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Allianz Cup

Larry  Oct 27, 15:44

Check out this story about Larry on the local ABC affiliate's website, KGO TV, which is a co-sponsor of this week's Allianz Cup. There's a nice video clip as well. KGO and their sister AM radio station have aired over 100 30-second spots promoting the event, to say nothing of all the news-time coverage they are giving us.


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Larry on the wheel with tactician Gavin Brady (NZL) surveying the scene before the start of yesterday's match with Group B leader Paolo Cian (ITA), a member of Shosholoza's afterguard. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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Larry & co, with the red Oracle kite, trying to get over the top of Paolo Cian's team on the first run. That's the world-renowned SF Palace of Fine Arts in the background. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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BMW ORACLE Racing sailing team members crewing for Larry this week in addition to Gavin: Rod Dawson (NZL), Morgan Trubovich (NZL) and Brad Webb (NZL). Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.

Sat & Sun: Live Internet TV  Oct 27, 15:27

The 24-hour sailing and watersports broadband channel Sail TV, is broadcasting coverage of the Allianz Cup, Stage 5 of the 2006-2007 World Match Racing Tour, live from San Francisco this weekend. Working closely with the Tour's production company, Sportshows Television, Sail TV will stream live pictures from the semi-finals and finals on the 28th and 29th October from the St Francis Yacht Club.

Sail TV Director, Andy Steward said, "It's exciting to be bringing live coverage of the WMRT to our global audience. This is a great opportunity for our viewers to experience what is now possible through IPTV by watching such high profile events as the Allianz Cup, live. We are pleased to add the event to our growing international event schedule."

Tune into http://www.sail.tv for updates and for the final rounds of the Allianz Cup 2006.

* Video clip from Wednesday's sailing on YouTube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUVby_Ye1Dw

Allianz Cup: Day 1  Oct 26, 13:29

AllianzOracleSFO, 0430 Thu -- Long but exciting day yesterday (Wednesday) for everyone involved, except Larry's team and the other seven teams in Group "B" as they ended up having the day off.

There are a total of 16 teams seeded more or less equally into two groups ("A" and "B") and only Group "A" raced raced Wednesday. Between noon, when the wind settled down, and 1830 they completed their entire round robin of seven flights -- 28 matches in all -- in a most-unusual (for SF Bay) northeasterly breeze.

Dicko & Co were back-footed a bit with an opening-match loss to local favorite Chris Perkins, a J105 fleet-racing champion from host St Francis YC. (Chris is also an old friend who, coincidentally, was CFO for our Oracle BMW team in AC 31.) However, as the day progressed Dicko's team found their stride and ended up tied for fourth on 4-3 (win-loss) with Johnie "B Good" Berntsson (NOR). They will race off Friday morning with five other teams in the "repechage" round. Two of those six teams will then advance to the quarterfinals later Friday along with the top three teams from Groups A and B at the end of their respective rounds robin.

Had thought we might be able to do some live-blogging during yesterday's racing. But with only a few minutes between flights we could not find the time as your Ed. is doubling here as a race commentator. Sorry, no chance today, either, as we are hosting 500 Oracle Corp guests on the beautiful Spirit of San Francisco

But check the Allianz Cup or WMRT sites for regular updates and details of each day's racing. Also our main team website. Also worth a look is the Valencia Sailing site, which is posting video clips of each day's racing. Reminder, too, that this Saturday and Sunday there will be live internet TV coverage of Allianz Cup racing at www.sail.tv.

Today, Larry's team will race in their Group B round robin against a very talented field including Team Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird (USA), reigning WMRT world champion Peter GIlmour (AUS), United Internet Team Germany's Jesper Bank (DEN), and Cameron Dunn (NZL) of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team.


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Tuesday evening team members were among the 20,000 guests of Oracle Corp for a private concert at the Cow Palace headlined by Elton John, who gave a spirted 90-minute performance. Great show.


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Day 1 (Wed) dawned bright and beautiful, with an unusual NE breeze that stayed strong, 12-15 kts, through most of the day.


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The 28 Group A matches were action-packed. The starting line was set just off the breakwater in front of the host St. Francis YC, affording spectators an unsurpassed view of the racing. The SF Bay vista provides a backdrop second to none, at least in the yacht racing world.


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All three of our BMWOR senior partners are involved in this event. Allianz, of course, is the title partner and Oracle the presenting sponsor. BMW is the official car of the World Match Racing Tour. The unusual NE breeze put Alcatraz Island in the background for some of these gorgeous photos by San Diego's Bob Grieser.


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As the public Allianz Cup Village was being assembled next door (more on that tonight), a surprisingly large crowd of St Francis YC members and VIP guests took in the racing from the clubhouse "Race Deck."


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Dicko & Co ended the day tied for fourth with Norway's Johnie Berntsson on 4-3.


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Alinghi's Peter Holmberg (USA) and ETNZ's Ben Ainsle (GBR) had a good day, finishing tied for top of the leaderboard on 5-2 along with Ian Williams (GBR), current leader of the WMRT.


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Dicko's match with Peter Holmberg was a classic. Above, Paul "Flipper" Westlake signalling a protest to the umpire boat astern of the yachts and reinforcing the flag with a polite hail.


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Dicko and Allianz's board member for North America, Jan Carendi, were ebullient at last night's post-race press conference after yesterday's match-racing spectacle enjoyed by all.

Set Up & Practice Day  Oct 25, 01:17

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There is a flurry of activity in and around host St Francis YC this afternoon as the organizers and teams get ready for the start tomorrow of the Allianz Cup presented by Oracle.


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Driving into the club you are greeted with one of our two SM40's, the BMW ORACLE Racing match racing practice boats based here in SF. One of the local TV stations has a truck in the parking lot for a live promo about the regatta for this evening's news.


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In the east parking lot the Allianz Cup Village is being set up, which will include hospitality tents and a large grandstand -- all open to the general public. The start/finish line will be only 200 meters offshore, directly in front of the grandstand. In the background is the Golden Gate Yacht Club and Larry's SF-based yacht Ronin.


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The teams each had 2.5 hours of practice time today. The opening skippers' meeting is at 1800.


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An international team of umpires headed by David Tallis (AUS) spent the afternoon carefully reviewing the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and "ump calls" and procedures in preparation for the Skippers' Meeting this evening and their work on the water tomorrow through Sunday.


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A steady stream of spectators checked out the practice sailing in this most scenic of sailing venues just off the St Francis and Golden Gate YCs, between Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. That's Sausalito in the background, at the northern end of the GG Bridge.


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If the westerly continues to blow this week, as it did today, the spectators -- and TV audience -- will be afforded a great show. That's the view from the second level of StFYC, and gives you a good idea of how close to shore the racing will be. (That's phone-cam photo, not a telephoto lens.)


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Speaking of TV...


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...there will be live coverage on the internet at least on Saturday and Sunday, possibly earlier. Check www.sail.tv or www.allianzcup.com for details. Above, the Sportshows Television team making ready in the makeshift "master control room" -- the "Starboard Room" on the second floor of StFYC.


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And then there was some great action on the water, too. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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Foreground, Alinghi's Peter Holmberg; background, Dicko & Co. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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Staffan Lindberg's team from Finland, with the beautiful St Francis YC clubhouse in the background. Come the weekend, the club will be packed with VIP spectators same as the foreshore between GGYC and StFYC will be with the general public. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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Dicko on the helm and Paul "Flipper" Westlake (AUS) trimming the mainsail. Photo: Bob Grieser/Allianz Cup.


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In addition to doing the event commentary, we will do our best to live blog all week with behind the scenes photos and insight. Official results on the Allianz Cup site, and our main team website.

Nice Ink: Allianz Cup in today's SF Chronicle  Oct 23, 15:10

Allianz Cup lures top sailors

Software tycoon Larry Ellison, eight America's Cup skippers and other touring pros will compete this week in 35-foot sloops on San Francisco Bay for a $100,000 purse.

Clearly, the billionaire sailor doesn't need the moola. But with his Oracle World overtaking downtown, the kingpin can hardly wait to compete with the pros.

Sixteen teams have entered the Allianz Cup regatta, which begins Wednesday and runs through Sunday. It will be sailed off the Marina Green and Crissy Field -- close to shore, with the dueling skippers in full view of spectators.

A racing village with exhibits on maritime history and grandstands will be set on the breakwater next to the Marina Green.

The event has drawn one of the most elite fields of pro sailors to the bay in recent years. For the America's Cup skippers, it's a chance to match wits before the "big show" begins in the spring.

Full story (by the Chronicle's long-time yachting correspondent, Jim Doyle)


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The J105, a popular racer/cruiser one-design, is the boat being supplied by the World Match Racing Tour and host St. Francis Yacht Club for the Allianz Cup this week in San Francisco Bay.

More on the "Outstanding Field"  Oct 19, 20:17

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World Tour President Scott MacLeod (USA, left) said: "We think we've assembled an outstanding field for our first event in the USA. There are eight teams representing Cup syndicates and it'll be fun to see whether the younger sailors can upset the Cup veterans." Center is Richard A. Pfaff, Commodore of host St Francis YC. Right, Allianz's clever sponsoring manager, Bjoern Widemann (GER). Since this photo was taken last month, Oracle Corp has joined Allianz as "presenting sponsor."


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The prestigious St Francis YC, fronting the Bay in San Francisco's "Marina" district, host of next week's Allianz Cup and the renowned weekly "Wednesday Yachtsmans' Luncheon." Photo courtesy of St F YC.

What a Line-up!  Oct 19, 06:34

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Now we have two teams entered in next week's Allianz Cup -- one led by Dicko and the other by Larry. And look at this line-up of skippers:

Ben Ainslie (GBR) Emirates Team New Zealand
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi
Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Team Semcon
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Viano Mercedes Benz
Chris Dickson (NZL) BMW ORACLE Racing
Cameron Dunn (NZL) Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
Larry Ellison (USA) BMW ORACLE Racing
Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST
Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net
Peter Holmberg (ISV) Alinghi
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team
Chris Perkins (USA)
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) Williams Sail Racing


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One of the world's most famous vistas, and beaut venue for next week's Allianz Cup. Details at www.allianzcup.com. And watch this space as the BOB will be live-blogging next week from SFO. Photo: WMRT.

Allianz Cup Q&A  Sep 25, 18:58

AllianzCupLogo200Having spent the weekend in and around San Francisco as a guest of the St. Francis Yacht Club, there was much interest in and many questions about the upcoming Allianz Cup. So here is a quick Q&A:

WHO: One hears (so far) AC skippers Ed Baird (USA, Alinghi), Jesper Bank (DEN, UITG), Dean Barker (NZL, ETNZ), Sebastian Col (FRA, Areva), Chris Dickson (NZL, BMWOR), Peter Holmberg (USA, Alinghi), plus other top match racing skippers such as defending WMRT champion Peter Gilmour (AUS).

WHAT: Stage 5 of the World Match Racing Tour for the "Allianz Cup." Racing in one-design J-105's.

WHERE: San Francisco Bay, just off the Golden Gate and St Francis Yacht Clubs.

WHEN: 24-29 October, 2006.

WHY: According to Jan Carendi, board member for Allianz Group: "After the success of the Rockefeller Center sailing exhibit in New York this summer, it is good to highlight and support another sailing event in the U.S. With all the America’s Cup racing in 2007 taking place in Europe, it’s great to be able to bring some of the thrill and excitement of this race to America, and encourage local support for the U.S. team during their quest to bring the Cup home. 'The Allianz Cup in San Francisco, a city known for its sailing heritage, will be a really exciting event for the city and great way of conveying the excitement that is synonymous with the America’s Cup whilst providing a great opportunity for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, Allianz Global Corporate and Specialties and Allianz Life, three of our North American operations."

HOW: Organized by the World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the St Francis Yacht Club with support from GGYC, and sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation.

HOW MUCH: $100,000 prize purse. The champion earns $25,000.

HOW NOW: Spectators will be able to watch the racing up close and personal from the Allianz Cup "village" on the spit of land between the two clubs that has a commanding view of the race course, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Live, supposedly expert commentary will be provided to the spectator fleet, village, and VIP facilities in both clubhouses, linked together by radio.

WHY NOT plan to join us in San Francisco for what should be one of the best professional sailing events in the world this year. "I left my heart...."


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The spectacular San Francisco Bay waters where the Allianz Cup will take place next month...


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...with racing close in along the shore between the St Francis YC (red roof, foreground left) and the Golden Gate YC (white building on the spit of land, background left). The Allianz Cup village will be in the parking lot between the two clubhouses, same as it was for the Moet Cup in 2003.

Nice Ink: Allianz Cup  Sep 1, 20:01

nice_ink7Our search engines are returning this nice AP wire story running today in many USA newspapers (including the San Jose Mercury News) as well as abroad:

SAN FRANCISCO - Several America's Cup skippers are scheduled to sail in the Allianz Cup on San Francisco Bay from Oct. 24-29, the only U.S. stop on the World Match Racing Tour.

Heading the lineup is New Zealander Chris Dickson, skipper and CEO of San Francisco-based BMW Oracle Racing, the only American team entered in the 2007 America's Cup. Dickson is ranked third in the match-racing standings after winning the season-opening Portugal Match Cup in July.

Other confirmed entrants include Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg, two of the helmsmen for Alinghi of Switzerland, which won the America's Cup in 2003. Baird, an American, is tied for fifth in the standings and Holmberg, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a past tour champion.


Full story

Hot News!  Aug 30, 17:50

Check out the announcement of this cool new match racing event made this afternoon by the World Match Racing Tour and our main sponsor Allianz. Congrats to WMRT president Scott MacLeod, Allianz's Bjoern Widemann and our marketing director Mirko Groeschner for putting this together. Note the list of top players already committed, including Dicko.


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Check your airpoints for a trip in late October to San Francisco to take in the action?