We're not talking second place here as in, "Your Majesty, there is no second."

It's seconds as in 1/60th of a minute. Specifically, 3 seconds in Act 8, and less than a second in Act 9. That's all that stood between us tieing Alinghi (and losing on the countbacks) and beating them outright in both regattas.

If Queen Victoria's footman had been here in Trapani today, he could not have said who was first or second. Indeed, even ACM could not tell us who had won until nearly five minutes after the photo finish between Desafio Espanol and our guys on USA-76.

Am now told the RC scored the delta in today's race as "0 seconds", but that both PRO Peter Reggio and SRO Harold Bennett felt the Desafio Espanol had eeked across first by a split second. Second-to-none you might say.

As the old saying goes, "you have to be careful what you ask for -- you might get it." We wanted to modernize the event: to have more events; closer, more exciting racing; to bring it closer to the media and fans. Well, it seems we have succeeded in spades. Full credit to the vision of Larry and Ernesto for a modernized AC, and the execution of that vision by the 12 teams, ACM, the Regatta Director, the Challenger Commission and many others.

If racing continues next season to be this close, and there is every prospect that it will, we will need to stock the VIP specator boats with seasick pills and heart pills.

Hats off to Alinghi. They are still on top, but by the slimmest of margins. It doesn't -- can't -- get any closer than it was between our two teams here. And with a steady performance by ETNZ, with Luna Rossa and the Spanish not far off the pace, a good showing by K-Challenge in the match racing, and Shosho's 4th in the fleet racing, it promises to be even closer at the top next year.

Great job by Dicko, Bert, Pedro and the rest of our sailing team for building on our much-improved performance in Malmo a month ago (where, don't forget, we also tied Alinghi in the last regatta). There is a renewed, quiet confidence within the team -- the feeling once again that, if we continue to steadily up our game every area, we just might be able to accomplish our monumental goal in '07.

In 25 years of doing the Cup, it is safe to say the comraderie among the teams on shore is at an all time high. As yet another example, tonight Shosholoza's shore team manager, Henry Hides, brought two cases of beer over to our base as thanks for the help Scotty Sandford and the rest of our shore team have given them during the regattas.

The paddock set-up with no walls and the teams side-by-side using shared facilities that we have had in Marseille, Malmo and now Trapani is the way the Cup should always be run. Next time take the money being spent on the big base buildings and fences in VLC and use it for more roadshow regattas.

The AC is alive and well. Probably more so than at any time in its 154-year history. It is a privelege and great fun for all of us involved. As we wrap up Act 9 and the 2005 season, thanks more than ever from all of us connected with BMWOR for your interest and support.


Moments after the "most incredible move in both regattas" as
commentator Andy Green (GBR) called it today when our guys trapped
Alinghi outside the top mark at the end of Leg 1, allowing us to round
second and pushing Alinghi back to fifth.


The Race Committee returning to the Harbour this evening.
Second-to-none.


What a sight -- and site -- Trapani has been.


Today the crowds have been larger than ever, and loving every minute
of it.


Winner Alinghi docking at the AC Park for another "Moet Moment" with tens
of thousands of fans looking on.


As we finish this post, the mast is out, much of the pack-up is
already done, and most of the team have headed over to the
Foredeck Club for a well-deserved private celebration in advance
of the big ACM send-off party later this evening. Time to head over
myself, and drag along the remainder of our hard-working shore team.