no pressure really on me,” said Brewster. “I felt like I was really calm and just tried to sail like I would do at any other event.”

The final day spelt disappointment for Belgium’s Evi Van Acker who had a shot at the title at the outset of racing today, lying second overall. In her worst day yet Van Acker recorded a 47th and 20th slipping out of the medals and back to ninth overall.

A good deal of the usual suspects failed to shine in Takapuna. The USA’s Anna Tunnicliffe won two heats, but lacked the consistency required for a podium place. She finished 6th. NZL’s Jo Aleh was top local sailor in 14th and Finland’s Sari Multala had great races at both ends of the championship, but not much in between. Her yo-yo performance left her in 20th overall.

So the results of this Worlds don’t leave us much the wiser as to who will win gold in Qingdao this summer. Steyaert has certainly put herself in the frame, but Lijia Xu’s near miss in Takapuna will have taught her a painful kinetics lesson that she will be careful to avoid at the Olympics.

Full results from the Women’s Laser Radial Worlds here…


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Laser Radial, Sarah Steyaert

BMW put pressure on Alinghi

19 03 2008

BMW Oracle Racing piled on the pressure this morning with the announcement of the team members for its assault on the 33rd America’s Cup. One gets the sense that Russell Coutts and the American team are good deal more prepared for a match in late 2008 than are Alinghi, who yesterday said they looked forward to a July 2009 match.

As ever, it’s hard seeing through the smoke and mirrors of the Cup world, but the man who consistently does a great job of cutting through the crap is Cory Friedman, whose razor-sharp analyses are published in Scuttlebutt.

Here’s an excerpt from Cory’s latest piece:

“Now the real news. After Justice Cahn’s decision was handed down, Ernesto Bertarelli called. He confirmed that SNG will not appeal, he wants to decide the Cup on the water, rather than in court, and that the next match will be a Deed of Gift Match in multi-hulls. When questioned about the date for the Dead of Gift Match, he said that SNG would not be ready to race in October 2008 if that turns out to be the date. He further confirmed that, if pressed to race in October 2008, SNG will forfeit.

“I called GGYC to ask for their comment and spoke to Tom Ehman. His position is that GGYC, as challenger, has the right under the Deed to choose the Match date and, if SNG does not want to accept October 2008, SNG has to take the initiative to get it changed. He expressed great respect for Team Alinghi’s abilities, expects them to be ready to race at the highest level whenever the Match is scheduled, and does not believe they will forfeit.”

Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton offered this interpretation:

“Alinghi has issued a statement saying they welcomed an event in July 2009. This is a smokescreen because we assume that Alinghi will not be ready in July 2008. It is in Alinghi’s interests to try to push the event into 2009.

“We assume that BMW Oracle has factored a July 2008 date into their build programme so it is in their interests to race as soon as possible.”

Below are the details of BMW Oracle’s team announcement. As you would expect, some major players in there – including John Kostecki who went into Oracle exile under the Dickson regime. But not many multihull specialists that I can see. Of course Russell himself has spent some time in the Decision 35 fleet, and doubtless the Extreme 40 circuit will help get these sailors quickly up to speed. But what about some of the Tornado talent that’s going to be kicking its heels after August this year?

Here’s what the Americans had to say:

BMW ORACLE Racing today announced its core sailing team for the 33rd America’s Cup. The team also confirmed the start of a comprehensive 2008 training and racing program that includes both monohulls and multihulls.

Joining skipper Russell Coutts in the accomplished afterguard are American John Kostecki and Australian James Spithill. Among the crew roster are nine sailors returning from BMW ORACLE Racing and 11 from Luna Rossa’s 2007 Italian challenge.

“We have assembled a fantastic team who are not only experienced and talented but who have winning attitudes and are great fun to race with,” said CEO and Skipper Russell Coutts.

“I have sailed with most of these guys on different projects over the years, and am really pleased to have had the opportunity to bring them together into one America’s Cup team. We are looking forward to getting out and doing some racing.”

Spithill will share helming duties with Coutts, and Kostecki has been named tactician. In addition to Spithill, there are 10 other recruits from the 2007 Luna Rossa challenge. Jonathan Macbeth joins from 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup winner Emirates Team New Zealand. Among the crew are Hamish Pepper, strategist, and Carl Williams, grinder, the 2006 Star World champions representing New Zealand in the 2008 Olympics in the Star class.

The team’s on-the-water training program began last week in Valencia with sailing in two Extreme 40 catamarans. This summer the team will compete in the Extreme 40 European tour. Team members will also be competing in the TP 52 Med Cup Series, a European grand prix sailing tour in monohulls, Additional details about the 2008 program will be announced soon.

The BMW ORACLE Racing core sailing team for the 33rd America’s Cup includes (in alphabetical order name, country and position): Alberto Barovier, Italy, foredeck; Russell Coutts, New Zealand, skipper; Simone de Mari, Italy, pit; Dirk de Ridder, The Netherlands, mainsail trimmer; Noel Drennan, Ireland; mainsail trimmer; Larry Ellison, USA, afterguard; Shannon Falcone, United Kingdom, mast; Daniel Fong, New Zealand, trimmer; Ross Halcrow, New Zealand, trimmer; Jared Henderson, New Zealand, pit; John Kostecki, USA, tactician; Michele Ivaldi, Italy, navigator; Jonathan Macbeth, New Zealand, grinder; Brian MacInnes, Canada, grinder; Gilberto Nobili, Italy, grinder; Joe Newton, Australia, trimmer; Hamish Pepper, New Zealand, strategist; Matteo Plazzi, Italy, navigator; Max Sirena, Italy, foredeck; Alan Smith, New Zealand, foredeck; James Spithill, Australia, helmsman; Joe Spooner, New Zealand, grinder; Andrew Taylor, New Zealand, grinder; Simeon Tienpont, The Netherlands, grinder; Brad Webb, New Zealand, foredeck; Carl Williams, New Zealand, grinder. Julien di Biase, Switzerland, is sailing team coordinator.


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : 33rd America's Cup

America’s Cup DoG fight in July 2009

18 03 2008

The 33rd America’s Cup will be a straight fight between Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing in July 2009.

We think.

The Cup has been bogged down in such uncertainty these past months, but following Justice Herman Cahn’s ruling at the New York Supreme Court today that the Golden Gate Yacht Club is indeed the Challenger of Record – despite Alinghi’s protestations – it appears that the impasse has been broken with both teams now ‘resigned’ to a Deed of Gift match. Each blames the other for bringing the Cup to such a low point, after such a high last July.

This is a disaster for the challenger teams who have been waiting in the wings. July 2009 was the original timescale for the 33rd Cup, but now that none of the Shosholozas, Origins, Mascalzones or the many other potential challengers are invited, it will be hard for them to survive through to whenever the 34th Cup takes place.

Will Emirates Team New Zealand come back from this? It’s hard to imagine the New Zealand people could care much about the Cup any more.

For those that do still care, this is what lead counsel for the defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), Lucien Masmejan, had to say:

“Following today’s court order, Larry Ellison has eliminated the competition and gained access to the America’s Cup Match, a feat BMW Oracle Racing has never been able to achieve on the water.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome of this court order and believe that the matter of GGYC’s certificate of challenge wasn’t properly addressed, we have decided not to appeal the decision and we look forward to getting the fight back on the water and meeting BMW Oracle Racing on the start line of a Deed of Gift Match in July 2009,” Masmejan said.

Should Alinghi win the Deed of Gift Match, the Defender says it is committed to getting the America’s Cup back on track for a world class multi-challenge event in 2011 in Valencia, Spain. “The challengers can be assured that the 34th America’s Cup will be run with the same vision and commitment for a premiere multi-challenge sailing event that they supported in Valencia in 2007,” Masmejan concluded.

BMW Oracle spokesman Tom Ehman commented: “We are very pleased with this decision. The Court has ruled that our challenge complied fully with the Cup’s Deed of Gift, and we are now keen to keep moving forward towards the next regatta.”


Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : 33rd America's Cup

US Sailing rejects a Re-vote

18 03 2008

Bob Merrick (is that the same Bob Merrick who won an Olympic silver medal in the 470?) sent in this report from the US Sailing Spring Meeting to SailJuice.

Good News and Bad News from the US Sailing Spring Meeting

First the Good News:

Last weekend at the US Sailing Spring meeting the US Sailing Multihull Council (MHC) introduced the following motion to the US Sailing House of Delegates.

The MHC moves that the House of Delegates recommend to the Board of Directors that the US Delegation to ISAF support one or more of the March 2008 Submissions calling for a re-vote on Olympic Events for the 2012 Games in Great Britain. The MHC contends that a re-vote on all ten events is fairer than the Submissions that call for a limited run-off vote of a partial slate.

After considerable discussion, the motion was approved unanimously.

What is the House of Delegates? The US Sailing website describes it in the following way.

“The US Sailing House of Delegates is a constituent based organization intended to serve as an avenue and voice for member sailors.  The House membership consists of delegates from the fifteen councils within US SAILING and the chairs of the five US SAILING Divisions.  Councils are organizations representing various types of sailors at the grass roots.  Divisions are groupings of the various operating committees within US SAILING.  The House is often referred to as the council of councils. Meetings of the House provide the forum where the various constituencies within US SAILING may, together in one place, debate the issues and formulate opinions on these issues.  Members of the US SAILING Board of Directors often attend these meetings as observers in order to hear the debate.”

So that’s the good news. The “voice for member sailors” in the United States unanimously voted in favor of a motion that “the US Delegation to ISAF support one or more of the March 2008 Submissions calling for a re-vote on Olympic Events for the 2012 Games.”

Now for the bad news:

The 15 member US Sailing Board of Directors firmly rejected the motion put forward by the House of Delegates. So much for listening to the “voice” of the sailors.

Bob Merrick


Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Uncategorized

When No News is Good News

17 03 2008

No word from ISAF as to the number of submissions it has received in relation to the Olympic Events for Weymouth 2012. SailJuice emailed the Federation at the beginning of the day to request a list of national authorities who had made formal submissions, but all quiet on the western front.

I’m not surprised we haven’t heard anything yet. I’m also quite encouraged by the fact, as word on the (moderately reliable) grapevine is that there are a few more nations, other than the ones already mentioned on this blog, who have made formal submissions.

There is another encouraging element to all this, which is that it’s not just the wealthy or the big nations kicking up a fuss. We’ve already mentioned the support from some African nations for a revote, and there is also a submission from Bermuda and Jamaica. This issue has caught the attention of large and small nation alike, and from every corner of the globe.

Then there is the volte face by Yachting New Zealand, who arguably have been the bravest of all in admitting they were wrong to vote the way they did in November, although I’ve heard their latest submission raises more questions than it answers. We’ll know more when they publish their submission later this week.

If there had only been a handful of submissions it would have been much easier for ISAF to tell us that this was the case. I think we would have heard by now. The fact that there is not yet any official response suggests that ISAF – quite rightly – is thinking hard about the next step before going public on what that response might be.


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , ,
Categories : ISAF, Olympic Events, submissions

« Previous Entries