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Oracle got caught in the current and were swept over the line early in Race 2. They fought back to finish the race in second.
Artemis won Race 1 but came in last in Race 2. France did the opposite – last in Race 1 but first in Race 2. With a 4th in the third race, Groupama Team France got on the podium for the first time in the ACWS.
Artemis Racing makes the smart move at Mark 1, gybing to get better pressure. They took the lead and went on to win the race.
Artemis on the way to winning Race 1. Look at the two J Class yachts in the marina, with their battle flags: J5 Ranger and J8 Topaz. They will be in Bermuda during the America’s Cup in 2017. A good opportunity to see whether grand monohulls are more spectacular than foiling cats!
At Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s Fund Raising Gala, Saturday 23 April 2016.
Graeme Spence of ORACLE TEAM USA powers through a 60 second all out burst while BUEI’s Executive Director Mel Ferson counts down the time.
Each of the Bermuda-based teams competed in the charity grind-off. From left to right, Graeme Spence, OTUSA, Luke Parkinson, Artemis Racing, Simeon Tienpont (with daughter Sara) from SoftBank Team Japan. Graeme won the competition but everyone was a winner as the gala brought in over $100,000, including a hefty live auction bid for a ride on Artemis Racing’s turbo boat! A big THANK YOU to all three teams for their support.
Friday 22 April 2016 All three Bermuda-based teams training off the North Shore
Photo: Jack Griffin
I visited SoftBank Team Japan last Friday and got to spend the afternoon on their chase boat. The team has a real depth of experience from AC34: Dean Barker, Derek Saward, Jero Lomas and Winston MacFarlane were all onboard Team New Zealand’s AC72 in San Francisco. Wing trimmer and sailing manager Chris Draper helmed Luna Rossa. Grinder Simeon Tienpont was grinder and boat captain for Oracle’s AC72. General manager Kasuhiko Sofuku sailed on Nippon Challenge in 2000. The team is developing younger sailors including Japanese team members Yugo Yoshida and Yuki Kasitani and Australian multihull specialist Jason Waterhouse.
Although the team has purchased a design package from Oracle, Nick Holroyd, formerly head of design at Team New Zealand, is making his presence felt, especially with work on board design. Nick was at the cutting edge of the foiling breakthrough during the last campaign.
The team base at Dockyard is growing, with office space and a lounge and kitchen popping up quickly with modular construction.
On the water I saw all three Bermuda based teams out on the water – SoftBank Team Japan, Artemis Racing and, with two boats, Oracle. Looking for long stretches of open water, all four boats headed out of the Great Sound and did several straightline speed runs off Bermuda’s beautiful north shore. No one looked noticeably faster than the others. AC35 will be hard fought and every team is likely to be strong and competitive. SoftBank Team Japan did a few well-executed foiling gybes, but that is to be expected, given that Dean mastered that maneuver long before any of the other helmsmen. Of course, the other teams were also smooth in their maneuvers, but no one should think of SoftBank Team Japan as a “new crew.” A new team, yes, but one with lots of experience and strength.
Thanks to Oracle sailor Ky Hurst for this video of four AC45x experimental catamarans testing on the Great Sound. There will be plenty of action on the Great Sound in 2016 and it will heat up even more in early 2017 when all six teams are training with their AC Class race boats.
In this short clip you can see Artemis Racing with the clear wing sailing right to left. The two Oracle Team USA boats move left to right, followed by SoftBank Team Japan.