Sail-World New Zealand: 8 August 2010
The America's Cup and its ancillary regattas, the 1851 Cup and Louis Vuitton Trophy dominate the news in this edition.
Earlier this week, we reported some dissent in the Challenger ranks over the role of the current Challenger in the
negotiations to re-establish the America's Cup onto a more solid footing.
Co-incidentally BMW Oracle CEO was in Cowes town to talk with the Extreme 40 competitors about the possible use of a
multihull in the 34th America's Cup. Many feel that at present the Defender is grooming the sailing world for the use of
a multihull, and a wingsailed one at that, in the next America's Cup.
The Protocol is due to be published, a draft having already been announced, in just three weeks time at the end of
August. And the boat decision a month after that.
Publication of the Protocol is a somewhat academic exercise, as if past practices are followed, it will be a living
document - able to be modified after discussion at Competitor Committee meetings.
Choice of the boat type is a more 'cast in stone' decision and once announced cannot be changed.
The on-the-water performance of the Defender over the last nine months has not exactly set the world on fire. Sixth out
of eight at Nice in November (albeit with the principal team working towards the 33rd America's Cup); a no-show in
Auckland for the same reason; ninth out of ten at La Maddalena; and now taking just two match races off TeamOrigin out
of eight sailed in Cowes. Add in not competing on the TP 52 circuit (as are many of the America's Cup teams) and it
would seem, at this early stage that the America's Cup Defenders have a bit of work ahead of them.
Go the multihull way for the 34th America's Cup, and BMW Oracle Racing have a big head start on the other teams.
We also have news of the stopping of the Louis Vuitton Trophy scheduled for Hong Kong in January in early 2011. A
log-jam of yet to be announced events in 2011 is said to be the issue. The final regatta in this series will now be held
in Dubai, UAE in November 2010.
Apparently still waters run deep.
ENDS