Editorial- A new 24hr record set in the Volvo
by . on 30 Oct 2008
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's New Zealand newsletter for 30 October 2008
Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael) has set a new 24hrs distance record in the Volvo Ocean Race, adding yet another major sailing achievement to his Olympic medals.
Sailing in 35-40kt winds and swells of up to seven metres in height, Ericsson 4 set several new record marks as the 24 hour period rolled on before settling on the new mark of 602.66nm.
As Media Crew Member, Guy Salter noted 'All the boys look really drained - sleep is not the easiest on Ericsson 4 – I can only describe the motion as I would imagine re-entry on the space shuttle is like.'
Behind Ericsson 4, both Green Dragon and USA's PUMA Racing were lined up in the same weather system and they too will be looking to set a new mark, in the same way that ABN Amro Two set the previous mark of 562.96nm when not being the race leader.
Five of the crew aboard Ericsson 4 are New Zealanders, Brad Jackson, David Endean, Stuart Bannatyne, Phil Jameson and Tony Mutter (taken off at the Cape Verde Islands with a knee injury).
We have reports on both the latest record and the milestones along the way, in this issue.
In the America's Cup, an exchange of letters between Larry Ellison and Ernest Bertarelli seems to have reinforced the rift between the two. However yesterday, it was announced that Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand seemed to have overcome up their differences.
The upshot will be that Emirates Team New Zealand will drop their lawsuit against Ernesto Bertarelli. In return, Alinghi will enter the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to be sailed in Auckland in February.
From Emirates Team NZ's perspective the announcement by Alinghi that they intend to defend the Cup in 2010, was sufficient for them to drop their legal proceedings.
We have featured an interview conducted with Grant Dalton CEO of Emirates Team NZ, yesterday. There, Dalton says his team are fully funded and ready to go for 2010.
On Radio Sport today, Brad Butterworth, the Alinghi skipper alluded to the fact that Team New Zealand might not be out of the legal woods, yet with the comment that: 'They (Team NZ) have their problems with the Arbitration Panel, and still have.'
Quite where this latest resumption of relations between Alinghi and Team New Zealand leaves the US Challenger, BMW Oracle Racing remains to be seen.
The US Challenger is still in San Diego working up the BOR90, as the 90ft x 90ft trimaran is known. As reported earlier she is capable of sailing at three times the true windspeed, however the question now is whether she will ever race.
In other announcements in the America's Cup, it seems clear that yet another new class will be developed - smaller and supposedly cheaper than the AC90 design originally proposed before the so-called financial crisis.
More details on this yacht will be determined at a Challengers Meeting to be held about now, where most of the serious teams will be represented, except for BMW Oracle Racing.
Bertarelli has set a date of 15th December for entries for the 2010 America's Cup, but obviously that will be too soon for the ruling from the Appeal Court in New York. Equally obvious is the fact that if you haven't entered by the entry deadline, then you can't race in the regatta. And, BMW Oracle racing could well find itself cut from the pack if Alinghi prevails on Appeal.
Of course, If BMW Oracle Racing do win their Appeal, then the current Cup cycle will be set aside, and a Match some time in 2009 is likely, between the 90ft multihulls.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
nzeditor@sail-world.com
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