SAILING
BMW Oracle racing lost their 200-foot tall rig (mast and sails) on the water last week. While out training off the coast of San Diego / Mexico in moderate, nice conditions, a hardware failure occurred and an ensuing “gravity storm” hit – everything came crashing down. While they admitted it was very scary, luckily, nobody was injured.
See the sequence of events below – Sailing last week, next day rig comes crashing down and the carnage being picked up and towed back to shore, and the new Hard Wing that will get stepped and unveiled today.
BEFORE…
then, 24 hours later….
The team says it’s really not that big of a setback as they were testing that new, very large / tall mast – one of 3 so far. They had another new test coming this week – a radical “hard-wing.” Imagine a big 747 airplane wing planted on the boat as the new power train (replacing conventional mast and sails) – but it’s literally, even bigger than a 747 jet wing!
And…in final stages of building in their secret work shed, the biggest Hard Wing ever built…to be stepped and mounted for the first time this week.
SAILING – SAN DIEGO, CA
While the defenders are cranking up the PR machine flying their boat over the alps and having parades on Lake Geneva, the BMW Oracle team is having a great time in San Diego testing their own machine – to determine it’s real potential while they drive technology and innovation to heights never gone before.
At the BMW ORACLE Racing Special Event held Tuesday August 11, 2009 in San Diego, the team celebrated the USA’s challenge for the 33rd America ’s Cup.
CEO and Skipper Russell Coutts announced that helmsman James Spithill will be driving the team’s boat in the 33rd America’s Cup. The rest of the team was introduced to nearly 400 guests that included the media, partners and sponsors, team families, local dignitaries and sailing community friends.
Former Best Friends, Now Bitter Rivals Compete for The 2010 America’s Cup
SAILING
Skippers and leading men of the competing America’s Cup teams, who, as the title says, were formerly best friends and the most decorated teammates in America’s Cup history, are now on opposing teams. Their friendship frayed by real world contention played out on the water and in the NY court system, has them rivaling once again in the America’s Cup.
Russell Coutts is the CEO and Skipper of USA’s Challenger, BMW Oracle, who wears Lewi, Hard Kore, Gauge and Kore
Brad Butterworth is the CEO and Skipper of Switzerland’s 2x Defender, Alinghi, who wears Kore and Hard Kore.
They have been battling in court (rather team owners Larry Ellison (Chairman of Oracle) and Ernesto Bertarelli (former CEO of drug company, Serano), making them now bitter rivals.
As the most decorated in sailing, skipper (Coutts) and tactician (Butterworth) duo in the history of the America’s Cup, when they won the Cup for New Zealand in the early 90’s, then defended it, then skipped town for a huge offer from the then unknown Bertarelli, to come build the first ever challenger from Switzerland. Then they promptly won the cup for the first time (from their old Team New Zealand, who they defected from for Switzerland. The island country and the continent went nuts over this dynamic duo – who had been best friends since childhood.
Skip forward to the 21st Century and the former dynamic duo are the greatest in the game, their friendship hangs by a cordial thread, and they are now the Defender and Challenger of the next America’s Cup to be fought in the most outrageous race boats ever created – slated to start February 8 in UAE.
Kaenon Polarized will be the weapon worn by both Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth in the much anticipated event that will make this next Cup race one of the greatest spectacles on earth.
Alinghi heads to Italy Via Helicopter Transit Over Swiss Alps!
SAILING
America’s Cup defender from Switzerland, Alinghi, flies their 100’ catamaran OVER the Swiss Alps and into the port city of Genova, Italia (Genoa, Italy) to resume training for the Cup in February. A 100’ Russian-built Cargo helicopter performed the unprecedented maneuver – the only practical method to transport the 100’ long x 65’ wide boat to the Sea. The nearly 200’ tall mast is hauled under the helicopter that took these amazing shots.
…and through the Swiss Alps … Saint-Bernard’s Pass
…and into the city of Genoa, Italy
…and touch down in the port of Genoa – where training will resume – mild ocean conditions.
FLIGHT VIDEO –
In this YouTube clip, compiled by Alinghi’s Media Team, there’s insane footage of the boat lifted out of Lake Geneva then flown through Saint-Bernard’s Pass to Genova, Italia, for her first sea trials.
In other news, Alinghi also announced the location of the America’s Cup race, a remote city in the United Arab Emirates expected to take place February. Alinghi’s skipper and CEO Brad Butterworth wears Hard Kore Tobacco.
America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi Holds Boat Parade in Switzerland
SAILING – LAKE GENEVA IN SWITZERLAND
Alinghi 5, the America’s Cup Defender’s giant catamaran, was the star of the show on Lake Geneva for the 1 August Swiss National Day celebrations which started in Lausanne where the multihull was on public display along with the America’s Cup and culminated in Geneva at the head of a parade of over 1,000 boats.
Upwards of 10,000 people gathered in Lausanne to meet the team which was presented on stage along with 20 Alinghi Junior Crew selected from yacht clubs throughout Switzerland. ‘It is fantastic to see so many people today,’ said team president Ernesto Bertarelli, talking to the public gathered for the celebrations. ‘It is extremely important for our team to share moments like this one with you all – it is not just about sharing the victories but also about sharing the new beginnings and this is one. I thank everyone for their support.’
After the festivities ashore, Alinghi 5 led over a 1,000 boats the length of the Lake, by way of Morges, Rolle, Nyon and Versoix, to its home yacht club: Société Nautique de Genève where the team was welcomed by Federal Counselor Micheline Calmy-Rey for a short ceremony. The counselor hoisted the Swiss flag on the catamaran to the National Anthem before making a brief speech that touched on the technological feat that the team has achieved and her pride in the spirit of the multi-national Swiss team.
Next on the team agenda is to prepare Alinghi 5 for the flight over the Alps (BY A HELICOPTER!) into Italy to continue the training programme out of the Mediterranean port of Genoa.
America’s Cup Defender Alinghi Launches in Switzerland
SAILING
Last week we showed you the challenger, BMW ORACLE and their 90’x90’ Trimaran. At the same time, the defender ALINGHI launched their 90’ catamaran on Lake Geneva and put it through its initial test trials.
Incredible! That’s the sentiment felt within the sailing community.
The Cup is still going through its final stage of “land battles“ and disagreements, but a race between these two will occur in February or May next year. On August 8th Alinghi will announce the location. Speculation it will go to the highest bidder – with conducive conditionals suitable to the defender. This game plays under a whole different set of rules – and that’s part of the fascination and heritage. Most notably – the boats and the personalities. Check out Alinghi’s weapon, below.
SAILING
The Oldest Trophy in Sport, The America’s Cup will be a one-off match race (one-on-one) between the defender Alinghi from Switzerland (skippered by our Kaenon’s Brad Butterworth) and the American Challenger, BMW Oracle (skipper and CEO, Russell Coutts and owned by Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison), in Giant Multihulls. The race is expected to take place in February and the location will be announced August 8 by the defender.
These boats are insane – gigantic multihulls that have never been designed or built of this size that will reach unheard of speeds on the course. If you’re a sailor – and even if you’re not, the America’s Cup will be a spectacle. The world-wide exposure from this event will likely be unprecedented for many reasons.
Below, BMW Oracle’s 90-foot x 90-foot Trimaran training off San Diego last week in very mild conditions.
Jimmy Spithill driving from the windward helmsman pod in Jetty
Tactician John Kostecki wearing Hard Kore C12, Helmsman Jimmy Spithill in Jetty Black G12, one of the main designers
Beginning this Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand, long-time America’s Cup sponsor Louis Vuitton will host the first America’s Cup regatta since the last Cup challenge was held in Valencia, Spain in 2007. Featuring 10 strong challengers, including the current America’s Cup defending boat Alinghi, teams will compete in a rotation of evenly matched 1-generation-old America’s Cup class boats – equalizing the playing field and bringing the emphasis back to the skill of the sailors and teamwork on deck. As one of the most recognized sunglass brands in competitive sailing, Kaenon Polarized will have great presence on many of the boats, with three of the strongest teams led by Kaenon Polarized skippers Russell Coutts (Hard Kore, Lewi, Gauge) on BMW Oracle, Brad Butterworth (Hard Kore, Rhino, Lewi) on Alinghi, and triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (Rhino, Hard Kore) on Team Origin. To learn more about this unique event visit: http://www.louisvuitton-pacificseries.com
