America's Cup 2013

[DrLeftover]

The Challenger's Series

http://www.americascup.com

And so it DOESN'T begin:

Luna Rossa will not race against Emirates Team New Zealand on the 7th of July

San Francisco, 6th of July 2013 – Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 confirms that it will not race against Emirates Team New Zealand on the 7th of July.

As already informally stated in the last few days, Luna Rossa is waiting for the International Jury decision on its protest against the measures introduced by the Regatta Director on the 29th of June 2013

http://luna-rossa-challenge-2013.americascup.com/en/latest/2897/luna-rossa-will-not-race-against-emirates-team-new-zealand-on-the-7th-of-july


if you know anything at all about the series, you will not be surprised by this at all

 

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You've gotta love it.

(Reuters) - The 34th America's Cup sailing regatta began in San Francisco on Sunday with only one team competing in the first race as Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge sat it out in protest of rule changes it says put it at a disadvantage.

In a bizarre start to a competition that was originally meant to attract a dozen or more international challengers, Emirates Team New Zealand sailed the race course alone in San Francisco Bay in order to formally win the first of several matches in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge software tycoon Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA for the America's Cup in September.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/07/us-sailing-americascup-idUSBRE9660FP20130707

 

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It just keeps getting better. See the second paragraph for why.

Emirates Team New Zealand today scored its fourth point in four races of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

Skipper Dean Barker and the Kiwi crew sailed the course unopposed because its scheduled opponent, Artemis Racing, is still assembling its AC72. Yesterday, the Swedish team said it hopes to be on the water by next weekend.

About today’s race:

Emirates Team New Zealand sailed the five-leg America’s Cup course
Course length: 9.89 nautical miles
Elapsed time: 25 minutes, 56 seconds
Total distance sailed: 11.44 nautical miles
Average speed: 26.52 knots (30.5 mph)
Top speed: 40.62 knots (46.7 mph) on the final reaching leg to the finish
Wind speed: average 15.78 knots; peak gust 19.7 knots

With photos:
http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/16534/emirates-team-new-zealand-notches-fourth-point-in-louis-vuitton-cup

 

[Evil Eye]

That's a good way to win something.

 

[DrLeftover]

The only thing that has gone right for the US boat is that they haven't managed to either sink it or run over the Kiwis.

Look for a US loss in the final race today, weather allowing.

BBC coverage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sailing/24155312

 

[DrLeftover]

The US pulled out a win in race 14.

But the Kiwis only need one more win to take it.

To win the cup, the US has to win the last five out of the complete series.

 

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09/24/2013 11:38:08 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- This could be the greatest day in America's Cup history.

After three weeks of some of the most dramatic, intense and riveting sail racing, it all comes down to one final race.

No matter who wins it, the story will be epic. It already is.

Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA, the defending champions who were "staring down the barrel of a gun" last week, one loss from elimination, tied the regatta with their seventh straight win on Tuesday. If Oracle wins the final race, the victory will cap one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. If Emirates Team New Zealand manages to halt Oracle's delirious momentum and finally win, the drawn-out agony of the Kiwis will be over and the trophy will return to Auckland.

"If you're not blown away by this, check your pulse," said America's Cup expert Jack Griffin.

"Never before in the history of the America's Cup has it been so close," Regatta Director Iain Murray said Tuesday.

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_24168947/americas-cup-anticipation-builds-wednesdays-final-showdown-between

America's Cup 2013 results
Race 18: Oracle Team USA win by 54 secs
Race 17: Oracle Team USA win by 27 secs
Race 16: Oracle Team USA win by 33 secs
Race 15: Oracle Team USA win by 37 secs
Race 14: Oracle Team USA win by 23 secs
Race 13: Oracle Team USA win by 84 secs
Race 12: Oracle Team USA win by 31 secs
Race 11: Team New Zealand win by 15s
Race 10: Team New Zealand win by 17s
Race 9: Oracle Team USA win by 47 secs
Race 8: Oracle Team USA win by 52 secs
Race 7: Team New Zealand win by 66 secs
Race 6: Team New Zealand win by 47 secs
Race 5: Team New Zealand win by 65 secs
Race 4: Oracle Team USA win by 8 secs
Race 3: Team New Zealand win by 28 secs
Race 2: Team New Zealand win by 52 secs
Race 1: Team New Zealand win by 36 secs

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sailing/24235963

 

[DrLeftover]

That final race was one of the most intense sporting events I've ever watched.

If you can find a video replay of the final race of the 2013 cup race, watch it.

The US boat took the third turn at speed, on a foil, with the entire boat out of the water.


BCC story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sailing/24274103


New Zealand's take on it:

Parliament has paid tribute to Team New Zealand and skipper Dean Barker "on behalf of four and a half million Kiwis" in the House this afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English moved that the House congratulate Team New Zealand for its efforts in the America's Cup in San Francisco after it lost the finals series to Team USA this morning (NZ time).

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11130542

 

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09/25/2013

SAN FRANCISCO -- Drenched with victory champagne, Larry Ellison -- the elusive billionaire owner of Oracle Team USA who helped orchestrate its historic comeback Wednesday -- stood on the America's Cup stage in front of thousands of newfound fans and pumped the silver trophy three times high in the air.

After coming back from the brink of defeat against Emirates Team New Zealand, not to mention overcoming months of public cynicism in San Francisco, Ellison's team successfully fended off the Kiwis and defended the trophy it won in 2010. Now the question remains: Will he keep the next America's Cup regatta in San Francisco when it comes around again in the next few years or take it elsewhere?

"The cup could be around the island of Lanai!" Ellison joked with reporters, referring to the Hawaiian island he recently purchased.

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_24177563/americas-cup-will-next-regatta-be-san-francisco