Last month we posted a story on the early-August visit by sailors from Malaysia who received a fully sponsored trip to Valencia, courtesy of BMW Malaysia, for winning the 2005 BMW Royal Langkawi International Regatta.

Now one of the participants, Lesley Chapman, has posted a story about the YO! team's Valencia adventure.

Thanks, Lesley, for the nice ink. We very much enjoyed having you here.


The YO! team at the BMW ORACLE Base in Valencia
in August.

[This is a story I posted earlier today on our family blog. Several readers of both thought it belonged here, too, inasmuch as a number of BMW ORACLE families, and families of other teams, are living near Puzol. One of my "bosses" has also asked for more stories about life in Valencia, so....]


Our urbanizacion (suburb) is located a few minutes outside a pueblo called Puçol (in Valenciano) or Puzol (in Castellano), which, in turn, is about 20 minutes up the coast north of Valencia. Either way it seems to be pronounced "pooh THOL".

Castellano is, of course, the main line Spanish mandated by the mandarins in Madrid -- similar to Mandarin in China. Valenciano and Catalan, the languages* spoken in and around Valencia and Barcelona, respectively, are essentially the same. But don't say that to the immensely proud Valencianos, the majority of whom consider themselves the conservative keepers of the flame here in Spain as the home of the Partido Popular ("PP"), while Barcelona is closely aligned with the more liberal (in the American socio-political sense of the word) socialist party, PSOE. Most Valencianos do not want to be associated with Barcelona in any way; perhaps like quietly conservative San Diegans not wanting to be confused with liberal, show-biz Angelinos.

It does get confusing at times -- for example, "bank" is caja in Castellano and caixa in Valencianan/Catalan.

Since coming up with a ç is not easy in this blogger software, and takes a lot of farting around to cut and paste, I will stick to Puzol, thank you.

Puzol has a good little website, including daily local news. If you are running Internet Explorer as your browser and have a Google toolbar, go into the Castellano version of the site and right click on the text and you should be able to click on "Translate Page into English" and get a fairly understandable translation.

You will see that Puzol even has its own modern "strap line" or "claim" -- "entre mar y muntanya" meaning, of course, "between sea and mountain." LOL, that actually would pass the truth-in-advertising laws in most countries.

At any rate, we note that our pueblo had another fiesta yesterday involving the running of the bulls. And today Puzol is in the headlines for what one reads is not an uncommon small town problem -- unfortunately one of the bulls died after being confined for too long.

Here is the story from our favorite expat newsletter, Valencia Life:

The traditional bull runs of Puzol – just outside Valencia – were the scene of tragedy yesterday after one of the bulls died. Under the regulations for the running of the bulls in any fiesta, members of an ambulance service must be present, but in the case of Puzol, they took over an hour and a half to arrive, during which time the twelve animals were kept locked up in a truck. A statement from the ambulance service revealed that a mistake had been made over the dates and as a result an ambulance had to be called from Valencia City.

Not exactly a small-town problem I remember hearing about growing up near Pinckney, Michigan. Maybe they need an ambulance service for the poor bulls!


Like holiday parades in
Pinckney, the occasional
running of the bulls in
Puzol. As you can see
in the pics, yeserday we
did get a good bit of
rain -- and for the first
time in many weeks.

*and don't call Catalan or Valenciano a "dialect" -- the locals are proud to say that they, technically, are different languages, and more than a bit sensitive about the difference. (With thanks to my local experts and "Special Advisors to the Blogster on Spanish PC" Sofia Barraclough and Alejandra Mato.)

More good news in the "know your partners" vein-- from Bloomberg today:


BMW global vehicle sales in August surge 23%

FRANKFURT: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said worldwide sales surged 23% last month on new demand for new versions of the mid-sized 3-Series and large 7-Series models.

It sold 99,193 BMW, Mini, and Rolls Royce vehicles last month. Sales in the first eight months of 2005 gained 11% from a year earlier to 856,731 units, the Munich-based company said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. Demand for the BMW brand in August rose 24% to 85,079 vehicles.

Chief executive Helmut Panke last year boosted profit by 14% to a record 2.22 billion euros (US$2.75bil) as new models attracted customers from competitor DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz.

The “relatively strong'' euro, costs of steel and oil, and increased competition were holding back 2005 profit growth, Panke said early last month.

“Our growth was extraordinarily strong in August,'' Michael Ganal, the carmaker's sales chief, said in the statement. “Over the year, we continue to expect the BMW Group to achieve an increase in sales in the high single-digit percentage range.''

BMW maintained its lead over DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes Car Group, which yesterday said it sold 86,600 Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles in August. – Bloomberg


A rising tide lifts all boats?

If you are interested in developments on the Cup political front, and in the nuts and bolts of conducting the Louis Vuitton and America's Cups, you may wish to check the Challenger Commission Blog , which has a report on Monday's CC meeting in Malmoe.


The CC's mission: "to relieve the
Defender from the burden of
holding the Cup."

In Formula One the teams and sponsors have "showcars" -- gleaming replicas of the fully-branded F1 cars -- for display at autoshows, malls, corporate exhibitions, and so on.

BMW has brought the concept to the AC. USA-61, one of our trial horses from the last campaign, has already appeared at the BMW-sponsored Kieler Woche, the huge Paris Boat Show and a number of other high-traffic venues. It is great promotion for the Cup, the team and our team partners.

Now BMW and the beautiful Munich airport have teamed up for a three-month promotion -- with 61 towering over MUC's central plaza. We checked it out last evening while passing through en route from CPH back to VLC. Very cool.


With the keel off, an ACC yacht with mast just barely
fits in MUC's central plaza.


Nice-looking display was getting a lot of traffic when we visited
it last evening. MUC and BMW have teamed up to promote the AC,
offering a few lucky drawing-winners free trips to Valencia for
the Acts there next year.


Good information including an audio loop of on-board
sounds while racing. I wondered if they could put sails
up (there may be too much wind through the covered
but open-air courtyard), or maybe 18 mannikins to
show the normal crew positions.


Sailor (tactician) Bertrand Pace (FRA), marketing director Mirko
Groeschner (GER) and appendage designer Michel Kermarec (FRA)
passing thru MUC Sunday evening heading "home" to Valencia.

Monday night now, and am just back home in Valencia where it is as warm and humid as it was when we went north to Malmoe over two and a half weeks ago.

Contrary to what I thought (and blogged) Sunday afternoon there was no official party Sunday evening. But sailors are a self-sufficient lot, and Sunday evening Shosholoza did the neighborly thing and quietly invited us all for a what in college we called a "kegger." A beer bar appeared out of one of their containers, and soon the kegs of that old East German "Rostocker" beer were hooked up to the spigots and flowing freely. Several hundred tired, thirsty but generally happy AC team members gathered 'round.

It was a relaxed, fun end to two weeks of comraderie that one has rarely seen in the Cup since it left Newport and teams began hiding behind high fences and skirts. Repeating the theme of one or two previous posts, the atmospehere in the paddock in Malmoe was great. I could not find anyone who disagreed that the "paddock" set-up there and in Marseille last year is the way the Cup should be organized and run in the future. At least we will have the same set-up for Acts 7 and 8 in Trapani in three weeks' time.


Final beer and farewell in the paddock. Foreground center are our
yard boss Scotty Sandford (NZL) and sailing team coordinator Aimee
Hess (USA), just two of many BMWOR colleagues who did the neighborly
thing and accepted Shosholoza's invitation. Of course the free beer
had nothing to do with it. ;)


Doing his first Cup, Daniel Nollert (GER), sponsor rep for T-Systems
(Shosho's title sponsor). Dan agrees: "The AC is much more
difficult than you think it will be, but more interesting and fun, too."


East meets west -- China Team's mainsheet grinders "Fly" (CHN, left)
and "Louis" (CHN, right), with Mascalzone Latino's General Manager,
Tom Weaver (USA, center). Red has never been an auspicious color in
the AC (e.g., Liberty and Mariner). Will it be in 2007?


Kiwis everywhere you turn -- ETNZ marketing maven Tony Thomas
(NZL) and Alinghi's general counsel Hamish Ross (NZL). These two AC
vets were among many who thought the paddock atmosphere was
great.

And so Act 7 ends not with a bang but a whimper. The RC pulled the plug at 13:30, hoisting Flag "N" which means "racing is abandoned."

We end tied with Alinghi and they win on the tie break. So the "big four" as the media like to call Alinghi, BMWOR, ETNZ and Luna Rossa, also appear to have a "top two," at least for now.

We are back as first of the Challengers (having finished second to Alinghi in both Acts here), but hopefully we can further improve our game for Trapani and best Alinghi there as well.

As I write this at 14:15, just as Chris B predicted early this morning, the fog has cleared and the wind has come up. Here on shore, at least, it appears to be raceable. But having just come in from the race course (we took our VIP guests for a lunch cruise in the fog) visibility on the course is still limited, and it would not be safe to send the circus out on the water this afternoon. No doubt a good decision by PRO and on-the-water ringmaster Peter "Luiggi" Reggio.

The mast has already come out of 76, the tender is about to be lifted out of the water, Capt Craig Christensen and his team are hard at work decommissioning the tender and our three other supports boats, and with the help of the sailing team the shore team already has us well down the de-camping road.

The MSC ship with all 12 yachts, team containers and support boats, and 65 race management vessels will be loaded over the next two days, and it leaves here midday Thursday for Trapani. It should arrive there six days later (the 14th) and unload on the 15th. All should be set up by the 23rd when the the sailing teams arrive. Racing starts on Thursday the 29th. Same format as here -- two Acts, first match racing then fleet racing.

Our advance scout Grant "Guthrie" Davidson (NZL) is already there, and reports that the locals are not as far along in preps as they were here in Malmoe at this stage, so it could be a little more rough than ready when we begin racing there in just over three weeks.

The Act 7 prizegiving is at 15:00 this afternoon, and I believe there is a closing party this evening. A full day of meetings tomorrow, and then most all of us are out of here tomorrow night or latest Tuesday, with the exception of our hard-working shore team.

Speaking of the shore team, these past ten days I have enjoyed hanging out with Scotty Sandford and co., sharing an office, riding to the Base with them each morning and usually home together at night. Aside from early risers Laurent Esquier and Chris Bedford, the shore team is usually the first to arrive, and almost always the last to leave -- indeed, the heart if not soul of our team.


Mirko wrapping up the final "Morning Show". The Marketing dept
entertained over 1000 VIP guests during Acts 6 and 7, as they did in
Valencia for 5 and 6, thanks to the strong interest and support from
our partners BMW, Oracle, Henri Lloyd, and Girard-Perregaux
(among others).


"Pea soup" on the race course. We took the VIP guests for a lunch
cruise hoping the fog would lift enough to race, but on the race course
this historical vessel was about all we saw, and then just barely even
though she passed within 150m or so of us.


Prince Jacob (SWE) with Kerstin Schulz (GER) enjoying lunch if
not the view on one of our VIP boats today.


Checking out 76 after the RC had pulled the plug, the noted yacht
designer German Frers (ARG) with his son Manny. As in the 2003 Cup,
Manny is again the lead designer for the Sweden's Victory Challenge.


Jesper Bank (DEN, white shirt, arms folded) is the skipper of the
first-ever German challenger, United Internet Team Germany. After
the racing was called he gave a group of his Danish supporters a
tour of the paddock, including a lingering look at USA-76.


Tender driver Chris Robertson (NZL) waiting for the crane at our end
of the paddock to free up so our tender can be lifted out of the water.


The blue-and-white checkered Flag "N" flying over the paddock
this afternoon, indicating that racing has been abandoned, and
Malmoe Louis Vuitton Act 7 is now history.

Yes, we are still having fun but, as with the start of a regatta, the end of a regatta also gets a bit hectic with meetings (both internal and external). Apologies from your editor, but there was no time last evening to dash off even a quick post.

We were disappointed with the last leg of yesterday's race when we dropped a place. But clearly we are sailing better than in Valencia, and while it would be nice to be ahead of Alinghi going into today's fourth and final race, being tied with them is none too shabby! Good show guys; keep it up.

Bad news -- there is not a breath of wind this morning and the RC have already decided to postpone ashore. Good news -- CB thinks there is a fairly good chance we will have raceable wind by 1300 or so. The RC has until 1630 to try to start a race. The rules prevent the RC from starting a race after that.

If we do not race the tie break goes in favor of Alinghi. When two teams are tied in points and each has the same finishes (as we both do: 1-2-4), the tie is broken in favor of the team which finished higher in the last race. Of course, Alinghi won yesterday's race.

So, at the moment, we are standing by to stand by, and would be very disappointed not to get a race in this afternoon.

Oh joy, someone wants to have another meeting.


Tennis anyone?

The murk we ended the day with last evening has given way to a cool, but bright morning.

We seem to be going better when the breeze is up, and that's the prediction again for today. So put your flip-flops on, and with any luck perhaps we will have two more good results today.


Breeze on once again.

Flip-flops ("thongs" in Aussie; "jandals" in Kiwi) are popular footwear among sailors, and are daily attire for many of us in most any weather short of snow.

After three days here it got a bit chilly, and I reluctantly switched to proper shoes and socks. That's the day we lost to Alinghi.

I switched back to flip-flops, took a lot of good-natured grief from my dear colleagues (especially the marketing department), and had the Morning Show guests again wondering if their host had Scheiße for brains.

We have not lost a race since.

So, yesterday as I was boarding our VIP spectator boat Symfoni, the entire crew was standing at attention at the gangplank -- in BMW ORACLE Racing flip-flops.

Call it what you want -- charm, mojo, luck -- but there can be no question we had it going for us yesterday.


The charming crew of our VIP boat Symfoni.

Finally, a bit out of sequence with today's other posts as I have not had time to get to them until now, are these pictures taken in the paddock early (07:45) this morning as Bruno Trouble was launching "Bruno's Buoy," which today got it's first-ever use in Cup racing (or any racing for that matter).


Bruno making ready for the crane to lift his invention into the water.


Last-minute adjustments underneath.


Being lowered into the water. The twin pontoons have been added since
the buoy received less than rave reviews from the Race Committee when
it was trialled earlier this year in Valencia. It was too slow to tow. The
pontoons should help. The helium-filled balloon and tether, that was fitted
to the prototype, has been eliminated when it was realized that an ACC
yacht passing close aboard downwind of it might hook the tether with
it's rig. That could ruin your day, to say nothing of the Race Committee's.


Just as it was launched, who should happen along but PRO Peter "Luigi"
Reggio. Above, Bruno is telling the photog how thankful he is for Luigi's
staunch support of this project since its inception. Peter returned the
compliment by saying how much he liked Bruno's shirt.

A warm greeting for USA 76 tonight, from friends and fans, as the team arrived back at the base.


The flurry of activity immediately 76 docks in.


Sailor (trimmer) Ross "Rosco" Halcrow (CAN) after giving
his son Jake an upclose look at the yacht.


Gstaad YC board member and BMW ORACLE Racing supporter
Benedict "Pope" Horber of Munich and Suzanne Steiner.


Henri Lloyd joint CEO Paul Strzelecki, Oracle's Judy Sim
and Karen Brody.


The large general public turnout at our end of the paddock,
taking it all in as the yachts return and haul out...


...and the great view the general public has of the dock
in and haul out. The Foredeck (VIP) Club is on stilts at the far
end of the paddock.


Optimist World Champion Tina Lutz (GER), center, with her father
Reinhold (left) and our diligent marketing chief, Mirko "Herr Direktor"
Groeschner. 14 year-old Tina, of Munich, was 18th crew for today's
win. She is only the third girl ever to win the world's most prestigious
junior sailing championship.

BMW ORACLE, in a gritty come-from-behind win, won the first race today with 19 seconds to spare on the 40 minute per-leg time limit.

In the second race, Alinghi, with a large lead, was not so fortunate. With Alinghi 200m from the finish line, the time limit ran out. The race, therefore, was abandonded by the Race Committee (as required by the rules). BMWOR was standing 7th or so at the time.

So tonight BMW ORACLE is at the top of the leaderboard with 12 points on the strength of our win in the first (and only) race today. The abandoned second race cannot be made up. There will still be two races tomorrow, and one Sunday.


So close yet so far away -- Alinghi just 200m from the finish line
(far right, between the green buoy and race committee boat in
the background) when the time limit ran out. Photo courtesy Judy
Sim.

Another beautiful morning here. Frontal passage still predicted for midday, however, accompanied by some squalls or brief showers. Chris B says raceable all day albeit decreasing breeze after the front passes.

New regatta starting; two fleet races today, two tomorrow and one Sunday.

The RC announced last night that Bruno's Buoy (see previous posts) will be trialled today. Indeed Bruno was seen launching it this morning, and once again the BMWOR Blog has the exclusive pix! No time to post now as we have to start the Morning Show in five minutes down at the Foredeck Club.

Another big crowd of VIP Oracle and BMW guests on hand again today -- again over 100 including the Mayor of Malmo. Nice to have such interest, and support.



Our thanks to Chris Bedford for supplying these slides each day,
which we use here on the Blog and in the Morning Show for our
VIP guests. He has a fair bit on from 0400 or so when he gets
up to prognosticate each race day morning.


Team meteorologist Chris Bedford (USA), right, with assistant,
Rod Dawson (NZL, and a champion match racer with Peter
Gilmour's Pizza-La team) after finishing their morning data
dump. Next they will brief the sailing team, then head out to the
race course.

After a day off yesterday for most of the team, it is back at work this afternoon getting ready for the start of the fleet racing Act 7 tomorrow (Friday). Another beautiful clear, warm day with breeze in the low 20s. (CB says a front will pass through in the morning bringing lighter 8-15 knot breezes by race time tomorrow.)

Meanwhile the base is a beehive of activity....


Data whiz Martin Dack (AUS) and sailor (traveller) Paul "Flipper" Westlake
(AUS) climbing down the scaffolding tower (the route to and from inside the
yacht when in the cradle on shore) after double-checking that all onboard
digital systems are go for tomorrow's racing.


Sailor (midbow) Phil "Blood" Jameson (NZL) on a rigging mission.


Trevor "Rev" Berry (NZL) machining a not so top-secret part.


Low tech clothes-line does the trick for drying high-tech Henri
Lloyd sailing gear.


Lugging sails from the tender to the sail-loft tent for yet another
once-over. Pit assist Rodney Daniel (AUS), tender driver Chris
Robertson (NZL) and bowman Brad "Cob" Webb (NZL).


Team doctor Kiko Espi Escriva (ESP) performing maintenance on
Ian Vickers (NZL), who had a bit of shin scrape this morning. Kiko
says Ian will no doubt survive and thrive.


Sailmaker Dave "Little Dave" Little (NZL) doing minor repairs to a
mainsail.


Media maven Jane "Bubbles" Eagleson (USA) lining up design team
coordinator (and part-time navigator) Ian "Fresh" Burns (AUS) for
a TV interview.


Shore team's Aaron Hunter (NZL) getting ready to hose down the
hull and appendages.


Carbonologist Ian Vickers (NZL), back in action none the worse
for wear, wet-sanding the keel.


Lunch line in the back of the base...


...and the sail loft doubles as our mess hall.


Even the bikes, our main mode of transport here this week,
need the odd adjustment. Bowman Brad pimps his ride.


The locals get into the maintenance act. Malmoe is a nice,
clean town, and they have done a good job keeping the venue
spruced up as well.

See what we missed being here in Malmo this week instead of "home" in Valencia?


Yesterday's ‘Tomatina’ of Buñol in Valencia.

Over 40,000 people yesterday were involved in one of the more unusual of Spanish fiestas – the ‘Tomatina’ of Buñol in Valencia, by throwing some 100,000 kilos of tomatoes at each other. At eleven o’clock, a firework exploded signifying the start of the ‘fight’ and one hour later, it all came to a halt with locals and Buñol cleaners washing the streets down, whilst the revellers repaired to specially-constructed shower areas. This year, the event was covered by at least twenty representatives of the foreign media in addition to extensive national coverage. It was the 60th year that the ‘Tomatina’ had taken place.

Courtesy Valencia Life.

Following on from Formula One's "Paddock Club" and the "Base Club" during the last Cup in Auckland, ACM erects a "Foredeck Club" for team and VIP hospitality at each Act venue. The one here at Malmoe, up on stilts like the Base Club was in Auckland, is particularly nice and has a terrific view of the paddock.

Managed by the effervescent and efficient Louise "No I'm not Dyer" Dier, the Foredeck has very kindly extended an invitation to team members to come by for a complimentary drink or two each evening on the way home. And since you bike or walk past the Foredeck Club on the way out of the paddock, it is a tempting and increasingly accepted invitation. And with today being a day off, last evening was the largest teams' Happy Hour yet.

The relaxed, friendly inter-team atmosphere is great, even better than it was in Marseille for Act 1 last year -- witness the snaps below, taken last evening while enjoying a vino or two with a number of old Cup friends....


Desafio Espanol designer Jim Pugh (USA) with Peter "de rigeur" Harken
(USA and the World).


BMWOR Exec Director, and former Olympic umpire, Russell Green
(NZL) with home-grown (NZL) AC32 umpires Shane Borrell and Wayne
Boberg.


ETNZ design chief Clay Oliver (USA) with former teammate Tom "Schnacks"
Schnackenberg (NZL) now with Luna Rossa.


Another cross-team Kiwi contingent -- old friends catching up: our Tim
Hacket, Alinghi's Tim "HQ" Gurr, ETNZ's esteemed ops/sailing manager Kevin
"Shoe" Shoebridge, and our David "Duffy" Duff.


Luna Rossa's irrepressible tactician and double-Olympic medalist, Charlie
McKee (USA) with Norwegian umpire Marianne Middelthon.


BMWOR's Mark "Squark" Bradford (AUS), sizing up his interview on
the AC TV coverage that plays at least throughout the Foredeck Club.


Victory Challenge team member and Dicko -- comparing notes on the
often tricky current the teams found this week on the Øresund Sound?


Oracle Corp Sr VP Judy Sim (USA), with Jane "Bubbles" Eagleson (USA)
and Laurent "Father" Esquier (FRA and the World). Always looking after
our team's partners and suppliers, they checked to be sure the Moet
was being served at the right temperature.


Our mastman David "Brookie" Brooke (NZL, right) introducing his
niece to Dicko. Brookie's niece is also a volunteer on the race
committee.


Hollywood comes to the America's Cup. LA film producer Gary Goldstein
(USA), well-connected promoter Kimberly Jones (USA), and noted Imax
director Stephen Low (CAN).


BMWOR grinder and crew boss, Craig Monk (NZL), with +39 grinder
and two-time Finn Class Olympian and VOR vet Anthony "Knocker"
Nossiter (AUS). Knocker was one of the two +39 crew who went for a
swim in the race against us when they were swept overboard during
an errant spinnaker take-down.


Our mast designer Steve "Stevo" Wilson (NZL) with one of the senior AC
32 umpires, John Standley (AUS).


On the right, Star Class 2000 Olympic gold medalist Iain "Hollywood"
Percy (GBR), helmsman of the rapidly rising +39 challenge, with ETNZ
trimmer Andy Hemmings (GBR).


Antipodean members of the International Jury, Graham McKenzie (NZL)
and David Tillett (AUS).


Empressario Louise Dier (center) with two of her Foredeck Club
colleagues.

...to the people, especially our many sailing friends, living on the Gulf Coast in the USA. With everything else going on here in Malmoe, we were also keeping an eye on Hurricane Katrina, on the internet and CNN, and with updates from our team meteorologist Chris Bedford. We breathed a sigh of relief when the forecasters downgraded the severity of Katrina as it approached landfall, New Orleans was spared a direkt hit, and when the early reports of the feared flooding were not so bad.

But then the levees let loose, and Katrina has exacted a heavy toll after all, which today grows worse by the hour.

The video clip in Scuttlebutt last night of the beautiful old Southern Yacht Club being consumed by flames, and the pictures we see on the internet of the tens of thousands of boats up and down the Gulf Coast thrown helter-skelter, hither and yon, are stark reminders of the power of the wind and sea which we humbly attempt to tame while racing for the America's Cup.

SYC is the second oldest yacht club in the USA. It was established in 1849, two years before that famous race around the Isle of Wight which gave us the Cup we are still pursuing with such passion 154 years later. SYC's clubhouse may be destroyed, but no doubt the prestigious and storied Club will survive even this challenge, same as the Cup has all these years.

For some reason, I am reminded of the speech given by President Kennedy, in September, 1962 at Newport, RI on the eve of the 18th America's Cup between the Australian challenger Gretel and the defender Weatherly:

"I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came...."

And when we do go back to the sea, as we will again Friday here in Malmoe, may it always be with the deepest respect for Mother Nature. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Keeping the comms gear and other electronics functioning on the yachts, support boats and on shore are our team "electrons" Rodney Ernst (USA) and Matthew "Mugs" Ulvr-Green (AUS). Both are popular members of our team, in part because they are upbeat, hard-working guys, and in part because almost all of us directly rely on them to able to perform our individual jobs. They work closely with our IT manager, Brian "Toaster" von Oven, who literally keeps the entire organization wired together.

Modern-day Cup teams are 24/7, global, and, in some ways, "virtual" operations that simply would not function without them. It seems like only yesterday when, in 1985, our team (NYYC's America II Challenge) began using fax machines for comms between our offices in Fremantle, Western Australia, in Newport, RI and in New York. As big a step forward as that was at the time, little could we imagine how AC teams would be operating today, and the technology that would be employed by Rodney, Mugs, Brian and the rest of us 20 year later.


Rodney "Electron" Ernst working in his container-office in Malmoe
yesterday.

In the America's Cup, a day with no racing has, historically, been called a "lay day." Not sure why, and I need to check with Cup historian John Rousmaniere or perhaps Commodore Dyer Jones (former NYYC Race Committee chair and currently serving as the overall "Regatta Director" for ACM and the 32nd AC) to find out if they know. If any of you reading this knows why, please send me a note or add a comment to the bottom of this post.

In the 32nd AC the organizers are no longer using the expression "lay day." Instead we have "reserve days" and "off days." A reserve day is, well, just that -- held in reserve for racing if we have not completed the scheduled number of races in the prior days. An "off day" is a day on which no racing can take place, irrespective of whether all the prior scheduled races have been completed.

Today and tomorrow are technically "reserve days," but due to the consistently (and surprisingly) good wind here the past week all the races (66 matches!) were completed on schedule, and we now find ourselves with two very welcome days off.

Or at least today is a day off for most. Not necessarily the shore teams (boat builders, sail makers, etc) many of whom will still be going at it, though no doubt all will try to take at least some time to relax. Then there are those of us who liaise with the other teams and organizers on the various sporting and marketing issues that always need discussion and resolution. For us "lay day" means "meeting day", and so it is today.

It is not just the teams who need a break. The largely volunteer race committee (several hundred mostly locals led by Dyer Jones, Peter Reggio and Harold Bennett) and other regatta officials have also been working non-stop for many days now.

I suspect that tomorrow most of the teams will be back at it -- being sure the boats, equipment, people and all other systems are go for the fleet racing Act 7 which begins Friday at 1200. We may even launch and sail for a couple hours tomorrow, as likely will some of the other teams.

Otherwise, today, I think Copenhagen may be the goer -- it is probably the first and last chance many in the "America's Cup family" (as ACM have taken to calling us, same as the IOC uses the term "Olympic family") will have to see the Little Mermaid, Tivoli, and perhaps a few other of Copenhagen's, er, interesting attractions.

For me, there are a few of the above-mentioned meetings, and a chance to catch up on email, check in on the domestic front, return a number of overdue calls, and post a few things here I think you will find entertaining.

For the record, the final results of Act 6:

1. Alinghi (SUI) 11 pts
2. BMW Oracle Racing (USA) 10
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 8
4. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA) 8
5. Desafio Espanol (ESP) 6
6. +39 Challenge (ITA) 6
7. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) 5
8. Victory Challenge (SWE) 4
9. K-Challenge (FRA) 3
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER) 2
11. Team Shosholoza (RSA) 2
12. China Team (CHN) 1



Regardless what you call it,
today most have a very
welcome day off.

"She points like a Hollywood tour guide" -- the somewhat mixed metaphor (but definitely cleaner than one or two that subsequently occurred to me) offered up just now by our master machinist Trevor "Rev" Berry (NZL), referring to how close-winded Alinghi's SUI-75 is. In today's race she started to leeward of ETNZ and, once again, used the infamous Alinghi "high mode" to squeeze off ETNZ, and force them to tack away. That was pretty much race over, as Alinghi went on to spank ETNZ -- winning by more than half a kilometer.

Our match with Luna Rossa was tight at first, but 76 extended throughout and led wire to wire -- winning by a dozen or so boatlengths and giving us 10 wins and 1 loss to Alinghi's 11-0. ETNZ is third on 8-3 (having lost three in a row), and Luna Rossa 4th, also on 8-3 but losing on the tie-break as ETNZ beat LR in their match.

Hats off to Alinghi for another fine job; and while we were the best of the Challengers, there is room for improvement. But a good step forward in Act 6 for BMWOR. Needless to say, ours is a happy and relaxed camp this afternoon -- I think the best it has been in some time.

Now two days off (well, at least no racing), and then the fleet racing Act 7 Friday through Sunday. Two races each of Friday and Saturday, and one slated for Sunday. In the big picture, Act 7 counts the same as Act 6.

Below, this morning's HOD ("heads of department") meeting, a daily 08:00 gathering of "mission control." Clockwise from the lower left: p.r. manager Jane Eagleson's (USA) back, sailing team coordinator Aimee Hess (USA), marketing coordinators Alejandra Mato (ESP), and Kerstin "Handstand" Schulz (GER), ops director Laurent Esquier (FRA), meteorologist Chris Bedford (USA), support boat manager Captain Craig Christensen (NZL), rules advisor Richard Slater (AUS) and the back of shore team manager Tim Hacket's head (AUS). Sorry Jane and Tim, but then I never claimed to be Gilles Martin-Raget!


The intensity in the faces at this morning's HOD has given way
to broad smiles this afternoon.

Good morning! It is a beaut here -- clear, warm and dry. A high pressure system has moved in bringing this nice weather and, unfortunately, lighter air. Chris B says it should be raceable despite a very light patch in the early afternoon. Only one match today, the 11th and final flight to complete the round robin -- the 12 teams will have raced each of the other 11 once. Even if the RC can't get one in today, we have two make-up days should we need them (Wed and Thu) before the fleet racing regatta Act 7 gets underway Friday. Act 6 prizegiving this afternoon and teams' whing-ding this evening.


Do they call it "Indian summer" in Scandinavia?

All of us can use a break. We have been going at it hard now for 12 straight days (longer for the shore team). We were all lifted by yesterday's win over ETNZ, we are looking forward to some time off tomorrow and/or Thu. While I sense the fatigue in all of us, we are pros and no doubt will get up for today's big match against Luna Rossa.

Gavin's resignation yesterday was disappointing, but the team took it in stride -- going out and calmly winning two races, including the biggee with ETNZ. Gav and I have been good friends for some time -- we shared an office together in the 2000 AmericaOne campaign. He is a good man, and terrific sailor. However, none of us is irreplaceable. As Bill Koch said when he and Gary Jobson parted ways during the '92 campaign (which Koch went on to win despite the predictions of almost all the "experts"): "the ego is the boat, not any one of us."

Yesterday Bertrand "Bert" Pace (FRA) quietly stepped into the tactician's role. To my eye and by all accounts from the sailing team he did a very nice job. Our team is broad and deep in most positions on the boat and off. You have to be to win the Cup.


Big boys Jamie Gale (NZL) and Brian "Puck" MacInnes (CAN), and the
diminutive Bertrand Pace, Monday's MVP, sharing a relaxed moment
after yesterday's big win.

The following essay, which appears in today's popular sailing email newsletter, Scuttlebutt, is clear proof that Bruno Trouble richly deserves being blogged here in our select group of Cool People....


WE LOVE THE CUP - by Bruno Troublé
(Scuttlebutt received the following comments from Bruno Troublé, whose
involvement in the America's Cup includes over twenty years of both
skippering and behind the scenes roles. His remarks are a follow-up to
those made by Herb McCormick in Scuttlebutt 1911:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/archived_Detail.asp?key=3164)

I was shocked and surprised in Malmö reading Herb's column and the Angus
article he inspired. They are good friends, excellent journalists, and they
have followed the America's Cup a lot until last year.

How can they be so aggressive and bitter? Are they seriously pretending
that the Cup was in a better shape in San Diego? In my opinion, Herb and
Angus don't know what they are talking about. They should first come and
see 12 America's Cup boats starting together on a short line - like nearly
1000 accredited journalists in 2005 already have - before writing anything!

The racing in the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts has been fantastic with
South Africa earning its first ever America's Cup win, and a new Italian
team upsetting the Kiwis. Nearly 30,000 people came to the America's Cup
Park here on the weekend to catch the spirit of the Cup a full two years
before the America's Cup proper!! My friend Pelle Pettersson, a legend
here, was so thrilled he was breathless!

I have been involved with the America's Cup for more years than Herb. I was
in Newport in 1974 and have not missed any America's Cup single day since
then. In 1983, I was even closer to the action than Herb, being the
sparring skipper for Australia II after my boat France 3 was eliminated.
Since then, I have been among the small group of individuals who
transformed the America's Cup to make it a world-renowned sporting event.
Whatever Herb may believe, the America's Cup is not empty!

What about 3000 hours of television worldwide in 2003 and 55,000 articles?
What about 800 sailors employed full time for three years? What about the
300 million television viewers who watched the Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004,
before many of the teams had even challenged, or many of the television
agreements were concluded this year?

The comments on the "obscene'' budgets are not serious. What about Formula
One, Soccer, NASCAR and many other sports? Are they pretending that we
should go back to the old days? Do they want to bring back this famous
"Corinthian'' spirit which means only amateurs, no professionals, no
sponsors, no media coverage, and no television? Would it be a "FULL CUP???"

We can certainly make improvements of course and AC Management is working
on new ideas all the time, but whatever they pretend, the old Lady is still
a beauty. All of us are just working hard to adapt her life to the present
time. There is no other event in the world of sailing that can be compared
to the Cup. This event is ten times bigger than ANY other sailing event.

Please be more serious and fair! I would love to personally invite Herb and
grumpy Angus to fly over to Europe to attend the Louis Vuitton Acts in
Trapani. They will be very surprised - the Cup is alive and well!! - Bruno
Troublé

* * * * *

The Cup needs more people with Bruno's passion and vision; indeed, more of Bruno. Right on my friend.



Bruno Trouble.

Monday has dawned warm and windy. Chris Bedford's morning show slide is below, and though it may be north of 20 in puffs, it should be within the wind "guidelines" the teams have agreed with the Race Committee of 7-23 knots (average). Only caveat is that it has been breezy all night, and it could also be a bit rough.

The race committee is more likely not to start a race if it is 23ish and very rough as opposed to flat like it was (or at least was when we started) the other day when all the breakage (to other teams) occurred. However, once a race starts, it would only be called off for a threat to life or limb, such as a serious lightning storm, a tornado or container ship encroaching on the course.


And they were worried about it being too light here. Other than
yesterday it has been "breeze on" the entire regatta.