Blog Page – Page 30

June 6, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Baron Bich and the First Challenger Series – 1970

Baron Marcel Bich, then 50 years old and having built a fortune with his ballpoint pens, launched the first French challenge for the America’s Cup in 1970. When the New York Yacht Club told him they already had a challenger he showed some outside-the-box thinking and asked if there could be a challenger selection series, analogous to the defender selection trials held by the NYYC. His elegant 12m “France” was soundly beaten by Australia’s “Gretel.” In the final race, with the legendary Eric Tabarly as navigator, “France” was swallowed up by Newport’s fog and never found the finish line. Bich challenged three more times – 1974, 1977 and 1980. Only Sir Thomas Lipton and Patrizio Bertelli had more challenges. Bich never made it to the America’s Cup Match, but by inventing the challenger series he earned his place in the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.

June 6, 2016 By Jack Griffin

America’s Cup World Series Standings Going into Chicago

America’s Cup World Series Confirmed for Fukuoka, Japan

The final America’s Cup World Series event in 2016 will be held November 18-20 in Japan’s fifth largest city, Fukuoka.

The schedule for the rest of the year is:

June 10-12 Chicago
July 22-24 Portsmouth
Sep 8-10 Toulon
Nov 18-20 Fukuoka

ACEA has discussed a possible event in Q1 2017 but nothing has been confirmed.

June 6, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Chicago America’s Cup World Series the Weekend

How to Watch

Find out here if the racing is available in your territory on TV or on the AC+ App.

Sat, Jun 11
1337 Race 1 scheduled start
1403 Race 2 scheduled start
1433 Race 3 scheduled start

Sun, Jun 12
1337 Race 4 scheduled start
1403 Race 5 scheduled start
1433 Race 6 scheduled start

Update from Chicago

Thanks to our Chicago-based friends at CupInfo for an update on what to expect in the Windy City this weekend.

Advance forecasts suggest southwest winds with speeds close to ten knots, and gusts in the low teens. The outlook is also for higher temperatures, mid-80 degrees (F) and possibly topping 90.

The Chicago race venue will be in many ways the opposite of the tricky conditions seen in New York City last month, where strong currents and tides conspired with disturbed winds to frustrate the sailors and shuffle the results.

If the forecast holds, a southwesterly wind in Chicago will be blowing offshore, meaning relatively flat water on the race course. The race area is also located further from Chicago’s skyscrapers than in New York, tending to reduce the interference from wind shadows. Lake Michigan has no currents, and tides, though they exist, are imperceptible. Lake Michigan is also free from the floating seaweed seen at other venues that could foul rudders and daggerboards.

The main wild card in the sailing conditions at this point, especially with predictions for above average temperatures, is the chance for thunderstorms. The early afternoon race schedule has a good chance of dodging intermittent storms if they occur.

Regardless of wind direction, organizers will try to set the course with the start/finish lines located as close as possible to the end of the 3,300-foot-long (1,000-meter-long) Navy Pier. The America’s Cup race village and VIP hospitality will be located on the eastern end of the Pier, with grandstands, video screens, and other activities for 25,000 ticket-buying fans.

Aside from the America’s Cup Village, the remainder of the Pier will still be free to the public. There will also be free viewing opportunities along the shore, with the least obstructed views located to the south of the race area along Bond Drive, adjacent to the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium, though the racing will take place at some distance. Navy Pier, or an excursion boat, will really be the best places to get close to the action.

June 1, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Activation – no interest

Confirmation

You won’t receive any more emails about “activation” – ways of promoting your business related to the America’s Cup.

If you’ve arrived here by mistake, just click here, enter your email and I’ll send you some information on how you can promote your business. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Go to the general information page about the America’s Cup in Bermuda.

May 30, 2016 By Jack Griffin

America’s Cup World Series Standings After New York

It Could Happen

Imagine two teams – let’s call them Purple and Orange. Purple wins the America’s Cup World Series – fleet racing in identical-except-for-the-paint-job, one design AC45F catamarans. Remember, all the points are totaled for all the America’s Cup World Series events. Orange finishes middle of the pack in the AC World Series, since they focused on testing the design for their America’s Cup Class yacht, and on the crew work for the one-on-one match racing in Bermuda. Their strategy pays off. At the end of the double round robin “America’s Cup Qualifiers” in May-June 2017, Orange has a perfect, undefeated record, with 10 points, having won all 10 of their races. Purple did well, too, and finishes 8-2, having lost only their two matches with undefeated Orange.

But guess what?

Purple wins the AC Qualifiers and will start the America’s Cup Match on June 17 with a one point lead. How can that be? Well, as winner of the AC World Series, Purple carried two bonus points into the AC Qualifiers, so they finish the Qualifiers equal on points with Orange, tied at 10 each. How do you break ties? By looking at the AC World Series final standings, where Purple finished ahead of Orange. So Purple wins the AC Qualifiers and will start the America’s Cup Match with a one point lead. It could happen.

You can download a copy of this diagram with the competition overview here.