Many America's Cup fans say this is their best source of information.
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:
ACEA has discussed a possible event in Q1 2017 but nothing has been confirmed.
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.
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.
With the Dark ‘n Stormy’s flowing freely at SoftBank Team Japan’s party last Saturday, a close observer of the activity in Bermuda claimed that Team Japan currently has the fastest test boat. You may remember a few issues ago I had an article and video about Nick Holroyd, formerly head of design at Emirates Team New Zealand and one of the pioneers of foiling America’s Cup yachts. Nick is now head of design for Team Japan.
The party in full swing, outdoors and indoors. Team mascot Otosan overlooks the proceedings. I explained who Otosan is in a recent newsletter, here.
Light and shifty winds combined with the Hudson River’s current to challenge both the Race Committee and the teams. On Saturday only a provisional race was held, after the TV window had passed. It was the third time in five regattas that a full day of racing was lost. The crowds in the AC Village and lining the river edge were excited just to see the AC45F’s even if they had to be towed to show off their foiling.
The crowd loved seeing the race boats foiling, even when they had to be towed on Saturday in order to put on a show.
