AMERICA’S CUP UPDATE –
Team New Zealand Dominates Challengers By Jan Pehrson
Oracle Team USA AC 72 training on San Francisco Bay, flying a hull. Photo © OracleTeam USA/Photo: Guilain Grenier.
A
s we enter the final rounds of the Louis Vuitton Cup, continuing through August 30 in San Francisco, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) is dominating the field of the three America’s Cup challengers. At the end of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger with the most points—the odds are on Team New Zealand—will advance to the America’s Cup finals to sail against the defender, Oracle Team USA, Sept. 7-21. Team New Zealand has won all of its Louis Vuitton Cup races so far (as of press date in early August). Italy’s Luna Rossa is fine-tuning its boat speed, while Sweden’s Artemis team trails in points as the crew learn to sail their just-launched AC 72 catamaran. The Swedish team suffered a terrible blow in May when British crew member Andrew Simpson was killed on San Francisco Bay in the crash that destroyed their first AC 72. Sailing on the bay was delayed to review safety practices and concerns after the accident. Several new safety practices were implemented. As they worked around the clock to get their second boat launched, Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa sailed off in a first round in which Artemis’ absence made for
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many forfeited races. The one-boat “races”—along with some contentious rules disputes—tried the patience of spectators and competitors alike. In early July, Luna Rossa elected to forfeit a race in order to await a decision on a rule dispute, leaving Team New Zealand to sail around the course alone. Russell Coutts, CEO of defender Oracle Team USA and four-time winner of the America’s Cup, was so frustrated he openly vented his feelings on Facebook: “They’ve (Luna Rossa) got new silver sailing suits...they are just missing the nipples! You’ve got to be kidding me…their next strategy is to boycott the first race? Seriously, why are they here? I honestly thought they would want the practice—they have the same boat as the Kiwis. Yet from everything we’ve observed, they are way off the pace against ETNZ. Why is that?” When foiling, skimming over San Francisco Bay at 40plus knots per hour, the AC 72 flying machines have only their rudders and foils in the water. Jan Pehrson is a sailing photojournalist who spends summers in San Francisco, CA, and winters in St. Pete Beach, FL.
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NBC/NBC Sports Network will be playing the America’s finals on TV. The YouTube Internet site will continue to have live coverage subject to territorial rights restrictions. Go to YouTube.com and search for “America’s Cup”). During the Cup Finals, the main NBC TV network will carry the first two days of racing live. After that, the NBC Sports Network will carry the rest of the races live. NBC Main TV Channel Live Coverage: Sept. 7 - Races 1and 2 - 4:00 p.m. ET Sept. 8 - Races 3 and 4 - 4:00 p.m. ET NBC Sports Network Live Coverage Sept. 10 - Races 5 and 6 - 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 12 - Races 7 and 8 - 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 14 - Races 9 and 10 - 3:30 p.m. ET The following will be held if necessary: Sept. 15 - Races 11 and 12 - 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 17 - Races 13 and 14 - 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 19 - Races 15 and 16 - 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 21 - Race 17 - 3:30 p.m. ET The America’s Cup Finals will also be streamed live on nbcsports.com. Replays will be available on the America’s Cup YouTube channel immediately following the broadcast. (See comments on watching the America’s Cup on page 6.)
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America’s Cup Finals September Schedule on TV and the Internet
September 2013
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