Jack Griffin, Author at Cup Experience

May 16, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Roof Wetting Party at SoftBank Team Japan

General Manager Kazuhiko "Fuku" Sofuku proposed a toast - CEO Dean Barker and Bermuda Premier Michael Dunkley stand ready with glass of sake in hand. In the background you can see the progress on infill for the site of the America's Cup Village in South Basin. — General Manager Kazuhiko “Fuku” Sofuku proposed a toast – CEO Dean Barker and Bermuda Premier Michael Dunkley stand ready with glass of sake in hand. In the background you can see the progress on infill for the site of the America’s Cup Village in South Basin.

After toasting the new base with sake, Premier Michael Dunkley performs the ceremonial roof wetting with Gosling's Black Seal Rum... — After toasting the new base with sake, Premier Michael Dunkley performs the ceremonial roof wetting with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum…

... and then takes the ceremonial swig from the bottle. — … and then takes the ceremonial swig from the bottle.

The party in full swing, outdoors and indoors. Team mascot Otosan overlooks the proceedings. I explained who Otosan is in a recent newsletter, here.

Team Japan grinder Yuki Kasatani in the boat shed with the wing from their experimental AC45X. Yuki is an elite oarsman, recruited to join the other "muscle and stamina" teammates. — Team Japan grinder Yuki Kasatani in the boat shed with the wing from their experimental AC45X. Yuki is an elite oarsman, recruited to join the other “muscle and stamina” teammates.

May 10, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Big Enthusiastic Crowds in Spite of Gray Skies and No Wind on Saturday

Light and shifty winds combined with the Hudson River’s current to challenge both the Race Committee and the teams. On Saturday only a provisional race was held, after the TV window had passed. It was the third time in five regattas that a full day of racing was lost. The crowds in the AC Village and lining the river edge were excited just to see the AC45F’s even if they had to be towed to show off their foiling.

The crowd loved seeing the race boats foiling, even when they had to be towed on Saturday in order to put on a show.

May 10, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Video: Race 3 Start and Leg 1

This time it was Emirates Team New Zealand’s turn to get into trouble at the start. Too far downstream and outside the pin end of the line, they hooked the mark’s anchor line. The rest of the fleet took off while the Kiwis struggled to get free. They fought back into contention and then caught a gust on the penultimate leg to win the race and the regatta. Keep your eye on Artemis. They got a bad start, then made things worse by being unable to round Mark 1 properly. They needed to sail back to Mark 1, dropping them to last in Race 3 and last in the regatta.

May 10, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Video: Race 2 Start and Leg 1

Oracle got caught in the current and were swept over the line early in Race 2. They fought back to finish the race in second.

Artemis won Race 1 but came in last in Race 2. France did the opposite – last in Race 1 but first in Race 2. With a 4th in the third race, Groupama Team France got on the podium for the first time in the ACWS.

May 10, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Video: Race 1 Start and Leg1

Artemis Racing makes the smart move at Mark 1, gybing to get better pressure. They took the lead and went on to win the race.

Artemis on the way to winning Race 1. Look at the two J Class yachts in the marina, with their battle flags: J5 Ranger and J8 Topaz. They will be in Bermuda during the America’s Cup in 2017. A good opportunity to see whether grand monohulls are more spectacular than foiling cats!