Congratulations to BMW Oracle Racing – decked out in Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses, the sports performance eyewear of choice, for winning the most technologically advanced America’s Cup Race in history! Russell Coutts (Lewi G12), John Kostecki (Hard Kore C28), Ross Halcrow (Hard Kore C28), Dirk DeRidder (Kore G12), Joey Newton (Hard Kore G12), Thierry Fouchier (Hard Kore G12) and the man who talked Coutts into designing and making the Wing – Pete Melvin (Jetty G12)!

The BMW Oracle Racing Crew

The Winged Trimaran in Action

(L) CEO and Skipper Russell Coutts wearing Lewi Black Pearl G12 (R) Larry Ellison

Trimmer, Ross Halcrow in Hard Kore C28

John Kostecki in Celebration Mode

John Kostecki of BMW Oracle Racing, made the call of the match – one that proved to be the defining moment in Race 2 of the 33rd America’s Cup. The talented and decorated tactician and longtime wearer of Kaenon’s patented SR-91® polarized sunglasses, Kostecki made a tactical decision that put America’s BMW Oracle Racing in position to take the lead and go on to ultimately win Race 2 and the America’s Cup. Several of USA 17’s key players, and those on the losing Defender, relied on Kaenon Polarized to read the fickle breeze in Valencia.

After winning the first race in the best-of-3 match, which took place on Friday, February 12th, BMW Oracle Racing only needed one more win to bring the iconic trophy back to America. Wearing Hard Kore, C28 lenses, Kostecki relied on the razor-sharp clarity of his SR-91 polarized lenses – and trusted what he saw – more breeze and a slight shift to the left towards the end of the first leg of Race 2. Confirming what he was reading with the computer data that also indicated a shift in his boat’s favor, he called the tack that placed BMW Oracle’s USA 17 ahead of Alinghi 5, to take the lead at the top mark. That call, was the defining moment that made the race one of pure speed from there on out. BMW Oracle’s Winged trimaran had more speed – and showed that America’s Cup 33, a unique Deed of Gift match – was purely about technical innovation. Kostecki’s most important tool as the winning tactician? Kaenon Polarized! As the most technically advanced sailing sunglasses to be invented, Kaenon’s SR-91 polarized lenses were the choice of tacticians on both teams, all trimmers and key personnel!

So close, but not just yet… The anticipation for the 33rd America’s Cup continues to build, but the breezes off Valencia, Spain refused to cooperate to allow the scheduled first showdown between the two giant multihulls–Swiss defender Alinghi 5 and Challenger BMW Oracle–to take place today.

Race 1 is now re-scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 10th with the time gun due at 1000hrs.

The competitors fine-tuned their boats during yesterday’s windless and final practice. Check back for updates and recaps as these two revolutionary crafts make history this week!

On team BMW Oracle; Russell Coutts, John Kostecki, Dirk DeRidder, Ross Halcrow and Joey Newton will be wearing their trusted Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses. On team Alinghi; Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney and Warwick Fluerry also demand the utmost performance out of their eyewear.

BMW Oracle

Alinghi 5

America’s Cup Online Viewing Resources:
The event website for the 33rd America’s Cup will provide live online
coverage with Peter Montgomery, Andy Green, and Cam Lewis commentating for
the official Host Broadcaster; http://www.americascup.com

ESPN360.com (USA only) will carry the live coverage from the Host
Broadcaster with Gary Jobson and Randy Smyth commentating. All races will
also be available for replay; http://www.ESPN360.com

Boatson.tv has secured the Host Broadcaster live pictures from the course in
Valencia and other general Americas Cup program which can be watched live
on their special Americas Cup TV video players; http://www.boatson.tv

The America’s Cup is slated to be raced February 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th off the frigid winter waters of Valencia, Spain. While there’s still some legal wrangling going on, both teams are now dodging heavy winds and storms to get in ample final training days before the unprecedented match takes place in a few weeks.

The two fastest boats in history — BMW’s Oracle and Alinghi’s Cat — will fight for the America’s Cup over race courses that are up to six times bigger than the ones used in the 32nd America’s Cup. For this reason, the TV and web coverage of the racing will be key.

For the first time in history, the races will be broadcast live and free of charge through www.americascup.com to reach the widest possible audience, including the many fans who will not be able to be in Valencia to witness live this historic competition. Former World Champion, renowned adventure sailor and Kaenon’s inspiration for the Lewi sunglass, Cam Lewis – who wears Lewi, G12 lens – will be one of the three color commentators. With both teams relying on the superior breeze reading capability of Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses that use the company’s patented SR-91 polarized lenses, the world’s best sailors will battle it out.

Stay tuned for the drama that is sure to continue to ensue—well before race even begins!

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.

BMW Oracle training off San Diego and their skipper and CEO Rusell Coutts wearing Lewi Black Pearl G12 racing last week in Europe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kaenon sailor since day 1 of our brand, Alinghi’s skipper and CEO Brad Butterworth in Hard Kore Tobacco, signing autographs.

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.

Skipper and CEO Brad Butterworth in Hard Kore Tobacco C12, last week greeting the media on media day.

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

Mainsail trimmer Dirk DeRidder in Kore C12

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