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34th America’s Cup regeneration

October 10, 2010

Champions League pioneers Richard Worth & Craig Thompson to transform America’s Cup – Two of the most distinguished figures in world sport will lead the regeneration of the America’s Cup.

Richard Worth - Chairman, Management Board, America's Cup Event Authority

Richard Worth - Chairman, Management Board, America's Cup Event Authority

Richard Worth will be Chairman of the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) Management Board. He has specific responsibility for the commercial, media and television aspects in one of sports most iconic events.

Craig Thompson has been appointed CEO of ACEA and is charged with bringing his skills to the rejuvenation of the oldest trophy in international sport. He will work closely with Richard to re-position the America’s Cup to attract more fans and commercial interest, while delivering the events in new and exciting formats.

The 34th America’s Cup, staged in 2013, will feature the best sailors in the world on the fastest boats. Foremost amongst many innovations is a new wingsailed 72ft catamaran, a new World Series annual championship and the new Youth America’s Cup.

Amongst their long list of achievements, Worth and Thompson are recognized for their pivotal roles in the phenomenal growth of the UEFA Champions League, one of the most successful properties and most watched competitions in world sport.

Each also has worked closely with the governing bodies for the Olympics, soccer and athletics – the IOC, FIFA, UEFA and IAAF plus other leading sports federations and rights holders.

Worth forged an enviable partnership with Thompson at the highly regarded sports marketing agency, T.E.A.M.  During their leadership as Chief Executive and Managing Director respectively, T.E.A.M. marketing developed an unrivalled model of sales success, event delivery and partner servicing.

Craig Thompson, CEO, America’s Cup Event Authority

Prior to that, Thompson was Vice-President at another respected sports marketing agency, ISL, and Worth lead sports producer at Britain’s ITV network.

Commenting on the key appointments Jérôme Valcke, Secretary-General of FIFA, soccer’s world governing authority said:

“Richard brings an intimate understanding of how to balance the conflicting needs of different stakeholders to generate overall growth and success for a major event, from his history in the sports marketing industry at the top level.”

Craig Thompson, CEO, America's Cup Event Authority

Craig Thompson, CEO, America's Cup Event Authority

Tom Liston, Managing Director T.E.A.M. Marketing commented:

“Craig Thompson, with his 11 years of experience as Managing Director of T.E.A.M. Marketing, has the necessary leadership, vision and insight to develop, add value and enhance the America’s Cup as a brand and a commercial property.”

The appointments were made by BMW ORACLE Racing, winners of the 33rd America’s Cup. CEO Russell Coutts explained:

“We studied best practice in the world’s top sporting events. Now we are fortunate to have secured two of the best practitioners.”

On September 13 2010, Coutts outlined the ambition for the 34th America’s Cup: an event where uncertainty has now been replaced with certainty thanks to a fair competition managed by a neutral and independent body, and a stop-start business cycle replaced by sustainability.

Australian businessman, Olympic competitor and four-time America’s Cup participant Iain Murray was appointed to head the independent sporting and logistics administration, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM).

Thompson and Worth head-up the counterpart commercial organization, ACEA. A key objective is offering the best-ever fan experience with social media, on-line coverage and broadcast television integrated into innovative and compelling content.

“The America’s Cup has a wonderful past, but it is the potential of its future that is exciting,” said Thompson. “The unique nature of the America’s Cup has allowed the current holder to take bold but sensitive steps to equip this iconic event for the future and impact all of sailing.”

Worth added: “The America’s Cup is one of the most recognized events in the world. The challenge is to develop the event to a commensurate level.”

Velux 5 Oceans: Christophe Bullens determined to sail.

October 10, 2010

Christophe Bullens and his team have been working tirelessly to find a new boat to race in the VELUX 5 OCEANS after Five Oceans of Smiles was cruelly dismasted on the way to La Rochelle earlier this week.

Christophe Bullens’ Yacht Dismasted – Photo credit onEdition

Christophe Bullens’ Yacht Dismasted – Photo credit onEdition

The mast broke into three pieces while Christophe and a small crew were sailing around 15 miles off Cherbourg in Normandy, France. It also punctured a hole in the hull of Five Oceans of Smiles. The dismasting couldn’t have come at a worse time – there is now just over one week until the start of the 30,000-mile solo round the world race which begins in La Rochelle on October 17.

While many would have given up, Christophe and his small band of volunteers jumped straight into the job of finding a new Eco 60 yacht to race. Since Monday, Christophe has been to see several Eco 60s which are on the market in France including solo sailor Arnaud Boissieres’ Arkena Verandas and remains positive about being on the VELUX 5 OCEANS start line.

Christophe’s shore manager Els Vandermeulen said: “Christophe has looked at several boats and now has a few different options which are all doable. Not competing in the VELUX 5 OCEANS is simply not an option for Christophe.”

Since the dismasting, Christophe and his team have been inundated with offers of help from fans all over Belgium and France. A team of fans are travelling to Cherbourg this weekend to help prepare Five Oceans of Smiles for the voyage back to Belgium.

Another such offer came from British solo sailor Josh Hall, a former VELUX 5 OCEANS competitor, who is now based in France. Hall took part in the race in 1990, 1994 and 1998 of the race. During the 1994 race he was rescued from his sinking boat in the Southern Ocean by fellow competitor and VELUX 5 OCEANS assistant race director Alan Nebauer. In 1998 Hall’s boat Gartmore dismasted in the South Atlantic. When he heard of Five Oceans of Smiles’ dismasting he called Christophe immediately offering to help.

Els added: “We have had so many offers of help, even from people we have never met. It is very touching and very much appreciated. VELUX Belgium contacted us straight away to offer their help and of course we are working closely with the VELUX 5 OCEANS race management in La Rochelle.

Christophe will announce his plans for the VELUX 5 OCEANS in La Rochelle on Monday.

WSTA appoints two to board of directors of America’s Cup Race Management

October 07, 2010

The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) has appointed two directors to the board of America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) as per the Protocol for the 34th America’s Cup.

Mikhail Tuzov (RUS) and James Farmer (NZL) will join the five-person board with immediate effect, their names having been put forward for consideration by the Synergy Russian Sailing Team and Emirates Team New Zealand respectively. The WSTA voted this week on their nomination to the ACRM board.

The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA)

The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA)

“Having representation on the board of ACRM is an important check and balance on the overall fairness of the next America’s Cup for all teams,” said Paul Cayard, the chairman of the WSTA. “We are confident our nominees will greatly contribute to the execution of the vision for AC 34 while representing the interests of the challengers in the management of the event.”

ACRM is the body charged in the Protocol with providing “neutral, independent, professional, and fair race management” for the next edition of the America’s Cup.

The board of ACRM consists of five people – the recently appointed Regatta Director Iain Murray (AUS), as well as one representative from the Defender, one from the Challenger of Record, and the two appointed by WSTA.

Mikhail Tuzov is a businessman, engineer and investor in Russia who was among the founders of the Synergy Russian Sailing Team, which has successfully competed in the TP52 Class on the Audi MedCup circuit and in the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

James Farmer is a Barrister and Queen’s Counsel in New Zealand and has been a Director and Trustee with Emirates Team New Zealand since 2004. He was the team’s representative on the Challenger Commission during the 32nd America’s Cup.

“ACRM welcomes the appointments of James Farmer and Mikhail Tuzov as WSTA’s board representatives to ACRM,” said Iain Murray, ACRM CEO and Regatta Director of the 34th America’s Cup. “This brings us one step closer to formalizing ACRM and moving forward on preparations for running the 34th America’s Cup regatta. The Board will play an important part in assuring a fair competition for all.”

As per the Protocol, the two members nominated by WSTA will have their positions on the board confirmed by a majority vote of the Competitors Forum following the close of entries for the Cup early next year.

The WSTA was created in the spring of 2009 to promote the interests of the some of the top sailing teams in the world. In partnership with Louis Vuitton, the WSTA has organised three Louis Vuitton Trophy events, with a fourth and final regatta scheduled in Dubai next month.

Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Louis Vuitton Trophy.

 

Dubai event will mark the final regatta of the Louis Vuitton Trophy - Image credit to DIMC

Dubai event will mark the final regatta of the Louis Vuitton Trophy - Image credit to DIMC

About WSTA
The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) was founded in 2009 by a group of professional yacht racing teams to develop regular high-level match race regattas in large and complex racing yachts. The WSTA is jointly owned by its nine shareholders (the teams) and represents the interests of those teams in the pursuit of fair and highly competitive racing. The WSTA, in conjunction with title partner Louis Vuitton, co-organises the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

About Louis Vuitton
The world leader in luxury, Louis Vuitton has been synonymous with the art of stylish travel since 1854. Since 1987, it has been part of LVMH/Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, the world’s most prestigious luxury goods group headed by Bernard Arnault. Since 1997, with the arrival of the designer Marc Jacobs, it has extended its expertise to women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, watches and jewellery, eyewear, combining traditional craftsmanship with flair and innovation to create a complete lifestyle experience. Today, Louis Vuitton has an exclusive network of stores all across the world.

Velux 5 Oceans: Thousands of spectators set to pack La Rochelle for the start

October 07, 2010

It is set to be one of the biggest spectacles to grace the French port of La Rochelle in years. In just over one week, a fleet of international ocean racers sailing high performance Eco 60 yachts will blast over the startline of a gruelling 30,000-mile solo marathon around the world: the VELUX 5 OCEANS.

The Velux 5 Oceans race village surrounding the Bassin des Chalutiers - Velux 5 Oceans ©

The Velux 5 Oceans race village surrounding the Bassin des Chalutiers - Velux 5 Oceans ©

Thousands of spectators are expected to flock to La Rochelle, home of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, to wave farewell to the skippers as they set off on the Ultimate Solo Challenge on Sunday October 17. Today, race officials have released details of the programme of events for start day.

On the morning of race day, the VELUX 5 OCEANS race village, located in the Bassin des Chalutiers, will open at 10am and activities will start at 10.30am with a rousing performance of Batala, a type of Brazilian drumming with a samba reggae style that originates from Salvador de Bahia, one of the VELUX 5 OCEANS host ports. By 12.30pm the VELUX House will be full of nervous excitement as the skippers gather for the departure ceremony, an hour-long celebration of the huge feat the sailors are about to embark on.

Hundreds of spectator boats will then take to the water at 2pm to assume their positions ahead of the race start in the specially designated spectator area in the Pertuis Charentais outside La Rochelle’s iconic harbour walls. Then, at 4pm, the sound of the starting gun will ring out round La Rochelle and the eight ocean racers will pass the start boat, the beautiful Belem, and embark on their epic adventure around the world alone. The first of five ocean sprints will see them battle the notorious Bay of Biscay before taking on the Doldrums and the South Atlantic en route to Cape Town, South Africa.

VELUX 5 OCEANS chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “There is no better experience than the start of a major ocean yacht race and the VELUX 5 OCEANS is the best of all. The nervous energy that will engulf La Rochelle is something that will stick in the minds of everyone there for years to come. Come to La Rochelle for October 17 and be part of something special.”

For those not lucky enough to get to La Rochelle for the race start, the VELUX 5 OCEANS website www.velux5oceans.com will be the place to go for all the latest news, pictures, videos and up-to-date position reports.

Excitement will start to build from Saturday, October 9, with the opening of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race village. The race village, in Esplanade Eric Tabarly, will form the nerve centre of the event and will be officially opened by the skippers at 10am on Saturday. Built around the VELUX House, title sponsor VELUX Group’s vision for sustainable housing, the race village will overlook the pontoons which will host the competing Eco 60s. It will carry the message of TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS, the race’s sustainability mission, supported by an exposition from race transport partner Maersk Line and other local eco exhibitors from the La Rochelle region. Throughout the eight days leading to the start day the race village will host a range of activities, including dance and music performances, watersports in the marina, school visits, cooking challenges and a chance for the public to meet the VELUX 5 OCEANS skippers.

One of the highlights in the lead up to the VELUX 5 OCEANS start will be the arrival in La Rochelle of one of the most famous classic ships in France, the beautiful three-masted tallship Belem, which will enter the port on the evening of October 13. Each skipper will be introduced to the public in a special ceremony onboard the historic ship at 7.30pm.

The evening of Saturday October 16 will see ocean sailing and rugby join forces in a grand celebration of sport. The VELUX 5 OCEANS has teamed up with Top 14 rugby team Atlantique Stade Rochelais for their Amlin Challenge Cup second round clash against Agen. Atlantique Stade Rochelais will play in front of a crowd of 11,500 fans at their home ground Stade Marcel-Deflandre in a specially made kit inspired by the VELUX 5 OCEANS race, launched by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston yesterday. In place of their normal yellow and black colours, the team will wear a shirt featuring an Eco 60 yacht surrounded by open sea and the VELUX 5 OCEANS logo. On Friday October 15, the day before the match, the VELUX 5 OCEANS skippers will go head to head with the Atlantique Stade Rochelais players in a winch grinding challenge in the race village.

The VELUX 5 OCEANS, run by Clipper Ventures PLC, is the longest running solo round the world race, and has 28 years of rich heritage as the BOC Challenge and then the Around Alone. This edition features five ocean sprints over nine months. After setting off on October 17 from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in America before returning back across the Atlantic to France.

TP52 World Championship 2010 Day 3 Summary

October 07, 2010

Matador lifted the top points today in the world championship Coastal Race. Victory came when they needed it today for the defending world champions Matador. A big win in the 1.5 points multiplier 28 miles ‘coastal’ race brings Alberto Roemmers’ team to within one point of Quantum Racing (USA), the 2008 champions.

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez/WSM

With owner Roemmers on the helm, Matador were the first to break to the right off the start line, along with Bigamist (POR) and Cristabella (GBR) and they formed the leading trio at the first windward gate.

From there on through a circuit of windward-leeward, triangle, windward-leeward loops in 11 to 16 knots of NE’ly breeze on choppy waters, on to to a spectacular finish in front of the iconic Veles et Vents building, in the heart of the America’s Cup Marina Real Juan Carolos 1, Matador extended their lead, finishing 1 minute and 24 seconds ahead of Cristabella.

If it was a day to savour for the current world champions, their second big coastal race success in 14 days after winning the coastal at the final event of the Audi MedCup Circuit in Sardinia, bringing them sharply back into contention for this year’s title.

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez/WSM

For the regatta leaders Quantum Racing it proved a much more frustrating day, spending their coastal contest chipping away through the fleet to a gain fifth place after they had rounded the windward gate in eighth. Other than rescuing three valuable points, Terry Hutchinson and crew would also have a small measure of satisfaction that it was Artemis (SWE), who were their main challenge going out this morning, who finished on their tail pipe.

Both Quantum Racing and Artemis were on the wrong side of the right shift on the first beat and were the only two who stood on to the right hand buoy at the windward gate and so were forced to play catch up from there on in.

In many respects the die was set on that first two miles upwind leg. Bigamist lost out on the first downwind first to Cristabella and then Audi A1 powered by All4ONE.
Audi A1 had made the best start and came round the first gate as the best of the group which went left.

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez/WSM

The British Cristabella crew – with Roberto Bermudez (ESP) steering and John Cutler (GBR/NZL) calling tactics -  had a spirited joust all the way through the ensuing legs, containing the Franco-Germans, surging in to the spectacular finish line with the red and white Audi logo’d boat hard on their heels.

Tomorrow’s schedule is for two more windward-leeward races from 1300hrs CET.

TP52 World Championship 2010 Valencia , Spain
 Day 3 – Coastal Race

1. Quantum Racing (USA) – Terry Hutchinson (USA), 1+3+3+1+4+7,5= 19,5 points
2. Matador (ARG) – Alberto Roemmers (ARG), 4+2+5+3+5+1,5= 20,5
3. Synergy (RUS) – Eugeni Neugodnikov (RUS), 5+1+1+2+7+6= 22
4. Artemis (SWE) – Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), 3+5+2+4+1+9= 24
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) – Jochen Schuemann (GER), 2+10(DSQ)+8+6+2+4,5= 32,5
6. Cristabella (GBR) – John Cutler (NZL), 6+4+4+7+9+3= 33
7. Bigamist 7 (POR) – Afonso Domingos (POR), 7+6+6+5+3+10,5= 37,5
8. Pace (GBR) – Johnny Vincent (GBR), 9+8+7+10(DSQ)+6+12= 52
9. Weapon of Choice (GBR) – Tom Wilson (GBR), 8+7+9+8+8+13,5= 53,5

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez/WSM

Francesco Bruni (ITA), tactician onboard Matador (ITA)

“Today it wa special because we’ve made an almost perfect race, and the coastal races this year are now being good for us, we’ve broken a record never achieved in the TP52 class. So I’m very happy because the coastal races were a bit our weak point. We’re sailing them much better. The 1,5 mutiplier for the coastal makes it more important than the rest of races, and so here we are taking advantage of that”.

Nacho Braquehais (ESP), strategist Cristabella (ESP):

“Just before the start it was pretty clear to all of us that the left was going to pay, and everyone was trying to start on that side. We tacked right after the start and got a clear lane in the middle of the pack. We got ourselves in a nice position, got more pressure on the right and that has helped us reach the mark in a comfortable third position, and right after rounding we were able to gybe and pass Bigamist which was second, and from then on the run was very good, we’ve stretched out.”
“And then on the second beat Audi A1 was coming back strong from behind and for the rest of the triangle, as well as the second beat and the run, we were fighting with them just four boat lengths ahead, and that’s kept us busy. The fourth boat was further back and in the fourth beat we decided to cover our position. After the first half of the race we broke the starboard hand guard lines when we were about to finish the reach, and from then on we couldn’t hike.”

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez/WSM

Sebastien Col (FRA), tactician Audi A1 powered for All4One (GER/FRA):

“It was a choppy day, quite a lot of shifts, and a very long long race. It doesn’t happen really often that we are doing all that, with those many runs and beats, so it was very interesting. We learned a few things today, specially how to sail the boat downwind, we were a litle bit slow at the beginning, so it was a good day for us. A very long race, downwind we had to pump and the guys did a great job pumping all the time, so it pays finishing third here, and finishing in the harbour was great. I thought it would be a little bit shiftier inside the harbour, but at the end it wasn’t. Coming in with the spinnakers up, fighting for the second place was fun”.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), skipper-helm Quantum Racing (USA):

“It would have been good if the windward gate was square to the wind. It’s over with. To get a fifth out of that was actually really good work. We came off the line with a nice start, the breeze went 13 degrees right. From there it was about the parade. We managed it as best as we could, making a little bit of something out of nothing. It was good.”

TP52 World Championship: Quantum Racing staying on target

October 06, 2010

Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew of Quantum Racing (USA) kept their challenge for a second TP52 World Championship firmly on target today.

Quantum Racing - TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Quantum Racing - TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Staying within their target points budget for the day’s two races, the 2008 champions’ fourth and first was joint best score of the day, and leaves them three points clear of 2007 title holder Artemis, whose day was the mirror image of Quantum Racing’s.

The start of the second race of the day proved the most telling, as Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis (SWE) jumped off the line to an early lead which they extended to nearly one minute, whilst overnight leader Synergy (RUS) made their poorest start of the regatta so far and had to work hard to recover to a seventh.

Artemis TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Artemis TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

The America’s Cup waters off Valencia have so far spoiled the TP52 championship crews for choice. Monday’s building sea-breeze was replaced by an altogether more benign, but equally testing 7-8 knots of thermal SE’ly today, and Thursday’s scheduled 25 miles coastal race is presently expecting at least 20 knots, maybe more.  That the sun has not stopped shining, boosting the daytime temperatures into the mid 20’s Celsius only is the double bonus payout.  

Quantum Racing’s tactician Adrian Stead (GBR) returned to the Real Marina Juan Carlos dock pleased not only with their Race 4 victory, but of equal importance was that they recovered two places in the next race when the breeze offered more advantage to the right with a small right hand shift. They had started smartly off the pin, never felt the same benefit and were forced on to the back foot from there.
But they stuck with it, gaining two places on the second beat and one at the death of the final run, to lead Artemis overall by three points after five races,  the theoretical half way point of the regatta. Stead and Hutchinson both started the regatta in the belief a race average of 3pts could be good enough to clinch the title, and they kept to their target average again today.

Race 4 started in the gentle SE’ly and the early tussle was between Quantum Racing and Synergy, but Quantum closed them out in the top third of the beat and they rounded first and second, with Terry Hutchinson’s crew going on to win by 37 seconds.

Artemis’ broke the Quantum and Synergy race winning run when they made the best start to Race 5 and were able to gain from a small increase in wind pressure and shift as it moved across from the right of the course.
With owner Tornqvist steering they were able to lead comfortably around the first turn, while Audi A1 powered by All4ONE (GER/FRA) and Bigamist (POR) who both went right early were able to round second and third, their final finishing positions.
Quantum Racing were starved of this initial advantage, rescuing a good fourth, but Synergy were not so good off the line and rounded the first mark in eighth and gained to seventh.

Fleet, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Fleet, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Tomorrow’s 25 miles coastal race will be a variation on a traditional Olympic triangle type course, with an opening two miles beat followed by a four miles downwind leg.

TP52 World Championship 2010
Day 2

1 Quantum Racing (USA) – Terry Hutchinson (USA), 1+3+3+1+4= 12 points
2. Artemis (SWE) – Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), 3+5+2+4+1= 15
3. Synergy (RUS) – Eugeni Neugodnikov (RUS), 5+1+1+2+7= 16
4. Matador (ARG) – Alberto Roemmers (ARG), 4+2+5+3+5= 19
5. Bigamist 7 (POR) – Afonso Domingos (POR), 7+6+6+5+3= 27
6. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) – Jochen Schuemann (GER), 2+10(DSQ)+8+6+2= 28
7. Cristabella (GBR) – John Cutler (NZL), 6+4+4+8+9= 31
8. Pace (GBR) – Johnny Vincent (GBR), 9+8+7+7+6= 37
9. Weapon of Choice (GBR) – Tom Wilson (GBR), 8+7+9+9+8= 41

Quotes of the day:

Terry Hutchinson (USA), skipper Quantum Racing (USA):
“We had another good day, two solid starts and a 1,4. We got a little bit unlucky in the second race, we had a nice start at the pin and we were really happy with everything, but then everybody started to fall in on us and Artemis picked up a little right shear that just didn’t get to us. So that set us up for a hard race, but getting a fourth out of that race feels better than the first race because we were eighth or ninth around the top mark and that’s a good indication of how the boat’s going and how the guys are sailing.
The shifts were happening very quickly”.

Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), skipper and skipper Artemis (SWE):
“Overall everything went very well today. We were a bit unlucky in the first race, we had a decent start but were forced to tack in a position we didn’t want, and then we struggled a little bit, we were down but we came back and we finished fourth. It could have been third, given where we were at the beginning of the race, we had a good race.”
“We nailed the start in the second race, it was perfect timewise and we crossed the line in full speed and it was very clear I think that we were on to something good, we were on the right side and we controlled the race from the beginning to the end, so it was a good feeling, one of those races where everything seems to work our way”.

Francesco Mongelli (ITA), navigator Synergy (RUS):
“We’ve had two very good days, out of the five races we’ve run, three were very good, one was average and the fifth wasn’t that good. But we are happy, we’ve done some importante changes onboard which are working out and we are happy cause we know we are able to sail this way. In the last race our start wasn’t good, and we couldn’t make it to the left hand side which was paying, and from then on we’ve been bounced by the others, you just can’t do your own regatta. But thanks to a good call in the last run were able to gain a couple of points thus not finishing last”.

34th America’s Cup: United Internet Team Germany will not challenge.

October 06, 2010

United Internet Team Germany have announced that they will not be a challenger for the 2013 America’s Cup

United Internet Team Germany, who competed in the 32nd America’s Cup with a team led by Jesper Bank join TeamOrigin as another team not contesting the next event. 

United Internet Team Germany, 32nd Americas Cup - Credit United Internet Team Germany

United Internet Team Germany, 32nd Americas Cup - Credit United Internet Team Germany

In a press release United Internet Team Germany stated

“Based on the new format for the 34th America´s Cup, which was recently announced by BMW Oracle, the United Internet Team Germany refrains from participating in the competition for the world’s oldest sports trophy. Since 2007, the German team has been waiting to sail for the America´s Cup again.”

“With regards to the new rules that have been established by BMW Oracle, the United Internet Team Germany will not be able to register for the 34th America’s Cup” said head of syndicate of United Internet Team Germany, Michael Scheeren.

TP52 Rán sailing team to race the 2011 Audi MedCup

October 06, 2010

Niklas and Catherine Zennstrom’s (SWE)  Rán (GBR) sailing team, winners of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race and current MiniMaxi class world champions and class winners in the last Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, have decided to make the ‘next logical step’ for them, to race next year’s Audi MedCup Circuit with a boat which starts building imminently at Green Marine in Lymington, England.

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico Martinez WSM

Their successful project is run by Tim Powell, who skippers Rán, and has many years experience of the MedCup Circuit as longtime co-helmsman/strategist on Cristabella (GBR).

Zennstrom, co-founder of Skype, will steer the boat. He has been a passionate owner-driver since returning to sailing as a boat owner in 2007, and in 2008 campaigned Rán, an IRC optimised TP52 (the former Patches) in a hot IRC TP52 fleet of six boats in UK and Irish waters.

That TP52 was the precursor to a more wide-ranging and successful international programme with their IRC Judel/Vrolijk 72 footer, which has included all of the ocean racing ‘classics’.

The boat build will be project managed in England by Chris Hosking, whose TP52 track record includes three Artemis TP52’s, including the 2007 MedCup champion, and the 2006 Vrolijk designed TP52 Illbruck.

The schedule is for the new Rán – which is named after the Norse goddess of the sea – to be launched in April on time to compete at Palma Vela next spring.

Zennstrom and his team will also continue to compete globally with their 72 footer, and honing their one-design skills on the Solent with a Farr 45.

Quotes:

Niklas Zennstrom (SWE) owner-driver Rán (GBR): 
“I think it is a natural progression for us, we have been watching the Circuit and it seems to be very competitive and very well managed, and seems to be the best thing to do if you want to get more high level racing in. It is a big challenge.”

“It is primarily my wish to get into this fleet, we have discussed it and initially we thought about getting into the fleet in 2012, but we decided that 2011 is more attractive with the Cup teams disappearing. Watching from outside this year, the media coverage it enjoys shows how competitive it is. Full on Cup teams make it difficult to do well, so with some disappearing it can be easier for a team like us to be more competitive.”

“The thing that maybe characterises us as a team is that alongside myself and my wife we don’t have so many so called ‘superstars’, we work very well as a team, and together we just hate losing.”

“It is about winning. Winning as a team is a great thing. It is the whole thing about it that I love, from the planning. I am excited about building a new boat now. We have been good with the MiniMaxi 72 footer, building a very competitive, well built boat, setting up the programme.  But in IRC there is so much flexibility. In the TP52 there are very small changes, so that is a very different thing.”

“I am very confident with our team. I don’t have any illusions. I am going into this realising that it will be a learning experience. We are up against full pro teams. We will do our best, but it is going to be hard to do very well.”

Tim Powell (GBR) project manager Rán (GBR): 
“The Rán 72 project has been great and we have had a pretty awesome year. This is the next step for Niklas. He watches the MedCup and the TP52’s avidly. 
We should be under no illusions that the TP52 will be a very, very big step from what we have been doing. It is incredibly tough racing and we are coming in here with very realistic goals as to what we are going to achieve, but as a group of people we put the time and effort into the boat side of things before it even gets built, so we have a very good product when it hits the water and in Niklas we have an owner who is prepared to put the time and effort in himself as well as the crew, to improve and learn and so hopefully we will see a progression as next year goes on.”

Nacho Postigo (ESP), technical director Audi MedCup Circuit: 
“ We are very pleased with Rán joining the Audi MedCup Circuit. The team is relatively new but they have done so well and sailed at such a high level, it will be a very interesting new team to join the Circuit. The other two exciting and encouraging things for me are that Niklas is planning to steer his own boat, and this is the first time that we have seen an owner attracted to the Audi MedCup Circuit having had experience of owning and campaigning an IRC moded TP52, and we hope this will encourage more to do the same. I think he will find this challenging at the beginning, but he looks like the kind of person who enjoys a challenge.”

Christophe Bullens dismasted off the coast of France

October 06, 2010

Belgian solo sailor Christophe Bullens was dismasted yesterday morning (05th October) off the coast of France en route to the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The 49-year-old skipper had been sailing his Eco 60 class yacht Five Oceans of Smiles in 18-knot winds and choppy seas 15 miles from the Normandy coast when disaster struck.

Christophe Bullens' Yacht Dismasted - Photo credit onEdition

Christophe was down below with another crewmember while two more crew were on deck. They then heard a snapping noise, thought to have been one of the mast’s shrouds breaking. Christophe raced on deck and saw the mast snap in two places. All four crew were able to react in time to avoid the falling mast and no-one was injured.

The sails and rigging ended up under the boat, blocking the propeller. CROSS Jobourg, the regional centre for maritime surveillance and safety, dispatched a rescue boat from Cherbourg to aid Five Oceans of Smiles.

It took more than two hours to prepare Five Oceans of Smiles for the tow back to Cherbourg, which then took three hours. The dismasting caused serious damage to the starboard side of Five Oceans of Smiles including a hole in the hull by the ballast tanks. The sails are beyond repair.

Christophe had been on his way to La Rochelle, home of the 30,000-mile solo ocean race which starts on October 17. The dismasting comes just weeks after he completed a gruelling 2,500•mile qualifying passage from Plymouth in the UK to the southern tip of Ireland then round the Azores off Portugal.

During the passage Five Oceans of Smiles was tested in a wide range of weather conditions from strong winds and big seas to light airs. On Christophe’s arrival back to Belgium Five Oceans of Smiles’ rigging was thoroughly inspected. Earlier this week parts of the rigging were completely replaced.

“Nothing is finished,” Christophe said after reaching Cherbourg. “I will do everything to be on the startline in La Rochelle on the 17th of October.”

Christophe’s Team Sapphire, aided by the VELUX 5 OCEANS race management team, are now doing all they can to ensure Christophe makes the start of The Ultimate Solo Challenge.

The VELUX 5 OCEANS, run by Clipper Ventures PLC, is the longest running solo round the world race, and has 28 years of rich heritage as the BOC Challenge and then the Around Alone. This edition features five ocean sprints over nine months. After setting off on October 17 from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic to France.

TP52 World Championship: Russia’s Synergy leading

October 05, 2010

Two back to back wins sees the Russian boat Synergy leading the TP52 World Championships after three excellent races in a building sea breeze off Valencia today

Fleet TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico MartinezWSM

Fleet TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico MartinezWSM

The crew are no strangers to winning races on the Audi MedCup Circuit and were podium challengers ten days ago in Sardinia, but today was the first time they had ever won two consecutive races at this level. They did so with a new helmsman, top Russian match racer Eugeniy Neugodnikov steering his first ever top level TP52 Series races, having only had a couple of days practice.

In a near perfect sea breeze which built from an early eight to 11 knots for the first race and peaked during an exciting third windward-leeward contest at 22 knots, the Russian crew which has a cosmopolitan afterguard in the shape of Kiwi regular tactician Rod Dawson and Italian navigator Francesco Mongelli opened with a modest fifth in the first race before their back to back bullets.

Terry Hutchinson and the Quantum Racing crew, with Farr 40 world championship winning owner Jim Richardson riding shotgun, won the first race and then posted a pair of third places, leaving the 2008 World Champions locked on the same points aggregate as the Russian regatta leaders.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM..

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM..

Quantum Racing won the first race leading from the first windward mark to extend on each leg to cross ahead of Jochen Schuemann’s Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) took second in the perfect sea breeze conditions of 8-10 kts.

Quantum Racing (USA) started well mid line and were well placed to steal the early jump on the fleet when they first gained with extra wind pressure and a small left shift early in the first beat. Defending world champions Matador (ARG) were not so fortunate starting off the pin end of the start line and had a little less breeze over the early part of the first beat, losing out on third to Artemis (SWE).

Synergy won the second race of the day in the brisker 15 to 18 kts sea breeze.
Although Quantum Racing lead at the first windward mark Synergy took the right side down the first run with a bear away set at the first top mark. The Russian team showing the good downwind speed that the Reichel Pugh design has often shown, leading at the leeward gate and were not challenged again. Matador took second with Quantum Racing third.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM.

Synergy’s second win of the day, with the breeze built more, was almost a carbon copy of their previous victory, again starting mid line alongside and under Quantum Racing. This time it was Artemis which lead comfortably around the top mark, but Synergy were matching them through the leeward gate and went on to win, with Artemis second and Quantum Racing third.

TP52 World Championship After Day 1
1. Synergy (RUS) – Eugeni Neugodnikov (RUS), 5+1+1= 7 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA) – Terry Hutchinson (USA), 1+3+3= 7
3. Artemis (SWE) – Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), 3+5+2= 10
4. Matador (ARG) – Alberto Roemmers (ARG), 4+2+5= 11
5. Cristabella (GBR) – John Cutler (NZL), 6+4+4= 14
6. Bigamist 7 (POR) – Afonso Domingos (POR), 7+6+6= 19
7. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) – Jochen Schuemann (GER), 2+10(DSQ)+8= 20
8. Pace (GBR) – Johnny Vincent (GBR), 9+8+7= 24
9. Weapon of Choice (GBR) – Tony Langley (GBR), 8+7+9= 24

This was what the top talkers had to say after the first day of racing at the TP52 World Championship Francesco Mongelli (ITA) navigator Synergy (RUS):

” There was more breeze than expected in the end, we know that in flat water with a good breeze the boat is very fast, we know how to manage the boat and I think we did a really great job on the speed, and deciding where to go.

It was never obvious where to go through any of the races but I think Rod Dawson made a good interpretation of what was really happening and because the speed was good it helped. Flat water the boat speed when you are clean of other boats is still very good.
The breeze was increasing but not so shifting. We started mid line because the helmsman is good but new to the class, so the risk to stay close to the others on the line was one way wanted to manage, it was too high. So we went for less risk off the start lines – maybe giving a little away.”

Eugeniy Neugodnikov (RUS) helmsman Synergy (RUS):
“It was the first races for me on the TP52, and this was my fourth day on the boat. Everything is different with such a big team. Before the biggest crew I sailed with was six or eight people, match racing at the Congressional Cup, Long Beach in California. But around me there are such professional people and all the time we had good speed, because we have a very good main trimmer in Chris Main, and all the time he was helping me. Our tactics were good and on the downwind all the maneuvers were clear which all helps. Maximum before this was 40 feet, I sailed a little bit on the older boat like Synergy but it was a long way from here in 2006.”

Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) owner-helm Artemis (SWE):
“I am quite pleased with the day, a nice sea breeze but it got a little more difficult with the chop later in the day. Cagliari was for me to get back into it, and I could feel I am much more prepared and we have been looking forward to this and we feel good about this.
This means a lot to me. The season did not end as we wanted it to. This is a way to show that the quality and where we feel we should be.”

Rod Dawson (NZL), tactician Synergy (RUS):
“We’re over the moon, that’s obviously the best day we’ve had this season and guys have been improving all year So it’s nice to come together in the last regatta of the year. We certainly didn’t expect this result, but we take it, we’re happy about it. The second and third race we had a reasonable start and we managed to get good speed and go over the side that we wanted and because we got off the start line we got a clear lane, we were able to use our speed and had a few shifts and once you are in the front  that’s a little bit “the rich get richer” and it’s easy to extend away”.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), skipper Quantum Racing (USA):
“Today was a great day, we went one three three but we lead two of the three top marks boat was sailing nicely and we were pretty conservative on the start line and I was kind of ticking along. Obviously Synergy had a very good day, they are all good sailors. Conditions were spectacular, the RC44 regatta that we did here back in July was the same kind of conditions, and was perfect, just like today”.

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