Cup Experience

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Video: Emirates Team New Zealand Wins in New York and Stays Atop the Leaderboard

 

America's Cup World Series Leaderboard - May'16
America’s Cup World Series Leaderboard – May’16

Going into the last race, all six teams had a chance to win the regatta. With four of the teams bunched on the downstream side of the course, struggling to avoid being carried outside the course limits by the current, the Kiwis found a gust and roared off to win the race and the regatta.

Team New Zealand in trouble at start of America's Cup World Series in New York
Race 3: Team New Zealand in trouble at start of America’s Cup World Series in New York.
Race 3. ETNZ is hooked on the mark and they have picked up a penalty for being OCS (On the Course Side of the line) at the starting signal. Notice, too, that Artemis is off to a poor start, sailing behind the line. On Leg 1 they will be out of position to round Mark1 and be forced to sail back to round it properly.
Race 3. ETNZ is hooked on the mark and they have picked up a penalty for being OCS (On the Course Side of the line) at the starting signal. Notice, too, that Artemis is off to a poor start, sailing behind the line. On Leg 1 they will be out of position to round Mark1 and be forced to sail back to round it properly.
Race 3: Blair Tuke and Guy Endean try to get ETNZ free from the starting mark.
Race 3: Blair Tuke and Guy Endean try to get ETNZ free from the starting mark.

 

 

(missing photo – 1Feb’17)

Race 3 Leg 4: The current, flowing from top to bottom of the image, has carried Land Rover BAR and SoftBank Team Japan outside the course limit, giving them penalties. Meanwhile you can see the ripples on the water where the gust has launched Team New Zealand into the lead and on their way to winning the race and the regatta.

All three lights flashing on BAR. The green light means he is within five boatlengths of the course limit. Ainslie felt Japan did not give him enough room at the course limit. The red light means Ainslie has protested Japan. The blue light means he has a penalty - for going outside the course limits. The umpires ruled that Japan gave him enough room but Japan picked up a penalty of their own when the current took them outside the boundary.
All three lights flashing on BAR. The green light means he is within five boatlengths of the course limit. Ainslie felt Japan did not give him enough room at the course limit. The red light means Ainslie has protested Japan. The blue light means he has a penalty – for going outside the course limits. The umpires ruled that Japan gave him enough room but Japan picked up a penalty of their own when the current took them outside the boundary.
Race 3 Finish: Team New Zealand and Oracle have crossed the checkered finish line. Team Japan, Team France and BAR follow.
Race 3 Finish: Team New Zealand and Oracle have crossed the checkered finish line. Team Japan, Team France and BAR follow.

 

 

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Video Highlights – New York America’s Cup World Series

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Looking east across the Hudson River to the New York skyline with the One World Trade Center tower.

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The short race course was set across the Hudson River, with the current flowing from right to left in the image.

07/05/16 - New York (USA) - 35th America's Cup Bermuda 2017 - Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series New York - Racing Day 1

Enthusiastic fans crowded into the America’s Cup Village and along the riverfront to watch the action. Two giant J Class yachts, J5 Ranger and J8 Topaz dominated the marina.

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Nationality and the America’s Cup – Always Good for a Debate

The debate about nationality rules always stirs passions. Having a strict nationality requirement for the crew would probably boost audience interest, like for the Olympics and the football (soccer) World Cup. But it would also reduce participation and make it hard or impossible for new countries to compete.abd1f9d1-86ee-4d7d-83e1-0c2fd9e8a494

What few people realize is that crew nationality rules were introduced only in 1980 and were dropped 10 years ago. In 1895 and 1899 when American fishermen from Deer Isle, Maine were the crews on “Defender” and “Columbia,” they made news, since crews on US defenders before and after were often Scandinavians.

Charlie Barr, skipper of “Columbia” and later of “Reliance,” was Scottish born. Even “America” had a British pilot on board to navigate around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Barr was a pure professional. He didn’t hesitate to go back to Scandinavian crews for the 1901 and 1903 defenses. Barr would certainly agree with the current philosophy of hiring the best sailors, regardless of nationality.

For the 2017 America’s Cup we have three mostly national teams – Land Rover BAR, Groupama Team France and Emirates Team New Zealand – and three mostly international teams – Oracle Team USA, Artemis Racing and SoftBank Team Japan.

What do you think about nationality requirements? Send me your comments and in a few weeks I’ll report back on what I hear from you.

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US Sailor Matt Cassidy on Board Oracle in New York

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American Matt Cassidy will race on board Oracle Team USA in New York this coming weekend. Before joining Oracle, Cassidy was a member of  world champion crews in 2011 in the TP52, the World Match Racing Tour and the RC44. Matt grew up in Florida, raced in college in South Carolina and turned pro in San Diego, then moved to Chicago, where he spent seven years before joining Oracle.

Meet Matt Cassidy video.

#TeamThursday: Matt Cassidy

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New York America’s Cup World Series this Weekend

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The yellow lines show the race area for the New York America’s Cup World Series, with spectator boat areas to the north and south.

The America’s Cup World Series comes to New York this weekend. Thursday is a training day, with practice racing on Friday. Official racing will be on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 3:30 pm. This New York Times article gives info on where to watch. It mentions watching from the Statue of Liberty, but that is at least a mile from the closest part of the race area. You’ll be better off watching from the event village at Brookfield Place. You could also try to book a table next to the window at the restaurant in the Hyatt at Exchange Place in Jersey City, right next to the PATH train station. Circle Line offers a spectator cruise with two levels of ticketing are available – a Spectator Ticket and a VIP Ticket. Information here.

For more info and maps, check out my earlier articles on the event, here and here.