America's Cup : America's Cup World Series to be held in Newport, RI

Nine-day event to run June 23 – July 1, 2012


Image copyright America's Cup Race Management.

by Stephanie Martin

Newport, RI was unveiled today as the final stop of the 2011-2012 AC World Series, which promises to be a dramatic finish to the first season of the new AC45 professional circuit. Designed to expose millions more people to the sport of high-performance racing, the new professional circuit was created to bring the America’s Cup experience to top international venues.

In addition to being the first American host of the high-tech AC45 wing-sailed catamarans in 2012, Newport also has the honor of seeing the first AC World Series circuit champion crowned. The highlight of each AC World Series stop is the spectacular, winner-takes-all, fleet race on final Sunday, where teams put points on the board to take the overall title, so the final race on Sunday, July 1 in Newport could be the ultimate decision maker for the AC World Series champion.

“Newport and Rhode Island have strong historical ties to the America’s Cup, dating back to 1930,” Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. “Narragansett Bay, one of our state’s most spectacular assets, provides a perfect natural venue, and the ongoing infrastructure improvements at Fort Adams make Newport the ideal host for the final stop of the AC World Series. This exciting event will be a tremendous boost for the Rhode Island economy and continues the relationship between Newport and the America’s Cup.”

Synonymous with the name America’s Cup, the spectacular harbor of Newport, Rhode Island has played host to some of the most legendary America’s Cup battles in the competition’s 160 year-old history. Newport continues to attract the leading yachtsmen and women from around the world annually, hosting some of the world’s major sailing events on its waters. And now, the 2012 AC World Series Newport event brings the America’s Cup experience back to Newport after almost a 20-year absence.
Providing an opportunity to watch the world’s top sailors compete in the state-of-the-art AC45 wing-sailed catamarans, current plans call for holding the racing inside Newport Harbor, with the start/finish line just off the shoreline and spectator access along numerous points on the waterfront.

In addition to its world famous waters, Newport, Rhode Island is a top U.S. tourist destination for domestic and international visitors. Home to spectacular coastal scenery, awe-inspiring architecture, a thriving waterfront downtown, and welcoming hospitality, Newport is considered by many to be a shining gem in the coastal crown of New England. For those whose hearts lie in architecture, design, and history, Newport offers tours of opulent mansions, interesting museums, and a number of walking tours that reveal the Colonial and Gilded Age charm of the city.

“Newport is the cradle of the America’s Cup sailing, so we’re very pleased to bring the AC World Series to the city that first exposed the Cup to the world,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority. “We are building upon that rich history through this new professional circuit to accelerate the global appeal of the America’s Cup.”

The AC World Series features tight, short racecourses designed to deliver close racing for the fans on shore as well as the online and TV audiences. The innovative regatta format includes a mix of speed trials, head-to-head match racing, and all-out fleet racing with 9 identical AC45s on the line. These events provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America’s Cup competitors racing together.

The forerunner to the next generation of America’s Cup boats, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran is the official boat of the AC World Series. While capable of closing speeds over 35 mph, the AC45 remains nimble enough to handle the tight, tactical race courses planned by America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM).

The AC World Series Newport stop is the result of Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee’s leadership of interagency collaboration between the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Department of Environmental Management and Department of Administration. The event will be supported by key public and private organizations including the City of Newport, Newport Chamber of Commerce, and the state’s hospitality, tourism, sailing and marine trades communities, as well many other organizations.

America's Cup

Olympics : Two more fourth place finishes for NZL at Weymouth Pre-Olympics

by Jodie Bakewell-White

New Zealand claimed another two fourth place finishes at the Weymouth and Portland 2011 International Regatta overnight while Peter Burling and Blair Tuke remain in with a shot at a podium finish.

A stumble at the final hurdle – the medal race – has seen Andrew Murdoch miss out on the medals at the Olympic Test event drawing to a close now in Weymouth.

Points were extremely tight and a seventh place finish in the pressure test final race sailed overnight coupled with a win from the local boy, Paul Goodison, has given Murdoch a fourth overall in the Laser event.

While a disappointing final day for the kiwi, Murdoch’s consistency and strength through the eleven race series has been demonstrated once again and he will now be evaluating what went wrong in that medal race in order to get it right next time around.

Australian Tom Slingsby managed to seal the deal for the Laser gold crossing the finish line in second place last night and topping Rutger van Schaardenburg of the Netherlands who claimed the silver. Goodison won the medal race to secure the bronze medal.

Meanwhile Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie took a win in the Women’s 470 medal race and secured the third of three fourth place finishes for New Zealand at this regatta so far, along with Murdoch and Jon-Paul Tobin.

Lying seventh going in to the final race the kiwis had nothing to lose, sailed away with the race win and climbed three places in the final standings with their overnight performance.

Local GBR sailors Hannah Mills and Saskia Clarke were looking good to take gold in front of the home crowd, but were toppled by Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata from Japan who stole the show taking the gold by finishing second to the kiwis in the medal race, while the Brits were fourth last night and had to settle for silver.

The regatta will conclude tonight for the final three events including the 49er skiff in which New Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have retained third overall after racing overnight and now have just the medal race ahead of them.

With lead changes and upsets the order of the day, the 49er was no exception and the Spanish pair have pulled in front of the Aussie duo to sit four points apart on 51 in first and 55 in second. Burling and Tuke have more ground to cover to catch them in tonight’s medal race – they have 70 points, 15 adrift of second place.

The kiwis will have to watch their backs for a challenge from the home-town representatives, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes who will start the medal race in fourth on 75 points.

New Zealand is also represented in the two other medal races scheduled tonight for the Finn and Star.

Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk finished sixth and third in the two races sailed overnight in the Star class and are in sixth place overall going into the final day of the regatta. Dan Slater is in eighth place in the Finn fleet with just the medal race remaining.

Weymouth and Portland 2011 International Regatta
New Zealand’s Current Standings

3rd - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke: 49er (11, 16, 3, 3, 1, 3, 9, 5, 3, 3, 2, 4, 1, 6, 21)
4th - Andrew Murdoch: Laser (4, 5, 2, 3, 11, 4, 8, 12, 9, 2, medal race: 7)
4th - Jon-Paul Tobin: RS:X Men (6, 6, 9, 16, 5, 11, 2, 4, 21, 1, medal race:1)
4th - Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie: 470 Women (21, 11, 2, 26 BFD, 3, 3, 17, 4, 1, 7, medal race: 1)
6th - Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk: Star (5, 2, 15, 7, 10, 22DNS, 5, 7, 6, 3)
8th - Dan Slater: Finn (13, 18, 5, 2, 28OCS, 4, 7, 9, 6, 12)
10th - Natalia Kosinska: RS:X Women (12, 10, 4, 7, 7, 11, 12, 14, 19, 8, medal race: 9)
15th - Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders: 470 Men (17, 16, 4, 13, 15, 33OCS, 4, 16, 11,33DSQ)
22nd - Sara Winther: Radial (11, 26, 26, 21, 15, 25, 18, 8, 10, 50DNF)

Yachting New Zealand
ISAF

Olympics : Slingsby (AUS) takes Laser Gold, Japanese Women 470 Gold, at Weymouth Pre-Olympics

Tom Slingsby (AUS) on winning Laser Gold at the Weymouth Pre-Olympics.

by ISAF media

Japan’s Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata sealed a fantastic gold medal in the Women’s 470 after they overhauled Great Britain’s Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark on a day that decided the medals in the Laser, Laser Radial and Men’s and Women’s 470.

Mills and Clark set an early marker in the Women’s 470 at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta after double bullets on the opening day and they held the lead throughout the week. But the Japanese pair slowly chipped away at their lead and brought it down to just one point before the Medal Race.

The Japanese girls raced their own race on the day and finished second in the Medal Race with the Brits coming down in fourth. Kondo and Tabata were 14 seconds behind race winners Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL), but that was irrelative as they finished ahead of the Brits during the Medal Race to end on 42 points compared to Mills and Clark’s 45 points.

Kondo said, “Starting the regatta was not easy but every day we brought the margin down little by little. We chased our target and we got it. The feeling is very good.”
A large contingent of Japanese fans made their way to the Nothe to show their support for Kondo and Tabata. “All our team mates told us that they were going to the Nothe to watch,” said Kondo. “On the water we couldn’t see very well but we knew there was some big support so it was encouraging for us.”

The days race win went to Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL) who finished fourth overall and the bronze medal went to Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout (NED) who came tenth in the Medal Race and finished on 67 points.

Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos (FRA) brought a 17 point lead into the Men’s 470 Medal Race and they made no mistakes to bring home the gold medal. The French duo won the Medal Race by 25 seconds ahead of Sven Coster and Kalle Coster (NED) to round off a dominant display throughout the week.

Leboucher and Garos led the Men’s 470 from start to finish with a consistent display of sailing and with six top three finishes in 11 races the French pair walk away deserved winners. ISAF Sailing World Cup Men’s 470 title holders Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) finished second and Israel’s Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela took bronze.

Just two points separated Andrew Murdoch (NZL), ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby (AUS) and Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) before the Laser Medal Race with Paul Goodison (GBR) an outside bet for winning the gold as he started eight points behind.

But it was the Australian who did enough during the Medal Race to take the gold medal. The Dutchman took silver and Goodison picked up bronze. Slingsby and Van Schaardenburg were neck and neck towards the last mark but Slingsby rounded the mark ahead of the Dutchman. And the ISAF Sailing World Cup Laser title holder held on to finish second to seize the gold medal.

“Rutger and Paul Goodison got off to a good start,” said Slingsby. “It was a really close one. I had to chip away but I knew I had to be patient. Something inside me was screaming take a risk, but I kept chipping away. I played the shifts and got second over the line, which was the gold medal.”

Goodison won the Medal Race and with Murdoch finishing seventh he slipped from overnight leader to fourth overall.

The gold medal in the Laser Radial was decided before the Medal Race after Marit Bouwmeester (NED) blew the rest of the fleet away to finish 32 points ahead of Evi Van Acker (BEL) before the Medal Race. Evi Van Acker (BEL) took the silver medal and Paige Railey (USA) finished in the final podium position.

The 49ers, Stars and Finns caught up on their remaining races before their Medal Races tomorrow.

Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA) wrapped up the gold medal in the Star with a day to spare after they went 4-1 in Races 9 and 10. The Brazilians have dominated the Star fleet from start to finish and take an unassailable 24 point lead into the Medal Race. The battle for second place is heating up with two points separating Peter O’Leary and David Burrows (IRL), Mateusz Kusznierewicz and David Burrows (POL) and Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR).

Iker Martinez and Xabier Hernandez (ESP) take a four point lead into the 49er Medal Race following a bullet in Race 14 and an eighth in Race 15. Australia’s Nathan Outteridge and Malcolm Page trail the Spaniards in second followed by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) in third.

In the Finn Ben Ainslie (GBR) has a 19 point lead over Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) following double bullets on the penultimate day.

The Medal Races are scheduled to take place tomorrow starting at 12:00 local time with the 49ers first up on the Nothe course.

ISAF

America's Cup : Day 4 in Cascais, including on board with Emirates Team New Zealand

America's Cup

Extreme 40 : A Big Finish to the Week in Cowes

Leigh McMillan's winning crew on The Wave, Muscat, from Oman Sail. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

The Wave Muscat, helmed by Leigh McMillan, wins Act 5


The fleet lines up to start. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

by Carolyn Lashmar

A week of big winds and high adrenalin action, Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week delivered some of the closest and intense ‘Stadium Racing’ the circuit has ever seen – in front of the biggest crowds ever recorded for the event. The ultimate winner was The Wave, Muscat, skippered by local Isle of Wight born Leigh McMillan, Britain’s Olympic Tornado representative in Beijing 2008. For last year’s overall winners, this was the Omani team’s first Act win this year.


Big collision between Gitana and Artemis Racing on Day 1 of racing. Image copyright Giordana Pipornetti / Niceforyou.

A drama-filled six days of racing saw a major collision between Artemis Racing and Groupe Edmond de Rothschild on the second day, sadly ending racing in Act 5 for the Swedish team; Olympic 49er sailor John Pink’s Aberdeen Asset Management cart-wheeled spectacularly on the third day in testing conditions; 49er action from ‘Team EC’ Benji Borg and Seb Ripard from Malta and Britain’s Simon Marks and Nick Murray; plus Extreme 40 head to heads against champion windsurfer, Guy Cribb; and, for the first time in the circuit’s five year history, a day of racing was cancelled entirely due to excessive wind and sea conditions on day four.

For the 48 sailors from 15 nations, Act 5 concluded today in a more manageable 10-15 knots for the 11 Extreme 40s but with a powerful three to four knot tide testing each team’s tactical prowess. Incredibly, considering the giant race schedule, the outcome once again came down to the last race with The Wave, Muscat team having to finish within six places of second placed Luna Rossa if they were to hold onto the Act 5 title. While Luna Rossa soared away from the start into an unassailable lead, so it appeared that they might take the win as Leigh McMillan’s The Wave, Muscat lumbered out of the blocks in eighth. High tension for the fans watching as well, but the former Tornado ace punched his way up the fleet and although Luna Rossa was a leg ahead by the time she took the gun, The Wave, Muscat’s fourth place was enough to secure her victory.


Reefed down in rough weather. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

Skipper Leigh McMillan was delighted: “It’s our first actual victory on the world tour, so an awesome result for us. It was really tight: Luna Rossa was going at us all day and towards the end they were trying to shut us out at every start, but I didn’t really want to get too involved in that kind of game because we can always come back after making a bad start.

“It’s awesome to be on the top of the podium, that was our dream goal. It always comes down to the last race, it is impossible to get far enough in front to get that buffer, so that the last double points doesn’t really count. That was the whole mission, but we couldn’t do it here and it came down to the last race and it was nearly game over for us.”

Despite a 6th in the final race, Alinghi, skippered by Tanguy Cariou and helmed by Yann Guichard, managed to take their first podium position of the 2011 series.

Dramatic capsize for Aberdeen Asset Management in race 6 of day 3 at Cowes. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

The flood tide getting up to 3 knots and the wind lighter than it had been for most of this regatta, proved highly challenging for the competitors as they attempted to stay out of the tide, short tacking up the shore at Egypt Point within metres of the huge mass of spectators. On one occasion Luna Rossa tacked on to starboard and in an on-the-water ballet four boats to leeward of her were forced simultaneously to do the same. Some boats rapidly ran out of water coming into the shore as they were unable to find a lane out as they attempted to tack for safety.

But the worst incident of the day occurred at the start of race five when Groupe Edmond de Rothschild managed to collide with Luna Rossa breaking the French team’s bowsprit in the process. Until this moment Pierre Pennec’s team had been on a charge winning today’s second race. Instead they had to stand down for the final four races. As Luna Rossa helmsman Paul Campbell-James put it: “It was a great day, minus two crashes! Gitana tried to take my head off with their spinnaker pole and consequently they snapped it. We were all trying to start on port and duck the other boats and there were four people trying to fit through a gap that we couldn’t fit through. And his bow sprit just missed my head and snapped round our rudder, ending their day. The big thing is the overall series, but big respect to The Wave boys because they did a fantastic job at this regatta.”


The British Windsurfer champion Guy Cribb racing Red Bull Extreme Sailing. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

An estimated crowd of over 72,500 visited the Extreme Sailing Series Race Village at Egypt Point, lining the beach and sea wall as far as the eye could see. For the first time this week the Extreme Sailing Series was streamed live online every day to fans around the world, utilising two levels of production: a multi-camera LiveTV output with graphics and full commentary for three days and a basic single-cam WEBcam feed on the remaining days, allowing the organisers to deliver an online output within the budgetary constraints.

At the halfway stage of the 2011 circuit, Act 5 has, once again, showcased why the Extreme Sailing Series is considered the headline acts at Cowes Week. The public returning year on year the grandstands at the Extreme 40 Race Village, that tonight hosts the end of event Extreme Fireworks Party with BBC Radio One DJ Rob da Bank.
Next stop is Act 6 in Trapani, Sicily, public days 16-18th September, preceded by two days of ‘open water’ racing 14-15th.


Luna Rossa finished second in Cowes; helmsman Paul Campbell-James had won this event in 2011 at the helm of The Wave, Muscat. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

Extreme Sailing Series Act 5 at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week
Overall standings after 30 races
Position / Team / Points

1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA), Leigh McMillan / Kyle Langford / Nick Hutton / Khamis Al Anbouri 236 points
2nd Luna Rossa (ITA), Max Sirena / Paul Campbell-James / Alister Richardson / Manuel Modena 228.8 points
3rd Alinghi (SUI), Tanguy Cariou / Yann Guichard / Nils Frei / Yves Detrey 214 points
4th Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), Roman Hagara / Hans Peter Steinacher / Will Howden / Luke Cross 188 points
5th Oman Air (OMA), Sidney Gavignet / Kinley Fowler / David Carr / Nasser Al Mashari 179 points
6th Team GAC Pindar (GBR), Ian Williams / Mischa Heemskerk / Andrew Walsh / Jono Macbeth 160 points
7th Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Adam Beashel / Richard Meacham / Andrew McLean / Chris Ward 139 points
8th Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), Pierre Pennec / Christophe Espagnon / Thierry Fouchier / Hervé Cunningham 135 points
9th Niceforyou (ITA), Alberto Barovier / Stefano Rizzi / Daniele de Luca / Simone de Mari 132 points
10th Aberdeen Asset Management (GBR), John Pink / Rick Peacock / Greg Homann / John Gimson 126 points
11th Team Extreme (EUR), Roland Gaebler / Nahid Gaebler / Benedikt Wenk / Dan Morris 71 points
12th Artemis Racing (SWE), Santiago Lange / Andy Fethers / Michele Ivaldi / Phil Jameson 23 points


Prizegiving in Cowes. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC ThirdPole.

Extreme Sailing Series 2011
Overall standings after 5 Acts
Position / Team / Points

1st Emirates Team New Zealand 44 points
2nd Luna Rossa 43 points
3rd Groupe Edmond de Rothschild 40 points
4th Artemis Racing 38 points
5th The Wave, Muscat 38 points
6th Red Bull Extreme Sailing 36 points
7th Alinghi 33 points
8th Oman Air 22 points
9th Team GAC Pindar 13 points
10th Niceforyou 12 points
11th Team Extreme 11 points

Extreme Sailing Series

North Sails New Zealand launches Sail Scan App for iPhone and iPad

Image copyright North Sails New Zealand.

by Zoe Hawkins

The same technology used by top North Sails designers is now available as an iPhone/iPad App.

Described as a ‘lite’ version of Sailscan – which is the powerful professional program that digitally analyzes photos of sails to provide detailed and accurate measurements and comparisons – the North Sails Scan App will assist customers with collecting and recording information about sailshape and sail trim, even while they are sailing.

The Application has been tested for two months in the App stores of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany, and is now available in New Zealand and worldwide.

“This software helps you to be more scientific about your sail wardrobe,” says Andrew Wills of North Sails New Zealand. “It will be a lot easier for you to discuss sail shapes with us, because essentially you can photograph each sail as many times as you like, and it will store the image and analyse the shape.”

“The app makes it quick and easy to take a photo while you are racing, that you can look at and analyse later. So, for example, you can photograph your headsail in one mode, make an adjustment to your sheeting angle and photograph it again, then later on when you have more time, compare the sail’s performance in the different modes. It also lets you see how a sail has changed in the months or years since you have owned it, and helps you to give more detailed and accurate information to your North Sails consultant.”


Image copyright North Sails New Zealand.

The program allows you to easily store an image library of your sails in different modes and at different times, with information such as hours of use and other inventory data. It calculates and stores measurements such as draft, camber and twist, for each image, as well as sailing conditions when the image was taken.

The North Sails Scan App will also be used extensively by North Sails representatives on the water.

For more information visit www.nz.northsails.com, or your Apple Apps store.

America's Cup and Extreme 40 : Yann Guichard Makes a Quick Switch from Extreme 40 in Cowes to AC45 Match Racing in Cascais

Yann Guichard on board the Alinghi Extreme 40. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OCThirdPole.

by Benjamin Schweizer

At the end of the six day long race on the Solent, in Cowes, the Alinghi team came third in Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series, climbing the podium for the first time this season. In the end, it was the Wave, Muscat crew that won this event followed by the Italian boat Luna Rossa. Yann Guichard tells us about this leg which, once again, showed the extreme characteristic of the competition.

Q : Yann, the Alinghi Team has just finished third in this fifth edition of the Extreme Sailing Series, your best ranking this season; what is your first reaction at the end of this sixth and last day of competition?

Yann Guichard : « I’m extremely happy. We really sailed at a top level today (Friday). We were battling all day long while managing the risk taking. I think we’ve finally found our modus operandi. We’ve progressed together during the whole stage, strengthening the cohesion day by day. I’m very satisfied and confident for the future. »

Q : Once again, this stage in Cowes has been very spectacular. What is it about this straight that makes it so unique?

YG : « Every year, it is physically the most difficult race. It is windier and there is this constant stream of 2 or 3 nods, creating a lot of waves. It all makes the steering very complex and difficult. Sometimes you have to sail very close to the coast for protection. It is a stage filled with intensity and emotion. Until you’ve reached the finishing line, your position is never granted.

In the end, you have to be consistent in your efforts without taking too many risks. This risk management is the most important thing, as it can lead to an incident, like we’ve seen on several occasions during those six days of racing. »

Q: Now, you’re going to join the French challenge Energy Team in Cascais. You will be at the helm on Sunday, for the last and only event included in the general ranking of the America’s Cup World Series. What is your state of mind facing this challenge?

YG: I’m very happy to take part in it, but I will go in all humility. The other crews will have had 10 days of racing behind them. So i will do my best to sail neatly. I haven’t spoken to the team this last week because i wanted to stay 100 % focused on this fifth edition of the Extreme Sailing Series. So we’re going to have a big briefing on Saturday before getting used to the boat again during a training session. »

Yann Guichard
Team Alinghi
Energy Team
Extreme Sailing Series
America's Cup