Ed Baird interviewed at Lugano

As Alinghi was climbing into second place on race one of the Lugano iShares Cup, the fleet was hit by a violent gust during a stormy squall and the Swiss team capsized. Hear from helmsman Ed Baird on what happened and how the team plans to get back on the water tomorrow to continue the learning curve towards a 33rd America’s Cup in multi-hulls.

Interview with helmsman Ed Baird:

What happened – can you talk us through?
We were sailing in light winds, we had a good race going, we were in third and looking at passing into second – the boat in front of us looked like they had a gennaker wrap so it looked like we could pass them at the mark. A squall came through just after we rounded the windward mark the second time. Most of the fleet was still going upwind when we got hit with this very violent front edge of the squall and the two boats in the worst of the velocity were us and Holmatro. Because we were both so close together neither of us had an escape route; we both went up and we both put the noses in. They were somehow able to avoid capsizing and we did not unfortunately. It’s all part of the learning of this game and unfortunately if we had been going upwind it wouldn’t have happened and if we’d been further downwind it would have been different again. It was a case of wrong place wrong time.”

It all happens so quickly, one minute we’re watching the next….
“We went from sailing in a fairly benign 5-7 knots of wind to a violent gust coming through; more violent than the many others we had had during the day in the squalls that were coming through. It was a bit of a surprise; we went from racing, to survival in an instant and unfortunately we went upside down.”

How does the crew deal with a capsize - what is it actually like from onboard?
I think it’s the same in most any sailing vessel when you get hit by violent wind speeds, every boat becomes overpowered and some boats are more forgiving than others. These boats are very unforgiving in that sense. That gust was probably double the amount of wind we have ever experienced on these boats. It happened in two or three seconds so you don’t have a lot of time to react. It’s certainly something we have to get better at.”

Back on the water tomorrow - you have a lot of work to do?
“We need to put a new mast in and we should be ready to go sailing. There are always a lot of bits and pieces that need to be repaired. I gather there is a little damage to the mainsail and if not we have back ups. We should be able to get out on the water tomorrow.”

Alinghi extends its thanks to the organisation and the other teams competing in the iShares Cup for their on-water and on-shore support.

www.Alingi.com

America’s Cup defenders Alinghi capsize as rain squall hits iShares Cup

Testing conditions welcomed the Extreme 40 on Lake Lugano for the first race of the IShares sailing season.

The first day of racing at the iShares Cup 2008, Alinghi capsized in Race 1 as a rain squall swept across Lake Lugano and the winds increased during a thunderstorm causing a first drama of the IShares Circuit this year!

The boat went up and up and up .... and over!

Alinghi, helmed by skipper Ed Baird, capsized in strong winds, the crew were all retrieved safely. Alinghi are competing in the iShares Cup for the first time and are using the event as a training platform for their defence of the 33rd America's Cup in multihulls.

"no one hurt thankfully. Mast is broken but we are working hard to get back on the water tomorrow! This is all part of our learning curve." a spokes person said.

The iShares Cup is a five-event racing series across Europe in Extreme 40 catamarans. Nine teams are competing in the first iShares Cup event at Lugano, Switzerland. A total of 18 races are held over 3 days finishing Sunday, 1st June.

Première manche difficile pour Alinghi

© Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events

Alinghi chavire dans la première manche du circuit IShares à Lugano- Des conditions extrêmes pour la première manche du circuit IShares sur le lac Lugano. Et premier drame pour Alinghi surpris par un grain à la bouée au vent . Le bateau monte, monte, monte ... et finalement chavire...

L'équipage est sain et sauf - Le mât est cassé et l'équipe d'Alinghi va travailler dur ce soir pour être fin prês demain matin.

Hall Spars building mast for BMW ORACLE Racing's AC Multihull

The carbon fiber mast for BMW ORACLE Racing's new America's Cup multihull is now under construction at Hall Spars in Bristol, Rhode Island, the team confirmed today.

Located about 20 miles from Newport, the long-time home of the America's Cup, the Hall facility was a natural choice for undertaking what is a difficult engineering challenge, BMW ORACLE Racing design coordinator, Mike Drummond, said.

"It is a huge challenge to construct such a large mast and to cure the carbon in an autoclave big enough to accommodate this project," he said. "Based in the USA, Hall Spars have a leading reputation in delivering the high-quality construction we need on this scale.

"The rig program is a key component in the performance of the aero package on the multihull,” Drummond said. The rig design team is led by American Scott Ferguson and Hervé Devaux of France with support from BMW. 

“It’s a real pleasure to work with the BMW ORACLE team. The Hall team thrives on innovation, and our facility and autoclave are perfectly suited for a project of this magnitude. The performance of this boat will be like no other in existence. I can’t wait to see the sea trials,” said Ben Hall, vice president of Hall Spars & Rigging. 

Hall Spars at a Glance

Hall Spars & Rigging was founded by Eric Hall and Phil Garland. The doors opened on June 9, 1980, in Bristol, R.I., USA. In 1992, Hall became the first spar maker to use an aerospace-quality autoclave in the curing of carbon parts in its own facility. 

The BMW ORACLE Racing mast is being built at Hall’s U.S. factory located in Bristol, R.I. Every Hall carbon-fiber spar is autoclave cured to aerospace standards of 6 bar (85-100 psi) and a temperature of 120°C (250°F). Hall’s high-pressure process eliminates voids and maximizes fiber straightness. The U.S. factory has two autoclaves: the 46-meter autoclave cures America’s Cup masts and most super yacht spars in one cure cycle. The 20-meter autoclave is used for poles and parts. 

Hall composite structures are seamless because they are made on a male mold. Pre-preg unidirectional carbon fiber is laid up around an aluminum mandrel and then autoclave cured. (The mandrel is removed upon curing.) The result is a seamless tube with fibers stretched straight during the heat cycle by the expanding aluminum mandrel. These fibers continue – uninterrupted – around the circumference of the tube. A Hall seamless carbon tube is the lightest, strongest and stiffest tube available on the market today. 

Bernard Schopfer

www.bmworacleracing.com

 

Part 2 of The week when Alinghi took control of the situation

The week when Alinghi took control of the situation – Part 2

Following yesterday’s analysis of the situation, we are now studying some possible strategies for both protagonists.

When a bold strategy backfires!

To add pain to BMWOracle’s misery, by extending the time frame to an America’s Cup in 2009, the legal process has given Alinghi the possibility of exploring different designs before construction, having more time for construction and development of their vessel. The Defender may also decide to design and construct more than one vessel since Alinghi is not required to designate its competing vessel until the start of the first race.

Had BMWOracle known that it had over a year to design, build and train on its challenge vessel, they would more than likely had a different design and construction strategy which would have resulted in a more powerful, faster yacht for the races. To be forced to give all this information to the Defender with so much lead–up time to the Match is surely the worst nightmare for a Challenger.

Beware, BMWOracle is not a newcomer!

The American Team is extremely experienced and you can be certain they planned for multiple scenarios. Apart from the general concept of their boat they will have designed a boat with a range of rig sizes to adapt to different venues and they will have much more time to learn about their boat by launching early.

Mutual consent?

The ‘Deed of Gift’ states that both competitors can agree on almost everything based on ‘Mutual Consent’.

By having this long and painful legal battle, both teams set the tone for an ‘hostile DoG Match’ and the communication between Alinghi and BMWOracle is in tatters. ‘Mutual consent’ between these two is no longer an option, however it appears the team that might suffer the most from this hostile stand-off is again BMWOracle.

How can one say this when only a couple of weeks ago the Challenger seemed to have the edge over the Defender? Because the Deed of Gift favors the Defender so much.
· Apart from choosing the date, the Defender selects the venue.
· They know well in advance what sort of ‘weapon’ the Challenger is coming with.
· They name the judges and run the races.
· They write the sailing rules.
· They govern pretty much anything and everything and might even be allowed to change boat’s between races should they wish to do so.

A hostile DoG Match is like climbing Everest with no oxygen for the Challenger and one thing is for sure we can expect Alinghi to not give an inch of breathing space to the BMWOracle team.

One of the several strategies for the Defender

When all the required information is given to the Defender, Alinghi can decide to build a similar boat and prepare for a match come summer 2009 or, and it is more than likely, they will go in a different direction.

Let’s assume that the American boat is a trimaran weighing 10 to 12 tons and optimized for 12 to 15knots of wind. A vessel with a range of rig sizes adaptable to different venues and wind conditions.
The Defender could design a catamaran weighing 7 to 8 tons. A multihull perfectly optimized for a 5 to 8 knot wind range. Bearing in mind that the Swiss team is the world specialist in sailing catamaran’s on Lake Geneva, they know how to design and built an extremely light weight multihull, a rocket ship in light wind conditions.
Alinghi could then choose a location where the wind is light or even select Valencia as the venue and decide the races will start at 8am when there is virtually no wind in the hot season as seen during the last America’s Cup.

Even with several rig sizes in their artillery, how could the American Challenger’s much heavier boat out-perform the super light Swiss torpedo on the water?

A Challenger has never won a DoG Match
Unfortunately, as anyone can see, the Deed of Gift has been written to favor the Defender. A Challenger has never won a DoG match in the history of the America’s Cup and given the very specific rules of this trophy it is no wonder the New York Yacht Club has defended the Cup successfully for 132 years. Unless the Challenger’s got a head start on technology, he has virtually no chance of winning an America’s Cup DoG match. BMWOracle has just lost that edge and their situation could be fast becoming close to desperate.

What now?
A ‘hostile’ DoG match with the Defender holding all the ‘ace’ cards is the worst case scenario for a Challenger. Cornered and with their back against the wall, BMWOracle now has a fantastic opportunity to show the World how smart they are.
· Will they carry on with their ‘DoG Match’ with virtually no chance of winning it?
· Will they take the option of ‘pulling the pin’ before it is too late and negotiate a new protocol with the Defender?
· Or are we going to witness another mis-match for the 33^rd America’s Cup in 2009?

Only time will tell but what a waste and a crying shame if it is to be the latter.

Sebastien Destremau

www.destremausailing.blogspot.com

2nd partie de: Lorsque Alinghi reprend le contrôle de la situation

Lorsque le Defender reprend le contrôle de la situation (2^ème partie)

Suite à l'état des lieux dressé d'hier sur la prise de contrôle d'Alinghi, nous étudions aujourd'hui certaines des stratégies possibles des deux protagonistes.

Quand une stratégie audacieuse se retourne contre son auteur!
En repoussant l'America's Cup en 2009 et comme pour ajouter de la douleur à la misère de BMWOracle, le processus juridique a donné au bureau d'étude d'Alinghi l'opportunité d'explorer différents types de bateaux. Les Suisses ont maintenant plus de temps pour réfléchir avant de lancer la construction de leur navire et surtout pour son futur développement une fois mis à l'eau. Le Defender peut également décider de concevoir et de construire plusieurs bateaux puisque lui, n'est pas tenue de désigner son bateau de course avant le jour de la première régate.

Si BMWOracle avait su qu'il avait plus d'un an pour concevoir, construire et tester sa machine de guerre, il est plus que probable que son planning d'étude et de construction aurait été différent. Les Américains auraient conçu un bateau plus puissant et donc potentiellement beaucoup plus rapide. Au lieu de ça, il risque d'être forcé de donner très bientôt plein d'informations au Defender alors que ce dernier n'a pas encore commencé à construire son propre bateau. Une telle situation ressemble de plus en plus à un véritable cauchemar pour le Challenger.

Attention! C'est pas le premier venu!

Toutefois BMWOracle n'est pas le premier venu et aura sans doute conçu un bateau avec toute une série de gréements de tailles diverses pour s'adapter aux différents lieux de régates possibles ainsi qu'aux conditions météorologiques potentiellement rencontrées. De plus, il aura beaucoup plus de temps pour en apprendre les finesses et les réglages en le lançant le plus tôt possible.

Consentement mutuel?
L'acte de donation de l'America's Cup (Deed of Gift) indique que les deux concurrents peuvent éventuellement se mettre d'accord sur presque tout sur la base du « consentement mutuel »'.
En ayant eu cette longue et pénible bataille juridique, les deux équipes ont donné le ton pour un «Match hostile » et la communication entre Alinghi et BMWOracle est en lambeaux. Le « consentement mutuel» ne faisant plus partie du langage de ces deux équipes, il semble que l'équipe pouvant souffrir le plus de cette situation hostile est à nouveau BMWOracle.

Comment peut-on dire çà lorsqu'il y a seulement quelques semaines le Challenger semblait avoir pris l'ascendant sur le Defender? Tout simplement parce que le Deed of Gift favorise largement le Defender. Voyez plutôt.

· En dehors de choisir la date, le Defender choisit le lieu.

· Il sait bien à l'avance avec quel type d'arme le Challenger va venir le rencontrer.

· Il n'a lui même rien à dévoiler au Challenger avant le jour de la première régate.

· Il nomme les jaugeurs, juges et les arbitres en charge de la gestion des courses.

· Il écrit les divers règlements de courses.

· Il régit à peu près tout et n'importe quoi et pourrait même être autorisé à changer de bateau entre les courses s'il le souhaite.

Le règlement de l'America's Cup est ainsi fait et il est loin d'être équitable. Un match hostile est un peu comme grimper l'Everest sans oxygène pour le Challenger. Une chose est certaine au vu de la situation actuelle, il faut s'attendre à ce qu'Alinghi ne donne pas un pouce de répit à BMWOracle.

Imaginons une des stratégies du Defender pour un match pendant l'été 2009?
Lorsque toutes les informations sont fournies au Defender, Alinghi peut décider de construire un bateau similaire a celui de son adversaire ou, et c'est plus probable, il peut choisir une autre voie architecturale.
Imaginons que le bateau américain soit un trimaran pesant 10 à 12 tonnes et soit optimisé pour 12 à 15 nœuds de vent. Une redoutable machine avec un éventail de mâts et voiles adaptables aux différents lieux et conditions de vent.
Le Defender peut concevoir un catamaran pesant 7 à 8 tonnes. Un multicoque parfaitement optimisé pour 5 à 8 nœuds de vent.

Il peut alors choisir un endroit où le vent est très léger voir même sélectionner Valence comme lieu de régate et décider que les courses débuteront à 8 heures du matin quand il n'y a pratiquement pas un souffle d'air pendant la saison chaude, comme on a pu le voir lors de la dernière America's Cup.

Sachant que l'équipe suisse est le spécialiste de la régate en catamaran sur le lac de Genève, ils savent parfaitement comment concevoir et construire un multicoque extrêmement léger, une véritable fusée dans des conditions de vent faible. Même avec plusieurs tailles de gréements dans leur artillerie, comment le Challenger américain se comportera t-il contre le missile suisse spécialement conçu pour le petit temps ?

Un Challenger n'a jamais remporté un match hostile
Malheureusement et comme chacun peut le constater, l'acte de donation de l'America's Cup a été rédigé pour favoriser le Defender. Un Challenger n'a jamais remporté un match hostile dans l'histoire de l'America's Cup et compte tenu des règles très 'particulières' de ce trophée, il n'est pas étonnant que le New York Yacht Club ait défendu la Coupe pendant 132 ans avec succès.

A moins que le Challenger aie pris une longueur d'avance dans le secteur technologique, il n'a pratiquement aucune chance de gagner l'America's Cup dans ces conditions. Avec le jugement récemment rendu, BMWOracle vient de perdre cet avantage et leur situation pourrait être considérée comme désespérée.

Que faire maintenant?
Un "match hostile" avec un Defender qui détient tous les «as» dans son jeu est le scénario le plus défavorable pour le Challenger. Coincé et dos au mur, BMWOracle a maintenant une occasion unique de choisir:
• Vont-ils continuer avec leur «match» sans avoir pratiquement aucune chance de le gagner?
• Vont-ils "jeter l'éponge" avant qu'il ne soit trop tard et négocier un nouveau protocole avec le Defender?
• Ou, comme en 1988, allons-nous assister à un autre mis-match pour la 33e America's Cup en 2009?

Seul le temps nous le dira mais ce serait un sacré gaspillage s'il s'agissait de ce dernier.

/FIN

Sebastien Destremau

www.destremausailing.blogspot.com

33rd America's Cup - The week when Alinghi took control of the situation (Part 1)

The week when Alinghi took control of the situation

A couple of weeks ago, the New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Defender Alinghi by determining a ‘tolling period’. The Judge has effectively started the clock and set the beginning of the 10 months notice period from mid May 2008 pushing the 33^rd America’s Cup Match to mid March 2009 at the earliest. On top of that a second blow to the American strategy came a couple of days later when Alinghi was successful in consolidating its appeal on the date issue with its previously filed appeal, contesting the validity of the Challenger of Record. All issues will be heard by the Appellate Division on 5 June 2008 with a decision expected towards the end of June at the earliest or most probably in July 2008. The logical outcome is a further delay for the 33^rd America’s Cup Match given that the legal system has to accept the fact that a tolling period has been enforced.

What does this mean to the Challenger BMWOracle’s Team?
The fact that the judge has ruled for a ‘tolling period’ is the biggest setback in BMWOracle’s strategy. They started to build their boat with an October 2008 regatta in mind and the American ‘missile’ should be launched around 15 June 2008. BMWOracle has designed and built their ‘DoG Monster’ whilst Alinghi took a risk in waiting for the final decision in the legal warfare. Should the judge have ruled for an October 2008 Match, BMWOracle would have won the race with virtually no competitor as Alinghi would not have had the time to build their own boat. This strategy could have paid handsomely for BMWOracle however this is sadly not the case.

Custom House Registry Certificate – A crucial document
The founding donator of the America’s Cup, George Shuyler was very clear when he wrote in the “Deed of Gift” : ‘the challenged party has a right to know what the yacht challenging is like, so it can meet her with a yacht of her own type if it so desires’. The Deed of Gift also adds that the Challenger should send the ‘Custom House Registry Certificate’ of their competing vessel ‘as soon as possible’ to the Defender.

Although ‘as soon as possible’ does not set a firm date, it is important to note that BMWOracle’s Notice of Challenge was sent almost a year ago on 11 July 2007 and they are yet to provide the Defender with the Custom House Registry Certificate. Therefore are we now beyond the ‘as soon as possible’ date ?

As G.Shuyler stated ‘the challenged party has a right to know’, it appears the Defender has requested it for several weeks and is now claiming that BMWOracle should have provided this certificate prior to Christmas. It is believed this delay is solely for competitive reasons and in clear contradiction of the deed. Furthermore, Alinghi is also claiming contradictions between the public made information on the American vessel and the boat certificate presented in the appeal filed with the Appellate Division. Everyone understands BMWOracle’s boat is a trimaran but no one is certain. This is one piece of minimal information the Custom House Registry Certificate would reveal.

A trap for the American Challenge?

Alinghi should have started building their boat by now however they maintain to not have enough information about BMWOracle’s boat to know exactly what to build to match them. Up until now, Alinghi has been forced to basically design and build a DoG Match boat blind (or partially blind). The Custom House Registry Certificate could become a trap for the American’s and if they are building a second boat then they will be very nervous to launch the first one since they will run a real risk in that they will be forced to race the first one...

Will BMWOracle’s argument be ‘we can build as many boats as we like that match our challenge certificate ( which is very broad ) and then when we decide which one we want to use we will give you the Customs House Registry Certificate? Could this be their interpretation of ‘as soon as possible’ meaning when they are ready?

End of Part One ... Following this analysis, we will study tomorrow some possible strategies for both protagonists.

Sebastien Destremau

www.destremausailing.blogspot.com

33eme Coupe America - Lorsque Alinghi reprend le contrôle de la situation (1ère partie)

Lorsque le Defender Alinghi prend le contrôle de la situation

Il y a deux semaines, la Court Suprême de New York Cour statuait en faveur du Defender Alinghi en déterminant une "période d'attente' jusqu'à la conclusion du procès l’opposant au Challenger BMWOracle. Ce jugement a démarré l'horloge le 12 Mai 2008 pour les 10 mois de préavis obligatoire repoussant la 33e America's Cup Match à la mi Mars 2009 au plus tôt. De plus, un deuxième coup bas était porté à la stratégie américaine, lorsqu’Alinghi réussissait à consolider son appel en cours avec ledit jugement, contestant ainsi la validité du Challenger Américain.

Les deux parties seront entendues par la court d'appel le 5 Juin 2008 avec une décision finale attendue dans le courant de l'été. La logique voudrait que la date de la prochaine América's Cup soit à nouveau reportée d'encore quelques mois. Etant donné que le système juridique américain a accepté qu'une période d'attente était applicable pendant la durée de la procédure judiciaire, on peut raisonnablement penser que l’America’s Cup aura bien lieu pendant l’été 2009.

Qu'est-ce que cela signifie pour le Challenger BMWOracle?
Le fait que le juge ait statué pour une « période d'attente» est un revers dans la stratégie de BMWOracle. En effet, avec une régate originellement programmée dans leurs esprits pour Octobre 2008, ils avaient commencé à construire leur bateau en fin d’année 2007 et le « missile American » doit être lancé dans le courant du mois de juin. BMWOracle avait décidé de concevoir et construire leur bateau sans attendre les résultats des juges alors qu'Alinghi a prit un énorme risque en attendant la décision finale du tribunal.

Imaginez la situation si le juge new yorkais avait statué en faveur des Américains pour un match en Octobre 2008! BMWOracle aurait gagné la course faute de concurrent car Alinghi n'aurait pas eu le temps de construire un bateau suffisamment efficace en si peu de temps. Cette stratégie aurait pu payer pour BMWOracle et aurait été une véritable catastrophe pour l'équipe Suisse. Ce n’est pas le cas et le coup est très sévère pour l’équipe Américaine. La déception doit être énorme à l’heure qu’il est outre atlantique. Mais ce n’est pas fini !

Le Certificat d'Enregistrement - Un document crucial
Le fondateur de l'America's Cup, George Shuyler a été très clair quand il a écrit dans le «Deed of Gift»: « le Defender est en droit de savoir a quoi ressemble le bateau du Challenger, afin qu'il puisse répondre au défi avec un bateau de son propre type, s’il le souhaite ». Le Deed of Gift précise en outre que le Challenger devra envoyer le « certificat d'enregistrement » de leur navire au Defender « dès que possible ».

Bien que le «dès que possible» ne soit évidemment pas une date ferme, il est important de se souvenir que BMWOracle a déposé son Défi aux Suisses le 11 Juillet 2007 et qu'ils leur restent à fournir le fameux « certificat d'enregistrement ». Après quasiment un an de délai, sommes-nous maintenant au-delà du «dès que possible»?

Comme G. Shuyler le déclarait «le Defender a le droit de savoir», il semble qu'Alinghi ait demandé ce document depuis plusieurs semaines et fait valoir que BMWOracle aurait dû fournir ce certificat avant Noël. Les Suisses estiment que ce retard est en contradiction manifeste avec l'acte de donation de la Coupe. De plus, ils s'interrogent sur des contradictions entre les quelques informations connues du navire américain et certains détails du certificat présentés dans le recours déposé auprès de la Court d'appel.

Nombreux sont ceux qui pensent que le bateau de BMWOracle est un trimaran, mais personne n'en n'est vraiment certain. Cette information essentielle dans la stratégie de défense d’Alinghi doit être révélée par le dit «certificat d'enregistrement ».

Est-ce un piège pour le Challenger Américain?
Alinghi aurait déjà dû commencer la construction de leur bateau, toutefois, ils maintiennent ne pas avoir suffisamment d'informations sur leur adversaire afin de savoir avec précision ce qu'il leur faut construire pour répondre au défi Américain. C’est un peu comme si BMWOracle avait défié Alinghi en annonçant qu'ils se présenteraient avec une arme à feu sans préciser si c'est un pistolet ou un canon! Jusqu'à maintenant, Alinghi a essentiellement réfléchi à la conception et à la construction de leur bateau en aveugle (ou partiellement aveugle en tous cas).

Par contre, le 'certificat d'enregistrement' pourrait également devenir un véritable piège pour les Américains. Si BMWOracle avait maintenant le projet de construire plusieurs bateaux, ils seront sans doute très nerveux à l’idée de lancer leur premier coursier car ils courront le risque très réel d'être obligés de l'utiliser pour la course.

Est-ce que l'argument de BMWOracle est «nous pouvons construire autant de bateaux que nous souhaitons tant qu'ils correspondent aux mensurations de notre défi déposé en son temps (mensurations très vagues au demeurant) et quand nous déciderons celui que nous voulons utiliser, nous vous donnerons le certificat d'enregistrement'.

Serait-ce là leur interprétation du «dès que possible » - c'est-à-dire « quand nous sommes prêts? »

Fin de la première partie ... Demain la suite de cette étude avec certaines des stratégies possibles des deux protagonistes.

Sebastien Destremau

www.destremausailing.blogspot.com

33eme Coupe America - Lorsque Alinghi prend le contrôle de la situation

Il y a deux semaines, la Court Suprême de New York Cour statuait en faveur du Defender Alinghi en déterminant une "période d'attente' jusqu'à la conclusion du procès l’opposant au Challenger BMWOracle. Ce jugement a démarré l'horloge le 12 Mai 2008 pour les 10 mois de préavis obligatoire repoussant la 33e America's Cup Match à la mi Mars 2009 au plus tôt.

Lundi la suite de cette étude avec certaines des stratégies possibles des deux protagonistes.

Sébastien Destremau

33rd America's Cup - The week when Alinghi took control of the situation

A couple of weeks ago, the New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Defender Alinghi by determining a ‘tolling period’. The Judge has effectively started the clock and set the beginning of the 10 months notice period from mid May 2008 pushing the 33rd America’s Cup Match to mid March 2009 at the earliest.

On Monday a study on some possible strategies for both protagonists

Sebastien Destremau

Three New comments received re: 33rd AC What a waste!.

WhtWineSpritzer a dit...

I was at the meeting of challengers called by Luna Rossa two days after Alinghi's shambolic protocol was announced. Ellison, represented by Ehman, was the only challenger who had the brass balls, money, and experienced people who could react fast enough to try to stop Bertarelli's hijacking of the Cup via sham yacht club and hateful protocol. Your timetable is not only more or less correct, but just shows how quickly and well Ellison and his people reacted. Thanks goodness they did.

From: anonymous

Tom Ehman was well connected with people from ACM and for sure new the plans to return to Valencia and for a Spanish CoR months in advance. The America's Cup community is small.

From: Peter
Think about this: How could BMW Oracle have possibly known that Alinghi would create a sham Challenger of Record? Since they could not, then there is no reason that they would have started designing a multihull! This entire fiasco is solely Alinghi's responsibility.

The gloves are off!! Part 2

Response’s Letter sent on May 19 from GGYC to SNG regarding the Custom House Registry Certificate

 

Gentlemen

I am writing in response to your leIter dated 6 May 2008.

I regret that you have chosen to largely ignore the content of our letter dated 29 April 2008; accordingly, it is referenced and incorporated herein as a response to your 6 May letter.

lt is apparent from the self-serving and erroneous assertions contained in your letter, which we hereby reject, that your purpose from the start in raising the customhouse registry issue is to manufacture yet another frivolous justification for your failures to (-a-) abide by the decisions and orders issued by the New York Supreme Court, and (-B-) to perform your fiduciary duty as trustee of the America‘s Cup -- each by failing to accept and treat GGYC as the Challenger of Record.

Let me reiterate that we are in full compliance with the requirements of the Deed of Gift including without limitation with regard to the “custom-house registry;“ and we will provide the U.S. Coast Guard documentation as soon as possible. We expect that your custom-house registry claim will be soundly rejected by the New York court, just as the court rejected your claim that CNEV was a valid challenger and your claim that the certificate accompanying GGYC‘s notice of challenge was deficient because of the words “keel yacht.“

We also fully expect that the court will not permit litigation over your latest tactic to delay the 33rd America‘s Cup. lt is regrettable that at every turn you continue to seek new excuses for further delay and to avoid defending the Cup in a match as the Deed of Gift requires.

You should also know that we will hold your Club financially responsible for all damages incurred by your failure to abide by the prior court decisions and orders, by your breach of your fiduciary duty as trustee of the America‘s Cup, and by your publication of false statements about our Club

 

Sincerely yours

 

Golden Gate Yacht Club

Marcus Young

Commodore

The gloves are off!! Part 1

Letter from SNG to GGYC regarding the Custom House Registry Certificate

 

Marcus Young

Commodore Golden Gate Yacht Club

 

Dear Commodore,

 

I write in response to your letter dated April2gth, 2008.

GGYC acknowledges its obligation under the Deed of Gift to provide a custom-house registry

of GGYC’s challenging vessel, yet it is apparent from your letter that GGYC hopes it may

comply with this requirement as and when it suits GGYC.

 

As you will be aware, up until the 1887 Deed it was a requirement that the custom-house

registry be provided with the Notice of Challenge. Allowing it to be furnished as soon as

possible afterward is a courtes which may not be taken as a license to withhold this

information for “as long as possible”.

 

As GGYC itself has emphasized, it has been nearly 10 months since GGYC issued its

purported challenge in July 2007. GGYC has throughout that time period failed to comply

with the Deed of Gift’s clearly stated requirement that a custom-house registry of the vessel

be provided “as soon as possible”.

 

We reiterate our April t2h8 request that GGYC provide a full and complete explanation of the

steps GGYC has taken in complying with its obligation to apply for, obtain and provide to

SNG the Coast Guard certificate of documentation of its challenge vessel, which vessel

GGYC has confirmed, has been under construction for quite some time.

 

Absent GGYC’s prompt compliance with the Deed of Gift, including without limitation its

provision of a full and complete copy of the Coast Guard certificate of documentation for its

challenge vessel named USA currently under construction, SNG will have no choice but to

seek appropriate recourse and e e that the terms of the Deed of Gift are fulfilled.

 

Yours sincerely,

Fred Meyer

33rd America's Cup - What a waste!

Whilst the Swiss team was probably feeling good about their first legal victory in the America's Cup battle against BMW Oracle, others were venting some anger and wondering if they were just nuts or if someone else could see things the same way. While realizing that we all could be wrong and were maybe taking a biased view.

Looking back at building scheduled put in place for the 33^rd America’s Cup, it was interesting to note that Alinghi, Desafio, TeamOrigin and Team Germany were going to launch their first AC90 in June 2008 whilst Shosholoza and TNZ were probably working on a similar time frame.

 

America’s Cup’s teams would have been at full steam by now with sailmakers and mast makers finishing their work to sail these new monsters. All bases in Valencia would have been flat out preparing the launch of their first AC90. What a sight and a great feeling it would have been!

 

Instead? We have a waste land in Valencia and a bunch of people out of work worldwide. Not only team members but suppliers.

 

What a shame to see the ‘Port America’s Cup’ these past months with just a few TP52s operating out of empty basis and only Alinghi and BMWOracle with anything like an America’s Cup operation.

 

Unfortunately Alinghi will never get away from the 33^rd Protocol which will go down in history as a huge mistake by those involved while being totally miscalculated and even worse unnecessary.

 

Still the process of preparing the Competition regulations and Event regulations was open and productive and this largely unwound most of the mis-justice of the protocol. It also gave all the competitors a much greater say in the regulations than anything that happened prior to the 32nd America’s Cup.

 

As an example all those rules were simply created by ACM, Alinghi and BMWOracle in 2003 for the 32^nd America’s Cup. BMWOracle was Challenger of Record then and other challengers had very little input into any of those rules if any.

 

Then if we take a look at BMW Oracle’s schedule this time around:

·         Alinghi wins 32^nd America’s Cup 3 July

·         ACM issue 33^rd America’s Cup’s protocol 5 July

·         BMWOracle delivers Notice of Challenge 11 July for race date 4 July 08.

·         Mark Van Pethegen confirms he is working for BMWO since 12 July. Probably he had started even earlier since to design build and commission a 90x90 Multi to be  race ready in less than one year is nearly impossible.

·         BMWOracle submit papers in court on 20 July.

·         Official announcement of Russell Coutts joining BMWOracle is made on 25 July.

 

Looking at this schedule, a simple question came to mind:

·         How can you pull all that together in a week or two?

·         And consequently wondering if BMWOracle had this strategy in place for some time?

 

Is the basis of BMWOracle’s strategy to win a big bonus but also to discredit and damage Alinghi’s team principal as much as possible?

Then allowing him to run another successful America’s Cup even if you have the strongest team and would have been one of the favorite to win does not really achieve your second goal, does it?

 

Think about it.

 

Sebastien Destremau

33ème Coupe America - Quel gâchis!

Si l'équipe suisse est soulagée suite à leur première victoire juridique dans la bataille légale qui l'oppose à BMW Oracle, on peut ressentir une certaine colère générale en se demandant si c'est juste un sentiment déraisonnable ou si ce point de vue est partagé. Tout en réalisant qu'on peut être 'parti pris' dans cette affaire.

En regardant les différents calendriers mis en place pour la 33e America's Cup, il est intéressant de noter qu'Alinghi, Desafio, TeamOrigin et Team Germany auraient du lancer leur premier AC90 en Juin 2008 et que TNZ et Shosholoza étaient probablement sur un programme similaire.

 

Toutes les équipes auraient été « pied au plancher » avec les gréeurs, stratifieurs, électroniciens, voiliers et les décideurs travaillant d'arrache-pied pour terminer leur construction et enfin naviguer sur ces nouveaux monstres. Toutes les bases auraient été ouvertes 24h sur 24h pour préparer le lancement de leur premier AC90. Ca aurait été 'que du bonheur'!
 
Au lieu de çà? Nous assistons à un gâchis des bases et des terrains de Valence et à un groupe de personnes sans emplois dans le monde entier. Non seulement les membres des équipes, mais également chez les nombreux fournisseurs qui vivent de la Coupe América.

Qu'elle honte de voir le 'Port America's Cup' ces dernières mois avec juste quelques TP52 en préparation, un désert avec la plupart des bases vides et seulement celles d'Alinghi et de BMWOracle avec un semblant d'activité Coupe América.

Malheureusement Alinghi ne sortira pas indemne du protocole de la 33eme Coupe América. Celui-ci restera dans l'histoire comme une erreur par ceux qui s'y sont impliqués alors qu'il s'agissait simplement d'un mauvais calcul inutile et rectifié depuis.

Pourtant le processus d'élaboration des diverses réglementations de l'événement était ouvert et avait corrigé tous les points sensibles du protocole jugé un peu vite comme des injustices. Ce processus a donné la parole à tous les concurrents de la 33eme Coupe América à l'inverse de ce qui se passait auparavant et noteamment la 32em édition.

A titre d'exemple toutes ces règles avaient été créé et écrite par l'America's Cup Management, Alinghi et BMWOracle en 2003 pour la 32e Coupe America. BMWOracle était Challenger of Record et les autres challengers n'avaient que très peu, voir aucun, regard sur ces documents avant leurs publications.

Ensuite, si nous jetons un coup d'œil sur le planning de BMW Oracle cette fois-ci:
• Alinghi remporte la 32e Coupe America - 3 Juillet
• ACM publie le protocole de 33eme Coupe America - 5 Juillet
• BMWOracle dépose son « deed of gift » le 11 Juillet pour une épreuve programmée le 4 Juillet 08.
• Mark Van Pethegen confirme qu'il travaille pour BMWO depuis le 12 Juillet. Il a probablement commencé plus tôt, car concevoir et construire un multicoque de 30x30m pour être près a régater en moins d'une année est presque impossible.
• BMWOracle présente sa plainte au tribunal de New York - 20 Juillet.
• Annonce officielle de la signature de Russell Coutts - 25 Juillet.

En regardant ce planning, une question simple vient à l'esprit:
• Comment pouvez-vous organiser tous çà en une semaine ou deux?
• Sachant que BMWOracle avait 'prévu' de remporter la dernière Coupe America on est, par conséquent, en droit de se demander si cette stratégie avait été mise en place depuis un certain temps?

 

Est-ce que le fondement même de la stratégie de BMWOacle était de gagner un gros bonus tout en discréditant les dirigeants d'Alinghi autant que faire ce peut?
Même si vous pensez avoir l'équipe la plus forte, que vous êtes l'un des favoris et que grâce à votre stratégie vous avez pris six mois d'avance sur votre adversaire, vous ne réaliser pas vraiment votre deuxième objectif, n'est-ce pas?

Réfléchissons-y !

Sébastien Destremau

 

The Cup in March 09? Not sure about that Sir!

Société Nautique de Genève asks Appellate Division for clarity on America’s Cup Match (New York, 13 May 2008) Justice Cahn of the New York Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the required 10-month preparation period stipulated by the Deed of Gift for the America’s Cup holder to ready its defence for the Match begins from the service of the order he issued dated 12 May 2008. Despite this positive development, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the defending yacht club, is obliged to seek further clarity from the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court.

 

Justice Cahn’s 10-month ruling puts the Deed of Gift Match in March 2009. But, because the Deed of Gift prohibits racing in the Northern Hemisphere from 1 November until 30 April and expressly grants the Defender the right to nominate the venue, SNG has asked the Appellate Division to establish that the first possible race date is May 2009.

 

Lucien Masmejan, lead counsel for the SNG, explains: “The order issued by Justice Cahn on 12 May 2008 contains some positives for Alinghi, but the language is ambiguous as it fails to recognise that a Match cannot happen in the Northern Hemisphere in March as per the Deed of Gift. The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) specifically conditioned its challenge on a Northern Hemisphere match and SNG has always contemplated a Northern Hemisphere match either in Valencia or another location."

 

Conscious that time is of essence, and to clarify this inconsistency SNG has been successful in consolidating its appeal on the date issue with its previously filed appeal contesting the validity of GGYC as Challenger of Record. All issues will be heard by the Appellate Division on 5 June 2008.

 

“Meanwhile, the Alinghi sailing team is training intensively and the designers and shore crew continue to prepare for the 33rd America’s Cup. SNG will defend the Cup on the water and we look forward to returning to our true area of expertise: competitive racing.”

 

By Daphne Morgan Barnicoat - Alinghi

 

Finally THE Court Order - The 33rd ACup will be sailed in 2009

ORDERED that the Motion, sequence number 001 for preliminary injunction and expedited discovery and an expedited trial, is denied as moot; and it is further

ORDERED that the Motion, sequence number 002 for leave to file an amici curiae brief,is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendant SNG's Motion to Dismiss and for Summary Judgment in sequence number 003 is granted to the extent it dismisses GGYC's breach of fiduciary duty cause of action, and PlaintiffGGYG's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment in sequence number 003 is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that the Motion, sequence number 004 by CNEV for Summary Judgment and to Dismiss GCYC's claims, is denied; and it is further

ORDERED and adjudged that CNEV's challenge is invalid, and CNEV is not a valid Challenger of Record pursuant to the Deed of Gift; and it is further

ORDERED and adjudged that GGYC's challenge is valid, and GGYC is the Challenger of Record pursuant to the Deed of Gift; and it is further

ORDERED that the dates for the challenge match races shall be the date ten calendar months from the date of service of a copy of this order, with notice of entry, upon the attorneys who have appeared herein, unless said date is a Sunday or legal holiday, in which case the next day shall be the first date of the challenge match races. The second date shall be two business days thereafter and the third date, if necessary, shall be two business days after the second race. Notwithstanding the above, the parties may mutually agree in writing to other dates.

ORDERED that the location on the match shall be in Valencia, Spain or any other location selected by SNG, provided SNG notify GGYC in writing not less than six months in advance of the date set for the first challenge match race of the location it has selected for the challenge match races; and it is further

ORDERED that GGYC and SNG may engage in a mutual consent process and make any arrangement satisfactory to both as to the dates, courses, nulber of trials, rules and sailing regulations, and any and all other conditions of the challenege match races in accordance with the Deed of Gift; and it further

ORDERED that the Clerck of Court is derected to enter judgment accordingly

 

Dated May 12, 2008

 

ENTER J,S.Cahn

Oracle vs Alinghi - What else?

Everything has been said about the need to change the America's Cup with one main goal in mind: To leave the 19th century and make it into the 21st century.

One solution being considered is to remove the organization of the event by the winning Yacht Club and entrust it to an independent organizer, for an event scheduled every two or three years. This vision would give greater visibility to the event, which in turn would make it more attractive to sponsors. The permanent staff employed full-time would allow the America's Cup to be conducted as a great professional sporting show.

Does the above reminds us of the current trophy holder's vision?? - In fact, not really!

Doing some researches on the subject, it is interesting to note that he has not been the first to envisage modernizing the America's Cup. He was not the first to ask a city to pay a fee, nor the first to consider "selling" the event to the highest bidder. He was not even the first to place the America's Cup's organization in the capable hands of an independent management company. In fact Ernesto Bertarelli has not invented anything.

From 1990 to today
In October 1990, the America's Cup Organizing Committee Vice-President's (ACOC), Tom Ehman, requested $10 million to San Diego for hosting the 1992 Americas Cup. Of these $10 million, $1.27 million was related to benefits in kind such as offices, rents and other free services, and the remaining $8.73 million were paid in cash. ACOC retained the responsibility of TV rights, media relations, on water event management, sales of derivatives and Licensing Protection. Its subsidiary - America's Cup Services - offered San Diego's businesses the opportunity to get financially involved in the competition.

Unfortunately, the San Diego Business Journal reported some financial difficulties in August 1991: "The poor financial health of the America's Cup Organizing Committee is very worrying". The SDB Journal confirmed the financial strife in July 1992 with the following statement: "The ACOC 180's creditors could receive between 13% and 38% of their debt under the plan discussed recently."

Modernizing the Cup
In December 1999 the Metropolitan San Diego began to talk about restructuring the America Cup, in order to "leave the 19th century and make it into the 21st". According to America's Cup International director's Tom Ehman, it was proposed to "separate the event's organization from the winning Yacht Club and entrust an entity to organizing the America's Cup every two or three years. "

Formula One Style
On 11 March 2002, grandprix.com pointed out that Formula 1 and the America's Cup have much in common. Not only the technological side but also by applying some F1 marketing ideas into the sailing world. Tom Ehman, who in the past was in charge of McLaren West's sponsorship, was running a company called "Travel and More." The entertainment company's role was to book airline tickets, obtains the best hotels and transports personalities to the 'Paddock Club'. For the 2003 America's Cup in Auckland, Tom Ehman followed the same concept by replacing the "Paddock Club" by the "Base Club" with the focus on giving a great time to the 'super' VIPs.

Two years cycle
As recently as January 2007, Tom Ehman, now spokesman and special advisor for BMW Oracle U.S team, said in an interview his preference to stage the America's Cup every two years instead of four. "Most of the 12 teams competing this year strongly favor a two-year cycle. This would reduce costs and provide a source of regular income. You get more interest and more excitement using a shorter cycle. Furthermore, it is economically a far better deal." However it was somewhat surprising to hear the same Tom Ehman recently saying: "All of us are just astonished by what is taking place here. We don't understand what was wrong with what was done last time"

Similarities between Bertarelli and Ehman
Like Tom Ehman's vision at the time, Ernesto Bertarelli began modernizing the America's Cup with 13 Acts hosted between 2004 and 2007.
He founded America's Cup Management, an independent company in charge of organizing and managing the event in a professional and commercial approach.
He erected "The Foredeck Club" in Valencia, a huge building welcoming the super VIPs in great style.
In late 2007, America's Cup Management distributed a profit of nearly €70 million to the 32nd America's Cup's competitors.
In October 2007, Ernesto Bertarelli shared his America's Cup's vision with the New York Yacht Club.
The primary focus being to reduce costs, his plan was to shorten the cycle to two year, increasing the event's marketability and profitability.
Finally, he envisages the America's Cup's future as a Formula 1 entertainment style show.

Some of these changes, implemented for the 32^nd America's Cup, cannot be considered otherwise than a huge success.

It seems clear that studying the similarities between Tom Ehman's projects and Ernesto Bertarelli's realizations, the current legal battle is incomprehensible and the America's Cup's aficionado are entitled to wonder: Why both sides are so opposed today?

Sebastien Destremau