July 13, 2013

What if they gave a race and nobody came? That's almost what happened Sunday, July 7, when Luna Rossa opted to wait until the protest hearing on the regatta director’s decision to change the AC72 class rules (the international jury heard the protests, brought by Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, on Monday, July 8). However, ETNZ sailed the course alone in 15-17 knots of breeze on a flood tide and earned the first point in the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series. After solo races by ETNZ on Tuesday, July 9, and Luna Rossa on Thursday, July 11, Round Robin 1 is now complete.

Later on Thursday, America's Cup PRO John Craig addressed a crowd at Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon about "The New Reality." He disclosed a few new tidbits about the Louis Vuitton Cup and the rudder controversies of last week.

The size of the course has been made a little larger with buffer zones ("gravel track" as Craig described it) of 150 meters in case the boats can't stop or turn away quickly enough.

The mark boats have been replaced with a round trampoline marks with electronics aboard for sending telemetrics to the race officials and computers on shore. They must be anchored now, so moving them is not easy nor fast, and once set they will remain in position for the duration of the race.

When the RC asked for polars from the teams in order to figure out proper course lengths, their original estimate was 33 knots top boat speed. But when the foiling Kiwis submitted their estimate it came in 160% faster, thus making the whole course much tighter. John Craig said he wouldn't be surprised if someone hits 50 knots.

Boats using the LV Cup course must be officially measured and conform to the class rules. This includes the defender Oracle Team USA, which has access to the course on the same days as the Challeger races.

Some of the new personal safety gear include:

• A radio transmitter on each crew that sends a signal to a display on a chase boat. If the crew find themselves in the water they can signal that they are okay. The display will show who is okay and who needs help, or if all are accounted for.
• A bigger capacity spare air tank integrated to the PFD is now standard.
• A new super bright LED light for each crew that will be visible to divers underwater is now included in the PFD package.
• A climbing harness and carabiner to clip onto the trampoline if needed and a rope with belay is carried by each crew member.
• The PFDs also have built in body armor for protection from falls.

The crew tally box. Is everyone accounted for? ©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

As far as Ruddergate is concerned, now that the international jury has rejected the rudder changes recommended by the safety board, the only boat currently out of compliance is Artemis Racing, which is overweight due to structural modifications needed to strengthen the boat. They will have to conform, or the other Challengers can agree to allow them to race anyway.

The rudder situation is not necessarily a closed subject, and we may see more back room meetings in the future. As someone once said, "This isn't yacht racing… It's the America's Cup."

Saturday's two-boat race kicked off Round Robin 2. ©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

The LVC Round Robin 2 got underway today with an actual two-boat race between Luna Rossa and ETNZ. The Kiwis held the Italians off at the start line, and won handily. Luna Rossa was not able to finish within the 5-min. time limit. See www.americascup.com.

The Prada boat may not have won the first real race, but they definitely win the style points. ©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget