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Published: April, 2004
The history began in 1851 when notable sailors from New York won a race in England finishing so far in the lead, the Queen was told, that there was no second place. The America’s Cup evolved into the most prestigious match race in the world. Challengers now compete in a round robin match race series called the Louis Vuitton Cup before the Grand Finale match race series, which pits the top challenger against the well-rested defender. New Zealand’s team leader said they lost for lack of time sailing.
Changing to a new format more like other popular sporting events, a series of competitions are held around the world each year. In September 2003, Oracle invited the new defenders, Alinghi, to meet in a preliminary match race in an event called the Moet Cup. It was the first of many new opportunities for defenders and challengers to compete. In Newport, Rhode Island, from June 19-27, another Moet format regatta will take place along the Rhode Island shores. Up to six teams are expected to compete for seven to eight days of racing. .Spectators are looking forward to watching competing teams train on Newport waters several weeks prior to the main events. There are only two official challengers now, but as many as 15 may join the fray. Let the games begin.
On March 25th, at a gala dinner hosted by Louie Vuitton in Paris, Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of AC Management, organizer for the America’s Cup, announced
“In 2004, with Act 1 in Marseille, Sept. 5-11, and Acts 2 and 3 in Valencia , Oct 5-12 & 14-17. We are sure the first scenes in this play will be full of characters and emotion, action, drama, and intrigue, setting the scene for what is to come later on,” (quote from www.americascup.com). ACM will run the European races, referred to as “Pre-Regattas,” and provide transportation and accommodations for the yachts and crew. Alinghi and OracleBMW, the OzBoyz Challenge, Le Défi, K-Challenge, Team France, and new official challenger Clan Des Teams have confirmed their participation in the European Pre-Regattas.
VALENCIA, SPAIN–AMERICA’S CUP 2007–SWISS DEFENSE
2007 Challenger Selection and America’s Cup Dates
April 3 Keel Unveiling Day
April 4 - 7 Fleet Racing Regatta
April 16 Challenger Selection Series begins
June 2 Louis Vuitton Cup Final begins
June 23 32nd Defense of the America’s Cup begins
DEFENDER
Switzerland–ALINGHI
Owner, Ernesto Bertarelli
Team positions to be announced
Société Nautique de Genève
CHALLENGERS
Challenger of Record
America–ORACLE
Owner Larry Ellison, Team Manager and CEO Chris Dickson
Golden Gate Yacht Club
2nd Official Challenger–March 25th 2004
Italy–Clan Des Team
President, Lorenzo Rizzardi. Tech Director, Cesare Pasotti
Circolo Vela Gargnano
Announced Syndicates:
France–K-Challenge Owner. Stéphane Kandler, with team manager Dawn Riley
France–Team France Leadership Loïck Peyron and Bertrand Pace
Australia–OzBoyz Challenge Leadership Sebastien Destremau and Philip Edmiston
Italy–Toscana Challenge Led by businessman Gualtiero Pantani and Stefano Ghelli
South African–South African Challenge 2007 Salvatore Sarno (Managing Director, Mediterranean Shipping Company) will back a new challenger based in Cape Town, South Africa, aiming to bring broader recognition for sailors from that country. Officially announced March 7, 2004. Challenge President is Mafika Mkwanazi, with leadership from skipper Geoff Meek, sailing manager Paul Standbridge, and coach Ian Ainslie are making history by bringing the 6-7 fine black sailing team members to the race. They have purchased Prada’s vessel Luna Rosa to begin practicing in earnest.
Gathering Sponsorship:
Italy–Mascalzone Latino–Reale YC Canottieri Savoia
Owner Vincenzo Onorato has said that the Latin Rascals will return for 2007.
America– Sausalito Challenge
John Sweeny and team are auctioning off sponsorship online–EBAY is holding the auction for sponsorship of their proposed America’s Cup team with a minimum bid of $30 million on April 2-9. Over 1100 auction packets have been requested by corporations at the time of press with over 197,000 hits on the site. The club is Sausalito Yacht Club.
Team New Zealand–Royal New Zealand YS Grant Dalton expressed that by March 31, 2004 they will make the decision to race based on funding and sponsorship.
For more scuttlebut, see www.cupinfo.com, www.americascup.com, or
www.Alinghi.com.
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A-Cup Team Auction on eBay April 2nd
Sausalito Challenge Exclusive Sponsorship Auction begins live on eBay Motors at 1a.m. (PST), Friday, April 2nd. This will be eBay’s largest online auction to date. The online audience is expected to top that of Virtual Spectator during the 2003 America’s Cup races. Approximately 1,500 companies have downloaded the sponsorship package worldwide and the Challenge-Series web site has received hits by more than 500,000 people in less than a month. Watch for the Sausalito Challenge Sponsorship Auction on eBay Motors April 2-9 (keyword: sailboats).
Cofounder John Sweeney, who started fleet racing with retired A-Cup boats on San Francisco Bay, said to scuttlebutt.com, “From the auction idea to the design of our radical new yacht, this is new thinking. We will announce the acquisition of a 2003 America’s Cup yacht May 1st. Following that we will announce our design and sailing team June 1st. On June 17th, we will hold a press conference and unveiling party for our exclusive sponsor on the eve of the first (San Francisco) Challenge Series regatta (hosted by the Sausalito Yacht Club). The new America’s Cup yacht will be launched July 1st 2005 in San Francisco.” See www.challenge-series.com
Source: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com, a free e-mail sailing news service.
Star Class
Cayard/Trindel Going to the Olympics
Finishing number one was the only way. The San Francisco team, Cayard/Trindel Star Team, worked hard and sailed well all through the qualifing races to reach their goal. They not only qualified for the Athens Olympic races, they finished as the lead U.S. Star team. It takes money to get there. Cayard reported to scuttlebutt that he and many on the course had spent $100,000 to get there. It may be easier on the body at a younger age but it proves seasoned talent, drive, and financial backing can prevail. Cayard wants the gold, and he may just get it.
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