Artemis Racing – Page 16

October 17, 2015 By Jack Griffin

Bermuda America’s Cup World Series – October 16-18, 2015 Update

The Bermuda AC World Series got off to a great start on land but with less excitement on the water. Friday’s practice races were held in light air, and Saturday’s official racing was abandoned, with almost calm conditions at race time. Late in the day four teams put on a demonstration race in Hamilton Harbor, with Groupama Team France taking the win ahead of Softbank Team Japan and Land Rover BAR, with Oracle bringing up the rear. Team New Zealand and Artemis did not race.

On shore things have been much more lively as the photos below show. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for 10-12 knots of wind, ideal conditions. Let’s hope the forecast is right!

Friday’s second practice race finished at Two Rock Passage. SoftBank Team Japan took the win. Land Rover BAR and Oracle Team USA fought for last place. The narrow course made for a confusing rules situation with Oracle and BAR both protesting each other. BAR picked got the penalty. Image: ACTV

As a sailor, you know you’re in the right place when the “clock tower” on the town hall shows wind direction instead of time!

Bermuda is serious about fun and about welcoming the America’s Cup teams and fans. The event kicked off with a pep rally in front of City Hall, with all the local sponsors’ employees in bright T-shirts.

Town crier Ed Christopher kicked off the pep rally in style.

AC45’s moored off Front Steet.

The Spirit of Bermuda, a three-masted Bermuda sloop, moored in front of the VIP Lounge and just to the right of Oracle. Front Street and the Fan Zone in the background.

Corporate hospitality overlooking the harbor and the fireworks for the opening ceremonies on Friday night.

Is this the best hospitality in an America’s Cup Media Center? Oysters and Dark’n’Stormy’s served at our desks by the Media Center catering team. Reuters photographer Mike Segar enjoying the Bermudian hospitality.

September 22, 2015 By Jack Griffin

Overall Series Standings after two events.

1   Emirates Team New Zealand 72
2 Land Rover BAR 65
3   Oracle Team USA 64
4   SoftBank Team Japan 56
5   Artemis Racing 53
6   Groupama Team France 50

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series runs over two years – 2015 and 2016. The winner of the series will carry two points forward into the round robin phase. Second place in the series carries one point. At the end of the round robin, any ties will be broken using these results. That means the AC World Series could determine which team receives the bonus point for the America’s Cup Match and which team is eliminated.

September 1, 2015 By Jack Griffin

Overall Series Standings after two events.

1   Emirates Team New Zealand 72
2 Land Rover BAR 65
3   Oracle Team USA 64
4   SoftBank Team Japan 56
5   Artemis Racing 53
6   Groupama Team France 50

Gothenburg Results
1   Emirates Team New Zealand 54
2   ORACLE TEAM USA 48
3   Land Rover BAR 46
4   SoftBank Team Japan 43
5   Artemis Racing 42
6   Groupama Team France 37

August 2, 2015 By Jack Griffin

Results and Standings

Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR team won the shortened Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth event with a first and a second in Saturday’s racing. Winds over 30 knots and rough conditions caused Sunday’s racing to be abandoned.

Racing on their home waters and with more time in this type of boat than the other teams, Land Rover BAR showed sharp crew work and good tactics to win the opening race and then fight back from the middle of the pack to post a second in the day’s second race. Emirates Team New Zealand and new helmsman Peter Burling also looked impressive, winning the second race and coming in third in the first.

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth – Results

1. Land Rover BAR (1,2)
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (3,1)
3. Oracle Team USA ( 2,4)
4. Groupama Team France (6,3)
5. Softbank Team Japan (4,5)
6. Artemis Racing (5,6)

Remember that these races count, and could even determine the winner of the America’s Cup Match in 2017! Standings in the LVACWS will be used to break ties at the end of the round robin series, and could determine which team begins the match with one point. More information on how the scoring works here.

August 2, 2015 By Jack Griffin

Video Highlights from the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_TE9pekMaQ

When asked about the strange angles he got into, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill said, “I’ll tell you, we’re just hanging on really. You’re on the edge of control. It’s very very difficult. Mistakes get made, but that’s what you want, you want it to be difficult. The good guys get it right.”

Artemis Racing had bad luck when their code zero halyard lock released in Race 2. They lost time as they struggled to get the sail under control and on board, dropping to last place in the race and in the event.

At the final mark in Race 1 Oracle Team USA came in with speed on port gybe and sailed past Emirates Team New Zealand, who had to gybe from starboard to port in order to round. Both boats protested, but the umpires signalled “no penalty.” In this situation, the inside boat, ETNZ was entitled to room to round the mark. The boats did not touch, so clearly OTUSA gave ETNZ room. The America’s Cup version of the rule for room at a mark is very different from the normal Racing Rules of Sailing. I explain it here and give another example of this rule here.

View from on board Emirates Team New Zealand during the incident at Mark 6 in Race 1. You can see that ETNZ is still on starboard gybe, but Peter Burling has pulled the helm to gybe.

Oracle Team USA started Race 2 with some excitement when Groupama Team France luffed them at the start, giving OTUSA a penalty. OTUSA then fought back to finish fourth in the race and third for the event.

Oracle Team USA with a penalty they picked up at the start of Race 2.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge awarded the prizes.

Ben Ainslie receiving the trophy for winning the event from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.