America's Cup- Challenger of Record hooks up with Defender + Video

by John Navas on 31 Jul 2013
The Challenger of Record, Artemis Racing (SWE) hooked up with the Defender, Oracle Team USA, on a foggy day on San Francisco Bay. Earlier Oracle Team USA had sailed their two AC72 catamarans on the America's Cup course, again in foggy conditions.

For a Challenger to hook up with the Defender prior to an America's Cup is unusual, but not unprecedented, as the nature of the event is that the Challenger does not meet the Defender until the first race of the Match. However in this America's Cup cycle Artemis have sailed against Oracle Team USA, underlining the estranged relationship that has existed between the Challenger of Record and the two Challengers throughout the current America's Cup cycle.

On the last occasion Artemis racing sailed against Oracle Team USA the speed difference was so significant that the encounter prompted the Swedish team to put their ill-fated Big Red back into the shed to be modified for foiling. From shoreside observers today, the feedback was mixed initially with Oracle Team USA being significantly better than Artemis Racing, however in a later session Artemis Racing passed Oracle Team USA - whether that was for the benefit of cameras, or is genuine remains to be seen.

John Navas caught the action from both sessions today on San Francisco Bay