America's Cup update, Team New Zealand racking up Louis Vuitton Challenger series points

From the following article submitted to Sail-World from the ETNZ.blog

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Louis-Vuitton-Cup:-Five-points-and-new-speed-record-for-Emirates-TNZ/112132

Emirates Team New Zealand collected another round robin point at San Francisco today.

Five points from five starts – four races not being contested – and Emirates Team New Zealand - is at the top of leaderboard with five points, with Luna Rossa on two and Artemis zero.

Richard Meacham sailed on the bow today, replacing Adam Beashel who was trimming the wing. Glenn Ashby who usually trims the wing watched proceedings from a chase boat.

The forecast was for the fog to clear and the breeze to get into the upper wind range. With an ebb tide against the breeze, teams expected more of a sea state than that experienced in recent days.

read more here

America's Cup update, Emirates Team New Zealand vs Luna Rossa

Emirates Team New Zealand easily eclipsed Luna Rossa in their first race meeting in the Louis Vuitton Challenger series and took an easy victory. 

ac

The full race is here:

America's Cup video, Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA head to head on foiling 45's

The crews at Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA have been out training on their foiling AC45 catamarans, they call it training, looks like plain honest fun to me.

America's Cup World Series update: News from Naples ACWS event

Once again lots of coverage from Naples of the America's Cup World Series so I'll just post the links below.  All links courtesy of Sail-World:

America's Cup World Series, Naples - Smashing action on day 2 + Video            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-World-Series,-Naples---Smashing-action-on-day-2-+-Video/108604

America's Cup World Series, Naples - Oracle Team USA on to match semis            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-World-Series,-Naples---Oracle-Team-USA-on-to-match-semis/108606

America's Cup World Series - Images from Naples by Carlo Borlenghi            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-World-Series---Images-from-Naples-by-Carlo-Borlenghi/108607

Fisher's View: Poets in Naples - America's Cup WS - Race Day 2            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Fishers-View:-Poets-in-Naples---Americas-Cup-WS---Race-Day-2/108608

America's Cup WS: Images from Naples - Close to the action - Day 2            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-WS:-Images-from-Naples---Close-to-the-action---Day-2/108619

America's Cup: Teams in Naples come together to show support            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Teams-in-Naples-come-together-to-show-support/108625

AC World Series - New Zealand score back to back wins in fleet racing            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/AC-World-Series---New-Zealand-score-back-to-back-wins-in-fleet-racing/108628

Fisher's View: Birthday - in Naples - America's Cup WS - Race Day 3            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Fishers-View:-Birthday---in-Naples---Americas-Cup-WS---Race-Day-3/108633

America's Cup World Series - Oracle Team USA through to match final            

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-World-Series---Oracle-Team-USA-through-to-match-final/108636

America's Cup WS: Images from Naples - At the rounding mark - Day 3

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-WS:-Images-from-Naples---At-the-rounding-mark---Day-3/108635

America's Cup: Two wins in fleet racing for Emirates Team NZ

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Two-wins-in-fleet-racing-for-Emirates-Team-NZ/108641

America's Cup Update, video of ETNZ and Luna Rossa AC72's in practice race

A new video shot from the shore at Takapuna Beach in New Zealand shows the ETNZ and Luna Rossa AC72 catamarans in a practice race speeding round the buoys.  It looks like ETNZ's development of boat 2 is paying off with them being clearly faster than Luna Rossa at this point. 

There is also this video from Onenews in New Zealand which includes some video of the boats racing from close range on the water quite spectacular to see these AC72's go.

America's Cup update, Grant Dalton blogs entry on the current AC landscape

From the Emirates Team New Zealand blog by Grant Dalton:

http://etnzblog.com/#!2013/03/changes-in-the-sailing-landscape

Grant Dalton blogs on the happenings of the past few weeks ….

I hadn’t written anything for a while but the PR Department says the changing landscape of everything, “it’s about time you wrote a blog”. So here I am writing a blog on a Saturday afternoon as the shore crew works away changing, maintaining, optimising as they always do.

A lot has happened over the last few weeks in this run up to America’s Cup although to many observers it may tend to look like business as usual.

Well it is to a degree, I guess, but firstly Oracle has re-emerged and Artemis has gone back to the shed. The landscape changed for us on those couple of days that Oracle and Artemis trained together.

We got an answer to the questions: Is foiling correct? Is the trade off worth it? We always thought we were right but could never be sure. Even if the answer is still not totally clear, all teams are headed in the foiling direction so that helps us put that one to bed.

read more here

America's Cup update, Artemis Team update on their AC72 development progress

A recent video update from Artemis shows some interesting onboard video and the team discuss what they have learned from sailing with Team Oracle on San Francisco Bay.  The Artemis AC72 catamaran is headed into the shed for another round of modifications to get it up to speed.

America's Cup Update, ETNZ the remodelled afterguard

Emirates Team New Zealand have put up a video update.

From ETNZ:

The all important afterguard has traditionally been made up of up to 5 people in the America's Cup on the IACC class of yacht. There is neither room nor time for such a luxury on the AC72's. Things happen so quickly that everything has changed.

America's Cup update, news from Team Artemis

From the following Sail-World article submitted by America's Cup Media:

America's Cup: Artemis Racing suspends sailing program to modify AC72

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Artemis-Racing-suspends-sailing-program-to-modify-AC72/106957

Following a couple of training sessions on San Francisco Bay earlier this month, when Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing lined up with their two AC72s for the first time, as of February 22, 2013 the Swedish team has decided to suspend their sailing program in favor of boat modifications.

'In some ways it was tough,' admitted sailing director Iain Percy, when asked about the results of the two-boat training. 'We’ve learned we needed to make some changes to the boat and hence she’s come into the shed.'

Lining up against the opposition is an important reality check on progress, especially when testing a new class like the AC72. 'It’s amazing to be out there with another boat,' Percy said. 'You can learn heaps. Now, we have to look at a few things. We enjoyed being out there with them. We all know what one boat sailing is like, you go out and think you’re making improvements and then suddenly there’s another boat there and it’s huge (what you learn).'

read more here



Artemis and Oracle AC72's lining up on San Francisco Bay

From the following Sail-World article:

America's Cup: Paul Cayard confirms second AC72 build in Sweden

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Paul-Cayard-confirms-second-AC72-build-in-Sweden/106972

Artemis Racing's CEO, Paul Cayard has confirmed that the team has a second AC72 under construction, in Sweden, and that they expect to be sailing the new boat in early May, two months ahead of the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Writing in his blog, Cayard doesn't reveal whether the team will opt for a fully foiling AC72, or if the Swedish America's Cup Challenger will stay in partial foiling mode, where the leeward foil produces some lift, sufficient to reduce the displacement and drag of the leeward hull, but not sufficient for full flight as the other three teams have been able to demonstrate.

He writes: I am currently fully immersed in my role as CEO of Artemis Racing. This is the team’s first America’s Cup Challenge and it happens to be the most complex of the seven Cups I have experienced.

read more here

And a video of the Artemis crew practicing their skills on some off the beach catamarans

America's Cup update, Team Oracle release new video of their AC72 foiling

Team Oracle are back and have just released a video showing their AC72 catamaran USA 17 in action foiling around San Francisco Bay.

America's Cup Discovered Episode 77, Past America's Cup days

AC Discovered edition 77 has been released, this episode focusses mainly on the 33rd America's Cup deed of gift match between the mighty wingsailed BMW Oracle USA17 trimaran and Alinghi's gigantic catamaran Alinghi V.

America's Cup update, ETNZ slow day on AC72 no.2

Emirates Team New Zealand have released photos of their second day on the water which was a "slow day" on AC72 no.2.  At the moment they are not going flat out and are carrying out load tests on the structure etc using the boats inbuilt sensors.  Strangely even "slow" mode is not that slow!

From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Emirates-Team-NZ-flying-on-the-Hauraki-Gulf-+-Video/106602

On Thursday, Emirates Team NZ's new AC72 had her second day of sailing on the Hauraki Gulf.

Team Photographer, Chris Cameron, was on the water again and provided this gallery of images

see the gallery here:

also a video of the ETNZ "slow day" of practice on AC72 no.2

America's Cup update, a good first day on the water for ETNZ's AC72 no.2

From the following Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-A-good-first-day-on-the-Hauraki-Gulf-for-new-AC72/106504

Sail-World' s Richard Gladwell was on the water today for the first sail of the team's second generation AC72, launched on February 4, 2013.

Conditions were a light seabreeeze of less than 8kts, we didn't have a lot left in the gas tank to indulge in one of the long forways into the Gulf in which the AC72 seems to cover a lot of ground awfully quickly.

read more here

America's Cup update, ETNZ crew discuss their jobs

A video where the ETNZ crew talk about working for the team and how it is "more than just a job".

America's Cup updates, Photos of Artemis and Oracle AC72 catamarans on San Francisco Bay and an update on the progress of the America's Cup village.

America's Cup: Images of Artemis Racing

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Images-of-Artemis-Racing/106416

Challenger of Record, Artemis Racing (SWE) was on San Francisco Bay for another day of practice and testing.

These images courtesy of www.pressure-drop.us
Plus more images of Oracle Team USA

see more photos here

America's Cup: Oracle Team USA sails in fresh winds at San Francisco

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Oracle-Team-USA-sails-in-fresh-winds-at-San-Francisco/106412

Oracle Team USA was sailing today in fresh winds averaging 15kts - from wind recordings at one location.
Guilain Grenier, the team photographer posted these images of the day.

see the photos here

America's Cup: Village coming together on Pier 27 by Erik Simonson

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Village-coming-together-on-Pier-27/106408

Good progress is being made on construction at Piers 27-29, on the San Francisco waterfront, as the date draws nearer for the first Concert Series at the spectator village in mid-May, and the Louis Vuitton Series beginning July 4th.

read more here

America's Cup Discovered, Edition 76 capsizes and safety training

America's Cup discovered Edition 76 has been released.  This episode covers capsizes and safety training.

America's Cup update, ETNZ on design of the second AC72 and the support crews role in the ETNZ campaign

From the following Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Nick-Holroyd-looks-at-AC72-design-concepts-and-rivals/106356

Emirates Team New Zealands's Technical Director, Nick Holroyd talks about the changes that have been made to the latest AC72 for the team, and gives his thoughts on what is being seen of the teams now sailing in San Francisco.

Of his own team's new catamaran, Holroyd says it is a refinement of what has gone before, and describes what is being achieved with the new wingsail pod, plus the new underdeck structure.

read more here

From the following Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Emirates-Team-NZs-Kevin-Shoebridge-looks-shoreside/106354

In past America's Cups, the shore and support crews have been very much an unseen force. But in the 34th America's Cup - while they are still largely unseen - the dependence of the team on their skills and dedication has never been more crucial.

In this video interview, on the occasion on Emirates Team NZ's christening of their second AC72 catamaran, Chief Operating Officer for the team, Kevin Shoebridge, expands on the various activities that take place off the water, and the effort required to run a mufti-dimensional campaign in the current America's Cup.

read more here

America's Cup update, Team Oracle crank it up a notch while training on AC72

From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Oracle-Team-USA-foils-again-in-San-Francisco/106362

Oracle Team USA's rebuilt AC72, USA-17, has sailed for two days in San Francisco, and the team have released some images and video showing her in foiling mode.

Some changes have clearly been made to the boat - most obvious being removal of the former steering system, now replaced with a wheel, the same as Emirates Team NZ.

A new wingsail has been fitted, replacing the one that was smashed in the October capsize.

Skipper Jimmy Spithill describes her as a new boat.

read more and view photos here

America's Cup Update, Emirates Team New Zealand recent updates

From the following sail-world article by Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Grant-Dalton-on-the-new-AC72---Aotearoa/106313

Emirates Team New Zealand's Managing Director, Grant Dalton spoke with Sail-World's America's Cup Editor, Richard Gladwell, after the team named their second AC72 - New Zealand Aotearoa.

(Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, meaning the land of the long white cloud, said to the the first sighting of New Zealand by the first migration.)

Here he elaborates on the new features on the AC72 catamaran, and the thinking behind them, along with an assessment of the competition and where they are ranked.

There have been some hull changes notably in a fining up of the bow and stern, but overall the focus is on drag reduction, and a new phrase was used by the designers at her launch - parasitic drag.

That theme is continued in the new boat with constructed fairings on most items to reduce the boat's aero-footprint as she moves against the apparent wind.

read more here

From the following Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Dean-Barker-talks-about-the-sailing-side-of-NZA/106325

Emirates Team New Zealand's skipper, Dean Barker discussed the sailing issues and program with the teams new AC72, New Zealand Aotearoa.

Surprisingly he reveals that the team only have 13 sailors, and that they will be announcing a 'First Eleven' from that group. For most teams that would not even be a viable reserve bench.

That leads to the question as to what the Plan B is for many of the specialist positions on board, including what happens if the skipper has an accident and can't sail? He says the team doesn't have the budget to be able to afford a second helmsman.

According to Barker no decisions have been made on the First Eleven, and that will be decided while they are sailing in Auckland.

read more here

America's Cup Update, Team Oracle relaunch their AC72 catamaran

From the following sail-world article by Guilain Grenier:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Oracle-Team-USA-sails-again-after-three-months-lost/106312

Oracle Team USA's photographer, Guilain Grenier was on hand to record the re-launch of USA-17 on Monday, in San Francisco.

see the photos here and the video here

from the following sail-world article by Oracle Team USA:

America's Cup: Onto the next phase for Oracle Team USA

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Onto-the-next-phase-for-Oracle-Team-USA/106307

America's Cup 2013. Oracle Team USA ‘17’ was back in the San Francisco Bay today, beginning the next phase of training for their upcoming America’s Cup defense. A crew of 11 sailors, plus members of the design and performance team, took Oracle Team USA's AC72 racing yacht on the water for testing and commissioning of the boat and new wing.

'I think everyone was anxious and pretty psyched to get going again,' said trimmer Rome Kirby. 'Obviously the first day out, you’re cautious about loading the boat up, and you’re not pushing too hard yet. But all-in-all it went well, and it was a good day.'

The AC72 rolled out of the shed Monday morning and was lowered into the Bay outside the team base at Pier 80. The crew spent the afternoon running through tests and various exercises to get back up to speed.

read more here