America's Cup update, Joint statement released by challenging teams Ben Ainslie Racing, Luna Rossa, Artemis Racing and Team France

This following statement has been released via the teams below:

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/105_-All-the-elements-for-the-success-of-the-event-are-there-.html

JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE TEAMS LUNA ROSSA CHALLENGE, ARTEMIS RACING, BEN AINSLIE RACING AND TEAM FRANCE, WHO WILL BE CHALLENGING FOR THE 35TH AMERICA’S CUP.

Following the announcement of Team Australia – representative of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Challenger of Record of the 35th America’s Cup – of its intention to withdraw from the competition, the teams Luna Rossa Challenge, Artemis Racing, Ben Ainslie Racing and Team France – jointly with the yacht clubs they represent – confirm their full support to the event, regardless from the host venue that will be selected.

The four teams, who have so far made clear their involvement, also reiterate their commitment to co-operate in a constructive way with the Defender to the sporting and commercial success of the 35th America’s Cup, with the aim of bringing this event to the peak of the world’s professional sport in terms of media, show, public and the intense sporting competition which has always characterised the America’s Cup.

read more here

Hamilton Island Yacht Club/Team Australia withdraw their challenge for the America's Cup

From the following entry on Americascup.com

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/102_Update-on-teams-for-the-35th-Americas-Cup.html

The America’s Cup organizers have received notification from the principals of Hamilton Island Yacht Club of their intention to withdraw Team Australia from the 35th America’s Cup.

“We are very disappointed to be receiving this news,” said Russell Coutts, Director of the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA). “We were excited to have Australia as a challenger and we were also looking forward to the prospect of holding America’s Cup World Series events in Australia.

“But our focus going forward is with the teams that have already submitted challenges and the teams that have told us of their intent to do so before the entry deadline on August 8th.

read more here

America's Cup update, Sir Ben Ainslie secures government funding for British Challenge for the 35th America's Cup

From the following press release on the Ben Ainslie Racing website:

http://benainslieracing.com/2014/07/ben-ainslie-racing-win-government-support/

Ministers today announced £7.5million of Government funding to support Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team and their proposal to be based on the Camber in Portsmouth. The news follows on from Portsmouth City Council’s decision to give planning approval for the site of the new base.
The announcement took place today at 10 Downing Street in the presence of the Prime Minister; David Cameron commented:

“Sir Ben Ainslie’s project is truly fantastic news for Portsmouth and the Solent. It will not only build on Portsmouth’s global reputation as a centre of marine and maritime excellence but will also deliver a real sporting and economic boost to the UK. It is a great example of our long-term plan – creating jobs as well as opportunities for young people to develop their skills through apprenticeships. 

“This is an exciting and historic challenge and I hope the whole country can get behind Sir Ben’s campaign.”

BAR Team Principal and four-time Olympic gold medallist, Sir Ben Ainslie said:

“Portsmouth has a great maritime heritage and we felt it was a natural home for the team’s permanent base in the UK. There is excellent access to the water for the team’s training and to host future America’s Cup events, with fantastic spectator viewpoints. We hope through  our journey to bring the Cup home to Britain we will inspire more young people to get involved in the sport, along with supporting the growth of the marine sector in the Solent area to match the country’s F1 innovation hub.”

read more here

America's Cup update, Luna Rossa's heavily modified AC45 goes sailing for the first time in Cagliari

From the following article on the Luna Rossa Challenge website:

http://www.lunarossachallenge.com/en/news/the-ac45-luna-rossa-piranha-sails-again-after-being-modified

Luna Rossa Piranha – one of the two AC45s with which the team will train and develop its design in view of the 35th America’s Cup – starts sailing today in Cagliari.

The “new” Luna Rossa Piranha has undergone some major changes foreseen by the Protocol of the 35th America’s Cup that now allows the modification of any component of the AC45 catamarans – used in past editions of the America’s Cup World Series – except for the shape of the hulls.

In this first phase the research and the modifications focused essentially on the optimization of the appendages – daggerboards and rudders – and on-board systems that allow the AC45 catamarans to fully foil and sail with greatly increased performances.

Luna Rossa Piranha and Luna Rossa Swordfish have thus become real laboratories to test components, develop systems, collect and analyze data, as well as to train the crew in manoeuvers, boat handling and foiling tactics and techniques.

read more here

Photo courtesy Team Luna Rossa

and a short video of the launch:

Ben Ainslie Racing, launch of new British America's Cup Challenge

From the following article on BYMnews:

http://bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=133840

Sir Ben Ainslie launches British America’s Cup Challenge

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Sir Ben Ainslie, one of Britain’s best sailors, today launched his bid to win the America’s Cup, the 163-year old trophy never won by Great Britain. The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sailor herself, attended the launch at the Royal Museums Greenwich to show her support for the campaign.

The four-time Olympic gold medal winner, Sir Ben, who announced his challenge with Yacht Squadron Racing, said: “This is the last great historic sporting prize never won by Great Britain. It has always been my ambition to mount a home challenge. The time is right and I am hugely encouraged by the support we are getting, not least from the Duchess of Cambridge. I learned a great deal aboard Oracle in San Francisco and I would not be challenging if I did not believe we have a real chance of winning this time.”

Ainslie became the world’s most successful Olympic sailor after winning a fourth gold medal in London 2012, and quickly turned his attention to his long term ambition – winning the America’s Cup for Britain. In 2013, Ainslie became the first Briton to be part of a winning America’s Cup team in 110 years with ORACLE TEAM USA. He played a vital role in one of the greatest comebacks sport has ever seen, overturning an 8:1 deficit to Team New Zealand, and allowing the USA to retain the trophy. Now Ainslie is planning to take the trophy from the Americans in 2017, and bring the America’s Cup back to Britain with his team, Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR).

read more here

Interview by Fred Eagle on Catsailingnews with multihull maestro Loick Peyron

Loick Peyron is a great ambassador for multihull sailing and has also been involved in the highest level of the sport for many years.  In this wide ranging interview by Fred Eagle he discusses the future, past and his current projects.

Thanks to the excellent Catsailingnews blog:

http://www.catsailingnews.com/2014/06/honoring-past-foiling-cup-interview.html

35th America's Cup protocol released

From the following press release on the America's Cup site:

http://www.americascup.com/pressreleases/?id=1768

“We’re going to have our work cut out for us, that’s for sure.”

So says ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill as he assesses the competition for the 35th America’s Cup.

Today, the Protocol was released, which defines the rules, format and commercial regulations for the 35th America’s Cup. Entries open on June 9th and close August 8th, 2014, giving prospective teams two months to enter.

See what the teams are saying

The Class Rule for the new AC62 yacht, which has already been shared with teams in draft format, will be issued in the coming days, prior to the entry period opening.

Highlights of the Protocol include:

   * A three year racing program from 2015 to 2017 with every race counting towards qualification and/or points in the final America’s Cup Match

   * At least six America’s Cup World Series events per year in 2015 and 2016 to be raced in the AC45 class. All teams have an opportunity to host an event in their home country

   * An America’s Cup Qualifiers series in 2017 involving all teams, with a bonus point in the America’s Cup Match at stake

   * America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs for the top four challenger teams to emerge from the Qualifiers

   * The America’s Cup Match, featuring the defender, ORACLE TEAM USA against the top challenger. The first team to win 7 points will win the America’s Cup

   * Up to two Youth America’s Cup events providing a pathway for young sailors to join the top rank of professionals

   * The new AC62 yacht – a foiling, wing sail catamaran sailed by 8 crew – to be raced in all events in 2017

   * A crew nationality rule requiring at least 25% of the AC62 crew to be nationals of the country of their challenge

The Protocol was negotiated between defending champion ORACLE TEAM USA and its Golden Gate Yacht Club and Team Australia’s Hamilton Island Yacht Club, the Challenger of Record.

The 35th America’s Cup builds on the successful elements of the last America’s Cup – fast, exciting racing in foiling multihulls that is challenging for the best sailors in the world and appealing to spectators.

read more here

35th America's Cup, Oracle Team USA update from the Sydney training camp with Team Australia

From the following article on the Oracle/Team USA website:

http://oracle-team-usa.americascup.com/en/news/78_Video-from-Sydney-Fitness-fun-and-who-is-Justice-.html

ORACLE TEAM USA is in the midst of its second Sydney training camp.

As in March, some new sailors are getting a chance to strut their stuff, while the crew focuses on race practice against Team Australia.

“It’s going great so far. We have a few new guys here, who are fitting in really well,” said sailing team manager and helmsman Tom Slingsby.

“We just finished our fitness testing which has been pretty tough. We’ve seen a few of the boys crack, which is good to know, but it’s been great. We have a few more days to go and we’re going to get the most out of it."

Sailor Rome Kirby says he’s happy to be back out racing, with Team Australia pushing the defending America’s Cup champions.

read more here
 

35th America's Cup, Sir Ben Ainslie secures funding for British challenge

From the following article on the uk telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/sailing/10820934/Sir-Ben-Ainslie-prepares-to-unveil-Americas-Cup-team.html

While potential America’s Cup challengers wait for details of the 35th America’s Cup to be announced, Sir Ben Ainslie has secured the private seed funding for a British campaign, to be unveiled next month.

It will be difficult for him to go ahead with the next phase of the Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) campaign - raising the £100m commercial sponsorship - until he has seen the protocol governing the Cup, which is currently being agreed by Cup holders Oracle Team USA and official challengers Team Australia.

The protocol, which was due to be announced in March but has been promised for disclosure next week, will contain the rules for the next event, including plans for a 62-foot foiling wing-sailed catamaran, a similar but smaller version of the high speed AC72 used so dramatically in San Francisco last year.

read more here

Artemis Racing update team strengthens Design team with new additions

From the following press release by Artemis Racing on their Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/ArtemisRacing

 ALAMEDA, 17th April 2014 - Artemis Racing announced today that it has signed Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, Simon Watin, Juan Garay and Matthew Davis, who will join the design team as Artemis Racing prepares for a possible 35th America’s Cup bid.

Both Vincent Lauriot-Prévost and Simon Watin join from VPLP Design, a world leader in multihull ra...cing and super yacht design founded in 1983. During the 34th America’s Cup they were part of the America's Cup Race Management design and research team, established to create an initial design package for the high-tech wing-sailed AC72 catamarans.

Vincent Lauriot-Prévost is a naval architect and co-founder of VPLP Design based in France. During his career Lauriot-Prévost has contributed to some of the most advanced racing prototype projects, including the design of the six last winners of La Route du Rhum, the record holders of the transatlantic (New York – Lizard) and round the world (Jules Verne Trophy) races, as well as BMW ORACLE Racing’s trimaran USA 17, winner of the 33rd America’s Cup.

“Having always been at the cutting edge of fast multihull design from the early age of VPLP Design, we were first involved in the America’s Cup challenge in 2007, when the Cup turned definitively to multihulls,” said the naval architect. “This time, it is a great opportunity to collaborate with Artemis Racing on such a great foiling racing cat project, at this ultimate level of technology in the America’s Cup.”

A specialist in performance prediction, Watin graduated as a fluid mechanics engineer before specializing in naval architecture. In 2011 he joined the VPLP Yacht Design office in France where he developed in-house performance prediction and Computational Fluid Dynamics capabilities, and was involved in maxi racing trimaran projects (Prince de Bretagne 80, Sodebo 4 and Macif 100), as well as Open 60 projects (Safran 2 and Banque Populaire) for the 2016 Vendée Globe Race.

"I’m really excited to be part of the Artemis Racing team,” said Watin. “They have done an amazing job putting together a group of people that are not only very talented and experienced but also team players, and it is really motivating for me personally to have the chance to work in such an environment. Accurately predicting the performance of these boats will be quite a challenge, and we will have to sharpen our tools to be able make the right choices before launching the boats, especially since the sailing time may well be restricted."

Artemis Racing also welcomes back British electronics engineer Matthew Davis and Argentine aero designer Juan Garay.

Davis studied electrical and instrumentation engineering in Southampton, and has sailed as navigator, engineer and crew member in multiple maxi yacht races including the Rolex Transatlantic Yacht Race and Maxi Worlds. In 2009 he received the Navigator’s Award for 1st in class for LA to Hawaii Transpac Race.

Matthew was Team Telefónica’s instrument engineer for both the 2008 and 2011 Volvo Ocean Races. The 35th America’s Cup will be his third campaign following the 32nd with Victory Challenge and the 34th with Artemis Racing.

Garay has over 20 years of experience in sail design with North Sails South America, and has been involved in a variety of classes and circuits since 1990.

Juan started designing sails for Team GBR in 2006 and worked with Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson and Ben Ainslie on multiple Olympic campaigns including Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He was the sail designer for Team Origin and +39 Challenge, and the 35th America’s Cup will be his second campaign with Artemis Racing, leading the aero program development.

“I am excited to work again with such a fantastic team,” said Garay. “I have great memories of working with Iain and Bart on two successful Olympic campaigns. We worked extremely hard but managed to enjoy it at the same time. Having that collaborative and open environment in an America’s Cup team is extremely motivating.”

“We are pleased to welcome Simon and Vincent into the team, and have Juan and Matthew back with us,” said Artemis Racing design team coordinator Adam May. “Simon came to us highly recommended by a number of sources, while Vincent’s experience with big multihulls is undeniable. Juan and Matt are returning Artemis team members who bring with them a wealth of experience and great attitude in their respective areas. We continue to slowly grow our team, working hard to find the right fit of people within the group, and are fortunate to have had no shortage of great people reaching out to us, interested in getting involved,” concluded May.

35th America's Cup, Gino Morelli on the new America's Cup catamarans

From the following article on blueplanettimes by Kymball Livingston Posted April 13, 2014
http://www.blueplanettimes.com/the-new-americas-cup-cat/

The New America’s Cup Cat

The next generation will look much like this 2013 generation challenger from New Zealand, but they’re a new breed

Gino Morrelli believes the next generation of America’s Cup catamarans will revolutionize upwind tactics. He foresees the boats foiling through tacks without slowing down, and if there is no price for tacking, that’s a new calculus, isn’t it? A new game.

Smaller, faster, safer. It’s quite a package that Morrelli is talking about, and he knows a bit. His firm of Morrelli & Melvin wrote the design rule for what we will call, for now, the AC62. That is, ten feet shorter than the AC72s of 2013 and shrunk appropriately in other dimensions as well. Add-in some one-design components, factor-in the fact that a lot of the design possibilities have already been explored—we know what the next generation will look like—and you have a boat that is cheaper to design and cheaper to build, even with amped-up technology. His partner Pete Melvin has been hard on the case.

At which point Morrelli adds the ultimate qualifier, “We can lower the cost to entry, but we can’t make it cheaper to win the America’s Cup.” 

Write this on the board twenty-five times: An America’s Cup team will always spend whatever it can get.

I shared billing with Gino over the weekend for a program at Strictly Sail Pacific, which opened my window onto what’s coming next, with a little caution tape on the windowsill: “We finished our job about four weeks ago,” Morrelli told the audience. “In our last iteration, the boat was 62 feet, but now we’ve handed it over to Oracle and Russell and the boys to fuss it out with the Challenger of Record and Iain Murray. That is, the Aussies from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Between them, a lot can happen. We’re now out of the loop, but something’s cooking . . . At some point they have to pull the trigger and publish the design rule and let people start working on the new boats, even if they don’t decide the venue until deep in the process.”

read more here

35th America's Cup, Artemis Team update

35th America's Cup, Sir Ben Ainslie awaits details of AC35 protocol before decision on whether to mount British Challenge

 Extract from the following article on mysailing news:

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/sir-ben-ainslie-waiting-on-ac35-format-before-decision-to-mount-british-challenge

Sir Ben Ainslie waiting on AC35 format before decision to mount British challenge

06 Apr 2014

Respected yachting writer Sruart Alexander of Britain's The Independent says a British challenge is not guaranteed at the 35th America's Cup, despite some excellent responses from sponsors to Sir Ben Ainslie's initial approaches. Alexander writes:

read more here

35th America's Cup, Larry Ellison considers venue locations including Honolulu

From the following article on the SFGate:

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Larry-Ellison-eyeing-Honolulu-for-17-America-s-5303121.php

Larry Ellison sat in the quiet living room of his Woodside home and talked about what comes next, after winning the America's Cup for the second time in September 2013, an epic victory being called "the comeback of comebacks."

His vision for the next America's Cup, detailed in a series of exclusive interviews over several months, involves the staging of regattas all over the world - leading up to the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the main event, the America's Cup, likely taking place in Honolulu.

This competition would be a departure from anything done before, and would mean that - unless negotiations turn around - San Francisco will not be the host city for the next Cup.

While outlining his vision for the 35th America's Cup, Ellison acknowledges that much needs to happen before his plan is a reality, and that Team USA CEO Russell Coutts remains actively - and earnestly - in talks with other venues, from San Francisco and San Diego to Newport, R.I.

Ellison's ideas for the 35th America's Cup advance his goal of attracting a wider audience to the sport of sailing and to the 163-year-old regatta. He called the races of the 34th America's Cup "the most magnificent spectacle" he'd ever seen on the water and believes the regatta has "changed sailing forever."

read more here

35th America's Cup, Oracle Team USA adds second US sailor to team

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Oracle Team USA:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Second-US-sailor-joins-Oracle-Team-USA/119975

American Andrew Campbell is the newest recruit to join Oracle Team USA and he is making his debut with the team during its training camp in Sydney Australia this week.

A four-time All-American, Campbell was a standout sailor at the collegiate level, leading his Georgetown University sailing team to three single-handed national championships, among other titles. Incredibly, on a list dominated by football and basketball players, Campbell has been named among Georgetown’s all-time Top 10 Athletes by Sports Illustrated magazine.

Following up his college sailing with Olympic campaigns in the Laser and Star class, Campbell sailed for the United States in the Laser in the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

And it’s from a relationship formed in the Laser that he comes to Oracle Team USA

'I’ve been racing a lot against (Oracle Team USA tactician and sailing team manager) Tom Slingsby over the last 12 years,' Campbell says. 'We went to the youth worlds in 2002 and competed against each other in the Laser and we’ve either been racing each other or at least racing in events on the same circuit as each other for a long time. Tom is my main connection here.'

read more here

35th America's Cup update, Mat Belcher appointed as skipper of Team Australia's AC45 catamaran

From the following article on australiansailing.org:

http://www.australiansailing.org/?page=70049&format

Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC) has today set sail on its four-year Australian Challenge for the 35th America's Cup in 2017, with the announcement of Australian Sailing Team’s Olympic Gold Medallist Mathew Belcher as its skipper and the christening of Team Australia’s AC45 catamaran.

Yachting Australia’s Performance Director Peter Conde congratulated Belcher on his appointment and said: 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Mat and we are very excited for him as well as for our sponsor Hamilton Island and the Oatley family who have been strong supporters of the Australian Sailing Team over the last decade.  We have very talented sailors on our team and it’s great to see that this is recognised by professional programs like the America’s Cup.” 

“I congratulate both Mat and also our Australian Sailing Squad member David Gilmour who both have been named on Team Australia today.  The Australian Sailing Team will be a big supporter of Team Australia.”

At the Team Australia media launch Iain Murray, CEO Team Australia, said Hamilton Island Yacht Club was keen for the immense talents of Australia’s sailors to be showcased.

“As a country, we’ve proven we can produce some of the best sailors in the world, and now it’s our turn to build an all-Aussie winning team skippered by one of most awarded Australian sailors.  Mat is a remarkable example of an elite athlete and one of the most accomplished sailors that Australia has ever produced,” explained Murray.

read more here

35th America's Cup, Team Australia to launch AC45 for preliminary training against Oracle Team USA in Sydney on Thursday

From the following article by Richard Gladwell submitted to Sail-World:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Team-Australia-to-launch-AC45-on-Thursday/119805

Team Australia, the Challenger of Record for the 35th America's Cup is expected to launch their AC45 on Sydney harbour on Thursday morning.

The team is expected to be sailing later that day and on the weekend.

They are scheduled to sail in a series of tune up races against the America's Cup Defender, Oracle Team USA.

read more here

35th America's Cup, Pete Melvin on writing the rule for the next Cup multihull

From the following article on americascup.com

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/48_Writing-the-Rule-Pete-Melvin-talks-about-the-next-Cup-boat.html

Pete Melvin has come a long way since the first boat he built as a 6-year old, which, unfortunately, would not float.

But he didn’t let that initial setback discourage him. Now a respected and successful sailor, designer and engineer, Melvin has been hired by the Defender and Challenger of Record of the 35th America’s Cup and tasked with coming up with the class rule for a second consecutive time.

“The process is to listen to the requests and desires of the Defender and Challenger of Record, which includes reducing the costs of the boats and in fact of the entire campaign. On the boat side, that means smaller boats, with less crew, and less personnel involved in design, logistics, and reduced construction costs,” Melvin says.

“We are looking at concepts that are similar to the AC72 - a foiling cat with wingsail. The consensus from teams is that this was a good concept and we want a smaller version in the 60 to 65 foot range. We’re looking at various ratios of beam to length and wing size and power and running VPPs on those boats to see performance, speed, controllability etc.

read more here

America's Cup update, Jimmy Spithill re-signs with Oracle Team USA

From the following article published on Americascup.com

http://oracle-team-usa.americascup.com/en/news/66_Spithill-looks-for-3-peat-with-ORACLE-TEAM-USA.html

Jimmy Spithill will return to ORACLE TEAM USA as the team re-builds with a focus on winning its third consecutive America’s Cup.

The youngest skipper to ever lead a team to victory in the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport, Spithill says the lure of working with team principal Larry Ellison and CEO Russell Coutts again was too strong to ignore.

“There were some very good offers out there, but at the end of the day, Russell and Larry, I wouldn’t be here without them…” Spithill said.

Spithill has made the America’s Cup his life’s work, beginning as a 20-year old skipper of the Young Australia team in the 1999/2000 Louis Vuitton Cup. He’s raced in every event since then, making steady progress towards the victory in 2010, when he became the youngest skipper to win the trophy.
He followed that up with the successful defense last September and now he's looking to make it three wins in a row as skipper of ORACLE TEAM USA.

“Being a part of the team when we first won in 2010 and then to be able to get back to back wins and now to have an opportunity at a third, it’s been an amazing ride. I feel fortunate to have been a part of it since day one and I’m looking forward to going at it again.”

read more here

35th America's Cup update, City of San Francisco proposes venues for the event

From the following article on americascup.com

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18594/city-of-san-francisco-proposes-venue-sites-for-the-35th-americas-cup

The America’s Cup Event Authority has received a letter from San Francisco’s Mayor Ed Lee, proposing venue sites within the City that would be used to host the next America’s Cup in 2017.
The letter reads, in part: “The 34th America’s Cup generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for San Francisco, created thousands of jobs and showcased our spectacular waterfront, the beauty of San Francisco Bay and the sport of sailing to millions of spectators around the world.

“Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm, guided by the lessons learned and practical experience of the 34th America’s Cup, that we propose the venue sites for the 35th America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2017…”

The City is suggesting the use of Piers 27-29 for the America’s Cup Park and Team Bases as well as Piers 19.5, 23, 31 and a section of Pier 80 for team use. A portion of Marina Green, including the Peninsula area, would be used for public viewing and bleachers. A significant change for this next America’ s Cup is shifting the team bases to the America’s Cup Park at Piers 27-29.

read more here