Welcome, China Team

What do ORACLE Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and Mascalzone Latino have in common with China Team? All four teams are entered in the 34th America’s Cup after having competed in the 32nd America’s Cup as well.

China Team is the latest challenger to go public for the 34th America’s Cup. With full support from the Chinese government, China Team became public today with a press conference in Beijing. Joining the Chinese team officials and dignitaries were Richard Worth, Chairman of America’s Cup Event Authority, and Bruno Trouble, representing the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

The team is led by Chaoyong Wang, the founding partner and Chief Executive Officer of ChinaEquity International Holding Co., Ltd., a China-based independent venture capital firm which focuses on the technology, media and telecommunications sectors in Greater China.

Mr. Wang has won several venture capital awards in China, serves as an advisor to several government funds and organizations and is a member of the Board of Governors and the Secretary General of China Venture Capital Association.

“All boats need to be designed by the team, and built in country. We have been working with some of the best worldwide designers for hull and wings for a few months already, in partnership with top Chinese universities. This is an opportunity to showcase China’s talents in the leading-edge hi-tech areas of both hydrodynamics and aeronautics. Our boat will then be built in China, and ready to sail by February 2012,” said Mr. Wang.

Thierry Barot, CEO of China Team has been busy recruiting the worldwide and Olympic champion sailors who will be responsible for training the sailing team. “Our boat will be powered mainly by Chinese sailors, and we are very fortunate to have an elite team of international sailors to come to China and train our Chinese team.”

Read the article: http://www.americascup.com/news/china-team-to-contest-the-34th-americas-cup_73
Photo: China Team announces its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup in Beijing, featuring (from left) Bruno Troublé, Louis Vuitton; Grace Zhang, Louis Vuitton; Li Quanhai, Chinese Water Sports Bureau; Wang Chao Yong, China Team; Xiao Tian, China Yachting Association; Richard Worth, America’s Cup Event Authority; Noëlle Smulders and Thierry Barot, China Team (© China Team).

Cup field swells to 10 entries

The field of entries for the 34th America’s Cup increased to 10 last week with two additional entries, which at the time were both private.

After this morning’s announcement revealing China Team as Challenger No. 8, seven of the nine challengers are public: Mascalzone Latino (Italy, Challenger of Record), Aleph-Équipe de France, Artemis Racing (Sweden), China Team, Emirates Team New Zealand, Energy Team (France) and Team Australia.

The field also includes ORACLE Racing, the defense team candidate.

“We are very pleased to welcome our eighth challenger, China Team, to the 34th America’s Cup,” said Richard Worth, Chairman of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “China Team makes a wonderful addition, bringing another continent of athletes into our international field of strong competitors, as well as a very powerful market to add to the commercial strength of the 34th America’s Cup.”

With the initial entry deadline just three days away, Thursday, March 31, the field for the 34th Cup is shaping up nicely. The 10 entries are equivalent to the recent history of the America’s Cup, which averaged 11 entries for the three events between 2000 and 2007.

Read the article: And then there were 10

34th America’s Cup Entries

There are currently eight teams (the defender and seven challengers) entered in the 34th America’s Cup:

Defender: ORACLE Racing/USA

Challengers: Aleph-Équipe de France
Artemis Racing (Sweden)
China Team
Emirates Team New Zealand
Energy Challenge (France)
Mascalzone Latino (Italy, Challenger of Record)
Team Australia
Challenger #7 – Confirmed/Confidential
Challenger #9 – Confirmed/Confidential

Slick cats enjoy day on the gulf

The sight was one to behold: Four AC45s flying around the Hauraki Gulf.

The four yachts took part in an informal video session last week and it left many salivating at what’s to come, a fleet of 10 (or perhaps 12, depending on the number of entries) AC45s jockeying for positions as part of the America’s Cup World Series.

“It’s going to be exciting to watch,” said Terry Hutchinson, skipper of Artemis Racing. “What will make it exciting is you’ll hear the adrenaline on the boat. It’s going to provide a lot of entertainment for everyone involved, spectators and sailors alike.”

Watch the video: Flying four in formation

Hutchinson’s tactician, Iain Percy, concurred: “I really enjoy the boats. I enjoy the fact you have to work hard to get the maneuvers done. You don’t have so much time to think, there’s a lot more doing. It’s going to be good fun.”

The four yachts featured Artemis Racing, two from ORACLE Racing and the AC45 prototype. Already a difference in headsails was noted, with Artemis Racing flying one with a longer luff than those on the two ORACLE Racing yachts.

“The fact you have some other teams out there, next to you, with different sails, different ideas, it’s a steep learning curve,” said James Spithill, ORACLE Racing skipper. “We’re looking to line up at least once a week to do some practice racing and stuff like that. Everyone’s getting something out of it. It’s a lot of fun.”

The first ACWS is scheduled July 16-24 at a venue to be announced.

Read the article: Four teams flying in formation

What they’re saying

Comments from the 34th America’s Cup Facebook page

Keith Sjoholm says: 4 boats fleet racing. Wish I was there seeing this live!

Matt Lobb says: Can’t wait! Looks awesome

Mark Paulson says: AWESOME! These cats are a big advance in design, the bows do not dive like the Formula 40's when the rig loads up they just GOOOO!

Roberto Fuschi says: can I get one of those for my birthday, please?!!

Douglas Dawes says: "Majestic!!!! Every America's Cup provides a rare vision into what it is to dance with the wind and the waves. I love this kind of racing!!! A whole new ball game on the catamarans. Cannot wait for it to kick off...I hope it is on national television again!"

John M. Thomas says: “Oh Boy Oh boy this is gonna be GRrrrEat!”

Wayne Bright says: “Woo hoo!”

Santiago Lange on the America’s Cup in multihulls and the AC45

Source: Artemis Racing website

Santiago Lange is one of Argentina’s most famous sailors. He has competed in five editions of the Olympic Games across dinghy, keelboat and multihull events, winning bronze medals in the Tornado with Carlos Espinola in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008.

Lange’s sailing experience however, extends far beyond the Games. He has competed in two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, first onboard Team SEB on Leg one of the 2001-2002 edition and as Watch Captain on Telefonica Black in 2009. He holds four World Championship titles, in the Tornado (2004) and Snipe (1985, 1993 & 1995) and was part of the Swedish Victory Challenge syndicate during the 2007 America’s Cup.

Lange gave the following interview regarding multihulls in the America’s Cup.

Tell us why it’s better to race the America’s Cup with catamarans and not monohulls?
In my opinion, the America’s Cup has to be the pinnacle of our sport in terms of design and sailors. The Version 5 boats (NR: America’s Cup boats, 2007) clearly were not. I am convinced that the catamarans meet these requirements very well for the America’s Cup. The AC72 will sail upwind at close to 20 knots and 30 knots downwind. With 11 crew this will be very demanding and everything will have to be very smooth. The design challenges will be very interesting as well.

Why catamarans?
The radical difference between catamarans and monohulls is when the cat has two hulls in the water. The AC72 will be flying a hull with 6 knots of wind. With one hull in the water, the boat acts as a monohull, but has stability without needing lead and it is very sensitive to the trim of sails because she loses stability with the heel (opposite to a monohull). The feel is very similar except that the catamaran is much more efficient. I think a lot of people are against catamarans without actually knowing much about them.

I also see no reason why match racing has to be sailed in slow boats. My recent experience, sailing with people who never have been match racing on catamarans, was that everyone was amazed by how great they are to sail.

Tell us about the AC45.
The AC45 sails very well and is well balanced. I was personally concerned with the handling and logistics of the wing. At the moment for the AC45 it does not seem to be serious, however I still think we have to work on the AC72 in this regard.

Read the full article: http://www.artemisracing.com/news/27082

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