America’s Cup

<div id="attachment_6173" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S10_9152.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6173" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S10_9152-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco - August Day 4" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <p><strong>UPDATE 5: 1605 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) put a stranglehold on the ACWS San Francisco fleet racing championship by winning the day’s second race, No. 6 of the series.</p> <p>Spithill gained the lead on the first upwind leg, playing the inshore side of the course. When the crew tacked to port they found a lifting puff and were gone. At one point on the second upwind leg they held a 300-meter lead over second place, a truly impressive performance in a fleet that has been swapping places often this week.</p> <p>Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge) placed 2nd in the race, 71 seconds behind the winner, and Energy Team (Yann Guichard) was 3rd, 3 seconds behind the Koreans.</p> <p>Spithill leads the fleet racing standings with 61 points, followed by Energy Team with 48 points and Team Korea with 45, the same amount as Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper).</p> <p>Racing resumes tomorrow morning with the match racing championship, scheduled for 11:45 am PDT, followed by the fleet racing finale at 12:15 pm PDT. The times are earlier to accommodate the national broadcast on NBC.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 4: 1520 hours</strong></p> <p>Energy Team of France (Yann Guichard) has pulled out the first fleet race of the day. The French sailed a splendid race up the second windward leg, overcoming Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) and fending off ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill).</p> <p>Spithill keeps the overall fleet race lead by finishing 2nd, 16 seconds behind the French, who move into second place, 10 points behind the leaders. Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) holds third, 1 point behind the French.</p> <p>Team New Zealand led at the first four mark roundings, but fell back on the second upwind leg and wound up 3rd for the race, 32 seconds behind. It’s the third consecutive race that the Kiwis have fallen from a lead.</p> <p>The day’s second fleet race, No. 6 in the series, is set to start at 3:32 pm PDT.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 3: 1440 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) has defeated Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) in a classic match racing duel to set up an all-ORACLE TEAM USA match racing final in San Francisco.</p> <p>Barker led the match by some 3-4 boatlengths halfway up the windward leg when he crossed Spithill. Barker kept going inshore, however, which allowed Spithill to switch offshore. The crew that’s been offshore seems to find more wind and Spithill closed the game up so that the two crews were bow-to-bow at the windward gate.</p> <p>Spithill crossed on starboard while Barker ducked behind. But neither crew could lay the gate and both tacked, Spithill making a starboard rounding and Barker a port rounding. Spithill led by 5 seconds and only had to perform one jibe on the run while Barker had to make two, and Spithill held on for the win by 13 seconds.</p> <p>Next up is the day’s first fleet race, the fifth of the series, scheduled to begin at 2:50 pm PDT.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 2: 1420 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts) has defeated Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) in the first semifinal match of the event match racing championship. Coutts had a great start, gaining a late leeward hook with about 10 seconds to the start and took the lead onto the racecourse. Coutts led by 12 seconds at the leeward mark and then protected the right side of the upwind leg. But Coutts let Hutchinson get to the right late on the leg and a port-starboard ensued at the windward gate, with Hutchinson on starboard. Coutts, however, was inside the three-boatlength circle of the mark, indicated by the flashing green light on his boat, and Hutchinson had to give way. Coutts rounded with a 5-second advantage and went on to win by 21 seconds.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 1: 1330 hours</strong></p> <p>At 1254 today a weather buoy on San Francisco Bay in the vicinity of the ACWS racecourse recorded wind strengths between 8 and 10 knots with gusts upwards of 16 knots. Forecasts are calling for the winds to increase to 15-20 knots, but the heavy cloud cover and patchy fog might hinder that development.</p> <p>First up on the schedule is the first semifinal match between Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) and ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts). It is scheduled to start at 2:05 pm PDT. The second match, between Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) and ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) is scheduled to start at 2:22. The day’s first fleet race, No. 5 in the series, is scheduled to start at 2:50 pm PDT, followed by race No. 6 at 3:25 pm PDT.</p> <p>The racing will be broadcast live around the world on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/americascup" target="_blank">America’s Cup YouTube channel</a> (subject to territorial broadcast restrictions). It will also be broadcast live on television in the Bay Area on NBC Bay Area 11.2 and throughout California on Comcast SportsNet California.</p> <p><strong>More information can be found at:</strong><br /> <a href="http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACWS-Format-100812.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Format</a><br /> <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/results-standings" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Results</a><br /> <a href="http://34th.americascup.com/media/files/m4737_ACWS%20SF%20AUGUST_Crew%20list%20FRIDAY.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Crew List</a><br /> <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/events/ac-world-series-2012-2013/san-francisco-us-aug-21-aug-26" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Page</a></p> <p><strong>ORIGINAL POST: 1050 hours</strong></p> <p>From the shore to the water, ACWS San Francisco is delivering as much as the fans can handle.</p> <p>On the water the action includes the semifinal round of the match racing championship and fleet races five and six. Shoreside activities include America’s Cup Day at AT&amp;T Park, a fan appreciation event between the San Francisco Giants and ORACLE TEAM USA, and a free concert featuring <a href="http://drdogmusic.com/">Dr. Dog</a> this evening at the Race Village at Marina Green.</p> <p>Racing is scheduled to begin at 2:05 pm PDT with the first semifinal match between Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) and ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts). Hutchinson won the 2011-12 match racing season championship and Coutts won the final event match racing championship of 2011-12 at Newport.</p> <p>Coutts damaged his No. 5 boat yesterday when he crashed into the starboard quarter of the race committee boat at high speed, leaving a chunk of his bow embedded in the hull. The team’s shore crew repaired the damage last night and the boat was expected to be launched by 11:00 am PDT this morning.</p> <p>The video on YouTube has been viewed nearly 25,000 times since it was posted last evening. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0li5rH_2j0&amp;feature=share&amp;list=PL59BD5480A8795C5F">Click here</a> to watch the video.</p> <p>The second semifinal match pits ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) against Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker). There’s little that can be said about this pair that hasn’t already been written in volumes. The two skippers are friends on terra firma, but fierce combatants on the <em>agua</em>.</p> <p>After Spithill overcame Barker in yesterday’s second fleet race he took opportunity in a television interview to needle Barker: “No doubt the New Zealanders will be worried after that.”</p> <p>Barker countered with, “I’m looking forward to having a good battle with them. They know this racecourse well and they’re the most practiced team here, so it will be tough.”</p> <p>The day’s fleet racing action is scheduled to begin at 2:50 pm PDT, with a second race planned at 3:25 pm PDT. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL leads the standings with 39 points, followed by Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge) with 31 points and Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) with 30 points.</p> <p>Go to <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/results-standings">ACWS San Francisco Results</a> for the full standings.</p> <p>Before the racing the fleet of AC45s will sail past AT&amp;T Park, the home of baseball’s San Francisco Giants. ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill will throw out the first pitch of the Giants’ game, and the America’s Cup will be on display. Read more at <a href="http://oracle-team-usa.americascup.com/news/1351/san-franciscos-world-conquering-teams-join-forces">San Francisco’s world-conquering teams join forces</a>.</p> <p>The Giants, winners of the World Series in 2010, have embraced the America’s Cup. Last night Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena (below, right) threw the first pitch during Italian night.</p> <p>The day wraps up this evening with a free concert in the Race Village featuring the band <a href="http://drdogmusic.com/">Dr. Dog</a>. The concert begins at 5:00 pm PDT and is scheduled for three hours.</p> <div id="attachment_6174" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/LunaRossaSF_cb12_183761.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6174" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/LunaRossaSF_cb12_183761-780x504.jpg" alt="Italian heritage night - San Francisco Giants" width="780" height="504" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© Luna Rossa Challenge 2013</p></div>

<div id="attachment_6107" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S10_9318.jpeg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6107" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S10_9318-780x520.jpeg" alt="ACWS San Francisco - August Day 3" width="780" height="520" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <p><strong>UPDATE 5: 1555 hours</strong></p> <p>After placing 7th in the day’s first fleet race, ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) cemented his lead in the fleet race standings with a come-from-behind win in the day’s second fleet race, the fourth fleet race of the series.</p> <p>Spithill was over the start line early, but the penalty hardly hurt. He jibed around the first reach mark and was in fourth by the leeward mark. Spithill moved up to third by the windward mark and second, behind Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) at the second leeward mark.</p> <p>Up the second beat Spithill and Barker traded the lead two times, but Spithill gained it on the last approach to the windward mark a second time and then sped down the run and the short reach to the finish. Meanwhile, Barker was overtaken for second by Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge), which was top crew on the day with a 4-2.</p> <p>“It was a great race, the boys really dug back off the start line. JK (John Kostecki) did a great job, one of best races I’ve seen him sail,” said Spithill. “I felt the first race we sailed ordinary, out of sorts, making mistakes. The second race we stayed smooth and that’ll give us a lot of confidence. No doubt the New Zealanders will be worried after that.”</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 4: 1520 hours</strong></p> <p>The fleet race standings were shook up after the first fleet race of the day, when Luna Rossa Swordfish (Paul Campbell-James) won the race while the two ORACLE TEAM USA boats, placed 1-2 after yesterday, were back in the pack or not on the racecourse at all, as was the case with Russell Coutts.</p> <p>Coutts hit the starboard quarter of the committee boat during the start and badly damaged the starboard bow of his AC45 to the point where he had to return to shore for repairs. Stablemate ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) placed 7th in the race.</p> <p>Luna Rossa Swordfish was in a tight battle with Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge) for the lead when Korea tried to cross on port. But Campbell-James, on starboard, had to duck to avoid hitting Outteridge about two-thirds of the way up the second windwad leg. The penalty gave Campbell-James the lead which he held to the finish, crossing 12 seconds ahead of teammates Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper).</p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL still leads the standings with 27 points, but Luna Rossa Piranha has moved into second with 4 points and Energy team into third with 22 points, the same amount as Artemis Racing White.</p> <p>Go to <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/results-standings" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Results</a> for the full standings.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 3: 1440 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts) has advanced to the semifinal round of the event match racing championship by defeating Energy Team of France (Yann Guichard). In an entertaining race, Coutts led by a small margin around the leeward mark, but Guichard got to the outside of him on the upwind leg. Holding starboard, Guichard crossed ahead of Coutts by less than 5 feet when Coutts was forced to duck behind. But then Coutts regained the lead on the outside and held it to the finish. After yesterday’s racing Coutts explained how he felt there was more wind pressure offshore but tidal relief inshore, and the key was to balance the two options.</p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS will meet Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) in tomorrow’s semifinal round.</p> <p>Next up are two fleet races, with the first one scheduled to start at 2:50 pm PDT. The wind on the Bay has been reported at 265 degrees at 18 knots.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 2: 1420 hours</strong></p> <p>Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) defeated J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) in their quarterfinal match. Barker left Ainslie well behind off the start line. Both crews were well below the layline to the pin end and had to put two tacks in to get up to and across the line. Barker led by 5 or 6 lengths off the line. Although Ainslie closed up a bit beginning the windward leg, Barker steadily pulled away for the 33-second victory. Emirates Team New Zealand moves onto the semifinal round where it’ll meet ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill).</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 1: 1315 hours</strong></p> <p>About 50 minutes remain to the start of the day’s racing program and the wind is up on San Francisco Bay. A weather buoy on the Bay near the racecourse has been recording wind gusts in excess of 20 knots for 90 minutes.</p> <p>Emirates Team New Zealand has announced a crew change. Skipper Dean Barker welcomes back James Dagg in the trimmer’s role, replacing Jeremy Lomas. Dagg has recovered from the head injury he suffered at ACWS Newport.</p> <p>Dagg will be thrust into action as Emirates Team New Zealand contests the first race of the day, against J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) in the quarterfinal round of the event match racing championship. The warning signal is scheduled for 2:00 pm PDT and the start 5 minutes later.</p> <p>The racing will be broadcast live around the world on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/americascup" target="_blank">America’s Cup YouTube channel</a> (subject to territorial broadcast restrictions). It will also be broadcast live on television in the Bay Area on NBC Bay Area 11.2 and throughout California on Comcast SportsNet California.</p> <p><strong>More information can be found at:</strong><br /> <a href="http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACWS-Format-100812.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Format</a><br /> <a href="http://34th.americascup.com/media/files/m4737_ACWS%20SF%20AUGUST_Crew%20list%20FRIDAY.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Crew List</a><br /> <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/events/ac-world-series-2012-2013/san-francisco-us-aug-21-aug-26" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Page</a></p> <p><strong>ORIGINAL POST: 1045 hours</strong></p> <p>Patches of fog are hovering over San Francisco Bay this morning, but the sun is shining on Day 3 of AC World Series San Francisco, Healthy Ocean Project Day.</p> <p>Today’s schedule sees the completion of the match racing quarterfinals followed by two fleet races.</p> <p>First up at 2:05 pm PDT is the quarterfinal match between J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) and Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker). Ainslie advanced to the match by defeating Team Korea, 2-0, in the qualifying round. Barker earned the No. 3 seed based on the 2011-12 match racing season championship and this will be his first match race of the regatta.</p> <p>The winner of the one race match advances to meet ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) in tomorrow’s semifinal round.</p> <p>That is followed at 2:22 by the fourth quarterfinal match, featuring ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts) versus Energy Team (Yann Guichard). These teams placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 2011-12 season match racing standings. Coutts won the final match racing event of the 2011-12 season, in Newport, R.I., and Guichard placed runner-up in the San Diego match racing championship last November.</p> <p>The winner of the one race match advances to meet Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) in tomorrow’s semifinal round.</p> <p>After the two match races, at approximately 2:50 pm PDT, the first of the day’s two planned fleet races is scheduled to start and the races could be lively. The sunny skies portend strong winds than yesterday, and a weather buoy on San Francisco Bay near the racecourse is recording WSW winds around 10 knots with gusts up to 15-17 knots. The forecast calls for WSW winds around 20 knots with stronger gusts – typical weather for late August on San Francisco Bay.</p> <p>Today is Healthy Ocean Project Day at the America’s Cup, with activities in the Race Village at Marina Green intended to educate visitors on saving the planet’s oceans. View more at: <a href="http://youtu.be/1I0w4AbnoJ4">http://youtu.be/1I0w4AbnoJ4</a></p>

<div id="attachment_5927" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S09_8744.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-5927" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S09_8744-780x520.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francis - August Day 2" width="780" height="520" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <p><strong>UPDATE 6: 1615 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) won the second fleet race of the day and holds the fleet racing series lead with a 2-1.</p> <p>Spithill grabbed the race lead about two-thirds of the way down the first run, sailing over the top of China Team (Phil Robertson) on starboard jibe, and then spent the rest of the race fending off the two Artemis boats. In the end Spithill pulled out a 15-second win over Artemis Racing Red (Santiago Lange), which beat stablemate Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) by 11 seconds.</p> <p>After the race ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL tactician could be heard to say, “Nice start boys.”</p> <p>Spithill said, “We had a bit of a battle with the Artemis boats, but the boys stretched us out there at the end. There’s a definite tide line up the course and the wind was difficult to read at the top end of the course. Our maneuvers were flawless. We’re very happy with today and are looking forward to tomorrow.”</p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL holds first with 22 points, followed by ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts) with 18 points, Artemis Red, 16 points, Artemis White, 16, Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge), 13 points, Energy Team (Yann Guichard), 13 points, Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper), 13 points, J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie), 9 points, Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker), 7 points, Luna Rossa Swordfish (Paul Campbell-James), 5 points, and China Team (Phil Robertson), 2 points.</p> <p>Racing resumes tomorrow at 2:05 pm PDT with remaining two matches of the match racing quarterfinals, followed by two more fleet races.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 5: 1520 hours</strong></p> <p>ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS (Russell Coutts) has won the first fleet race of AC World Series San Francisco. Coutts leapt onto the racecourse, hitting the start line with great speed and led the fleet from wire-to-wire. Close behind was stablemate ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill), which finished 15 seconds behind.</p> <p>Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) finished third, 42 seconds behind the winner, and was followed by Energy Team (Yann Guichard, +50 seconds), Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson, +:59), Artemis Racing Red (Santiago Lange, +1:10), Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge, +1:14), Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker, +1:25), Luna Rossa Swordfish (Paul Campbell-James, +1:44), J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie, +1:49), China Team (Phil Robertson, +3:31).</p> <p>After the race Coutts said, “I think time on the water helps, particularly us. We tried to put as much time in as we could over the past few weeks, it all helps. We got the start we planned, it was good that it works out every now and then. We found a gap, got in there and that was a big factor in the race.”</p> <p>The day’s second fleet race is scheduled to start at 3:25 pm PDT.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 4: 1440 hours</strong></p> <p>Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) and ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill) have won their quarterfinal round matches at AC World Series San Francisco and advance to the semifinal round.</p> <p>Artemis Racing defeated Luna Rossa Swordfish (Max Sirena) while Spithill beat Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper). Both matches were one race affairs and were tight throughout. But the two winners extended their leads at the second windward mark when each Luna Rossa crew had difficulties rounding the mark.</p> <p>Luna Rossa Swordfish lost significant speed when it buried its port bow rounding the mark and Luna Rossa Piranha put in two tacks late, losing speed in the process.</p> <p>Two fleet races are on tap now this afternoon, with the first set to start at 2:50 pm PDT. Tune in on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/americascup" target="_blank">America’s Cup YouTube channel</a> (subject to territorial broadcast restrictions). The racing is also being broadcast live on television in the Bay Area on NBC Bay Area 11.2 and throughout California on Comcast SportsNet California</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 3: 1335 hours</strong></p> <p>With about 30 minutes remaining until the start of the day’s racing schedule reports from the racecourse indicate the wind has shifted to the west and is blowing around 12 knots.</p> <p>The first two pairs of the match racing quarterfinals are first up, with Luna Rossa Swordfish (Max Sirena) vs. Artemis Racing White (Terry Hutchinson) scheduled to start at 2:05 pm PDT. The second match pits Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) vs. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (Jimmy Spithill), with the start scheduled for 2:22 pm PDT. The winners of the one race matches advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.</p> <p>Two fleet races will follow, scheduled to start at 2:50 pm and 3:25 pm PDT.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 2: 1235 hours</strong></p> <p>With about 90 minutes to the start of the first race of Day 2 at AC World Series San Francisco the wind is still light from the W/WNW. Forecasts call for it to shift to the SW and increase in strength to 15-25 knots.</p> <p>Today is Youth Day in the AC Village at Marina Green and youth of all ages are welcome to explore all that the America’s Cup in San Francisco has to offer. Activities include a high school sailing demonstration, as well as the enhanced Kid’s Zone presented by PG&amp;E, where youth will be able to race mini AC45s, create posters to cheer on their favorite teams and partake in activities that teach about the environment.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 1: 1130 hours</strong></p> <p>At 1100 weather buoy data from San Francisco Bay indicated W/WNW winds 7-10 knots, gusting slightly higher. Today’s weather forecast calls for the wind to shift to the SW and increase to 15-25 knots. Racing is scheduled to begin at 2:05 pm PDT with the first of two match racing quarterfinal matches.</p> <p><strong>ORIGINAL POST: 1045 hours</strong></p> <p>Welcome to Day 2 of the AC World Series San Francisco.</p> <p>Today’s racing program, slated to begin at 2:00 pm PDT, features one half of the match racing quarterfinals and the first two fleet races.</p> <p>The racing will be broadcast live around the world on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/americascup" target="_blank">America’s Cup YouTube channel</a> (subject to territorial broadcast restrictions). It will also be broadcast live on television in the Bay Area on NBC Bay Area 11.2 and throughout California on Comcast SportsNet California.</p> <p>First up on the water are two of the match racing quarterfinal pairs, Luna Rossa Swordfish vs. Artemis Racing White (scheduled to start at 2:05 pm PDT) and Luna Rossa Piranha vs. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (scheduled to start at 2:22 pm PDT). The winners of the one race matches advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.</p> <p>Two fleet races follow, with the first scheduled to begin at 2:50 pm PDT.</p> <p>Today is Youth Day in the AC Village at Marina Green and youth of all ages are welcome to explore all that the America’s Cup in San Francisco has to offer. Activities include a high school sailing demonstration, as well as the enhanced Kid’s Zone presented by PG&amp;E, where youth will be able to race mini AC45s, create posters to cheer on their favorite teams and partake in activities that teach about the environment.</p> <p><strong>More information can be found at:</strong><br /> <a href="http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACWS-Format-100812.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Format</a><br /> <a href="http://34th.americascup.com/media/files/m4725_ACWS%20SF%20AUGUST_Crew%20list.pdf" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Crew List</a><br /> <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/events/ac-world-series-2012-2013/san-francisco-us-aug-21-aug-26" target="_blank">ACWS San Francisco Event Page</a></p>

<div id="attachment_5769" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8645.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-5769" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8645-780x520.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="780" height="520" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <h4>The America’s Cup World Series opened in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon with a trio of Match Racing Qualifiers. Six teams were competing for the three final spots in the Quarterfinals in the first racing of the 34^th America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay.</h4> <p>The conditions were slightly lighter than what the teams had come to expect on the Bay over the past week when five crews capsized during training sessions. In contrast, today’s West-southwesterly winds of 14-17 knots, with tricky currents to navigate, provided more of a tactical test for the teams.</p> <div id="attachment_5771" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 370px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5771" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8573-360x240.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="360" height="240" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <p>A large weekday crowd lined the shoreline of the AC Village at the Marina Green to take in the action &#8211; the boats at times just yards from the coast &#8211; eager to see America’s Cup racing on the Bay for the first time.</p> <p>It was a good day for Luna Rossa. Both Max Sirena’s Swordfish and Chris Draper’s Piranha crews won their matches 2-0 over China Team and Artemis Racing Red, respectively.</p> <p>“We had a tricky one against Santiago Lange and the Artemis team,” said Piranha skipper Chris Draper. “We knew they’d be pretty strong. But the guys made some good reads on the wind shifts to get us in front.”</p> <p>Ben Ainslie’s J.P. Morgan team also made a successful debut on the circuit, sweeping past Team Korea.</p> <div id="attachment_5772" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 370px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8584.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5772" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8584-360x239.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="360" height="239" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <p>“We certainly have a lot to learn,” Ainslie said. “We had a few issues, but the guys did some amazing work to get us around the course. We had to overtake (in both races) and I think we had a penalty call go against them that helped us in the second race, but the guys did a fantastic job.”</p> <p>Team Korea’s gold medal winning skipper, Nathan Outteridge, felt particularly frustrated in his match against J.P. Morgan BAR, after seeing early leads in both races overturned.</p> <p>“We started well in the first one and then just made one error which gave them the chance they needed,” Outteridge said. “Then in the second race, we seemed to be getting penalties for no apparent reason… (and) we basically had to let him go past… We’re a bit confused about what happened to be honest.”</p> <p>Due to the penalty situation, the team asked Regatta Director Iain Murray to consider overturning the result and having the race re-sailed. But after consulting the Jury, Murray said the results on the water will stand, as the Rules do not allow for redress.</p> <p>Racing on Thursday through Sunday (2:00 pm PDT start time from Thursday through Saturday and at 11:30 am PDT on Sunday) will be broadcast live around the world on the America’s Cup YouTube channel (subject to territorial broadcast restrictions). On television, coverage is available Thursday through Saturday throughout the Bay Area on NBC Bay Area 11.2, and in California on Comcast Sportsnet California. The Sunday finale will be broadcast live, coast to coast in the United States, on NBC from 11:30 am PDT.</p> <p><strong>AC World Series San Francisco – Race Day One</strong></p> <p><strong>Match Racing Qualifiers – Results (winners advance to Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <p>Luna Rossa Swordfish beat China Team, 2-0</p> <p>Luna Rossa Piranha beat Artemis Racing Red, 2-0</p> <p>J.P. Morgan BAR beat Team Korea, 2-0</p> <div id="attachment_5773" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8596.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-5773" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8596-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <div id="attachment_5768" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8621.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-5768" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8621-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div> <div id="attachment_5767" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F08_9011.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-5767" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F08_9011-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Aug 2012" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Copyright ACEA 2012 / Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div>

<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8615.jpg"><img class="alignright size-large wp-image-5727" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/S08_8615-780x520.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco - day 1" width="780" height="520" /></a></p> <p><strong>UPDATE 4: 1500 hours</strong></p> <p>The three matches of the qualifying round for the ACWS San Francisco Match Racing Championship have all concluded with scores of 2-0: Luna Rossa Swordfish defeated China Team, Luna Rossa Piranha defeated Artemis Racing Red and J.P. Morgan BAR defeated Team Korea.</p> <p>The final match was easily the most entertaining of the three. It pitted Olympic gold medalists Ben Ainslie (BAR) against Nathan Outteridge (Team Korea). BAR posted a come-from-behind win in both matches to win by 13 and 29 seconds.</p> <p>The winners move onto the quarterfinal round. The matches include: Luna Rossa Swordfish vs. Artemis Racing White, Luna Rossa Piranha vs. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL AND J.P. Morgan BAR vs. Emirates Team New Zealand. The fourth quarterfinal match is between ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS and Energy Team.</p> <p>The first two, one race matches will be sailed tomorrow and the second two matches, also one race affairs, on Friday.</p> <p>Racing resumes tomorrow with a warning signal scheduled for 2:00 pm PDT.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 3: 1445 hours</strong></p> <p>In the first flight of the qualifying races for the ACWS San Francisco Match Racing Championship, Luna Rossa Swordfish defeated China Team, Luna Rossa Piranha defeated Artemis Racing Red and J.P. Morgan BAR defeated Team Korea in the closest match of the flight. BAR had been trailing but gained the lead approaching the windward mark when it slipped inside. BAR then held on for a close 13-second win.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 2: 1300 hours</strong></p> <p>Just over one hour remains to the first start of ACWS San Francisco.</p> <p>Weather data from a San Francisco Bay weather buoy indicates the wind has been blowing from the west around 8 knots with gusts upwards of 20 knots. The wind is forecast to gust over 20 knots later today.</p> <p>Today’s racing won’t be carried live on television or YouTube, but it can be followed on <a href="http://americascup.virtualeye.tv/" target="_blank">Virtual Eye</a>. Live television and YouTube coverage begins tomorrow.</p> <p>In other news, J.P. Morgan BAR has announced a crew change. Bowman Simeon Tienpont will be replaced by Brad Webb.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 1: 1200 hours</strong></p> <p>The Sailing Instructions were amended this morning and the match racing start times have been slightly changed. Below are the revised target times, they now start 8 minutes apart (there used to be a 14 minute gap between flights).</p> <table id="wp-table-reloaded-id-47-no-1" class="wp-table-reloaded wp-table-reloaded-id-47"> <thead> <tr class="row-1 odd"> <th class="column-1">RACE</th><th class="column-2">TIME</th><th class="column-3">PORT</th><th class="column-4">STBD</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class="row-2 even"> <td class="column-1">Q 8-9 Race 1</td><td class="column-2">1405-1418</td><td class="column-3">CHN</td><td class="column-4">LR-S</td> </tr> <tr class="row-3 odd"> <td class="column-1">Q 7-10 Race 1</td><td class="column-2">1413-1426</td><td class="column-3">AR-R</td><td class="column-4">LR-P</td> </tr> <tr class="row-4 even"> <td class="column-1">Q 6-11 Race 1</td><td class="column-2">1421-1434</td><td class="column-3">BAR</td><td class="column-4">TKOR</td> </tr> <tr class="row-5 odd"> <td class="column-1">Q 8-9 Race 2</td><td class="column-2">1429-1442</td><td class="column-3">LR-S</td><td class="column-4">CHN</td> </tr> <tr class="row-6 even"> <td class="column-1">Q 7-10 Race 2</td><td class="column-2">1437-1450</td><td class="column-3">LR-P</td><td class="column-4">AR-R</td> </tr> <tr class="row-7 odd"> <td class="column-1">Q 6-11 Race 2</td><td class="column-2">1445-1558</td><td class="column-3">TKOR</td><td class="column-4">BAR</td> </tr> <tr class="row-8 even"> <td class="column-1">Q 8-9 Race 3</td><td class="column-2">1453-1506</td><td class="column-3">CHN</td><td class="column-4">LR-S</td> </tr> <tr class="row-9 odd"> <td class="column-1">Q 7-10 Race 3</td><td class="column-2">1501-1514</td><td class="column-3">AR-R</td><td class="column-4">LR-P</td> </tr> <tr class="row-10 even"> <td class="column-1">Q 6-11 Race 3</td><td class="column-2">1509-1522</td><td class="column-3">BAR</td><td class="column-4">TKOR</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>ORIGINAL POST: 1045 hours</strong></p> <p>Racing officially begins today at ACWS San Francisco, the first regatta of the second season of the AC World Series featuring 11 crews racing the bucking AC45s on a boisterous San Francisco Bay.</p> <p>“We’ve all sailed here; we know the winds and currents and we know the performance of these boats,” said America’s Cup Regatta Director Iain Murray. “Add to that these champion sailors and high-performance boats with wingsails, and we’re in for a spectacular five days.”</p> <p>Match racing dominates today’s schedule, with three pairs racing for the right to advance to the quarterfinal round of the event’s match racing championship (scheduled Thursday and Friday). The first warning signal is slated for 2:00 pm PDT and the first start five minutes later.</p> <p>The winner of each match will be the first to score 2 points, and the pairings include (in starting order):<br /> No. 8 Luna Rossa – Swordfish vs. No. 9 China Team (winner advances to race Artemis Racing White)<br /> No. 7 Luna Rossa – Piranha vs. No. 10 Artemis Racing Red (winner advances to race ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL)<br /> No. 6 Team Korea vs. No. 11 J.P. Morgan BAR (winner advances to race Emirates Team New Zealand)</p> <p>The weather forecast calls for clouds and fog giving way to clear skies and sunshine this afternoon. Southerly winds of 14-18 knots are predicted by race time at 2:00 pm, and are expected to build to 16-22 knots by late afternoon.</p> <p>More information can be found at:<br /> <a href="http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACWS-Format-100812.pdf" target="_blank"> ACWS San Francisco Event Format</a><br /> <a href="http://34th.americascup.com/media/files/m4725_ACWS%20SF%20AUGUST_Crew%20list.pdf" target="_blank"> ACWS San Francisco Crew List</a><br /> <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/events/ac-world-series-2012-2013/san-francisco-us-aug-21-aug-26" target="_blank"> ACWS San Francisco Event Page</a></p>

<div id="attachment_5519" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8875.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-5519" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8875-780x520.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Practice" width="780" height="520" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© Gilles Raget-Martin / ACEA</p></div> <p>The 11 skippers leading crews at ACWS San Francisco this week were introduced to the public this evening at a ceremony on the main stage of the ACWS Race Village at Marina Green.</p> <p>This afternoon the fleet took to San Francisco Bay for a practice session in winds between 17 and 20 knots. The action was exhilarating for JR Hildebrand, 24, a San Francisco native and IndyCar driver who spent the day as guest racer with ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL.</p> <p>“It was awesome. It’s such a cool thing to be a part of,” said Hildebrand, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. “You don’t have to be going 200 mph to feel like you’re hauling ass. It was very cool. It’s a like-relationship, racing cars and racing boats. Everything’s very sensitive. How these guys work together to get right up against the other boats is really impressive. It gives me a lot of appreciation for what these guys do.”</p> <p>In other practice action, Emirates Team New Zealand and China Team each capsized. Five crews now have capsized since practice began.</p> <p>See photos from today&#8217;s practice <a href="http://www.americascup.com/photos/856/San-Francisco-ACWS-August-Highlights" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>Here’s what the skippers had to say at this morning’s media briefing:</p> <p><strong>Ben Ainslie, J.P. Morgan BAR</strong><br /> <strong></strong>On managing the AC45 on the racecourse: “It’s going to be exciting. It’ll be slightly chaotic on the start line in 20 knots with 11 boats; I’m sure we’re going to see some amazing spectacles. I’m going to have to back off because the big thing is to avoid any damage. These boats are relatively delicate so if you start wiping out the likelihood is you’re going to break something. So yeah, I’ll need to back off a bit and be prepared to give up a few spots here and there and take care of the kit.”</p> <p><strong>Dean Barker, Emirates Team New Zealand</strong><br /> “San Francisco Bay has definitely been an eye opener for us. It gets pretty fresh at the end of the day. It’s been very good for us to come here and see what it’s like sailing catamarans on the Bay. Sailing these boats in 20 knots of breeze is challenging and demanding. We’re working hard to catch up to where we’ve been in the past.”</p> <p><strong>Russell Coutts, ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS<br /> </strong>On the predicted flood tide changing tactics: “Wind shifts will still be important upwind and downwind. Quite often there’s more wind on the outside of the racecourse, particularly at the bottom end. So there might be some advantage to stay out of the current down there. But the difference in performance in a multihull in a little more wind is hugely significant, it completely overturns the advantage of slightly less current. Judging the approach to marks is going to be challenging as well. If you get that wrong and have to do extra tacks or jibes it’ll be expensive, but I’m looking forward to it.”</p> <p><strong>Yann Guichard, Energy Team</strong><br /> On being back on the helm after coaching: “It’s a good thing to be able to steer the boat and sometimes to be able to watch the others because everybody has their own style. It’s really important to watch them for learning what you can or cannot do onboard. But there is nothing better than training on the water, especially here in the Bay, which is a challenging venue with tricky conditions. After a good training session last week I’m very pleased to be back and quite confident, but there are 11 boats on the start line so the risk management is essential because a capsize can happen suddenly.”</p> <p><strong>Terry Hutchinson, Artemis Racing White</strong><br /> “We have the same crew as the previous regatta in Newport. We have a new J3, the heavy-air jib; no surprise there. We’ve been developing some Code 0s and trying to figure out which one to use. Striking a balance between a fast sail and one that’s easy to handle is a big deal. Do you want a fast sail in a straight line? Or do you want a sail that might not go as fast, but is easier to handle, because that’s an equally important part of the race.”</p> <p><strong>John Kostecki, ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL<br /> </strong>On what he’s looking forward to this week: “I’m looking forward to showcasing the America’s Cup World Series to people here in the Bay area. I think it’ll be pretty cool going to Marina Green and watching the racing. It’s a unique racecourse because we’ll be racing parallel to the shoreline. I think it’s going to be exciting. With the addition of few more teams for this event, I think there’s going to be a lot of close situations and possibly some more capsizing like we saw last week and some collisions as well.”</p> <p><strong>Santiago Lange, Artemis Racing Red</strong><br /> On racing the AC45 compared to the Tornado catamaran: “The main thing is the different style of racing. Compared to the Olympic Games this is more like a medal race, short courses and a lot of boats. But it’s very similar. From the point of view of stability or digging the bow, I think the AC45 is safer than a Tornado. But it’s a lot harder because there are 5 people on board and it’s very physical for the crew. Altogether it is a lot harder, and the communication and short courses make it a lot harder.”</p> <p><strong>Nathan Outteridge, Team Korea</strong><br /> “It’ll be interesting on the start line with 11 boats in 20 knots of breeze. These boats are difficult to sail, but when you have a lot of boats near you and you can’t steer where you want to steer, that’s when it gets nerve-wracking. If you steer to the wrong position you capsize, and if there’s a boat in your way, there’s going to be capsizes.”</p> <p><strong>Phil Robertson, China Team</strong><br /> On returning to the ACWS: “We’re extremely happy to be back racing the ACWS. There couldn’t be a better place to be sailing than San Francisco Bay. The wind is fantastic and the boats are extremely exciting to sail in that much pressure; they’re a handful. You can’t relax until you step off the boat and put it away for the night. You’ve got to be focused 100 percent, and that’s hard to do when you’ve just finished a long, tiring race and you’ve got 15 minutes to recover and you’ve got to be on your toes still. That’s the hardest thing about it.”</p> <p><strong>Max Sirena, Luna Rossa Swordfish</strong><br /> On the strong winds expected this week: “We’ve never sailed so much in such strong wind. The only day was one in Naples when we had 25-30 knots. It’s going to be tough because the AC45 is a really powerful boat and with the wing you can’t depower it that much. The main problem is more the waves, especially when you get tide against wind. It’s easy to make a mistake. The problem with these boats is they aren’t forgiving when you make a mistake. So we need to pay attention to that and stay focused.”</p> <p><strong>Jimmy Spithill, ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL</strong><br /> On racing in front of the home crowd: “It’s huge. We had the final event of the last AC World Series in Newport, and I reckon one of the key things to winning there was the support we got in Newport. It was overwhelming; everyone behind us cheering and waving the team flags and really getting behind us. That just lifts the guys. Now that we’re back in our hometown in the Bay, we’d like to kick off this World Series the way we finished the last one. I really want to see everyone coming down here and getting into it.”</p> <p>Wednesday’s racing schedule features No. 6-seed Team Korea vs. No. 11 J.P. Morgan BAR, No. 7 Luna Rossa – Piranha vs. No. 10 Artemis Racing Red and No. 8 Luna Rossa – Swordfish vs. No. 9 China Team. Each match is a best-of-three.</p> <p>Racing continues Thursday with two pairs of the match racing quarterfinals and the first two fleet races. View the racing lineup at <a href="http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACWS-Format-100812.pdf">ACWS San Francisco Regatta Format</a> and additional event information at the <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/events/ac-world-series-2012-2013/san-francisco-us-aug-21-aug-26">ACWS San Francisco event page</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_5520" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8921.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-5520" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8921-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Practice" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© Gilles Raget-Martin / ACEA</p></div> <div id="attachment_5518" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 790px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8814.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-5518" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8814-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Practice" width="780" height="519" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© Gilles Raget-Martin / ACEA</p></div> <p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8631.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5517" src="http://americascup-news.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/F07_8631-780x519.jpg" alt="ACWS San Francisco Practice" width="780" height="519" /></a></p>