| The latest sailing news from New Zealand and the world. |
07 Feb 2017 |
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  Two America's Cup milestones...Young sailors arise...Yamaha wins 18's
 | | - Land Rover BAR launch - February 6, 2017 Bermuda © Land Rover BAR |
Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand e-magazine for February 7, 2017
Earlier this morning (NZT) Land Rover BAR launched the first AC50 of the 2017 America's Cup cycle in a christening ceremony in Bermuda.
The launch comes after the end of the voluntary 28 day Blackout period agreed between the teams ahead of a Ruling by the Arbitration Panel on remedies for the withdrawal of the Qualification Series from Auckland, which would have probably been sailed in January/February - about now.
Otherwise, the first splash would have come on December 28th, 2016.
Oracle Team USA say they will be in the water in a week on February 14, again in Bermuda.
Emirates Team NZ have made no comment on when they intend to launch, in Auckland, and for how long they will be sailing in Auckland.
 | | Yamaha wins three races - 18' Skiff New Zealand Championship - Day 1 Suellen Davies |
No word from Artemis, Softbank Team Japan or Groupama Team France as to when they will be launching.
Generally speaking, those America's Cup teams who have launched early/first have generally gone on to do very well, for the simple reason that the America's Cup is essentially a time management exercise - and the more you can get tested and ticked off the development list - the faster you should be.
For the same reason several of the teams have tested much of their AC50 gear on the AC45S, and as part of the commissioning exercise are removing that developed gear across from the AC45S and installing it into the AC50.
At its most extreme the only thing that will change with some teams is that the existing platform will be attached to a new 5ft longer set of hulls. All control systems, wingsails, daggerboards and foils will go directly across onto the slightly longer AC50 boat which has the same sailing geometry as the AC45S and is the same beam.
So today marks an important milestone in the current America's Cup.
Co-incidental with the christening of the Land Rover BAR's AC50, the practice racing organised by the race management arm of the America's Cup has concluded.
 | | Nacra 17 - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 1 © Richard Gladwell |
Maybe it will the only practice racing done between the teams before the 35th America's Cup, as the America's Cup Commissioner omitted to publish the allowed racing dates 12 months out from the start of the Qualifiers as he was required to do under the Protocol.
With the focus now on developing the AC50's, and with several of the AC45's butchered, it seems unlikely that a full fleet would be able to be raced, or put on the water.
Oracle Team USA commented on the results of the racing conducted in Bermuda - keen no doubt to lay claim to the fact that they topped the points table.
 | | The LandRover BAR Race yacht "Rita" shown here being christened and launched today at the teams base in Bermuda. Lloyd Images © |
Artemis Racing pushed back on Oracle Team USA's count of the score - following the Orange Roughy's lead and tweeted: 'Hey @OracleTeamUSA who's doing your maths, pretty sure we had 14 wins ;)'
In the score-book, according to Artemis Racing, Oracle Team USA only had two more wins than the Swedish Challenger. That outcome would surprise most pundits, who base their form guide on America's Cup World Series Results.
The second surprise result came from Land Rover BAR who finished last of the four teams with an eight loss, one win record. According to second-hand reports, the Brits didn't finish the course in several races.
It is too soon to read anything into the British result, given that they were so close to the launch date of their AC50. While they have four of the AC45S test platforms, it is not known which one they raced. The major benefit of the series would have been getting close quarters starting practice in the AC45S so, it is a little surprising that the Brits did not sail out the series for this reason alone.
 | Dennis Conner skippers
Stars & Stripes to a win in the 1987 America's Cup
February, 1987
Daniel Forster © |
February 4, marked the 30th Anniversary of Stars & Stripes win in the 1987 America's Cup sailed in Fremantle.
In this edition, we carry a couple of stories recalling the best-ever America's Cup regatta.
As so often happens, The Lucky Country had a few things going for it when it staged the Louis Vuitton Cup and then the America's Cup Match.
The Fremantle Doctor was made for the 12 Metre class, which provided consistently high-quality images - with plenty of wind, white water, and brilliant sunshine.
Seventeen teams from seven countries participated - including four teams contesting the Australian Defence Trials.
That is in marked contrast to the past two America's Cups which have attracted just four entries in 2013 and six entries in 2017. The 2007 America's Cup attracted 12 teams from ten countries.
The 26th America's Cup was also notable for the characters, the controversies and lack of draconian confidentiality clauses.
It is hard to believe that any sponsors, teams or organisers suffered any medium or long term damages from Cup in which the off the water action almost became the main show, and in its unique way added to the on the water competition.
 | | The Welcoming Committee - Fremantle 1987 - Kenyon Sports |
Those watching the Cup action on the water (which fell neatly into prime time evening viewing in the USA) were in no doubt that the competition off the water was intense, and a few scores were being settled on the water.
It was an unforgettable series.
Follow all the racing and developments in major and local events on www.sail-world.com, scroll to the bottom of the site, select New Zealand, and get all the latest news and updates from the sailing world.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
sailworldnzl@gmail.com
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 | | 49er - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 1 © Richard Gladwell |
 | | Titolo 33rd Primo Cup - Trophee Credit Suisse 2017 - Day 1 © YCM/Studio Borlenghi - Butto/Gattini |
 | | 49er - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 1 © Richard Gladwell |
 | | Day 2 action - Primo Cup – Trophee Credit Suisse © Studio Borlenghi / Butto / Gattini |
 | | Olympic Silver medallists - Meech and Maloney 49erFX - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 2 © Will Calver - Ocean Photography |
 | | Day 2 - Superyacht Challenge Antigua Claire Matches © |
 | | - 18ft skiffs - Race 5, Australian Championship, February 5, 2017 Michael Chittenden© |
 | | - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 3 © Will Calver - Ocean Photography |
 | | 49er - Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta - Day 3 © Will Calver - Ocean Photography |
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