Links of Succinct, Nice Ink May 14, 08:00
Your Ed.'s search engines show the following release to be the most popular Cup story running around the world this Sunday morning. Short and sweet, from the AC Press Office:
BMW ORACLE Racing are unbeaten while the Swedes and South Africans move up
The first weekend of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 promised some great racing, and the teams more than delivered with close action and upsets on the race course, and teams vaulting up and falling down the leaderboard.
On shore, it was the opening weekend of the new Port America's Cup and the public in Valencia turned out in force on a sunny Saturday to enjoy the new facilities that make up the greatest stadium in sailing. The canal leading from the Port to the race area was lined with crowds who cheered the teams in and out of their bases and the America's Cup Park activities were filled with families enjoying a day out and capturing the spirit of the Cup.
On the race course, BMW ORACLE Racing earned an important win over Emirates Team New Zealand, and ends the day as the only team to remain undefeated. Luna Rossa Challenge recovered from a difficult defeat on Friday to knock off the Defender on Saturday; a tremendous victory for the Italian team. And Shosholoza and Victory Challenge each picked up two wins on the day, vaulting up the standings.
Nice to be on top, albeit technically not alone but at least with a "race in hand" after our second match yesterday was called off in the very light air when the time limit ran out.
Reflecting on yesterday's 12 light-air matches, in 25+ years of watching AC races I can't recall another day of light air racing when there were so many close, interesting matches. Normally 7-11 knots results in big wins/losses due to large discrepancies in boat speed and/or big differences in wind speed and direction local to a given yacht. The close action we saw Saturday in the light bodes well for the racing, and race fans, this year and next, as no doubt there will be more of the same.
Speaking of which, sorry to say the wind forecast today is for even less than yesterday: 6-10 knots at race time dropping to 4-9 knots later in the afternoon. Here is today's weather slide from Chris Bedford.
The wind gods willing, it's Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team in the first race and China Team in the second. Mascalzone almost beat Alinghi in the light the day before yesterday, so they are not to be taken, er, lightly. ITA 77 has proven especially quick downwind. Here is the Regatta Director's Day 4 pairing list.
The "BMW ORACLE Racing Experience" -- the
public interactive area on the ground floor
of our Team Base here in Valencia, was jammed
with fans last evening for the poster signing by
two members of our race crew, David Brooke (NZL,
above foreground) and Rodney Daniel (AUS,
background). Nice gesture by our guys and team
that proved very popular.
BMW ORACLE Racing are unbeaten while the Swedes and South Africans move up
The first weekend of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 promised some great racing, and the teams more than delivered with close action and upsets on the race course, and teams vaulting up and falling down the leaderboard.
On shore, it was the opening weekend of the new Port America's Cup and the public in Valencia turned out in force on a sunny Saturday to enjoy the new facilities that make up the greatest stadium in sailing. The canal leading from the Port to the race area was lined with crowds who cheered the teams in and out of their bases and the America's Cup Park activities were filled with families enjoying a day out and capturing the spirit of the Cup.
On the race course, BMW ORACLE Racing earned an important win over Emirates Team New Zealand, and ends the day as the only team to remain undefeated. Luna Rossa Challenge recovered from a difficult defeat on Friday to knock off the Defender on Saturday; a tremendous victory for the Italian team. And Shosholoza and Victory Challenge each picked up two wins on the day, vaulting up the standings.
Nice to be on top, albeit technically not alone but at least with a "race in hand" after our second match yesterday was called off in the very light air when the time limit ran out.
Reflecting on yesterday's 12 light-air matches, in 25+ years of watching AC races I can't recall another day of light air racing when there were so many close, interesting matches. Normally 7-11 knots results in big wins/losses due to large discrepancies in boat speed and/or big differences in wind speed and direction local to a given yacht. The close action we saw Saturday in the light bodes well for the racing, and race fans, this year and next, as no doubt there will be more of the same.
Speaking of which, sorry to say the wind forecast today is for even less than yesterday: 6-10 knots at race time dropping to 4-9 knots later in the afternoon. Here is today's weather slide from Chris Bedford.
The wind gods willing, it's Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team in the first race and China Team in the second. Mascalzone almost beat Alinghi in the light the day before yesterday, so they are not to be taken, er, lightly. ITA 77 has proven especially quick downwind. Here is the Regatta Director's Day 4 pairing list.
)
The "BMW ORACLE Racing Experience" -- thepublic interactive area on the ground floor
of our Team Base here in Valencia, was jammed
with fans last evening for the poster signing by
two members of our race crew, David Brooke (NZL,
above foreground) and Rodney Daniel (AUS,
background). Nice gesture by our guys and team
that proved very popular.
Racing | by TFE
