America's Cup Match Racing preview

The America's Cup is a Match Race -- 2 boats and only one winner, there is no "second" --  Queen Victoria, who was watching at the finish line of the first America's Cup in 1851, was reported to have asked who was second, the famous answer being: "Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second." This year the winner will either be Oracle Team USA (the "defender") or Emirates Team New Zealand a/k/a the "Kiwis" (the "challenger"). Racing starts Saturday, September 7th.

Experts foresee good matchup for America's Cup - SFGate: "As Gary Jobson sees it, the Kiwis are like "a well-choreographed Broadway show" and the Oracle sailors are "still auditioning." He also thinks the Emirates Team New Zealand crew might have an edge in motivation. Unlike the Oracle guys, they're sailing for their country. As Nathan Outteridge sees it, Oracle has a slight speed edge upwind. The key will be not just getting to the first mark first but leading at the bottom, or second mark. "That's probably going to determine the race," he said. Jobson and Outteridge are expert commentators on the TV coverage of the America's Cup regatta, the experienced Jobson handling the in-race analysis and the newcomer Outteridge providing postrace commentary. Both say it's difficult to predict the outcome of the finals - a welcome case after the tedious predictability of the first seven weeks of the regatta...."


AC Explore: Boat Building video above - In collaboration with the Exploratorium, the America's Cup is 'exploring' aspects of the history and science behind the America's Cup boats and technology, using exhibits both on site at the America's Cup Park and at the Exploratorium and by speaking with experts from the Exploratorium and the America's Cup teams. This video explores boat building. 

Oracle duo called to give evidence
New Zealand Herald
The cheating allegations involve OTUSA's AC45 catamarans used in the America's Cup World Series, a warm-up event to the America's Cup but which is sailed under the same rules. That means the cheating allegations could potentially be serious for OTUSA ...

America's Cup spectator count lags predicted 2 million turnout
San Francisco Business Times
The question of exactly how many people watch the America's Cup races will come into sharper focus once the races wrap up. An America's Cup that has attracted fewer participants, will generate less spending and will have fewer race days than promised ...

America's Cup: How rugby game put dent in Cup
New Zealand Herald
Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton apparently let a six-year-old cat out of the bag at the official Louis Vuitton prize giving dinner on Tuesday. In the midst of what those present said was a superb speech, Dalton's mischievous sense of humour ...

Contract dispute adds to America's Cup troubles
San Francisco Chronicle
Add a $4.2 million contract dispute to the headaches surrounding San Francisco's debut effort hosting the America's Cup. The former merchandising partner for the prestigious and seemingly snake-bit international sailing event is in the midst of a legal ...

America's Cup: Oracle Team USA principals called to Hearing on Friday
Sail World
The date of the Hearing under Article 60 of the Protocol governing the 34th America's Cup has been twice moved, originally to accommodate the unavailability or Oracle Team USA's legal counsel, Phil Bowman. The team will also be represented by Golden ...

Emirates team set up America's Cup date
gulfnews.com
Dubai: It's official now. Come September, Emirates Team New Zealand will be the ones to challenge the Oracle Team, USA for the 34th America's Cup. It's the fifth time in the past six America's Cup matches that the Emirates team will be a contestant in ...

America's Cup: Hearing into Oracle's alleged cheating delayed
Radio Sport
The Jury has called cup holders Oracle's chief executive Russell Coutts, general manager Grant Simmer and Jimmy Spithill among the witnesses for the hearing. The American syndicate is alleged to have brought the regatta into disrepute by modifying ...

Yachting: Taste of NZ wins over yachties and locals
New Zealand Herald
Restaurateur Tony Stewart is thankful this week's break in racing in San Francisco will allow his staff at Waiheke Island Yacht Club to regroup and brace themselves for the "madness" that will follow during the America's Cup. The Kiwi pop-up restaurant ...

Kids learn all about sailing from experienced skippers
DesMoinesRegister.com
It's not hard for Todd Wilson to close his eyes and remember one of the best days he's ever had. Suddenly, it's 1978 and he's 8 years old again, launching a new Hobie catamaran at Clear Lake with his dad. That first ride was enough to make Wilson a ...

AFLOAT: Weymouth Sailing Club's centenary boost
Dorset Echo
A £4,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been awarded to Weymouth SailingClub to support its Centenary Exhibition project. The week-long exhibition, which begins tomorrow, is a celebration of the past 100 years of the club, from its original ...

Dutch flotilla sails into Port Adelaide for tall ship festival
ABC Online
A fleet of three Dutch tall ships has sailed into Port Adelaide ahead of a weekend celebration of the state's maritime history. Hundreds of people watched the vessels arrive yesterday afternoon as part of an epic journey retracing historic ...

Youth Sailing Foundation spices up Saturday night
TCPalm
VERO BEACH — Saturday night was spicy hot with Youth Sailing Foundation's 2nd Annual Chili Cook Off held at the Vero Beach Power Squadron. Over 100 people sampled the sixteen different chili recipe entries, voting on their favorites. Prizes were ...

GW Sailing's Inaugural Alumni Regatta Set for Sept. 28
George Washington University - Official Athletic Site
WASHINGTON - The George Washington sailing program will host its inaugural Alumni Regatta at the Washington Sailing Marina on Saturday, Sept. 28. "Though we're entering just our second season as a varsity program, there is a long history of competitive ...

Perfect sailing forecast for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2013
Sail World
Some 55 boats are expected to face the starter tomorrow Friday for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2013 now in its seventh year, with more than 120 boats in all competing in Sail Townsville 2013. While dual Sydney to Hobart winner Bob Steel and his ...

Forget the America's Cup, Larry Ellison's Art Is at the Asian Art Museum
Huffington Post
Larry Ellison's name has been all over the news in San Francisco this summer. Not because of anything to do with his company, Oracle, except indirectly, because the tons of money he made as CEO of that company enabled him to buy a state-of-the-art ...

more sailing news below

Follow @johnthecrowd