06.07.2007
Hi Dr.Krumnacker,
Sail-World.com America's Cup 2007Newsletter....
Welcome to the final edition of Sail-World.Com's America's Cup newsletter.
The Protocol governing the 33rd America's Cup was announced in Valencia yesterday.
Overall it amounted to some broad brush strokes on a clean canvas, however a closer look revealed that some subtle detail had been inked in.
The staging of the next America's Cup game will be in a European venue, with Valencia being the first choice. Otherwise it is out to bid, again.
The dates will be somewhere between 2009 and 2011 - with the timing decision predicated on the choice of venue, and the time required for venue bidding and selection, and other factors which fascinate those involved with the organisation and infrastructure.
The yachts will be a new class - 90ft long, with a sliding keel, to a rule yet to be devised, and the first of which will not be sailing for 18months.
Club Nautico Espanol de Vela is announced as being the Challenger of Record. The 2007 Challenge from Desafio Espanol came from the Spanish national sailing body, after some rule bending of the Deed of Gift which stipulated that a Challenge must be made through a Club which has its annual regatta on the sea. One journalist had the impertinence to ask whether Club Nautico Espanol de Vela had just signed a 'blank piece of paper' as its Challenge to the Defender. They are new boys on the America's Cup block, but given the track record of the past few Challengers of Record, who would want it?
Gone from the Protocol is the Coutts' Clause, and there are no nationality restrictions - with the thrust still being to limit the transfer of crew and designers etc between Teams - once they have been engaged for the 33rd America's Cup campaign.
Part of the fine ink lies in the clause which now permits the Defender to take part in the Challenger Selection series, but not in the Finals. Others are reporting this as being up to the Semi-Finals.
Trials and Challenger Selection format: The Trials and Challenger Selection format shall be announced by ACM when announcing the Schedule. It may provide for the Defender an option to participate wholly or partly at its discretion in the Trials and Challenger Selection other than the final between the two Challengers to select a Challenger for the Match
This aspect is a very basic change to the nature of the regatta, and will rob the event of a lot of its traditional intrigue and mystique.
In the 32 America's Cups which have been sailed, it has been fundamental that the Defender and Challenger have not met until the Match. Now the Defender may play in the Challenger Selection series, at its discretion.
Yes, there has been the odd tune up session between Challengers and the Defender in recent years. But these are informal sessions, and nothing like the powers granted to the Defender in this Protocol. Next step is surely to revert to the original race concept, off the Isle of Wight, and have it as a fleet racing regatta, with a number of Challengers pitted against the single Defender?
Most interest will centre on the new 90ft class which has been mooted for some time.
Many were quick to envisage this as being somewhat similar to canting keel supermaxis, which have transformed the offshore scene, however the new class may not be in that league.
There are several key points that need to be addressed. Firstly the announcement talked of a sliding keel aimed at draft reduction, which is fair enough - however the power in the supermaxis comes from a canting keel and moving weight to windward, rather than just vertically.
Yes, it may be possible to do both. Most canting supermaxis are engine dependent, to drive hydraulic systems and electronics to control the keel canting. It does not seem that this will be the case on the ACC 90fters.
Further Brad Butterworth stated that all winch power would be manual, which is great, but raises more questions of accepted technology in this size of boat.
Earlier today, we spoke to Auckland designer Brett Bakewell-White, designer of the supermaxi Zana, or Konica Minolta, about the implications of the new rule. 'It will be great for a designer who hasn't been involved before, and the new class has the potential to be a lot more interesting from a design point of view.'
'Teams will need to have intuitive designers as well as technicians. They will need to consider design concepts first and then test those concepts, rather than have the current, mainly technically based testing and design program.'
'You will still have the same design and structural thrust, as at present, of trying to get structures as light as possible and getting all the weight into the right place'
Bakewell-White expects a lot of work to be done in load and structure testing particularly with the new wind limits of 8 to 30kts.
'You are unlikely to see a close regatta, either' he added. 'Chances are one boat will be clearly faster than the others. With faster boats it will also be more critical to choose the right side of the course for wind pressure, rather than working the shifts.'
He believes there could be a fundamental change in the racing, from the just gone America's Cup, but that will be dependent on the parameters adopted in the new Rule. 'The current America's Cup class are whales that are real upwind machines' he said. 'But downwind they are only the same speed as a canting keel 50fter.'
'In many ways it would be nice to have a simple 'box rule' for the class, with simple measurements rather the sometimes complex ones at present which result in hull and particularly bow distortions, as designers try to get more waterline length which is not 'seen' by the ACC rule.'
The new Protocol is generally reckoned to favour existing well financed teams with sponsors on board who understand the America's Cup game and can work within the uncertainty of the current situation. Emirates Team New Zealand is well placed with the NZ Government, Toyota and Emirates Airlines close to hand.
While the new Protocol is aimed at reducing cost, and particularly design costs, this unlikely, as teams will spend what ever they wish and have available - if they believe it is going to give a performance edge.
Existing teams will also have an edge, as they will be required to sail existing ACC Version 5 rule yachts for the first rounds of the Qualifying series, before switching to the new class for the Challenger Selection Series. New teams will have to purchase Version 5 boats and then build the new 90fters.
For New Zealand the changes are probably positive, with a good design base of local knowledge of the supermaxis with Brett Bakewell-White and Greg Elliott. There is a strong base of local sailors with experience in the Volvo 70 class and other canting keelboats.
Emirates Team New Zealand's builder, Cookson Boats, along with structural and composite engineers, High Modulus and sparmakers, Southern Spars, are amongst a select group the in this field. Given the constraints of the Protocol, there is no scope for being involved in multiple campaigns, as is the case with the supermaxi scene generally.
The key point with this changed class, is that the close finishes that we saw in the 32nd America's Cup probably lie in the past. Seven races all with a finish covering less than 60 seconds will probably never be repeated in the 90fter.
Whether the new class is significantly more spectacular to watch depends on the rule makers, and whether they are prepared to get more into powered up, planing hullshapes.
Similarly with the America's Cup course - a straight run downwind is fine for the leadmines of the 12 metre and ACC era, but to get some speed spectacle into the event, if that's what it needs, then reaching legs are required for these boats and crews to really strut their stuff.
Certainly there is a lot more to come over the coming months. We'll be keeping you up to date with our regular newsletters on Sail-World and on the Sail-World.Com websites.
Stay tuned!
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
Fisher's View: It's over. Let it be.
'The 32nd America's Cup is over. The Societe Nautique de Geneve's defender triumphed over the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's challenger by five races to two.' That is how history should record it. But the game has changed....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35373&ntid=58
New 90ft class announced for 33rd America's Cup
The Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup has been announced in Valencia today. Features of the next Cup will be a new 90ft sliding keel yacht, and a 2009 regatta date if held in Valencia, or 2010 or 2011 if there is a bid process for other venues....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35379&ntid=58
Quotes of the Day: Protocol Press Conference
Brad Butterworth, Skipper of Alinghi, on the new class and event timing: 'Everybody seems to want a new boat that is bigger, more exciting, difficult to sail, and faster, which is the emphasis behind it. So now we have to come up with a rule for it, and that will need a bit of hard work....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35410&ntid=58
33rd America's Cup to feature bigger boats
The Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup was revealed on Thursday afternoon, detailing the broad outlines of the next event. Among the highlights was the introduction of a new class of boat, to be 90 feet in length overall, sailed by a crew of around 20 sailors. The final design rule for the new class will be issued on or before 31 December 2007....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35409&ntid=58
The Niall Files - Bigger Boat, New Rules
Radio New Zealand's Todd Niall is on the ground in Valencia for the 32nd America's Cup. He files an audio interview with Emirates Team New Zealand's Grant Dalton on his reaction to the changes for the 33rd America's Cup on Radio New Zealand's America's Cup website: www.radionz.co.nz/news/americascup...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35400&ntid=58
Press see loss as heroic, brave - www.stuff.co.nz
Team New Zealand faced the solemn task of packing up its base in Valencia yesterday but its pain in defeat has been softened by news of a cash bonus and a flood of praise from the international press. Its defeat in Wednesday's match-point regatta race, which went Alinghi's way, has been portrayed as heroic and brave. Sail World magazine said Team New Zealand's cup bid was remarkable considering the syndicate nearly folded in 2003....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35403&ntid=58
90 Footers for the 33rd Cup: SailJuice.com
So, the rumour was true! New boats after all: 90 feet long, lifting keels to get in and out of harbour, 20-ish crew, designed to a box rule and possibly limited to one boat per team. Plenty more was said, but few facts came out of today's announcement....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35387&ntid=58
Pass Me Another Superlative - markchisnell.blogspot.com
Finals are so often a disappointment. I've sat through more than my fair share of dreary America's Cups, but I've also sat through a bunch of dreary soccer World Cup Finals, Test Matches and Rugby World Cups. But every now and again, a couple of teams come along and produce a classic....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35384&ntid=58
Yes, Alinghi did win that final race
With the margin of just one second at the finish of what proved to be the final race of the 32nd America's Cup, many Kiwi fans were querying just how accurate this call was on the part of the finish line judges. Sail-World decided to investigate this margin further using a combination of photos taken at the finish, and GPS positions from both boats....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35394&ntid=58
The 32nd America's Cup in concept and figures
The 32nd America's Cup has been the largest, most open and widely accessible America's Cup in 156 years of history. Over 6-million people have visited its venues, and its television footage has reached 4-billion viewers....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35408&ntid=58
Letter from Valencia: The Final Daze
What a day yesterday was but I will back track for a while with some more experiences of life in ValeNZia. It's Race Day 7 and all around there has been talk that this could be the last race. We try to ignore the hype, the hordes of Alinghi supporters waving flags and the obvious preparations for the cup presentation later in the day. The barge is already in position....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35376&ntid=58
What's good for the Cup is usually good for Dennis
With the Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup about to be announced, the following is somewhat irrelevant, however needs to be said: The America's Cup, in my view, is at a critical stage of its life. It has survived the last 150 or so years reasonably well on the back of a Deed of Gift, which set out some workable parameters for the game...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35375&ntid=58
High Modulus congratulates Emirates Team NZ
Following what has been hailed as one of the most memorable America's Cup races, composite and structural engineering company, High Modulus, offers its congratulations to Emirates Team New Zealand, who fought hard against the favourites, Alinghi, in a nail-biting 7 race series....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35371&ntid=58
From America's Cup to Audi Hamilton Island series
The shattering experience of having your dream of winning the America's Cup ripped away by just one second will be eased somewhat for Australia's Adam Beashel when he competes at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week next month....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35345&ntid=58
SLAM sportswear at Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show
The world's best sailors are dressed by SLAM, including Russell Coutts, who has just created the innovative Russell Coutts Range of Technical Sailing Apparel in conjunction with SLAM....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35286&ntid=58
Enter Line 7/NZL-92 Signed Shirt Sweepstakes NOW!!
Right now you can enter the new competition to win a signed Emirates Team New Zealand shirt from Line 7....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=34851&ntid=58
Signed Emirates TNZ caps for auction on Trademe
Line 7 have put up two signed Emirates Team New Zealand caps up for auction on on Trademe.co.nz The funds for these auctions will go to NZ Olympic Sailing Team and the Sir Peter Blake Trust....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35242&ntid=58
New America's Cup DVD released - a Must Buy!
The second in a series of America's Cup DVD's has been released by New Zealand based production company, Mediawave. An outstanding production, this DVD is notable not only for capturing the highlights of the 12 Louis Vuitton Acts sailed in four countries. The camera work is outstanding as is the sight of AC yachts racing against the scenic backdrops of Valencia (Spain), Marseille (France), Malmo (Sweden) and Trapani (Italy)....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=32057&ntid=58
Win America's Cup History - 2 volume set
Enter the Sail-World online competition to win a copy of Bob Fisher's An Absorbing Interest. The definitive history of the America's Cup. Its two volumes covers the drama, boat design, personalities and sheer fascination of the America's Cup....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=34307&ntid=58
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