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:

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, Artemis Team update

America's Cup news, New Zealanders implicated in AC45 unauthorised modification case escape further sanction from Yachting New Zealand

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

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=2&Nid=120957&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

The two New Zealanders involved in the ruckus over boat tampering in the AC45 class prior to the 34th America's Cup have not had any action taken against them by Yachting New Zealand.

The incident blew up several weeks before the start of the 34th America's where several members of America's Cup Defender Oracle Team USA questioned by the International Jury after measurement irregularities were found. Several members of the team were accused of cheating and adverse findings were made against five of those. Six team members were found by the International Jury to be actually implicated in the issue, but one had no further action taken against him.

Two members of the team were found by the International Jury to have lied to the judicial body for the America's Cup. This is a serious matter under the Protocol of the America's Cup which covered both the America's Cup World Series regattas sailed in AC45 wingsailed catamarans, and the America's Cup itself.

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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.'

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35th America's Cup, Team Australia launch AC45 catamaran to train with Team Oracle USA in Sydney Harbour

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.

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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

AC45 catamarans to be deployed as high end charter boats off Lanai/Hawaii in absence of America's Cup world series in 2014

From the following article on mysailing:

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/larry-ellison-plans-to-bring-ac45s-to-hawaii-for-rich-man-charters-off-lanai

Larry Ellison plans to bring AC45s to Hawaii for "rich man" charters off Lanai

09 Feb 2014

According to Pacific Business News, Oracle Team USA owner and billionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur Larry Ellison plans to use eight AC45s  for "high end" charters off the island of Lanai.
The 45ft catamarans were used for the America's Cup World Series and the Youth America's Cup in the lead-up to the 34th Match in San Francisco. There is no World Series planned for 2014, leaving the boats with no other use until 2015, when they are expected to resume hostilities with the addition of foils.

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Sir Ben Ainslie and the JP Morgan BAR AC45 catamaran to be at the London Boat show 8th of January

A snippet from the Round the Island Race (UK) facebook page.  Sir Ben Ainslie and the JP Morgan BAR AC45 to be at the London boat show on 8th of January.

https://www.facebook.com/roundtheisland

STAR OF THE SHOW!
 
London Boat Show, Excel Wed 8th January 2014. Join us for an exclusive Q&A session with the one & only Sir Ben Ainslie and see his AC45 JP Morgan BAR.

34th America's Cup news, Dirk de Ridder not penalised further by Dutch national sailing body over unapproved AC45 modifications

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

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Dutch-take-no-further-action-against-de-Ridder/116080

Unofficial sources are reporting that the Dutch national sailing authority has decided not to take any further action against Dirk de Ridder (NED) following an adverse report by the International Jury during the 34th America's Cup.

The Appeals body (the Zeilraad) established by the de Ridder's national authority to hear such matters, is reported as stating in its conclusion: 'further considered that being excluded from further participation in any role in the 34 America’s Cup for a gross breach of a rule and of good sportsmanship, combined with the world wide publicity on TV/radio, Internet and newspapers, is by itself, a severe penalty.

'Having considered all evidence the Zeilraad finds that it is not appropriate to impose an additional penalty.

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Red Bull Youth America's Cup update, New Zealand Sailing team win the innaugral edition of the Youth America's Cup

From the following article on americascup.com

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/17932/new-zealand-portugal-teams-shine-brightest-on-sailings-biggest-stage

“It’s amazing. It’s exciting. It’s wet, fast and fun.” That’s how Will Tiller, the skipper of Full Metal Jacket described sailing the AC45 wing-sail catamaran but he could very well have been talking about the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup itself.

The new competition for national teams of youth sailors aged 19-24 provided thrills, spills and plenty of action over four days of intense racing on San Francisco Bay. The New Zealand Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand had a strong closing day to beat their fierce rivals on Full Metal Jacket (NZL) and the ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team from Portugal to win the inaugural title.

“It’s been amazing to actually take the win,” said Peter Burling, the skipper of the New Zealand Sailing Team. “We got a lot better during the racing. It’s amazing to take the win and quite humbling to do it under the Emirates Team New Zealand banner.”

His rival, Will Tiller, made this a Kiwi one-two on the leaderboard with a strong, consistent performance over the four days of racing.

read more here

Resolution of rules infringement by Team Oracle USA for non approved modifications to AC45 catamarans competing in the America's Cup World Series

From the following article on the excellent Sail Racing Magazine website:

Oracle Team USA docked two America's Cup Final points, fined $250,000 and sailors and shore crew excluded from Cup.

 

September 3, 2013

The America's Cup international jury has handed down what is being viewed as the toughest penalty in the history of the America's Cup after finding Cup defenders Oracle Team USA guilty of gross misconduct during the America's Cup World Series.

First up the American team owned by Californian software billionaire Larry Ellison has been fined $250,000, but what will hurt Ellison's squad most is having two points deducted in the first to nine race America's Cup Final Series which begins on Saturday.  The jury ruling prescribes that Oracle will lose the points from the first two races they win once racing begins.

 

The jury decision also affects several members of the Oracle sailing team and shore crew, some of which have been excluded from any further participation in the 34th America's Cup. Amongst the sailors sanctioned are wing trimmer Dirk DeRidder and grinder Matt Mitchell. Trimmer/Grinder Kyle Langford was also implicated but appears to have escaped with a warning.

read more here

The decision made by the international jury in regards to the penalty applied to Oracle Team USA

http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN117.pdf

The statement released by Oracle Team USA in relation to the judgement.

http://oracle-team-usa.americascup.com/news/5330/statement-from-oracle-team-usa-on-jury-decision-2

More detail on the individuals within Oracle Team USA who were penalised for the rule infringement:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Cheating-doesnt-pay-but-cheats-do/114036

Red Bull Youth America's Cup, Race 7

Red Bull Youth America's Cup, races 5 & 6

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Red Bull Youth America's Cup, Races 3 & 4

Red Bull Youth America's Cup, races 1 & 2

Red Bull Youth America's Cup, Speed trials event completed racing starts tomorrow

One of the preliminary events of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup "the Speed trial" has been completed.  The results are listed below along with links to each of the teams Facebook pages:

Red Bull Youth America's Cup

RBYAC Speed Trial results:
1. All In Racing GER) - 23.91 knots
2. Objective Australia (AUS) - 23.87 knots
3. Team USA45 Racing (USA2) - 23.38 knots
4. TEAM TILT SAILING (SUI) - 22.90 knots...
5. Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL1) - 22.76 knots
6. Swedish Youth Challenge (SWE) - 22.49 knots
7. American Youth Sailing Force (USA1) - 22.42 knots
8. Next World Energy Energy Team France (FRA) - 22.00 knots
9. ROFF Cascais Sailing Team (POR) - 21.96 knots

 

 

Red Bull Youth America's Cup update, John Navas video of practice races 1 & 2

Red Bull Youth America's Cup, Racing starts on September 1st, 2013

From the following article on americascup.com

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/17697/countdown-is-on-to-the-red-bull-youth-americas-cup

The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup starts in less than a week and the 10 national youth teams are into their final preparations on San Francisco Bay.

The event runs from September 1-4, with four days of fleet racing off the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green.

On Saturday, August 31, there is a final day of practice with Speed Trials incorporated in the final training session – a spectator favourite.

“If I had to sum up the situation, I would say that this is a fantastic race course, with great boats and that our rivals are going to be tough,” said Antoine Lauriot-Prévost, the helmsman for the French entry, Next World Energy. “But we have a wonderful team here and everyone is focused.”

read more here