Posted by Marcus | 08/31/2007 @ 13:50 | Reply
I have heard that the president of Alinghi Ernesto Bertarelli has ordered a superyacht to be built in the UK, any ideas where, could be an interesting project, I am unsure whether it is a motoryacht or sailing.
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Posted by Mark | 08/04/2007 @ 18:10 | Reply
The Prada (Luna Rossa) syndicate has announced it will not compete for the next America's Cup. With Ellison's group and another of the Italian teams going to Court - AC33 is starting to look like a mess before it has even begun.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 07/06/2007 @ 17:15 | Reply
Last news about the 33rd AC. This edition should be in Valencia between 2009 and 2011. A new class of ACC will be created. These new boats will be longer (approx 90 feet) and faster.
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Posted by Rmano | 07/04/2007 @ 11:40 | Reply
Also to follow : the Louis Vuitton Cup could become the Rolex Cup.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 07/04/2007 @ 04:20 | Reply
Indeed, the 33rd AC can arrive soon, as Switzerland keeps the Cup. Coutts and Ellison were seen together in Paris few weeks ago. Paul Cayard could join Areva. Karol Jablonski is transfered from the Desafio to the future German team, etc... The next days will be interesting to follow.
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Posted by Mark | 07/04/2007 @ 04:00 | Reply
Fantastic racing but the better crew won - albeit a New Zealand dominated crew on a Swiss owned boat - so once again NZ wins. ETNZ will go again with the Government and Emirates already signed up for next time which could be in 2 years. But of real interest will be what Russell Coutts has to announce in the next day or so - the rumour is that he will sign with Larry Ellison and will take with him his "tight five" New Zealand crew from Alinghi. So the next race will be to secure all the talent for each of those teams hoping to compete.
Another advantage of the Cup staying in Spain is that it will be considerably cheaper for the teams already established to compete in 2/3 years time. New comers like the British may find it very expensive coming in late to the competition. After all no amount of money can make up for 4 years of racing and design work etc.
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Posted by Abel | 07/03/2007 @ 21:20 | Reply
Agreed, a pleasant race! Only 1 second between the two ACC's on the finish line. No doubt, European teams (Italian, Spanish, French, German, a new comer from England...) are glad of this victory. It'll be easier for the future.
Last news : "the Société Nautique de Genève has identified and signed a Challenger of Record for the 33rd America's Cup. The Protocol for the next America's Cup will be revealed on Thursday". No doubt, it's the Desafio...
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 07/03/2007 @ 16:30 | Reply
Unbelievable! Alinghi's won again the America's Cup after a crazy last regatta. They crossed the final line two metres before TNZ. And the whole regatta was a fabulous fight. Personally I have never seen a regatta like that, it was a real pleasure to follow it!
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Posted by Rmano | 07/02/2007 @ 15:30 | Reply
No training today. A good wind is scheduled for tomorrow!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 07/01/2007 @ 18:30 | Reply
The regatta was beautiful yesterday. And Alinghi did the break, with a score of 4-2. Today the regatta was cancelled, and then the next rendezvous will be Tuesday.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 06/29/2007 @ 19:45 | Reply
What a final! A lot of wind, a lot of sun, a lot of spectators (on the sea too!), and a fascinating fight between SUI100 and NZL92. Never an America's Cup was so close since the victory of Australia II in 1983.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 06/21/2007 @ 23:15 | Reply
Rush hour in the Port America's Cup today. Eight arrivals, mainly some sail yachts back from the Superyacht Cup in Palma. We can imagine that many yachts will also arrive tomorrow...
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Posted by Mark | 06/08/2007 @ 14:00 | Reply
Yes I have made further enquiries on that front and Euro 500 was the all in VIP day package so for us lesser mortals Euro 95 sounds just fine.
It is very interesting to read the pre-America's Cup comments now that ETNZ is the challenger. There is clearly a view primarily it would seem held by big business and Europeans that if the Cup leaves Europe it will return to a more how can I say - a more nationalist basis – rather than a commercial sporting event. I would think that is probably a fair summation. Although I imagine BMW might have something to say about all that. ETNZ has made it very clear that I they win the Cup it will be defended here in Auckland and that strong nationality rules for team members will return. The pre Cup Act's (not a term I like at all - as it sounds like a play) will be held around the world and Dubai would certainly get one or more given the support of Emirates airline for ETNZ.
Here in NZ, obviously everyone is extremely proud of how our boys have gone so far - in part a recovery from the glorious disaster of 2003. Everyone is confident that we will put our best foot forward in the match, and may the best team with the fastest boat win.
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Posted by Marian | 06/08/2007 @ 10:00 | Reply
That €500 for a day on a spectator boat is not correct. The price is €95 and that includes lunch.
Here are some photos of the ceremony here : http://www.bymnews.com/...
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Posted by Mark | 06/07/2007 @ 10:15 | Reply
Well down here in NZ - we are all very happy that the first stage of our attack has been achieved. We are surprised that it was a clean sweep. But clearly ETNZ has been ramping up the speed. So now to the main event in a couple of weeks. This is the attraction of this event - until the two boats line up for the first time no one really knows how it will go. I know for sure that Alingli would now like to have Russell Coutts back on the helm after their last few practice races.
As to the spectacle itself - the fans have been great on both sides, but apart from race one in this series the racing has not been close at all. Only twice in the semi and finals has a boat overtaken another, once by Oracle and once by ETNZ. So it is a little bit boring. Also the number of spectator craft are being quoted between 250 and 400 on any given day, which is very disappointing. In 2003 in NZ it was not uncommon for up to 4000 supporter boats to be on the water. Clearly it is too early in the season for charter boats etc to be out and about, despite the fact that to go out on the water in one of the supporter boats is costing Euro 500 per day.
So we wait till June 23. At least we will be able to get some sleep down here - being up from 1am through 3.30am for 5 of the last 6 days has been a killer.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 06/06/2007 @ 17:00 | Reply
TNZ will be the challenger during the America's Cup against Alinghi. The spectacle was better during the last regatta of the LV Cup. The final score is 5-0, a bit severe for this sympathetic Italian team, and I think that some of our spotters will be sad tonight... Nevertheless, Patrizio Bertelli has already announced that Luna Rossa will be back for the next America's Cup!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 06/06/2007 @ 13:25 | Reply
Tonight... Hehe, well it's at 15:00 this afternoon on this side of the Earth! Yes it's a bit disappointing to see this final, there is no real suspense. The weather is not good for the Italian team. It's a pity. To be honnest the only surprise in this America's Cup will be the Swiss boat...
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Posted by Mark | 06/06/2007 @ 13:20 | Reply
Well tonight might be the night for Emirates Team New Zealand to become the challenger for the 32nd America's Cup. Prada are simply not fast enough. It appears we might have been sand bagging up till this point in time.
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Posted by James71 | 05/24/2007 @ 18:50 | Reply
Already some news for the future. Chris Dickson has resigned from the BMW Oracle Racing team following their defeat. And Larry Ellison has announced his intention to participate to the next America's Cup.
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Posted by Rmano | 05/23/2007 @ 17:00 | Reply
Sad news but it's the end for Desafio Español. TNZ is qualified for the final of the LV Cup.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 05/22/2007 @ 16:00 | Reply
No race today. There is a storm on Valencia.
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Posted by Rmano | 05/22/2007 @ 11:00 | Reply
I don't find the Baglietto. But here another news : Lady Christina is on way to Valencia. Arrival tomorrow morning.
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Posted by Casajl | 05/21/2007 @ 10:00 | Reply
Dear All, I'm sorry that Mr. Ellison is not staying! Luna Rossa has been too strong for his team! It is a pity he will not assist how the Italians will beat NZ too!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 05/20/2007 @ 19:50 | Reply
Hermann, did you see the Baglietto Nauta? I saw her on TV during the races. She's often anchored to the single buoy. The yacht was recently sold, and I have the feeling that there is a new name on her stern.
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Posted by Castlerock | 05/20/2007 @ 19:35 | Reply
Looks like Rising Sun will be leaving Valencia soon.
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Posted by Rmano | 05/20/2007 @ 19:30 | Reply
Some new yachts in Valencia : Bystander (2006), Ganesha, Lady Sunshine.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 05/20/2007 @ 18:00 | Reply
I'm sorry, I was away during a couple of days and I didn't report you more details about the Americas Cup. To summarize, the Round Robin 2 was not a real surprise, the three biggest teams won their places for the semi-finals. The fourth team was the Desafio, not without a small polemic about its victory against Oracle. If it's the case, it was a really bad choice, because Oracle lost its first place. And TNZ won the Round Robin 2, giving it the choice of the team for the semi-finals.
Without surprise TNZ decided to choose the fourth team, the Desafio. For the moment TNZ is leading with a score of 4 to 2. On the other side, the dual was between Oracle and Luna Rossa. Nobody gave one chance to the Italian team against the America one. But thanks to a good modification of the ACC, a fabulous (and young!) helmsman James Spithill, and a mysterious tactician Torben Grael, Luna Rossa was imperial, and gave no chance to Oracle. This afternoon Luna Rossa won its ticket for the final of the LV Cup. Chapeau bas!
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Posted by Mark | 04/30/2007 @ 12:30 | Reply
A lot of interesting press coverage of the LV cup here in NZ as well as talkback comment. There is a general felling of uneasiness here about TNZ performances to date with simple tactical mistakes clearly costing 2 races. There is no doubt that Oracle are the team to beat in the challenger group. Their boat appears to have good boat speed supported by excellent crew work. However, as Dennis Conner said, there is a long way to go and there is no point in showing all your cards on day one.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/28/2007 @ 19:00 | Reply
End of the first Round Robin. Here is the new ranking :
1. BMW Oracle Racing (USA98) 21 pts
2. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA94) 19 pts
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL92) 18 pts
4. Desafio Español 2007 (ESP97) 17 pts
5. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA99) 14 pts
5. Victory Challenge (SWE96) 14 pts
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA83) 12 pts
8. Areva Challenge (FRA93) 9 pts
9. +39 Challenge (ITA85) 6 pts
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER89) 3 pt
11. China Team (CHN95) 1 pt
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/25/2007 @ 19:10 | Reply
No surprise today, the strongers won.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/25/2007 @ 11:20 | Reply
It's good to debate, but please, we're between gentle(wo)men...
I think that New Zealand is alas living what we lived in Europe since the beginning of the Cup. I mean that you have to follow the races at a strange hour, too early or too late in the day, and then you certainly more follow the summaries than the races in live. In this condition it's more difficult to be passionate. I know of what I'm talking because I remember when I followed the races in the middle of the night when they were in Auckland...
On the point "a few rich people playing", I have to agree Marian, it's like that since the beginning of the competition, so 150 years ago! Every teams had and have always a rich "mécène" behind them...
Maybe the choice of Spain is not the best one, I agree with Mark on that point, because Spain has not the same culture for races on sea than France or Italy, but they chosed it for the wind. And on that point I really think that they are not lucky with the weather...
We will see, it's just the beginning, and it will be more unbiased to judge at the end...
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Posted by Marian | 04/25/2007 @ 10:45 | Reply
You say "Gone are the days of nation versus nation, now it is just a few rich people playing." That is what the America's Cup has always been about. It is what makes it different from just another regatta!
To suggest that "Valencia was chosen on the basis on how much they were prepared to pay, rather than ideal sailing conditions." is garbage. Firstly, because other venues would have been prepared to pay more, and, secondly, because every decent meteorologist will tell you that the present Valencia weather conditions are abnormal.
You say "Even the superyacht owners are giving the thing a miss." Sure they are, coz the main charter business is on the Côte d'Azur, not Spain - AmCup, or not. I don't remember a vast influx of superyachts into NZ, when it held the cup; do you?
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Posted by Mark | 04/24/2007 @ 22:50 | Reply
Back here in New Zealand, the current LV Cup is taking a pasting in the press, being poorly organised with no local interest from the Spanish public leaving the event a dead duck. There is a general view out there that it is time for the whole event to be updated - new boats, fleet racing rather than match racing for the whole series and for the event to move around the world on a rolling schedule every two years. It is now clear from what has being revealed in the press around the world that Valencia was chosen on the basis on how much they were prepared to pay, rather than ideal sailing conditions, let alone any idea about promoting world class sailing to the younger generation. Trust the Swiss to muck it up. Even the Superyacht owners are giving the thing a miss - as it is too early in the season, let alone the prices they are trying to charge for berthing in the village marina. The rich are not generally stupid - they can see a rip off at a 100 miles and this is one.
Gone are the days of nation versus nation, now it is just a few rich people playing. No wonder the public have lost interest. Also I note reports that the holders of the TV rights are wanting to back out of the event already as the worldwide TV ratings have been appalling - and lets face it watching match racing in 7 knots of wind is like watching the grass grow.
I note the British sailing press are calling the 2007 event to date the worst series in over 40 years.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/24/2007 @ 18:45 | Reply
The calendar was respected today with two flights. Shosholoza did a semi-surprise with a victory against Luna Rossa during the Flight 4. And the race between Oracle and Luna Rossa was beautiful during the Flight 5. The American boat won for 6 seconds on the Italian boat.
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Posted by Castlerock | 04/23/2007 @ 17:00 | Reply
Indeed Como is in Valencia.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/23/2007 @ 16:00 | Reply
On race side, today is another day cancelled. One more time there wasn't enough wind. On megayacht side, I spotted an Alloy Yachts in the sail area. Is it Ad Lib or Como? It was too far and fast to differentiate them...
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/23/2007 @ 11:00 | Reply
| Pegasus had a recent cosmetic refit, a special one with the color of the America's Cup. She's known under the name "Foredeck Boat" during the Cup. We can imagine that she's dedicated to the members of the Foredeck Club & Owner's Club, located in the tower "Veles e Vents". Many thanks to Manuel H. for the picture. |  |
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/22/2007 @ 18:30 | Reply
Only on Flight today but an interesting one. Areva did a good race against the Desafio, and Shosholoza nearly did the surprise against Oracle, alas they lost on the last leg...
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Posted by Marian | 04/22/2007 @ 16:30 | Reply
It is interesting that Velsheda is still accompanied by her old Bystander, not the new one.
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Posted by Rmano | 04/21/2007 @ 16:15 | Reply
Regattas are delayed to tomorrow. No wind today...
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Posted by Tazio | 04/20/2007 @ 20:30 | Reply
Fantastic victory of Mascalzone on TNZ! It was the race of the day!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/20/2007 @ 20:00 | Reply
Indeed there was a wind but not really strong.
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Posted by Rmano | 04/20/2007 @ 13:45 | Reply
The committee has decided to reset the calendar. The wind looks good today!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/20/2007 @ 13:00 | Reply
You can follow the new arrival of yachts on the reports of Valencia :
- Port Americas Cup : http://www.yachtspotter.com/...
- Royal Sailing Club of Valencia : http://www.yachtspotter.com/...
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/19/2007 @ 17:00 | Reply
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and now 4th day of regatta postponed in Valencia. There was a little bit more wind this afternoon without enough stability. Finally racing has been cancelled. Flight 1 and 2 are scheduled for tomorrow.
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Posted by Rmano | 04/18/2007 @ 18:20 | Reply
I have some news about the calendar. The flight 6 is for the Wednesday 25 April. It's the first day of the Round Robin 2. But it's not a problem because there is only one regatta that day. But it will be a problem if there is no wind during a day before the end of the Round Robin 1!
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/18/2007 @ 18:00 | Reply
Ciliam was built by Salthouse Boatbuilders in New Zealand. This yard also built the two sail racers of Team New Zealand during the last America's Cup. Ciliam's dimensions are 28x13x1.9 metres. Entirely built in composite, she has a mast of 35 metres.
Her design is from VPLP, with a beautiful interior from Monique Bonadei. She can accommodate 8 guests, and a crew of 5. Note that the owner and VIP staterooms are located on the same level than the open space lounge/dining area. Unusual as you said... Link : http://www.salthouseboats.com/...
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Posted by Marian | 04/18/2007 @ 17:30 | Reply
I’ve just discovered that the catamaran Ciliam, a Lago 92 is in Valencia. Swiss owned by a very experienced racing and multihull sailor. I know she is a little under 30 metres, but as she is so unusual...
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Posted by Marian | 04/18/2007 @ 16:15 | Reply
A quick summary and guide to the general Valencia weather situation : http://www.bymnews.com/...
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/18/2007 @ 16:05 | Reply
Third day postponed in Valencia! Still no wind. It's beginning to be a problem, only two day-off were scheduled for the first Round Robin, and now they have to change the calendar.
The problem is logical, this first Round Robin is organized a bit too early in the season, and the land is too cold for the moment. The result, not enough of difference in temperature between the coast and the sea, and then no wind...
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Posted by Marian | 04/18/2007 @ 11:50 | Reply
Our guy in Valencia has been speculating on which cost most, the Rising Sun, or Larry's America's Cup boat? Link : http://www.bymnews.com/...
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Posted by David | 04/18/2007 @ 11:30 | Reply
It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. My understanding is there is generally little wind in Valencia, obviously making life difficult for everyone there. I just hope this doesn't turn into one of those "I told you so" scenarios...
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Posted by Rmano | 04/17/2007 @ 16:45 | Reply
One more time no wind in Valencia. Regattas are delayed to tomorrow for the 2nd time.
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Posted by Yachtspotter | 04/17/2007 @ 12:30 | Reply
A new topic for the biggest yacht event of the year. We will follow the new arrival of yachts in Valencia, and we will also follow the race.
On race side, the Louis Vuitton Cup began yesterday. Not a lucky day, races were cancelled because of a lack of wind... On megayacht side, there is already a lot of yachts in the area. Some of the biggest ones with Rising Sun, Lone Ranger and Adix. Some J-Class are scheduled, Velsheda is already in Valencia.
More later...
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BBS : El Jefe
USA : Tuscan Sun
BMU : Balaju
PYF : Tribu
FRA : Celestial Hop