<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LunaRossaSF13cb_05858.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-15560" alt="LunaRossaSF13cb_05858" src="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LunaRossaSF13cb_05858-780x498.jpg" width="780" height="498" /></a></p>
<p>Luna Rossa Challenge sailed for the first time on San Francisco Bay on Saturday.</p>
<p>See the full story on the team website <a href="http://luna-rossa-challenge-2013.americascup.com/en/latest/2645/luna-rossa-foiling-on-the-san-francisco-bay%0A" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CO4_7919.jpg"><br />
<img alt="CO4_7919" src="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CO4_7919-780x519.jpg" width="780" height="519" /></a></p>
<p>The Golden Gate Yacht Club and America’s Cup organizers are pleased that the work of the America’s Cup Review Committee has begun and that they met with the teams in San Francisco today.</p>
<p>We appreciate the vote of confidence Mr. Bertelli, president of Luna Rossa Challenge, gave to the America’s Cup continuing as planned this summer on San Francisco Bay, during his press conference this afternoon in Alameda.</p>
<p>We are pleased that Luna Rossa has already submitted its suggestions to the Review Committee. We are, however, disappointed that Luna Rossa indicated that it might not follow the Review Committee’s recommendation issued last evening that teams not sail in San Francisco before May 23rd (to allow the Committee time to make further recommendations).</p>
<p>We note that Luna Rossa has already sailed its AC72 yacht in Auckland for some 40 days without incident and are now prepared to sail in San Francisco Bay.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, we expect that the Review Committee’s safety-driven recommendations will be accepted by the teams, and we appreciate Mr. Bertelli’s assurances in that regard during today’s press conference.</p>
<p>The best way forward for the expert Review Committee is to complete its work and publish its recommendations so that we will achieve the safest-possible resumption of AC72 training and racing on San Francisco Bay as soon as possible.</p>
Review Committee recommends teams suspend AC catamaran sailing
<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-15530" alt="Artemis Racing, 25 Februari 2013, Alameda, USA" src="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/13_002844_Artemis2-780x471.jpg" width="780" height="471" /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Tributes from around the world are pouring in for British Olympic hero and double Olympic medalist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who was tragically killed when Artemis Racing team’s AC72 capsized on San Francisco Bay on Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Simpson had competed at the highest levels of sailing, winning Olympic Gold and Silver medals with skipper Iain Percy in the Star class in back-to-back Olympics.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Andrew James “Bart” Simpson was born Dec. 17, 1976, in Chertsey, Surrey, southwest of London.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Simpson’s sailing career began at the age of 7 along the south coast of England when he raced Optimist dinghies with Sir Ben Ainslie, who has become one of the greatest Olympic sailors of all time, and Iain Percy, who would become his skipper in the Star class. They would go to win Gold and Silver medals at the Olympic Games.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Simpson joined Artemis Racing earlier this year as a strategist, a few months after the team promoted Percy to the position of sailing team director. Previously, he sailed in the America’s Cup with Percy with Italy’s +39 Challenge in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup off Valencia, Spain.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Simpson is survived by his wife, Leah, and their two young children.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Following yesterday’s tragedy, notes of condolence have been posted around the world:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Torbjörn Törnqvist, Chairman of Artemis Racing</strong>, said, “Our thoughts are with Andrew’s family, who suffered a tragic loss yesterday—of a son, a father, and a husband. As our friend and teammate, Andrew “Bart” Simpson was central to Artemis Racing, both in the course of racing and our lives. His presence and personality was a binding force and he will be missed. Right now, the primary focus of Artemis Racing is on the well-being of our team members and their families, and the America’s Cup competition will remain second to that.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Paul Cayard, CEO of Artemis Racing</strong>, said, “Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson’s family, his wife and kids, and also the rest of my teammates. It’s a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody’s well being.”</p>
<p><strong>Iain Percy OBE, long-term friend and Artemis Racing</strong> team mate commented via the British Sailing Team, “Yesterday I lost my closest friend of over twenty five years, the friendliest and kindest man I have ever met. I cannot believe he is no longer with us. Now all our thoughts should be with his wife and two amazing boys who meant the world to him. Andrew has more friends than anyone and we will continue to support his family with all our hearts.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee</strong> said, “Andrew Simpson was a hugely accomplished sailor and Olympian. He died pursuing his sporting passion and our thoughts are naturally with his family and friends and of course his fellow crew members who must be devastated by this tragic accident.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Carlo Croce, President of the International Sailing Federation</strong> said, “ISAF would like to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Andrew Simpson’s wife, family and the Artemis Racing Team. A fine yachtsman, wonderful man and ambassador for the sport of sailing, Andrew will be deeply missed by those who knew him personally and those he inspired.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>John Derbyshire, RYA Performance Director</strong> shared his opinion of Simpson’s loss: “We’re devastated by the news from San Francisco. Andrew is someone I’ve worked closely with since the age of 16 – he was a great talent and a key figure in our World Class Program over many years culminating in his well-deserved Olympic success. He was a huge inspiration to others, both within the British Sailing Team and across the nation, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this terrible time.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Jimmy Spithill, skipper ORACLE TEAM USA</strong>, posted, “Our thoughts are with Andrew Simpson’s family and friends and the team at Artemis Racing. We’ll miss u mate.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>From Luna Rossa Challenge</strong>, “Team Luna Rossa is devastated and shocked for what happened to Artemis and expresses its deepest condolences to Andrew’s family, a friend and a sportsman that no one of us will ever forget.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Emirates Team New Zealand</strong> is shocked by the tragic death of Artemis Racing crew member Andrew Simpson in a training accident today on San Francisco Bay. Managing director Grant Dalton said the team extends its condolences to Andrew Simpson’s family, friends and to the Swedish team.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Russell Coutts, CEO, ORACLE TEAM USA</strong>, posted, “My deepest sympathies to Andrew Simpson’s family, friends and the whole Artemis Racing Team during such difficult times. These days are really sad days for the sailing community.”</p>
<p><strong>Ben Ainslie, JP Morgan BAR</strong>, posted, “This is such a tragedy. Andrew was such a wonderful husband, father, friend and one of the nicest people you would ever meet. The only solace I can find is that he died doing something he loved. I have such fond memories of growing up sailing together as kids and then as adults. I will miss him so much. My thoughts and prayers are with Leah, their two boys and their family.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Energy Team posted</strong>, “Everyone at Energy Team is reeling from the shock of hearing of the terrible loss of Andrew Simpson and we would like to offer our condolences to his family and friends.”</p>
<p>The members of <strong>Team Korea</strong> are shocked and saddened by the loss of Artemis sailor Andrew Simpson. Too young to leave this world. We feel pain for his family and friends. Fair winds Bart.</p>
<p><iframe width="780" height="439" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LsnGz7HfVkc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
Cayard: ‘Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson’s family’
<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-15522" alt="GG11-SFOJUNE_1386" src="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/GG11-SFOJUNE_1386-780x520.jpg" width="780" height="520" /></p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: 1735 hours</strong></p>
<p>Artemis Racing CEO Paul Cayard addressed the media this afternoon at the team base in Alameda and said the following regarding the capsize of the team’s first AC72 and loss of crewman Andrew Simpson:</p>
<p>“Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson’s family, his wife and kids, and also the rest of my teammates. It’s a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody’s well being.</p>
<p>“The boat’s under control, but that’s not the first of our concerns. We’re focused on the people.</p>
<p>“That’s what we’re working with and on and we’ll give you more information when we’re able to.”</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: 1645 hours</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Statement from the America’s Cup:</p>
<p>The thoughts of everyone involved with the America’s Cup are with the family of Andrew Simpson and the members of Artemis Racing.</p>
<p>Andrew was an immensely popular and respected member of the sailing community, and his two Olympic medals were testament to his talent.</p>
<p>His easy-going personality made him loved by many; always friendly, always smiling and always supportive of others.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: 1610 hours</strong></p>
<p>Artemis Racing CEO Paul Cayard will host a press conference at 5:00 pm PT at the Artemis Racing base in Alameda to address today’s accident.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: 1510 hours</strong></p>
<p>It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crewmember Andrew “Bart” Simpson today in San Francisco.</p>
<p>For more information please visit the <a href="http://artemis-racing.americascup.com/news/4511/artemis-racing-sailor-andrew-simpson-dies-in-training-accident" target="_blank">Artemis Racing website</a>.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: 1420 hours</strong></p>
<p>Members of the America’s Cup community are on San Francisco Bay assisting Artemis Racing after the capsize of its first AC72 catamaran. The incident occurred between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm PT.</p>
<p>According to news reports, emergency crews were on site and performing CPR to a crewmember who had been trapped under the platform for an estimated 10 minutes.</p>
<p>All other crewmembers had been accounted for.</p>
<p>More to come.</p>
<p><strong>ORIGINAL POST: 1330 hours</strong></p>
<p>Artemis Racing, the Swedish challenger, has capsized its AC72 during training on San Francisco Bay on Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p>Support boats are on the scene to assist in recovery of crew and boat.</p>
<p>Updates to come.</p>
America’s Cup Hall of Fame induction class announced
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-15475" alt="uss" src="http://americascup-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/uss.jpg" width="719" height="482" /></p>
<p>US Sailing, the national governing body of the sport, has joined forces with the pinnacle event in sailing – the iconic America’s Cup – to introduce, inform and educate a new generation of sailors.</p>
<p>The new website at <a href="http://www.startsailing.org" target="_blank">www.startsailing.org</a> offers visitors an exciting and easy-to-follow introductory view of sailing, including information on the various types of sailboats, the basics of sailing, tips on how to get started and find access to boats and lessons, as well as other ways to get involved.</p>
<p>“There are many people interested in learning how to sail who have yet to take the first step,” said Jack Gierhart, Executive Director of US Sailing. “Perhaps they don’t know where to begin or believe it is too difficult or expensive – all not true. This new website is the perfect place to welcome newcomers, while serving as a useful resource as they get started. We hope sailors will visit the website and share it with their family members and friends who want to learn.”</p>
<p>The current America’s Cup has shifted perceptions about the excitement and athleticism of the sport at its highest level. The ‘Start Sailing’ initiative shows that the sport is more accessible than ever before and that sailing is a ‘sport for life’.</p>
<p>“The America’s Cup Summer of Racing will put the sport in the spotlight and will inspire new fans to try out sailing for themselves. Start Sailing tells them how to do it,” said Stephen Barclay, CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority.</p>
<p>Not sure what type of sailboat is right for you? Start Sailing features special descriptions of big boats, small boats, multihulls, windsurfing and kiteboarding, and the benefits of sailing boats in these categories.</p>
<p>Looking for a place to learn? The website provides direction on who offers sailing programs and courses for beginners, and ideas on how to get involved in the sport by being a volunteer. US Sailing’s revised and improved “Where to Sail” database will give visitors the opportunity to research local community sailing centers, sailing schools, yacht clubs and other marine and water sport organizations in their area.</p>
<p>Ever wonder how a sail works? Start Sailing diagrams parts of the boat and rig, as well as points of sail, to give visitors an idea on how sailing works.</p>
<p>Know how to sail and want to teach others? Visitors will learn more about US Sailing Instructor Certification programs.</p>
<p>Visit the website directly at <a href="http://www.startsailing.org" target="_blank">www.startsailing.org</a></p>
<p>It was an event full of expectation for J.P.Morgan BAR, as the team headed into the finale of the 2012-13 World Series in Naples. After a second place finish in San Francisco last October the team came with a clear aim, to win the event. But it wasn’t to be. Another hard fought day on the water saw the team finish fifth in Super Sunday’s bumper points fleet race, not enough to podium at the event, but it was enough to place them third overall in the 2012-13 three event series.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-598" alt="America's Cup World Series Naples/ ACWS Naples" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2013/04/130421_AC45Naples_ML_048.jpg" width="960" height="640" /></p>
<p>Skipper Ben Ainslie reflected on the final race today, <em>“To win the event we really needed to win the race today, unfortunately it didn’t happen for us. We struggled in the middle of the fleet. The conditions were difficult today but it was the same for everyone and we just weren’t able to quite get it right which is a shame and it’s frustrating for the team. But that’s sports, that’s life and you have to learn what you can from it and move forwards. I think we had more potential than where we finished, so we know we have to work harder next time round to get ourselves to the top of the fleet at the next event.”</em></p>
<p>Today’s fleet race was do or die, the overall event title was up for grabs with the top five teams all in contention to walk away with the trophy. The start once again proved to be a deal breaker, Matt Mitchell talked through the start and race for J.P.Morgan BAR, <em>“We thought we had the right end of the start line, but it wasn’t to be. It’s been the story of the last few days, the starts have not been clicking for us, you try to pick your way through the fleet, but again you get dictated into your lanes and it limits how far you can get back up through the fleet.”</em></p>
<p>After rounding the first gate, J.P.Morgan BAR found themselves buried in the middle of the pack, but the crew didn’t give up constantly searching for opportunities to pull back places. For the boats at the front when it’s going well it racing looks easy, but on a day like today for the majority of the fleet it was a battle as Mitchell explained,<em> “Having found ourselves once again with a deficit on the leaders you just have to keep blazing away and working hard until the end, We kept working away all the way to the end. We missed out on a few things and we know that small mistakes are pretty costly in this event and that was the difference today”.</em></p>
<p>The tricky conditions saw the lead change hands throughout the seven lap course. ORACLE TEAM USA, Team Energy, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Swordfish all threatened to take line honours, but it was Francesco Bruni onboard Luna Rossa Swordfish that finally secured a win, taking the lead on the final downwind leg, in front of adoring home crowds that lined the shoreline in Naples.</p>
<p>Four time America’s Cup winner J.P.Morgan BAR headsail trimmer Simon Daubney has enjoyed the experience with the team. <em>“Sailing at these events with Ben has been great. We have a great bunch of guys and we’ve fought hard at every regatta. It’s good sailing with him, it was hard at the first event, he came straight from the Games so it was a big learning curve for all of us, but we sailed really well in the second event and we were really pleased with the result last October. Conditions were very different here and it didn’t go as we hoped that it would, but we’re still friends and we will live to fight another day”.</em></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-599" alt="America's Cup World Series Naples/ ACWS Naples" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2013/04/130421_AC45Naples_ML_018.jpg" width="960" height="640" /></p>
<p>For the crew onboard J.P.Morgan BAR it’s the end of competition for this year, as the sailors prepare to shift attention back to the America’s Cup finals in San Francisco this summer. <em>“It’s a little bit sad of J.PMorgan BAR today. It’s been a pretty cool thing we’ve had going on, we have a good boat and good bunch of boys to sail with. We have shown great promise at times, and the overall experience over the series has been awesome,”</em> Matt Mitchell.</p>
<p><em>“We would have love to have done a lot better in this event, but it shows a lot of promise and lot to build on for the future,”</em> concluded Ainslie.</p>
FOUR TIME GOLD MEDALLIST BEN AINSLIE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM OLYMPIC SAILING
<p>Ben Ainslie today announced his retirement from Olympic sailing. At London 2012 Ainslie cemented his place in sporting history by securing his fourth consecutive gold medal, it was the culmination of an Olympic career spanning sixteen years. The final gold medal also entered Ainslie into the history books making the most successful Olympic sailor of all time.</p>
<p>For Ainslie the decision was not an easy one, <em>“When I look back there are so many special memories; from that first medal in Atlanta 16 years ago to carrying the flag at the closing ceremony in London 2012. London was an incredibly special Olympics, competing on home waters and in front of a home crowd, I don’t think anything will be able to top that experience. But you have to move forwards and it is time to move onto the next challenge in my career.”</em></p>
<p>Ainslie has taken the bold move to setup a team to challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. This announcement marks the start of a new chapter in his career as he now shifts his focus to winning the America’s Cup and bringing the oldest trophy in sport back to Britain. Conceived by the British in 1851, the America’s Cup is the only international sporting trophy Great Britain has never won.</p>
<p>The team has taken the first steps on this road with J.P.Morgan who is title sponsor to the Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) AC45 team, who are competing in the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) 2012-13. The team has shown great promise finishing second at the last ACWS event in October.</p>
<p><em>“The America’s Cup has always been a goal for me. With the new format of the America’s Cup World Series and the increased commericalistaion of the event, I feel confident that we can continue to build towards creating a commercially viable team, with the ultimate goal of challenging for the 35th America’s Cup.”</em></p>
<p><em>“Stepping away from the Olympics was not an easy decision to make and I wanted to take some time after London to think about the future and what the next challenge would be. I’ve had an amazing Olympic sailing career and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the countless number of people who have been involved in my sailing career to date. Their support enabled me to achieve my dreams and I could not have done it without them.”</em></p>
<p>John Derbyshire, Royal Yachting Association Performance Director, commented:<em> “Ben has always made it clear that his two career goals have been to win Olympic gold, and to win the America’s Cup. With four Olympic golds and a silver across five Games, and now the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, he has nothing left to prove in Olympic terms and there can be no question that he’s more than achieved his first goal. It’s therefore entirely understandable that he should now want to turn his attentions to the second, and hopefully lead a British team to win the oldest trophy in sport for the very first time. ”</em></p>
<p><em>“The word ‘legend’ is often over-used in sport, but Ben really is one – a determined yet unassuming, modest, often under-recognised legend in this nation’s sporting history. He has been a talismanic figure in the RYA’s Olympic programme for over 16 years, through his successes inspiring new waves of sailors to get involved in the sport, and passing on his tireless work ethic and campaign skills to other young talents who will look to follow in his footsteps and take on the challenge of keeping GBR a leading light in Olympic sailing in the years to come.”</em></p>
<p>The next ten months will see Ainslie train and compete with the America’s Cup defenders ORACLE Team USA in San Francisco, where he will gain invaluable experience helming one of two AC72s in the build up to the 34th America’s Cup in September 2013.</p>
<p><strong>Olympic medals </strong><br />
2012 – GOLD Olympics Finn class, London<br />
2008 – GOLD Olympics Finn class, Beijing<br />
2004 – GOLD Olympics Finn class, Athens<br />
2000 – GOLD Olympics Laser class, Sydney<br />
1996 – SILVER Olympics Laser class, Atlanta</p>
<p><strong>World Titles </strong><br />
2012 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
2008 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
2005 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
2004 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
2003 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
2002 – GOLD Finn World Championships<br />
1999 – GOLD Laser World Championships<br />
1998 – GOLD Laser World Championships<br />
1995 – GOLD ISAF Youth World Championships (Laser class)<br />
1993 – GOLD Laser Radial World Championships</p>
<p><strong>European Titles </strong><br />
2008 – GOLD Finn European Championships<br />
2005 – GOLD Finn European Championships<br />
2003 – GOLD Finn European Championships<br />
2002 – GOLD Finn European Championships<br />
2000 – GOLD Laser European Championships<br />
1999 – GOLD Laser European Championships<br />
1998 – GOLD Laser European Championships<br />
1996 – GOLD Laser European Championships<br />
1993 – GOLD Laser Radial European Championships</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/bar/four-time-gold-medallist-ben-ainslie-announces-retirement-from-olympic-sailing/jren8810-version-3low/" rel="attachment wp-att-527"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-527" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2012/11/JREN8810-Version-3low-393x260.jpg" alt="" width="393" height="260" /></a></p>
Ben Ainslie blog: A great foundation for the future
<p>J.P.Morgan skipper Ben Ainslie</p>
<p><em>“Today was a tough race it was quite close racing four boats in it for the win, in some ways the whole fleet because of the points system, It was disappointing not to hang onto the lead but after abad start we did a really good job to fight back and secure second so I couldn’t be happier with the way the week’s gone really in terms of training and preparation compared with last time around. It’s where we want to be and it gives us a great foundation for the future.</em></p>
<p><em>What happened at the start, well we tried to squeeze into a gap and it was a bit tight, fair enough we conceded a penalty so we didn’t have the best start and we could have done a better job. The first beat we really struggled and didn’t get that right and you know that cost us a lot but after that we were fine the boys did a great job and to make gains from the back of the fleet to get fourth, so that was a great come back. Jimmy and his team did a great job today and it’s a shame we weren’t able to match that today but it’s been a great week. Unfortunately today didn’t go our way, it’s the nature of this racing with the points stacked on Super Sunday on the last race. You have to perform on that final race and Jimmy and his team to their credit did just that, and they won the race and the regatta. We were struggling a bit at the back of the pack today, but thankfully we got fourth which meant second overall. We would have loved to have won that was our aim going into that race, but overall we’re really happy with the week. We’ve made some massive improvements from the last regatta and there is still a lot we can improve on. It’s been a great week great racing and we’v really enjoyed it . </em></p>
<p><em>I know we have been asked all week what the difference has been from last time, and it is definitely the preparation and time together on the water as a team. This week we had some solid races, we had pretty good starts and the guys just did a fantastic job sailing the boat fast and the boat handling was particularly good. Kyle and the other guys did a great job with the tactical calls, when we did have some bad starts we just dug deep and pulled through. As i’ve said before there is still a lot we can improve on which I think is a nice thing, we’ll go away and look at that for the next event. Overall we had a great series here, the improvements from last time are massive and we know we have the ability to come back and start winning these events so that’s the plan moving forward.”</em></p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/bar/ben-ainslie-blog-a-great-foundation-for-the-future/team-j-p-morgan-bar-racing-in-san-francisco-ca-6/" rel="attachment wp-att-470"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-470" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2012/10/TeamJPMorganBAR_Sunday-475_low-500x332.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
J.P.Morgan BAR qualify for match racing quarter finals
<p>Day one of racing at the America’s Cup World Series kicked off in San Francisco Bay with the match racing qualifications. The forecast soon went from an indian summer into the depths of winter this afternoon as the race course was covered in a blanket of fog filled with winds gusting over 20 knots. For Team J.P.Morgan BAR it was set to be a testing day, as the crew headed out into the strongest conditions they have sailed in so far. They lined up against Luna Rossa Swordfish in their first match race of the day, a win would see J.P.Morgan BAR head straight into the quarter finals.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/bar/j-p-morgan-bar-qualify-for-match-racing-quarter-finals/team-j-p-morgan-bar-racing-in-san-francisco-ca-4/" rel="attachment wp-att-453"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-453" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2012/10/TeamJPMorganBAR_Wednesday-499_low-500x332.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
<p>A perfect start by skipper Ben Ainslie saw J.P.Morgan BAR fly past Luna Rossa, extending to hold a five boat length lead heading up the first beat. Spanish skipper Iker Martinez struggled to stay in touch, conceding a penalty after passing the boundary line on the downwind leg. J.P.Morgan BAR extended and crossed the line for a comfortable win seeing them qualify for the quarter-finals. Their paring is due to take place on Friday 5th against number two seed ORACLE TEAM USA – Spithill.</p>
<p>Speaking dockside after racing, J.P.Morgan BAR skipper Ben Ainslie commented,<br />
<em>“It was a great day, we had some really difficult conditions. We really haven’t sailed in that level of breeze before so there was a bit of uncertainty there, but the guys dealt with it really well. We had a great start and we got round the course well, the maneouvres were very clean so it was a good confidence boost, especially in such challenging conditions so a good result for us heading into the fleet racing tomorrow. I was a little under the weather yesterday which didn’t help, but it certainly helped for the weigh in! Anyway, hopefully I will be feeling more on form tomorrow, I think it’s going to be good fun getting into the fleet racing and we can’t wait to get started”. </em></p>
<p>J.P.Morgan BAR trimmer Simon Daubney,<br />
<em>“Ben did a great job at the start, we’ve done a lot of practice starting drills and he’s been going really really good. That’s the thing that I keep getting impressed with by Ben, he learns something once and then he just nails it, he’s figured out a lot of stuff really quickly, and the last week and a half of training has been great for all of us, but really good for him. That was the start that we needed and hopefully we can keep it going. The result and performance today is a great boost going into tomorrow’s racing. Today was about as windy as we sail in here, so it was good to have a solid performance out there”. </em></p>
<p>We are heading into event two here in San Francisco, the last event was certainly a whirlwind, we were limited in our training time on the water and I was coming into the event straight off the back of the Olympics. This time we have a base here in San Francisco and it’s starting to feel a little like home. We have had an opportunity to get some decent training time in on the water and we’ve been lucky enough to train alongside the ORACLE TEAM USA guys as well as some of the other teams when they arrived here.</p>
<p>It’s been great to train with Jimmy and Russell we have definitely learnt a huge amount, we still have a lot of learn, but I certainly hope that we can have better form than last time and I feel that we are definitely capable of raising our game. It was pretty difficult getting focused and into the flow of things last time, I feel much more focused and prepared and the whole team is starting to really come together.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/bar/event-2-ready-to-raise-our-game/team-j-p-morgan-bar-racing-in-san-francisco-ca-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-439"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-439" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2012/10/TeamJPMorganBAR_Monday-327_low-500x332.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
<p>The big interest is of course on Sunday or ‘Super Sunday’ as it’s more commonly known around here. The opportunity is certainly there for the taking, you have to keep yourself in the hunt going into that race if you have a good race there then the results can be great.</p>
<p>San Francisco itself it buzzing, we are in the middle of a host of events, from Fleet Week to Oracle World, there is a great atmosphere helped somewhat by the balmy indian summer weather we are experiencing, the chilly winds have been replaced with sunshine and the temperature is rising. It would be great if the expected thousands of spectators turn out, we had a bit of an experience of that at the Olympics at home, it’s good for sailing, there is a lot of interest and it’s great for the sport. There is so much interest in sailing here in San Francisco and the America’s Cup. America is so vast things can easily get lost, especially with al the football, basketball and baseball going on, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in here in San Francisco so it is great to be a part of that.</p>
<p>In terms of the racing, we have a difference course, it has moved a little further east towards Alcatraz, so that will require a certain change to strategy as we deal with some potentially slightly lighter winds this week. It’s a different challenge and there are some different players in the game at this event, so it should make for some fun racing. I think the main thing I have learnt over the last few weeks is the importance of the nuances, the techniques. As the racing is so close you have to have really good technique on the boat, just basic things like trim,ing the wing on my own, learning the best technique for doing that. If you can get the boat handling around the course slick then that makes a huge difference to the results. It’s still early days but I think we have stepped up another level from last time. Frustratingly I seemed to have picked up a virus this week, so I’m hoping that a day’s rest and a good nights sleep will help ahead of racing tomorrow.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/bar/event-2-ready-to-raise-our-game/team-j-p-morgan-bar-racing-in-san-francisco-ca-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-440"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-440" src="http://americascup-news.com/bar/files/2012/10/TeamJPMorganBAR_Monday-185_low-500x332.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
<p><strong>C</strong><strong>hina Team achieves its best results in the 34<sup>th</sup> America’s Cup World’s Series</strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong></strong><strong>6<sup>th</sup> Oct 2012 San Francisco</strong></p>
<p>China Team, the official challenger of the 34<sup>th</sup> America’s Cup World Series, has achieved its best result yet in history in today’s first fleet race. China Team has defeated six strong teams from U.S., France, Italy, Sweden and etc., and become the fifth to finished race.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/china/china-team-achieves-its-best-results-in-the-34th-americas-cup-worlds-series/img_6799/" rel="attachment wp-att-676"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-676" src="http://americascup-news.com/china/files/2012/10/IMG_6799-500x333.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p>The weather today in San Francisco bay is sunny and breezy. The America’s Cup has started its third day of racing after the “Blue Angle” fleet week show. After the starting signal of the first fleet week, the eleven boats boosted up to the first mark. After Emirate Team USA had seured the first place after the swift turn in the first mark, Oracle Team USA Spithill pushed their boat to the limit aiming to minimize the distance with Emirate Team New Zealand. However, when you may a mistake and you pay for it. Oracle Team USA Spithill made a mistake and flipped over in the first turn. China Team grabbed the chance and secured its good position and finished the match ranking the fifth, which is the best result yet in the America’s Cup World Series.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/china/china-team-achieves-its-best-results-in-the-34th-americas-cup-worlds-series/img_4856/" rel="attachment wp-att-677"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-677" src="http://americascup-news.com/china/files/2012/10/IMG_4856-500x333.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p>The Chinese Sailor YingKit Cheng has accepted the interview from the America’s Cup after the race today. He stated that it is quite normal to see capsizes in the America’s Cup, and that is the charm of the regatta. Every sailor has to prepare for change and challenge during the race. Luckily, China Team has successfully grasped the opportunity and finished the race under pressure.</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/china/china-team-achieves-its-best-results-in-the-34th-americas-cup-worlds-series/img_6468/" rel="attachment wp-att-678"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-678" src="http://americascup-news.com/china/files/2012/10/IMG_6468-500x333.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p>The America’s Cup World Series San Francisco October will come to the final tomorrow (7<sup>th</sup> Oct). Tonight, whole China Team would have a simple celebration for the good result achieve today and prepare for the final race tomorrow. Let’s wish China Team would scale new height in the following race tomorrow.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-603" src="http://americascup-news.com/china/files/2012/08/F11_0079-960x639.jpg" alt="China Team sets sights on October AC World Series" width="960" height="639" /></p>
<p>View the full gallery <a title="here" href="http://china-team.americascup.com/photos/72157631297454122">here</a>.</p>
<p>In its effort to continue building a foundation for future America’s Cup endeavors, China Team today announced the Hilton San Francisco Financial District as a sponsor of the team for the next AC World Series San Francisco (Oct. 2-7).</p>
<p>China Team principals including Vanessa Fang, the managing director, and Stanley Mo, the marketing manager, were on hand for the announcement, as were sailors Ying Kit Chang and Tie Wa Li. China Team plans to begin training for the next regatta on Sept. 16.</p>
<p>The announcement also aimed to strengthen the relationship with the Chinese community in San Francisco. Mayor Ed Lee is the first Chinese-American mayor a major U.S. city, and his wife, Anita, presented opening remarks.</p>
<p>“China Team, you are a wonderful ambassador for China to the America’s Cup,” said First Lady Lee. “We look forward to cheer you on in the races to come. More than one-quarter of San Francisco’s residents are of Chinese descent, and China Team’s participation helps us continue to foster cultural and economic ties with China.”</p>
<p>America’s Cup Regatta Director Iain Murray also addressed the audience. He noted China’s recent sailing gold medal (in the Laser Radial class) at the Olympics, its first-ever sailing gold medal, and noted the team’s goal of developing a new generation of Chinese sailors.</p>
<p>“We’re happy to have China Team competing in the second series of the AC World Series in October,” said Murray. “We admire the team’s ambition of building a young crew and support their vision for the long-term future of the America’s Cup.”</p>
<p><iframe width="780" height="439" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tX2pCnto5_o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Emirates Team New Zealand has had men on the ground at our new home on Pier 30/32 in San Francisco for the past few weeks. All working tirelessly to build the small village of tents and containers which will house the team, the AC72s, the wing sails and everything else that will be required in the quest to win the America’s Cup.<br />
Rapidly the small corner of New Zealand in the San Francisco bay is taking shape with the bold waka already becoming a talking point among the passing locals.<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dg0FuQgMrhs" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Construction of the Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) base for the America’s Cup is underway in San Francisco signalling the start of a series of events to showcase New Zealand businesses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says major eventslike the America’s Cup provide an opportunity for NewZealand companies to showcase their expertise on the international stage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">“New Zealand has a strong marine and digital technology association with the America’s Cup, and this programme is about leveraging off and growing that strong relationship,” Mr Joyce says.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">The programme is being developed alongside the sailing event. As part of an agreement signed between the Government and Emirates Team New Zealand, New Zealand businesses will have exclusive access to the America’s Cup racing and ETNZ’s base in San Francisco.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">The home base for the events organised by ETNZ, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, will be Waka Maori, a 70-metre venue fashioned in the form of a traditional waka, built by Ngati Whatua o Orakei and used on the Auckland waterfront for Rugby World Cup 2011.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">“New Zealand is a dominant player in the America’s Cup and we are taking full advantage of that position to promote New Zealand’s other stories and capabilities,” Mr Joyce says. “The United States is our third biggest trading partner and our goods and services exports continue to grow there. California alone is a market of 38 million people and remains at the<br />
heart of global innovation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">“Waka Maori creates a New Zealand landmark that will be seen from the surrounding high rises and Bay Bridge during the America’s Cup.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">New Zealand innovation will be evident during the Cup, with componentry for three of the four racing yachts designed and built in New Zealand; Kiwi-made super-yachts berthed at the marina, an official America’s Cup smartphone app made by Dunedin’s Animation Research Ltd, and New Zealand food and wine featuring on the menus of San Francisco restaurants.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia chief executive officer Tupara Morrison said it’s an honour to have Waka Māori make the journey to San Francisco alongside Emirates Team New Zealand.“Waka Māori was originally commissioned by the hapū to showcase Māoritanga and welcome visitors to Aotearoa and we are pleased that this arrangement with Emirates Team New Zealand again puts Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on the world stage. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">“Waka Māori will provide a unique glimpse of New Zealand, the home of the world’s greatest sailors, on foreign shores and that is great,” said Mr Morrison. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">“It will also be a special place for Kiwi businesses to meet and greet their international colleagues and guests,” said Mr Morrison.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Waka Māori will be used by Emirates Team New Zealand’s major sponsors including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, which will showcase Kiwi businesses and promote Auckland and New Zealand as a tourism destination. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: black;">Emirates Team New Zealand chief executive officer Grant Dalton says the team is proud to have Waka Maori as a key part of its base. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: black;">“The waka will be a prominent part of the downtown San Francisco waterfront for four months and will be a great showcase for New Zealand. “We look forward to representing New Zealand, our sponsors and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei over the coming months.”</span></p>
<p><em><strong>Action from our last visit to Naples </strong></em><strong>…. hard racing at a great venue.</strong></p>
<p>Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker is keen to get into racing mode for the America’s Cup World Series AC45 regatta at Naples.</p>
<p>This is our last chance to get in some real racing before we start sailing in San Francisco, he said as he prepared to head to the northern hemisphere.</p>
<p>The sailing team for Naples is now en route. The shore crew has been in place for several days to assemble the AC45 and set up the base.</p>
<p>The team will be sailing off Naples within 24 hours of their arrival.</p>
<p>Dean Barker: “Sailing in Auckland well over – there’s tremendous activity around the base getting ready for the move.” More than 30 containers will be on their way to the port this week.</p>
<p>“We are also doing modifications on the second AC72 and refitting the first boat. The wing has have been pulled apart and the elements are being shrink-wrapped ready for shipping.”</p>
<p>He says the team is looking forward to Naples and some hard racing. We are not exactly in AC45 race mode at the moment, but we will have a few days practice in Naples before racing starts.</p>
<p>“It’s a good opportunity to put ourselves under pressure to sharpen racing skills before San Francisco.”</p>
<p>The sailing squad for Naples is: Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies, James Dagg, Derek Saward, Adam Beashel, Winston Macfarlane and Jeremy Lomas.</p>
<p>Racing at Naples starts in a week and ends on Sunday April 21.</p>
<p>Join us behind the scenes at Emirates Team New Zealand HQ for an exclusive look at the dramatic new performance-enhancing innovation revealed today that will help the team in its bid to win the toughest sailing challenge in the world – the 34th America’s Cup. In an ultra-competitive sport, skipper Dean Barker is well aware that you need every edge you can get if you’re going to succeed. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uCWa9CKG5Pc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Day19 with the new boat has passed and Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker says the designers and boat builders had delivered all the sailing crew had hoped for.</p>
<p>“In some ways,” he says, “they delivered more than we expected.”</p>
<p>“We learned a lot from our 30 days with the first boat and the second boat seems to be tracking in the right direction.”</p>
<p>Barker said: “We are mindful of the good sailing going on in San Francisco. Oracle’s back in the water and looking formidable so we have a lot of work ahead to make sure we are competitive right through the Louis Vuitton challenger series.”</p>
<p>Chris Cameroon’s pictures of recent on-water activity are <a title="Getting more miles on the clock" href="http://etnzblog.com/gallery/getting-more-miles-on-the-clock/">here</a></p>
<p>Little more than a week’s sailing in Auckland remains before the team packs up the base and heads for San Francisco. With a long list of items on the “to-do” list, the pressure is on.</p>
<p>The relocation to San Francisco takes place April-May and the team aims to be sailing there towards the end of May, giving themselves a month on the water to become reacquainted with the nuances of the Bay’s breeze and currents.</p>
<p>With the team’s experience at relocating its operations and well used to life on the road he’s expecting an easy transition to life in America. “San Francisco’s a great city to be based in and it will be an easy transition to American culture.</p>
<p>That aspect easy to deal with – the hard thing is to get comfortable in the surroundings, understand how the day works get used to the traffic and re-establish all the routines.”</p>
<p>In Auckland the sailing team has spent a lot of time simulating race conditions by running virtual boundaries. “Restraints of the course area force us to do a lot more manoeuvres – tacks and gybes every two to three minutes – than we would normally do in this type of boat.</p>
<p>“We know the difficulties of in San Francisco Bay’s currents and the breeze need to focus very hard on the course area, understanding how to best manage that.</p>
<p>“The team have spent a lot of time on venue development but until we get there and experience sailing the AC72 on the course area its all theoretical.”</p>
<p> </p>
THE FRENCH SAILING FEDERATION PARTNERS WITH NEXT WORLD ENERGY
<div id="attachment_1861" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 726px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/8673743749_63e5dab928_b-copy.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1861" alt="Gilles Martin-Raget" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/8673743749_63e5dab928_b-copy.jpg" width="716" height="476" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">During the first week of September, in between the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup finals, the city of San Francisco will be hosting the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, for teams with members under 24 years old. The AC45 of France’s Next World Energy team will be taking part in this high-level competition. In order to prep the young competitors who will represent France, a sports partnership has been signed between Next World Energy and the French Sailing Federation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The French challenger ENERGY TEAM was to introduce a youth crew at the San Francisco competition. “Our objective is to take part in the America’s Cup in four years, so it makes sense for us to prepare for the future,” explains Antonie Mermod, Technical Director of Energy Team. With the support of Next World Group, a European firm based in San Francisco, the team put in place a recruitment plan, and together with FFVoile began selecting the team members at the end of 2012. Up until the final selection is made for the San Francisco race (only six sailors and one alternate will be selected to be on board of the AC45) the young individuals being considered are training on various boats. In Naples on the AC45, sponsored by the Swiss watchmaker Corum, on an Open 7.50 at the Spi Ouest in France, and more recently at the Belle-Ile race, as well as at the Trofeo Pirelli in Portofino on Extreme40.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The recent partnership that was signed with the French Sailing Federation gives these young sailors a serious “power boost.” FFVoile’s commitment focuses on two aspects: first, they played a big role in the selection of the young team, “<em>which is essential for FFVoile since they are usually more focused on youth and training, while we are obviously more used to working with professional sailors,”</em> says Antoine Mermod.</p>
<p>According to Jacques Cathelineau, National Technical Director, the selection of this young team is a real success. “<em>At the end of 2012, we worked with the French Youth Team and executives of the Federation (Marc Bouet, Franck Citeau) on two selection sessions in multihull at La Grande Motte. The athletes came from various backgrounds which makes it very interesting. We hope that this experience will be highly beneficial for them and their future careers.” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In addition, FFVoile is providing logistical and technical support during three intensive training sessions. The first one is currently taking place in Lorient from May 13-24, on an Extreme 40 catamaran, the closest to an AC45 to date. Antoine Mermod states that “<em>The Federation not only offers its boats and training materials, but more importantly their coaches, physical trainers and well-rounded techniques. For example, we are working with Marc Bouet (the French reference in Match-Race) to prepare and conduct the training sessions. With Energy Team we have experience on the AC45 and AC World Series, and the Federation has experience training very skilled young sailors, at high level of performance and in various areas. This is a collaboration that can only be beneficial. Our experiences are complementary and Next World Energy’s young sailors should be able to get the most of it.”</em></p>
<p>It is also important to note that French National Sailing School’s (ENV) expertise together with FFVoile’s experience will be put to use in training the team. Two executives from the School will participate during these sessions. Stéphane Krause will be responsible for the physical preparation of the crew, which is particularly important as the AC45 is deemed to be extremely physical. Yves Clouet will bring his Multihull expertise to complement Marc Bouet’s contributions as coach & coordinator for FFVoile.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The next three months are going to be very intense for these young sailors as they immerse into the various aspects of the sailing world (the light, environment, competition, and the race at large), and amongst intense weather, they will also sail other boats and take part in different training sessions. The goal is to be the best prepared to represent France and compete at the highest level with the other nine youth teams from around the world. They will seek “their” America’s Cup, in the heart of the mythical San Francisco Bay, admired by sailors around the world.</p>
<p><strong>Quotes:</strong><br />
Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the French Sailing Federation: “<em>This partnership between the French Sailing Federation, the Energy Team and French Youth Team will enable this young and motivated team to benefit from preparation and coaching that meets the height of their ambitions. The French Sailing Federation fully meets its selection and training role. Next World Group’s recent commitment to this team provides an opportunity for the young crew to represent France in optimal conditions during the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. “</em></p>
<div id="attachment_1862" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 726px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/8673741611_ef564bd90d_b-copy.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1862" alt="Gilles Martin-Raget" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/8673741611_ef564bd90d_b-copy.jpg" width="716" height="476" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Gilles Martin-Raget</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1831" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 726px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/DSC_3100-2-copy.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1831" alt="Stéphanie Billarant/Energy Team" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/05/DSC_3100-2-copy.jpg" width="716" height="476" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Stéphanie Billarant/Energy Team</p></div>
<p style="text-align: justify">After Naples and the announcement that the young French team NEXT WORLD ENERGY will be competing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup (San Francisco from 1st to 4th September), the team’s programme has been filling up so that the French youngsters have a wide range of opportunities to train on various types of boat. This weekend four of the crewmen of NEXT WORLD ENERGY, led by Bruno Peyron, will be taking part in the TROFEO PIRELLI in Portofino (Italy). They will be facing three other Extreme 40s. It all begins on Sunday with on board the French Extreme 40, Charles Hainneville, Arthur Ponroy, Hubert Savatier and Romain Bellet. They will be facing 3 other Extreme 40s, each sailed by a leading skipper, Francesco de Angelis, Torben Grael and Tommaso Chieffi. These four days of match racing and exhibition races will be taking place between 28th April and 1st May in the paradise waters of Portofino. There will be plenty of pictures to see next week…</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Meanwhile in Southern Brittany, two other members of NEXT WORLD ENERGY, Antoine Lauriot-Prévost and Valentin Bellet, will be out competing in the EUROCAT in Carnac aboard their F18s. On Saturday afternoon, ENERGY TEAM came up with an idea that has been set up by Vincent Guého of NEXT WORLD ENERGY, where between 8 and 10 Viper type catamarans will be doing battle over an America’s Cup type race course. A great opportunity to get ready for the national championships (Brest from 8th to 16th May) and to train for the Youth America’s Cup. Antoine Lauriot-Prévost has just taken part alongside Yann Guichard in a week of training in Geneva aboard a Decision 35 and will be ready for this show on Saturday off Carnac.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Bruno Peyron: “<em>It is a huge pleasure for me to be able to accompany the team in Portofino to see exactly how they are progressing on these new boats. This weekend in Carnac, the America’s Cup format that I suggested for the Eurocat was put in place by Vincent Gueho and Viper. I believe this is the ideal format to prepare for the Youth AC. The start is so important that they need to be fully ready. Thanks to the Eurocat for accepting this idea. It’s going to be a lively event in Carnac this weekend”.</em></p>
NEXT WORLD GROUP JOINING ENERGY TEAM FOR THE RED BULL YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP
<p style="text-align: justify"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/CREW-au-rappel-1_GMR-copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1817" alt="CREW au rappel (1)_GMR copy" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/CREW-au-rappel-1_GMR-copy.jpg" width="716" height="476" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong><br />
After the America’s Cup World Series, which took place in Naples, Italy from April 18-21, 2013, the next big event for ENERGY TEAM is the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco September 1st to the 4th. In this competition, with 10 teams from 8 different countries participating, France will be represented by a youth crew all under the age of 25, taking the helm of the Peyron brothers’ AC45. After establishing a financial and operational partnership with Next World Group, an investment firm with a European background based in San Francisco, the youth crew has officially become NEXT WORLD ENERGY.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Youth, innovation and technology…</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">This decision by Next World Group shows above all their commitment to supporting a young team of athletes with a lot of potential, and their participation in a competition where the power of teamwork mixes with the virtues of an eco-friendly and high-tech sport. Won over by the values conveyed by this team sport, but also by the youthful and innovative nature of this forward-looking project, Next World Group is not only providing financial and logistical support, but also with operations and relations with local contacts. These are major factors in ensuring the team’s success, and provides the investment firm an opportunity to experience the preparation for the competition from the inside out.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>The Next World Energy crew</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">The team representing France at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup will be led by Charles Hainneville, vice-champion of the 2012 Youth World Championship in F18, and selected with the support of the French Sailing Federation and Yacht Club of France. He will be assisted by the wing trimmer Antoine Lauriot-Prévost, Romain and Valentin Bellet, Hubert Savatier, Arthur Ponroy and Paul Dagault. In this fall’s competition in San Francisco, the youth team will be accompanied by the adult Energy Team and members of the French Sailing Federation in every step of their preparation. Training began in Naples where the youth crew completed a solid training program aboard the AC45 with Energy Team.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Quotes:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Sébastien Lépinard, CEO Next World Group: “<i>A lot of the values of Next World Group are represented in the Youth America’s Cup: technology, performance, environmental well-being, team spirit, youthfulness, international competition, etc. Many of these elements are indeed quite simply the key values of our time. But looking beyond this similarity, it is what we can offer as an operational partner and not merely as a financial backer that convinced us to get involved. This is, in fact, our way of doing things in all of our business activities at Next World Group. Experiencing the project from the inside and actively contributing to the success is our reward.” </i></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Bruno Peyron, CEO Energy Team: “<i>We are committed to our support for this team of young, talented sailors in the Youth America’s Cup. This commitment expresses the idea at the heart of our project to pass something on.. We are pleased to welcome aboard Next World Group in this exciting challenge, which gives an idea of the sort of development program that I am increasingly keen to promote. Based in San Francisco and already involved in setting up the Energy Team Bay Area Supporters since last summer, they will be a valuable help to us with their local knowledge and contacts. I’d also like to thank Yann and all of the pro team, who carried out their job as coaches for the youngsters this week in Naples in a most enthusiastic way and willingly shared their skills.</i>“</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/CrewEnergyNextWorld-copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1819" alt="17/04/2013 - Napoli (ITA) - America's Cup World Series Naples 2013 -" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/CrewEnergyNextWorld-copy.jpg" width="716" height="476" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>About the Next World Group </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Next World Group is a privately held, global investment firm focused on long-term growth strategies. We strive to deliver superior financial performance while achieving positive impact on society. We invest as long-term partners through four strategies: global investments, venture capital, growth investing and philanthropy. Next World Group is based in San Francisco with offices in Brussels and Paris. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.nextworldgroup.com" target="_blank">www.nextworldgroup.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nextworldgroup.com" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-1827 alignleft" alt="Logo Next World Group" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/Resize-Wizard-1-copy2-e1366880235647.jpg" width="280" height="65" /></a></p>
YANN GUICHARD AT THE HELM OF ENERGY TEAM IN NAPLES
<div id="attachment_1765" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 726px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/yann-guichard-at-the-helm-of-energy-team-in-naples/dsc_0998-copy/" rel="attachment wp-att-1765"><img class="size-full wp-image-1765" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2013/04/DSC_0998-copy.jpg" alt="" width="716" height="476" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Stéphanie Billarant / Energy Team</p></div>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>The AC World Series will shortly be taking place in Naples. In twelve days from now, from 16th to 21st April, Energy Team will be hard at work in this final event on the AC45 before the Louis Vuitton Cup. Yann Guichard will be at the helm of the French multihull with Christophe Espagnon as wing trimmer. More details from Antoine Mermod, the technical director of Energy Team.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">Last year, the Bay of Naples was home to one of the most spectacular legs in the AC World Series circuit. The competitors experienced a full range of conditions, including violent winds with seas that only just made it possible to sail. It was indeed very spectacular. It is of course too soon to forecast whether we can expect the same again this year, but whatever the conditions, the battle is once again likely to be fascinating with nine AC45 crews competing, including quite naturally the French on Energy Team.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">The event will be taking place from Thursday 16th to Sunday 21st April with the following schedule: training on 16th and 17th April, racing from 18th to 21st. Seven fleet races are planned from Thursday to Sunday. As for the match racing, the qualifications and first quarter finals will be on Thursday, with the other quarter finals on Friday, the semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Target : the podium or better…</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">For Energy Team, this will once again be an opportunity to show what they can do in front of the local crowds in Naples, who turned out in their thousands last year. Antoine Mermod, technical director of Energy Team: “<em>In 2012, we finished in fourth place in Naples and we only just missed out on making it to the fleet race podium in the very last race. So this time the target is simple: we’re here to win! In any case, we have clearly got what it takes to be up there on the podium. On top of that, James Spithill won’t be there at the helm of Oracle’s AC45. That’s something we can try to take advantage of.” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify">The competition is going to be tough with Oracle USA, Emirates Team New Zealand, the two Luna Rossa boats (Swordfish and Piranha), Artemis, JP Morgan Bar, China Team and HS Racing, aboard which there will be none other than the Austrians, Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher, two-time Olympic champions in the Tornado class.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Guichard at the helm, Espagnon on the wing</strong></p>
<p>But there is no need to feel intimidated, as for Energy Team, the line-up is equally impressive with Yann Guichard at the helm. He will be assisted by the usual team including Christophe André, Arnaud Jarlegan, Devan Le Bihan and the “newcomer” Christophe Espagnon – another giant from the Tornado and multihull circuit, who will be in charge of trimming the rigid wing as a replacement for the Swiss sailor Arnaud Psarofaghis. “<em>Christophe has quickly settled into the team. He has been sailing for a long time with Yann, and they know each other very well. I believe we have a very solid crew, continuing on from what we have been doing over the past two years.</em>“</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">The sailors will be busy in Naples from 11<sup>th</sup> April to train for a full week before battle commences. “<em>Everyone is really up for it,</em>” insisted Antoine Mermod, “<em>So let’s be ambitious and aim for victory.”</em> Between Vesuvius and Capri, Energy Team will have to deal with the magnificent Bay of Naples with all its local effects. “<em>With the prevailing westerlies, this is a fantastic place to sail with plenty of wind and calm seas. On the other hand, if the wind comes from the south, the seas can get quite choppy and it will be much more physical</em>…”</p>
<div id="attachment_1718" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 726px"><a href="http://americascup-news.com/energy/loick-peyron-test-pilot-on-the-artemis-ac72/loick-peyron-5/" rel="attachment wp-att-1718"><img class="size-full wp-image-1718" src="http://americascup-news.com/energy/files/2012/11/Loïck-Peyron.jpg" alt="" width="716" height="477" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Gilles Martin-Raget /AC34</p></div>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>After four trips aboard the Artemis AC72, Loïck Peyron, skipper of Energy Team, gives us his first impressions of this impressive winged giant, with her exceptional size, her potential for power and her high speeds…</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Loïck Peyron: </strong>“We have sailed aboard her four times and she is extremely powerful. That isn’t that much of a surprise for me, as I have spent a long time looking at the design of these machines, but it is still all very impressive. To sum up, these are boats that aren’t that wide or that big, but which have a very powerful “engine”. To get an idea of what I mean, it’s a bit like putting a V8 or V12 engine on a go-kart. So it is no easy matter making use of all that power. We saw what can happen when Oracle capsized. These machines require caution. My job was to be something like a test pilot on this AC72. I’m here to find just how far we can take things and avoid those hairy moments, when the boat starts to dig in, for example. Already by the second or third trip, I found myself out there on the helm and I can say it’s fascinating.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>What is the difference from an AC45?</strong><br />
LP: “They don’t have that much in common. Proportionally, the AC72s are much more unstable. Because looking at the base, the engine is that much more powerful. You need to add on a third more power to an AC45 to get some sort of idea. And then, there is the sheer scale: everything is that much heavier, including the wing, of course and the centre of gravity is not that well placed, as it is higher up. On top of that, there is a lot of inertia… the “engine” is extremely powerful, but above all she is always in gear. And of course, you can’t take in a reef…”<br />
<strong><br />
Capsizes ahead?<br />
</strong>“Yes. Of all the boats I have sailed on, she is the trickiest. When you start flying downwind, it is very impressive and that is one of the major questions that interest us: you need to find a compromise, knowing when to fly, but above all without using too much energy to do that. For me, flying aircraft for more than twenty years, it is very interesting. After each day out there sailing, we need to spend several days ashore fine-tuning the boat on every level. For the moment, we are just working on boat number 1, but we have already got some ideas about the second one. With the first one, it’s rather like racing with 30kg on your shoulders. Once the second boat is on the water, that weight won’t be there any more.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>High speed?</strong><br />
“Very. For the moment, we’re taking it step by step deliberately, so we’re not out there looking for the highest speed. But we have already reached 26 knots in just 10 knots of wind.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>A useful experience for the Energy Team project?</strong><br />
“In every America’s Cup there is a transfer season between the teams. I’m a bit like a jobbing actor going from one team to another, or maybe more like a Swiss army knife for the team – that’s what Ernesto (Bertarelli) called me when I was with Alinghi. Of course, and it is quite normal, I have certain obligations and have to keep certain info to myself: there are certain things I can’t share with others, but it is obvious that bringing all these experiences together benefits everyone. I am in fact the first member of Energy Team to be hired by another team, but I probably won’t be the last. With Bruno and Energy Team, we have managed to build up a pool of talent. If we manage to get everything together for the next Cup, all of these experiences will be useful For the moment, from a personal perspective, this is an exceptional opportunity to try to make it all the way with Artemis, or in other words right through the Louis Vuitton Cup and further if possible…”</p>
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/lunarossa/the-relationship-between-iker-martinez-and-luna-rossa-was-ended-by-mutual-agreement/lr2013_logo-jpg3_-392x260/" rel="attachment wp-att-2443"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2443" src="http://americascup-news.com/lunarossa/files/2013/01/LR2013_logo.jpg3_-392x260.jpeg" alt="" width="392" height="260" /></a></p>
<p>“We decided together to close our working relationship. The entire Team has enormous respect for Iker, he is a great sailor, which is why he was selected to enter the Luna Rossa Team ” Max Sirena declared.</p>
<p>We thank Iker very much for making a great contribution to the Team with his talent and his technical and tactical skills in this sport. We wish him all the best for his future challenges.</p>
The Luna Rossa sailing and shore crew have all returned to the team’s Auckland base
<div><a href="http://americascup-news.com/lunarossa/the-luna-rossa-sailing-and-shore-crew-have-all-returned-to-the-teams-auckland-base/big_team_luna_rossa_varo_261012_auckalnd1_a-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-2437"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2437" src="http://americascup-news.com/lunarossa/files/2013/01/big_Team_Luna_Rossa_Varo_261012_Auckalnd1_a1.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="510" /></a></div>
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<div>The Luna Rossa sailing and shore crew have all returned to the team’s Auckland base to resume the training and development program.</div>
<div>The plan for January is to make the most of the 13 remaining days allowed by the Protocol to sail the AC72 prior to the January 31st deadline.</div>
<div>This coming week the team will be concentrating on match racing practice sessions with its two AC45 catamarans Luna Rossa Swordfish and Luna Rossa Piranha. Both boats were shipped back to Auckland from San Francisco following the end of the last America’s Cup World Series regattas in October 2012.</div>
<div>At the same time an additional group of sailors will be training on the SL33 catamaran to practice foiling techniques.</div>
<div>Starting from next week the crew will resume training on the Luna Rossa AC72 catamaran.</div>
<div>The main goals for this first period will be a mix of crew training sessions around the course and speed tests. The training work on the AC72 will be alternated in the coming weeks with practice on the AC45 boats and on the SL33.</div>
Luna Rossa one year later: already flying on the foils.
<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4909" alt="GG13-SFOAPR-05851" src="http://americascup-news.com/oracle/files/2013/04/GG13-SFOAPR-05851-960x639.jpg" width="960" height="640" /></p>
<p>ORACLE TEAM USA officially launched the team’s second AC72 today, April 23, from the team base at Pier 80 in San Francisco. Helmsman Jimmy Spithill led the team and audience in a toast after Oracle Chief Marketing Officer Judy Sim broke a bottle of champagne across the bowsprit. The boat was then lowered into the San Francisco Bay before docking out for the first time.</p>
<p>“It’s an awesome day. We’re all very, very excited to get it out on the water,” said Spithill. “We hope to develop the fastest AC72 that will hit the Bay. There’s been a lot of energy, a lot of hours, put into this boat from the entire team. Now, it’s up to the sailors, along with the support of the rest of the team, to get out there and really try to get the most out of this boat.”</p>
<p>Spithill recognized the months of work put into the design and build of the boat in preparation for the launch. “We have the best, most committed shore team, build team, design team, and the entire team is behind us, supporting us,” he said. “They’re the first to arrive, the last to leave, work 7 days a week, just to provide us with a reliable, race-winning boat, ready to go.”</p>
<p>Named ORACLE TEAM USA 17, the boat is the second AC72 launched by ORACLE TEAM USA and marks the start of the next phase in the team’s campaign. Training commences on the new boat this week, and by late spring the team plans to have both AC72s on the Bay as they prepare to defend the America’s Cup this September.</p>
<p>“There’s been an enormous amount of work that has gone into this boat,” said CEO Russell Coutts during the launch. “It represents extreme performance and extreme engineering. It represents a significant improvement in performance over where we’ve been before. And probably most importantly, this represents the boat that is going to defend the America’s Cup, for America, in America.”</p>
<p>The event included remarks from San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who noted that this is a week of celebration as the Port of San Francisco marks its 150th anniversary tomorrow.</p>
<p>Bay Area native and ORACLE TEAM USA tactician John Kostecki described the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay.</p>
<p>“We’re going fast, probably faster than a car on the Golden Gate Bridge,” Kostecki said. “Upwind we’re doing speeds of around 20 knots, downwind we’re doing speeds over 40 knots. It’s really going to be interesting to take into account the current, that is ever-so-changing, and the winds that are ever-so-changing here on the Bay. That’s what keeps San Francisco an interesting and exciting place to race sail boats because it’s always different every day.”</p>
<p>The day’s sailing session was cut short as winds were blowing above 20 knots. The team plans to be back out on the water later this week.</p>
<p>“It’s all coming together,” said trimmer Joey Newton. “It was a tough time after the capsize, and we felt like we were a little behind the other teams, and I think we were. Now, it really feels like we have everything pointed in the right direction, and we’re starting to make pretty big steps. We’ve got high hopes for this boat, and I’m sure it’s going to be fast.”</p>
<p><iframe width="780" height="439" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gKLWSexq71o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4910" alt="GG13-SFOAPR-05807" src="http://americascup-news.com/oracle/files/2013/04/GG13-SFOAPR-05807-960x639.jpg" width="960" height="840" /></p>
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<p><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4913" alt="GG13-SFOAPR-05464" src="http://americascup-news.com/oracle/files/2013/04/GG13-SFOAPR-05464-960x639.jpg" width="960" height="640" /></p>
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<p>ORACLE TEAM USA’s holiday gift is on the way. The new wing was wrapped, pushed out of the shed at Core Builders Composites, and loaded onto the ship in New Zealand. It will arrive under the roof of the team base in San Francisco in January.</p>
<p>“It’s been a massive effort,” said Chris Mellow, project manager at Core Builders Composites. “Everyone has really done tremendous work to recover from where we were in October – we’ve achieved a lot and built a lot.”</p>
<p>After delivery to Pier 80, the wing will be assembled. New flaps have been constructed and are waiting at the team base. Once tested, the wing will be fitted to a repaired ORACLE TEAM USA 17, and the boat is expected to be ready to sail again in early February.</p>
<p>At the same time, work continues for teams of boat builders. Boat 2 construction continues in San Francisco, and building of the next wing is underway in New Zealand. “It’s as busy an America’s Cup as ever,” said Tim Smyth, ORACLE TEAM USA construction manager.</p>
<p>[PHOTOS: Ivor Wilkins]</p>
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<p>With a little more than a week remaining in the year, the focus for ORACLE TEAM USA hasn’t changed. All eyes have been on 2013 for months, for years, with the same goal in mind: defending the America’s Cup in San Francisco next September.</p>
<p>Ask any member of the team their New Year’s resolution and it likely involves winning the Cup. Or more immediately, it’s sailing ORACLE TEAM USA 17 again.</p>
<p>“The capsize has definitely been a setback,” said ORACLE TEAM USA general manager Grant Simmer. “We have lost a lot of sailing time and a lot of time for the team to figure out the new boat, which will be difficult to recover. We’re a sailing team, and it’s not great to be watching your competitors sailing when we’re unable to – that’s been tough. But, all of the team has really focused on fixing the issues, fixing the boat and getting back on the water as soon as possible.”</p>
<p>When the team’s AC72 pitch-poled in San Francisco Bay on October 16, the schedule changed. The wing was in pieces, the pod beat up, the hulls damaged from both water and as a result of the wing breaking apart.</p>
<p>Instead of waiting until the end of the year to reflect, the team found itself evaluating the program a couple months early.</p>
<p>“We’ve used the time to really reassess the entire program, to be more realistic about our planning, to be careful not to try to do too much, but to do everything that’s important and critical to development,” Simmer said. “We’ve become more mindful of the risks.”</p>
<p>The boat was dismantled – beams disconnected, systems removed – and the broken wing stripped down to salvageable pieces.</p>
<p>Work began immediately, and two major boat build projects were soon underway at the team base at Pier 80. Repairs of boat 1 began side-by-side with the build of boat 2.</p>
<p>“We’re very grateful for all of the guys here who have had to dig deep to make this all happen,” said Mark Turner, ORACLE TEAM USA shore team manager. “The repairs of boat 1 certainly haven’t been the easiest of tasks to accomplish, and the list wasn’t small. That’s all been going on in parallel to building boat 2. So, there’s been a lot going on here, just as there’s been a lot going on in New Zealand with getting wing 2 built. Both places – here and in New Zealand at Core Builders Composites – have been going along at a good clip.</p>
<p>“The entire shore crew has pitched in and done things they’re not really accustomed to doing, whether it’s helping with the repairs on boat 1, composite work, putting together flaps for wing 2, or helping out with boat 2’s assembly process,” Turner said.</p>
<p>The second AC72 wing was already under construction, so timeline on completion was adjusted. That wing is scheduled to arrive to San Francisco early in the new year.</p>
<p>“After the capsize, the first step was assessing the extent of damage,” Simmer said. “Clearly we had almost totally lost the wing. Luckily we had another wing in production at that time, and so we accelerated that process. With the platform we found there was quite a lot of water ingress in the hulls and the areas where the boat had suffered damage. So, we’ve repaired all of that, and the platform is currently going back together.”</p>
<p>Composite repair work has been completed and beams reattached. As the team heads into a much-needed holiday break, the work list on boat 1 will be whittled down.</p>
<p>At the start of the year, “it’s all going to happen pretty quickly,” Turner said, with hydraulic systems, wench systems, nets and more going back in place. The new wing will arrive and testing will commence.</p>
<p>At the same time, boat 2 construction remains full steam ahead.</p>
<p>While the schedule may have changed, and plans adjusted, all have remained clearly focused on 2013. All are anxious to get the first AC72 back on the water. And, all have the same goal in the new year – to win.</p>
<p>“The team has really had to stand up to take on the extra work on getting the boat fixed, and they’ve responded fantastically,” Simmer said. “You end up with more resolve at the end of a process like this. That’s true for this team, and I think we will be stronger because of it.</p>
<p>“We’ll be out sailing again at the beginning of February in our repaired and modified boat. We’re looking forward to a long list of testing and development that will ultimately lead us to the Cup. It’s going to be a busy and exciting year for all of us.”</p>
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ORACLE TEAM USA Selects Two Teams to Train for Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
<p><a href="http://americascup-news.com/oracle/oracle-team-usa-selects-two-teams-to-train-for-red-bull-youth-americas-cup/gg12-sfonovt-01428/" rel="attachment wp-att-4118"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4118" src="http://americascup-news.com/oracle/files/2012/11/GG12-SFONOVT-01428-960x639.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="639" /></a></p>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO – Before the 34th America’s Cup gets underway, crews of youth sailors will have their chance in the spotlight. The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup begins Sept. 1, 2013, and today ORACLE TEAM USA announced two U.S.-based teams to earn a spot in the final. Team America Racing will represent the USA, and American Youth Sailing Force will represent San Francisco. Both will now spend the next nine months training for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup under the tutelage of ORACLE TEAM USA.</p>
<p>“It’s honestly the most amazing feeling ever,” said Team America Racing trimmer and team manager <strong>Jacob La Dow</strong> (San Diego, Calif./St. Mary’s College of Maryland). “It’s a dream come true, and at first I couldn’t really believe we had done it. In the beginning of this process, we weren’t as organized. But, with a lot of practice and communication we really came together as a team.”</p>
<p>Six crews entered the team selection trials, which included two-day training sessions at the ORACLE TEAM USA base in San Francisco. The trials featured physical training and instruction both on and off the water, and the teams sailed onboard an AC45 for the first time under the supervision of ORACLE TEAM USA sailors – the same class of wingsail catamarans raced in the America’s Cup World Series.</p>
<p>“It’s a massive stepping stone toward getting involved with the America’s Cup,” said ORACLE TEAM USA coach <strong>Darren Bundock</strong>. “We were looking for a variety of things – mainly potential – and finding those teams that gelled together and that we think can go forward and win the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.”</p>
<p>The teams were evaluated on several factors, such as boat handling, trimming skills and crew communication. All were mentored by ORACLE TEAM USA sailors and coaches, Philippe Presti along with Bundock, during the selection process, and they will continue to receive coaching and guidance through to the finals.</p>
<p>“Our team is very honored – it means we performed well in the selection and are on the right track, and that they feel we have what it takes to do well in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” said Team America Racing skipper <strong>Charlie Buckingham</strong> (Newport Beach, Calif./graduated Georgetown University). “To be able to learn from ORACLE TEAM USA is going to be so huge for our team. Now we can keep getting better with some expert help.”</p>
<p>The youth sailors are ages 19-24 and hail from around the U.S., including many from the San Francisco Bay Area. The crews are made up of collegiate All-Americans, youth World medalists and members of US Sailing’s Development Team. Six sailors are onboard for each crew, one more than America’s Cup World Series teams as the youth sailors are, on average, 40-50 pounds lighter than a Cup sailor.</p>
<p>“I grew up sailing on the San Francisco Bay, so I feel very comfortable in the Bay and have sailed in pretty much any condition. Everyone on our team has sailed there at one point or another,” said American Youth Sailing Force skipper <strong>Michael Radziejowski</strong> (San Francisco, Calif./UC Santa Cruz). “Sailing a catamaran on the Bay is definitely going to be a huge challenge, but I feel confident with our team, and I think everyone has the same appreciation for the Bay.”</p>
<p>Many sailors on both Team America Racing and the American Youth Sailing Force will now balance training for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup with attending university and competing on their university sailing teams, while others will balance daily professional work schedules. They will make periodic trips to train with ORALCE TEAM USA in the coming months, with more extensive training to take place next summer.</p>
<p>“It’s a huge weight lifted off our shoulders to be selected,” said <strong>Ian Andrewes</strong>, American Youth Sailing Force team manager. “But, now going into this next step, it doesn’t mean it’s going to get easier. I think everyone on the team realizes how much we’ve all been working towards this goal, and we’ll continue to push hard through to the finals.”</p>
<p>The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup finals run September 1-4, 2013, in San Francisco Bay. Additional teams will be selected through the Selection Series to take place in February.</p>
<p>Watch the selection process <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUyk4_SiGtc">HERE</a>.</p>
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<p><strong>TEAM AMERICA RACING</strong></p>
<p>Name, Age, Hometown, University</p>
<p>Charlie Buckingham, 23, Newport Beach, Calif., Georgetown University (graduated)</p>
<p>Jacob La Dow, 19, San Diego, Calif., St. Mary’s College of Maryland</p>
<p>Graham Landy, 19, Virginia Beach, Va., Yale University</p>
<p>Jake Reynolds, 19, San Diego, Calif., College of Charleston</p>
<p>Nevin Snow, 19, San Diego, Calif., Georgetown University</p>
<p>John Wallace, 20, St. Petersburg, Fla., St. Mary’s College of Maryland</p>
<p>Matthew Whitehead, 19, Tampa, Fla., University of South Florida</p>
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<p><strong>AMERICAN YOUTH SAILING FORCE</strong></p>
<p>Name, Age, Hometown, University</p>
<p>Ian Andrewes, 22, Seattle, Wash., Pacific Maritime Institute (graduated)</p>
<p>David Liebenberg, 21, San Francisco, Calif., Tufts University</p>
<p>Michael Menninger, 23, Newport Beach, Calif., St. Mary’s College of Maryland</p>
<p>Tomas Pastalka, 22, Tiburon, Calif., UC Santa Cruz</p>
<p>Matt Pistay, 22, Zenda, Wis.</p>
<p>Michael Radziejowski, 21, Alameda, Calif., UC Santa Cruz</p>
<p>Evan Sjostedt, 19, Long Beach, Calif., Seattle University</p>
<p><em>* Rosters subject to change.</em></p>
<p><strong>Red Bull Youth America’s Cup – Upcoming Dates:</strong></p>
<p>Early December 2012 – Confirmation of youth teams invited to Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Selection Series (trials for non-US teams)</p>
<p>February 9-24, 2013 – Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Selection Series in San Francisco (USA & San Francisco teams advance directly to finals)</p>
<p>September 1-4, 2013 – Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco</p>
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<p>Find more on the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup <a href="http://www.americascup.com/">online</a> or on the event <a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbullyouthamericascup">Facebook</a> page.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUyk4_SiGtc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUyk4_SiGtc</a></p>
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