02.05.2007
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Sail-World.com America's Cup 2007Newsletter....
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's America's Cup newsletter for Day 16 of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Valencia was visited by the Fremantle Doctor today. Blowing all the way in from Western Australia, the now offshore breeze of up to 30knots was well over the limit prescribed by the Challengers of 23 knots.
Two races are scheduled for tomorrow in forecasted lighter breezes.
That brings us to nine days lost out of sixteen race days for Valencia.
Looking back to 26 November 2003, when the venue for the 2007 America's Cup was announced, the media release by America's Cup Management, amongst other things, had this to say:
'Michel Bonnefous explained the main consideration in making the decision was to find a venue with consistent weather conditions to ensure the racing proceeds as scheduled.
'The wind conditions in Valencia are very, very good for what we want to do, Bonnefous said. The wind is very reliable, very steady. We evaluated the worst-case scenario, in other words, how many days you cannot sail, due to the weather. In Auckland, over a period where we lost 15 days, in Valencia, at worst, we would lose just one day.'
Sadly this Challenger Selection Series has already fallen well short of those fine words and predictions, even though ACM were acting with the best of intentions.
As we have said previously, there is no option in the current circumstance but to grin and bear it. The fact remains that under the Deed of Gift the same sequence of events can again occur which led to the selection of a venue and dates, which while they may have a great forecast and marketing opportunity for the America's Cup Match itself, really show little consideration for the fact that the Challengers need to conduct a selection series in a reasonable weather window.
The die for the next America's Cup is cast at the time the Defender accepts a Challenge from a Club, under conditions which have usually been worked out between the Defender and that potential Challenger. Obviously the Defender will work towards accepting a Challenge that it believes will enable it to conduct a successful Defence.
While that may have been fine in the days of the New York Yacht Club, Royal Perth and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, if the America's Cup and the Challenger Selection Series is to grow into the great yachting event of which it is capable, then the rules and process under which event is set up have to change, so that they are more fair to all parties than they are at present.
'Fairness in the America's Cup', you might say. 'wherever did you get that daft notion?'
No, it has never been part of the Game. The Defender has always held all the cards. But the Cup cannot really stand a repeat of the processes which led to the current situation. Abnormal weather or not. And recognising that change in this area is a very tortuous and vexed process, it must however be faced and negotiated to an acceptable resolution.
On a much brighter and less solemn note, we are pleased to feature a story from Team Shosholoza, regarding the visit and influence of Andrew Mlangeni on their challenge which has shown everything that is good and positive about the America's Cup. Hopefully Team Shosholoza can do for the Rainbow Nation what Sir Michael Fay and the then New Zealand Challenge did for New Zealand in 1987.
As a kid in school in the early 60's I remember one of New Zealand's leading yachtsmen say that New Zealand had as much hope of competing in the America's Cup as it did of landing on the Moon. Twenty years or so, later New Zealand did land on its Moon, albeit in Fremantle.
It is fantastic to see a nation gain a feeling of self-belief, as Australia did in 1964 and 1983, and New Zealand did in 1987/85, from their involvement in the America's Cup.
History will be the judge of whether the South African nation rounds the same turning mark in 2007.
Good Sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
Tomorrow's program - Wednesday, May 2nd
'Louis Vuitton Cup' - Round Robin 2 - Flight 3
Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) - AREVA Challenge (FRA 93)
+39 Challenge (ITA 85) - Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92)
United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) - Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94)
China Team (CHN 95) - Victory Challenge (SWE 96)
Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) - BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98)
Bye Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99)
'Louis Vuitton Cup' - Round Robin 2 - Flight 4
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) - AREVA Challenge (FRA 93)
Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99) - Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97)
China Team (CHN 95) - United Internet Team Germany (GER 89)
Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) - Team Shosholoza (RSA 83)
BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98) - Victory Challenge (SWE 96)
Bye +39 Challenge (ITA 85)
Fisher's View: Too much - no racing
ACC yachts are built to race between seven and twenty-three knots of wind; no less, no more. For several days the breeze was insufficient to open the window, today there was danger of the casement ending in the street....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33230&ntid=58
Strong winds force racing to be cancelled for day
Following a series of delays earlier in the competition due to too little wind, on Tuesday, May arrived with a roar, as 20 to 25 knot westerly winds buffeted Valencia...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33239&ntid=58
BMW Oracle Racing: Racing cancelled off Valencia
After three weeks of disruption because of too little wind, today's racing was cancelled in Valencia because of too much wind. With winds constantly above 20 knots and gusting much higher, the Race Committees on both Louis Vuitton Cup courses sent the fleet ashore....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33235&ntid=58
Emirates TNZ: No racing - too much wind
There was absolutely no chance that racing today might be postponed because of lack of wind. Too much wind was another thing entirely. An hour before the scheduled start, the north course had a south-westerly of 26 - 30 knots across it. The south course had 24 - 28 knots. Gusts were in the low 30's....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33234&ntid=58
Mascalzone Latino replace helmsman with Dunn
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia team boss, Vincenzo Onorato issued the following statement to media after the abandonment of racing today, announcing that their helmsman Flavio Favini would be replaced by New Zealander Cameron Dunn for tomorrow's race. Dunn is currently strategist with the crew....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33237&ntid=58
From the Blogs: SailJuice - Andy Rice
Wind stopped Play: No racing again, but this time because of too much wind, just over 30 knots of it. It's either too much or too little. Shades of Auckland 02/03 perhaps? Disappointing all round for sailors, spectators and sponsors....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33243&ntid=58
Match races gone with the wind
The United Internet Team Germany has to wait for its third race of Round Robin 2 in the Louis Vuitton Cup for another day: The match races against the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge as well as all other four races of today were cancelled due to too much wind. The breeze was up to 25 knots on the race course....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33238&ntid=58
No racing today - wind over upper limit of 23kts
Andrew Mlangeni spurs on the team with fighting talk. The huge spectator crowds in the Port America's Cup enjoying the May Day holiday were disappointed today when for the first time racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup was postponed because of too much wind in the Mediterranean waters off Valencia, Spain....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33236&ntid=58
Luna Rossa: Racing abandoned due to high winds
After a two hour postponement the Race Committee decided to abandon all racing for today due to the excessive wind strength. The cancelled matches will be re-sailed tomorrow....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33233&ntid=58
German Team to face Luna Rossa
The United Internet Team Germany will face a difficult opponentin the duel with Luna Rossa Challenge. Today's weather forecast announces strong winds with up to 20 knots from northeast. It is cloudy, but dry with 19 degrees....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33221&ntid=58
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