Tuesday 8 September 2009

New weblog address

We are pleased to say that we have now moved all our America's Cup 2010 coverage to a new weblog address.

Click on the link below to go straight there and keep up to date with what is happening -


America's Cup 2010

DUBAI — The biggest event in competitive yachting, the America’s Cup, comes to the unexpected waters of Ras Al Khaimah next February.

Swiss holders Alinghi and US challenger Oracle will duel for honours in an event that will doubtless alter the face of tourism in a part of the world with sailing traditions of great vintage.

The regatta, which predates the modern Olympics by nearly half-a-century, is both a test of sailing skill and yacht design, encouraging nations to invest equal pride and money.

“Ras Al Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, will be the host for the 33rd America’s Cup,” Fred Meyer, vice-commodore of the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), said in a team statement on the official America’s Cup website on Wednesday.

By tradition, the holder of the America’s Cup gets to choose the venue. Team Alinghi, which guided a supremely swift catamaran to victory in the 2007 edition of the cup in Valencia, Spain, sails under the SNG burgee.

“This is a venue that offers perfect weather and great sailing conditions in February,” Meyer said of open seas beyond the Al Hamra lagoon where the races will be held. “The country has experience in organising first-class sporting events such as ATP tennis, PGA golf and Formula One.”

“This area has a history of sailing,” Dubai-based sailor Phil Blake said. “If you’ve ever seen a fleet of dhows, it’s a magical sight. But this is the opposite end of the spectrum ... the America’s Cup boats ... they’re designed to the cutting edge of engineering.”

Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, was quoted by the official website as saying, “It is a reflection on what we have achieved in terms of becoming the destination for tourists and trade and industry and is a reflection of our integration with the world at large.”

The tourism industry in Ras Al Khaimah is excited. “It will showcase the natural geography plus the charm and culture of the emirate,” Hilary Mc Cormack of RAK Tourism told
Khaleej Times on Wednesday. “We do expect to welcome thousands.”


Source: Khaleej Times - August 2009

Friday 27 June 2008

Valencia Host City contract ended



As a consequence of the continued uncertainty around the 33rd America's Cup caused by the Golden Gate Yacht Club's legal manoeuvres, AC Management and the Spanish institutions (Central State, Valencia Region and Valencia Municipality) have been left with no option but to revise the terms of their relationship, ending the contract signed in July 2007 that named Valencia the Host City for a multi-challenge 33rd America's Cup in 2009.

The two parties have entered into a new agreement that concludes months of discussions trying to adapt the contract signed after the success of the 32nd America's Cup to the current legal context. Under the new agreement, the organisation and exploitation of the Port America's Cup facilities will be managed by the Spanish institutions from 1 July; the 33rd America's Cup teams retain the opportunity to continue using their bases and the majority of administrative benefits for teams and personnel remain in force until the end of 2008.

Michel Hodara, Chief Executive Officer of AC Management, the company organising the 33rd America's Cup on behalf of the defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève, explains: "Too many issues, such as the dates and participants, remain unresolved until the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court publishes its decision; meaning the July 2007 contract is no longer appropriate. The Spanish authorities understand the situation and we are pleased that we have come to a new agreement adapted to the current context, in the best possible spirit. We thank them for extending the use of the bases and the administrative benefits to the teams.

"This does not mean that we are leaving Valencia. The choice of the venue for the 33rd America's Cup will mainly be based on competitive factors and if Valencia is considered the best place, then a second America's Cup Match will take place here."

Friday 27 July 2007

33rd America's Cup announced in Valencia

The Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup has been revealed, detailing the broad outlines of the next event. Among the highlights was the introduction of a new class of boat, to be 90 feet in length overall, sailed by a crew of around 20 sailors. The final design rule for the new class will be issued on or before 31 December 2007.

The Challenger of Record is the Club Náutico Español de Vela which has agreed on the Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup with the Defending Yacht Club, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG).

The Protocol was announced at a press conference in Port America's Cup on Thursday at noon, by Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of the event organisers, Brad Butterworth, the skipper of the winning Alinghi team, and Hamish Ross, General Counsel of Alinghi.

The venue for the 33rd America's Cup has not been announced. But it was acknowledged that there is an existing relationship with Valencia and a host city agreement with the city is being pursued. The selection of Valencia, or an alternative European venue, will be made and announced on or before 31 December 2007.

"Today we have a natural relationship with Valencia and Spain, and obviously we are discussing extensively the renewal of Valencia as a venue, but we haven't reached an agreement so far. I imagine if we can reach an agreement with Valencia it will happen fairly soon, so we will be able to announce it quickly," said Michel Bonnefous, who also confirmed he would be stepping back his involvement in the next Cup, but not retiring. "If not, we start the process - for two or three months - to select another venue. We have a few cities already who have told us of their int erest in hosting the America's Cup."

The 33rd America's Cup will take place no earlier than 2009 and no later than 2011. It will consist of pre-regattas (potentially to be used as qualifying for the main event), along with the 'main event', comprising Trials, Challenger Selection, and the America's Cup Match. This schedule will be confirmed on or before 31 December 2007.

As with the 32nd America's Cup, the SNG has appointed ACM to manage, organise and finance the 33rd America's Cup.

ACM is also charged with appointing a Race Committee and Measurement Committee along with a Chief Umpire. ACM will establish a Competitors' Commission, with representation from the Defender and Challengers, which will hold regular meetings as a forum to exchange information.

Clearly, the biggest change will be the new class of boat, which Butterworth described as being something that will open the door to new teams, as all the teams in the next Cup, even existing ones, will start from the same level.

"Everybody seems to want a new boat that is bigger, more exciting and difficult to sail, and faster which is the emphasis behind it," Butterworth said. "We're trying to develop something more exciting. These boats have been fantastic but I think they have got to the end of their life and people are looking for something bigger and faster, harder to sail. The guys will have to be athletic; they will be tough boats to sail."

In the pre- regattas, teams will compete in the existing America's Cup Class boats. There will be at least 18 months between the publication of the new Class Rule and the first race in that class.

ACM will now work on fleshing out the details of the new Class Rule, selecting the venue, and publishing the Competition Regulations and Event Regulations.