Cup Watch

What a Long Strange Trip

by Kimball Livingston, Posted May 7, 2010

There were no bombshells in the America’s Cup 34 press conference held today in Rome’s Musei Capitolini, but the hour-long session had its moments. Most of all it got me to thinking how long it’s taken for a familiar idea to take root. That being, to normalize Cup racing, give it a structure, and establish a marketable schedule for an event that long ago outgrew the 19th century vision of a yacht

34th America's Cup Press Conference

by Adam Cort, Posted May 7, 2010

At a press conference in Rome, the defender and challenger of record for the 34th America’s Cup revealed a timeline and, more importantly, a philosophical approach to the regatta, which they hope will repair the damage of the 33rd Cup match.“Diktat has been replaced by discussion, confrontation by consultation…. Our minds and our ears are open. We are receptive to ideas,” said Russell

A Challenger-Driven New AC Class?

by Kimball Livingston, Posted May 18, 2010

No, you can’t park it in your driveway yet, but the 19 designers who met today in Valencia put rubber on the road toward a decision on what kind of boat we’ll be racing in America’s Cup 34, monohull or multihull. Beyond the tradeoffs, priorities and passions that might pop up in any barside conversation anwhere, these people were concerned with matters such as the ease of shipping these new

Designers Gather to Discuss America’s Cup Class

by Rebecca Fenton, Posted May 20, 2010

A team of 19 designers recently met in Valencia, Spain, to begin working on a new decision rule for the 34th America’s Cup.“The teams want a new boat. The fans deserve one too,” said Russell Coutts, four-time winner of the America’s Cup and CEO of BMW Oracle, winner of the 33rd Cup match. “It will not be a ‘defender’s boat.’ It will be the product of genuine discussion and

AC 34: Focus on San Francisco Bay

by Kimball Livingston, Posted July 8, 2010

In a move that is sure to energize and inspire the sailors of San Francisco Bay, Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing team today announced that it is no longer entertaining bids from other US cities hoping to host America's Cup 34. San Francisco, home to the winning Golden Gate Yacht Club, is now the only city in the USA under consideration.The team, with the America's Cup in tow,

America’s Cup: New Look, Fresh Start

by Adam Cort, Posted September 13, 2010

Although we don’t yet know the venue, we know a good deal more about what the 34th America’s Cup regatta is going to look like following Monday's press conference in Valencia, Spain. First and foremost, it’s going to be aboard 72-foot catamarans with wing sails.Let me say that again: 72-foot catamarans with wing sails.According to officials, the new AC72 class will

Multihulls and More = AC 34

by Kimball Livingston, Posted September 14, 2010

There is much to be absorbed in Monday’s announcements by the Defender and the Challenger of Record for America’s Cup 34. Beyond the anticipated headliner that 72-foot, wingsailed catamarans are the platform of choice, I note that the latest documents open up some wiggle room regarding venue. Gone is the draft language stipulating that the challenger eliminations will be sailed in the waters of

What's Up with the Cup?

by Kimball Livingston, Posted December 3, 2010

Would-be America's Cup teams around the world are eyeing City Hall, San Francisco as Cup-in-SF proponents prepare to make their case before the Budget and Finance Subcommittee of the city's Board of Supervisors. That hearing will take place on Wednesday. Negotiations have been going on for months, and it's crunch time.On the opposite side of the globe, meanwhile, fabricators are working

Katusha, Cayard Take RC44 Opener

by Adam Cort, Posted March 7, 2011

The RC44 class kicked off its 2011 season in style, with thousands of shore-side spectators on hand to see the Russian flagged Katusha, with Paul Cayard calling tactics and amateur helmsman Bob Little behind the wheel, win the opening regatta in San Diego.Finishing second in the 11-boat fleet was Oracle Racing, with Russell Coutts calling tactics and owner-driver Larry

A Perfect 45?

by Kimball Livingston, Posted March 23, 2011

Adopting wing-sailed catamarans, inventing a new tour called the America’s Cup World Series, launching a 45-foot one-design class as a training fleet: none of this could ever have been free of controversy. The 45s went from concept—a trainer for AC sailors and race committee alike—to reality in five months, with the first “batch” of four promised for delivery to challenging teams by April 1.