Spring 2006 Update!
“ONE YEAR SHOT GUN”
It has just sounded. Get ready for an exciting year of America’s Cup
action!
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Jgunther Photography
PREVIEW RACE SCHEDULE
Exhibition Series for Challengers and the Defender Valencia, Spain
ACT 10 MAY 2006, May 11th to 18th, Match Race Regatta
ACT 11 May 19th to 21st, Fleet Race Regatta
ACT 12 June 22nd to July 3rd, Match Race Round Robin
TV Coverage, as allowed in individual countries, check OLN.
CHALLENGERS OF RECORD, CHANGES MAY OCCUR
BMW ORACLE, USA,
www.bmworacleracing.com
CHINA
www.china-team.org/
DESAFIO ESPANOL, SPAIN
www.desafioespanol2007.com
EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND,
www.emiratesteamnz.com
K-CHALLENGE, FRANCE,
www.k-challenge.com
+ 39 CHALLENGE, ITALY,
http://www.piu39challenge.it
LUNA ROSSA, ITALY, {Prada},
www.lunarossachallenge.com
MASCALZONE LATINO, ITALY
www.mascalzonelatino.com
TEAM SHOSHOLOZA, SOUTH AFRICA,
www.teamshosholoza.com/
UNITED INTERNET TEAM GERMANY,
www.united-internet-team-germany.com
VICTORY CHALLENGE, SWEDEN
www.victorychallenge.com
ALINGHI, SWITZERLAND, “DEFENDER”,
www.alinghi.com/en/
SOURCES OF GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP
ACM, America’s Cup Management, Seahorse Magazine, Sail Magazine,
Scuttlebutt News, Sports Coverage major newspapers, New Zealand Herald
excellent, Seahorse fine technical coverage, Equipe, France general news. OLN
Network, Latitude 39, etc. All Challenger Web Sites, very good !
ACC VERSION V
Many changes for boats to comply with for 2007, more sail area for greater
downwind speed, length + or – 80 feet, displacement 53,000 lbs. about, beam
narrow, knife like action through the waves, speeds 12 + knots, one more on
crew, more details later on crew. All is high tech in every way.
Many boats are still under construction as is Port America’s Cup with base
facilities for Challengers and a new canal to reach the sailing area faster.
CREW AND TECHNOLOGY
Key decisions by the skipper, tactician, and navigator are crucial to
winning races. The technology in the Cup now has covered thousands of hours from
tank to computer to the water and of course millions of Euros. A frequently
asked question is what weight do you give to technology and to the skipper and
crew ? My answer is 65% to the actual boat speed and maneuverability of the boat. In a three month competition of this nature, accidents,
mechanical failures and human errors are inevitable. However, a survey of the
greats in sport shows that the instant reflexive reaction to make correct
choices “ in the moment “ , minimizing error, is what wins. Roger Federer is a
class and classic example of this, he possesses all of the shots and rarely makes
outright errors. Sailing is no different. The furious start and judgment of how
and when to tack and sail choices and a correct analysis of your opponents
movements all require experienced decisions and abrupt crew performance as
perfect as possible. So be it !
NEXT REPORT AFTER THE VALENCIA EXHIBITIONS
We will give a analysis of the status and potentials of the Challengers,
do not be surprised at upsets by those Challengers without all of the money and
skills of others. Also, we will do crew and skipper profiles and opinions of
what may be.
SOME SMOKE AND
MIRRORS
View the current series and results with justified conservatism. The
competing Challengers are caught in a bind between new boats under
construction and possibly racing older boats for now so as not to reveal
trade secrets The all important crew training goes on, raising capital
and new boats on their way is the overall picture for now. It is just
one year to go for the "Cup" Defender Alinghi of Switzerland to meet the
Challenger winner.
Paul T. Rivard
American Yachting Journalist
1 May, 2006
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