America's Cup - One Hand Clapping

by Daphne Morgan Barnicoat on 7 Feb 2010 There have been many theatrical moments in America’s Cup press conference history, and today’s Owners’ Press Conference, as hosted by America’s Cup 33, added to that legacy.

The intended press conference for owners Ernesto Bertarelli of Alinghi and Lawrence J. Ellison of BMW Oracle Racing was reduced to one when the latter declined the invitation to attend. Ellison declined the invitation, he said, because his team CEO and skipper Russell Coutts was not invited.

“I came here today determined to shake his hand,” said Bertarelli at the press conference. “You have all asked me how many times I’ve been available for a meeting. Again, I’m available and he’s not here. Everything else is in the history books by now. If Larry wants to meet after the Cup to discuss the future, I’ll be happy to do that.”

America’s Cup 33 press officer Paco Tormo explained that there was a misunderstanding on the part of BMW Oracle Racing. He said that Coutts was never excluded from the press conference.

“We didn’t say Russell is not welcome,” said Tormo. “We said there was no second choice. It was Ernesto Bertarelli and Mr. Ellison. It was an owners’ press conference. So a press conference with Mr. Coutts and Mr. Bertarelli would not be an owners’ press conference.”

After fielding initial questions Bertarelli invited Alinghi team skipper and tactician Brad Butterworth on the dais, who answered a question about the 1m wave height limit. In doing so Butterworth related his experience of a Newport to Bermuda Race safety at sea seminar, where the instructors tell you that you’re most at risk when the sea is sloppy.

“That’s something that’s a safety concern,” Butterworth said. “In my opinion, I think 1m is a good number because it’s a big enough wave that it’s serious and it’s a wave that on any given day is a reasonable size. If the breeze is up and you’re doing 20 knots or 30 knots and hitting those, you’re paying attention.”

Looking forward to Monday’s scheduled first race, Butterworth said that the speed of the multihulls will make it exciting, regardless of the wind speed.

“The boats are capable of high speeds in light air, and they always do two, two-and-a-half, three-times the wind speed,” Butterworth said. “The reaches are exciting. Upwind is exciting. They’re big boats and hard to handle.
'They’re big boats and once you get going on the race course I think both teams will have their foot down on the accelerator. I think it’s going to be probably a war of shore crews to keep the boats going at 100 percent through each race that we’re in.”

Given the danger involved, Bertarelli was complimentary of his team.

“Let’s remember this is a yacht race. This is about technology more than before,” said Bertarelli. “Personally I’ve always been proud of everyone, but those who have carried this campaign are those who have received the plans for the boat and actually built it.

'Building a boat like that is a lot more than dreaming about it and a lot more than designing it. You got to put it together and then ask your friends to go and sail it. And you hope that what you’ve done is safe and it’s not going to break. Alinghi 5 was born very well on lake. We’ve pushed the boat a lot more since, and so far it’s in one piece. They’ve done a good job.”