America’s Cup

It was a sight to gladden the heart of an America’s Cup traditionalist—nearly a dozen 12-Meters sailing together in Newport, Rhode Island, as part of the 2010 America’s Cup 12-Meter Era Reunion, sponsored by Rolex and hosted by the New York Yacht Club.The event took place September 17-19, and was preceded by the 12-Meter North American championship, which took place on Rhode Island Sound.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

See what all the fuss is about firsthand. The America’s Cup will be on display from noon until 6 p.m. this Thursday at Jack London Square in Oakland, California.The Cup is coming to Oakland as part of the Strictly Sail Pacific show, taking place April 15-18.Following the public viewing, recent America’s Cup winners, Team BMW Oracle, will be on hand for an hour-long presentation

The weather in New York City may have been frightful—closing airports and stalling trains—but it did nothing to dampen the celebratory atmosphere during last week’s US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards ceremony in the New York Yacht Club’s famed Model Room.Attendees, including former award winners Magnus Liljedahl, Hannah Swett and Dawn Riley, had the rare treat