Editorial-Slow progress in Cup resolution
by . on 5 Oct 2008
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's US newsletter for 4 October 2008
With a sixth and a second place in the first of the In-Port races, USA's Puma Ocean Racing has taken a podium position in the first action of the Volvo Ocean Race. Two races were sailed in lighter winds off Alicante, Spain today.
Ken Read and his crew showed good speed in the second race, leading for most of the short course, before being overtaken by the series leader, Telefonica (ESP) on the final leg. The race was a good recovery for the US entry after finishing sixth out of eight boats in the first race.
We have featured reports and images from the first day of racing, including the start line collision involving Team Russia. Off the water the drama has already started with Ericsson 3 being penalised by the International Jury for not completely filling some voids in her keel, and for using a different method to that agreed to rectify the discrepancy. The total weight involved in just over .6kg, fo which she will carry a penalty of a point a leg. The issue is being appealed.
The peace talks in the America's Cup legal disputes continue, with little by way of announcement, leaving the media to read the tea-leaves and smoke-signals to ascertain the real state of play.
Progress was made in the resolution of the America's Cup impasse, last weekend in San Francisco. Although no settlement was reached, at least the principals of the two teams met and talked for the first time in over 12 months.
It is understood that the meeting initiative came from Ernesto Bertarelli. and that both sides viewed the meeting as a constructive one. BMW Oracle Racing's 's Tom Ehman speaking from New York, and backed up by a later media release, advised that talks were cordial and they were hopeful of further talks at an unspecified date. Almost a week later, Brad Butterworth
The meeting was held with just Ellison and Bertarelli present, and the usual advisers were absent.
On the legal front, BMW Oracle Racing filed Appeal papers the following Monday in New York.
And on the sailing front, BMW Oracle Racing’s 90ft trimaran has been moved from Anacortes to San Diego to continue her sea trials and work up before being shipped to the venue of the Deed of Gift match – should that event ever take place.
By contrast in New Zealand, one of the Sunday papers, last weekend, carried a story of a former Team New Zealand member being 'cash-strapped', due to the America’s cup impasse, and forced to put some of his sailing crew uniform up for auction on Trade-me, the local equivalent of eBay.com. Price was said to be NZ$200 – about the retail value, maybe less. The auction was not viewed kindly by Team New Zealand and the items were quickly withdrawn.
Quite where all this leaves the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is a matter of conjecture, as there is a real risk that peace will have broken out by the end of 2008, and maybe the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will be the first step in the on-the-water reconciliation.
Emirates Team NZ announced their new TP52 campaign on Thursday in Auckland, NZ. There it was confirmed that there had been offer and counter-offer in their legal dispute with Alinghi. Today it has been revealed that the only sticking point in Emirates TNZ dropping their case, is their requirement that there is certainty on a multi challenger event in 2011 - two years on from the original agreement of 2009.
Certainly there now seems to be a real will to resolve the issues, and that is very positive.
Next week the Bermuda Gold Cup gets underway. In this issue we feature a preview of the event, which occupies a very special place on the match racing calendar.
The world speed sailing record has been broken, not one but twice by French sailors, and now stands at 50.57kts. Alexandre Caizerues who turned in three runs over the 50kt mark in Namiba. We have full reports on both this record and the previous day when Sebastien Cattelan (FRA) became the first person to break the elusive 50kt mark.
Entries are coming in the the Long Beach to Cabo Race, with the Andrews 70 Alchemy being the latest. Catch Rich Roberts report on the line up for this event in this issue.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
US Editor
useditor@sail-world.com
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