Luna Rossa Archives - Cup Experience

September 30, 2017 By Jack Griffin

Protocol Released for 2021 America’s Cup

Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of PRADA and head of Luna Rossa. Image: Getty Photos

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa presented the Protocol for the 36th America's Cup on 29 September 2017.

Next America's Cup Match in March 2021 in Auckland
75 foot monohull with 10-12 crew; teams may build two
Strictest crew nationality requirements in America's Cup history
Prada is title and presenting sponsor
Luna Rossa will run all racing except the America's Cup Match

More details about the yachts will be available on 30 November 2019, and the AC75 Class Rule will be released on 31 March 2018. ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton claimed that the yachts will be "spectacular." Design head Dan Bernasconi said the "might" be designed for foiling.

MORE INFO ABOUT THE PROTOCOL

As of 4 October, the new FREE Cup Experience Club is in pre-launch phase. The Club will feature more detailed information, interactive discussions among members and special content. As an example, we have articles from Seahorse Magazine written by top sailors and designers.

MORE INFO

July 19, 2017 By Jack Griffin

Rolling Stones’ Advice on Protocol for 36th America’s Cup

"You Can't Always Get What You Want"

The Rolling Stones must have been singing about the America's Cup. Opinions are flying about what the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia should put into the protocol for the 36th defense. It's easy to say, "We should go back to monohulls," or "There should be strict nationality rules for the crew," or "Yacht clubs should be in charge, like the Deed of Gift says," or "We need to keep the great LiveLine graphics." But it's a lot harder to come up with a complete Protocol, since some apparent desiderata are mutually exclusive. And there is the small matter of how to fund the event.

What's the Objective?

Before diving into details, let's think about what we want to achieve.

Do we want to build the America's Cup into a profitable sports entertainment business?
Should we return to a "traditional" America's Cup? What does "traditional" mean? The traditions of the Herreshoff era, with tycoon-funded American yachts with a Scottish skipper and a crew of Scandinavian fishermen? Or the traditions of the 12m era, sailed in the smallest yachts ever, until the AC Class catamarans of 2017? Or the traditions of the 1930's with huge, elegant J Class yachts helmed by their owners?

Tradition?

Photo: Royal Yacht Squadron website

From the Royal Yacht Squadron website

America's Cup - Royal Yacht Squadron 1851 poster

RYS Annual Regatta - 1851

J Class racing during 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda

What's the Revenue Model?

How much will it cost to run the event? Regatta management, security, an international media center, broadcast production, the LiveLine graphics which require helicopters and a team of engineers to operate the system - who pays for all this?

Sailing is unlikely to generate much revenue from big sources that some other sports have: TV broadcast rights and ticket sales. As with Formula 1 venues, Valencia and Bermuda paid significant venue fees. Sailing is highly dependent on sponsorship. Merchandise, licensing and commercial hospitality provide additional revenue sources. How much revenue can be generated? Will it cover the cost of producing the event? If not, who makes up the shortfall?

Will We See a New Framework Agreement?

The RNZYS did not sign the "Framework Agreement." At the time, Team New Zealand said "Emirates Team New Zealand believe the future America’s Cup format should be decided by the Defender and Challenger of Record as it has historically been."

But might RNZYS and CdVS agree to a protocol that requires additional challengers to commit themselves to conditions imposed by the defender and the challenger of record?

April 18, 2016 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

ETNZ Roster: 10 Sailors in a Team of 79

Emirates Team New Zealand has a new web page showing the 79 members of their team, including their team principal, Swiss billionaire Matteo de Nora, who has backed the team for years while staying out of the limelight. The team counts 11 nationalities. Ten sailors are listed; half of them are grinders. One of those grinders is Gilberto Nobili who sailed with Oracle in the 2013 America’s Cup in San Francisco. Three of the sailors were on the winning New Zealand Youth AC team in San Francisco – helmsman Peter Burling, trimmer Blair Tuke and grinder Guy Endean. Those three, together with tactician Ray Davies and team skipper Glenn Ashby have been the crew on the AC45F in the America’s Cup World Series, which they currently lead.

We hope to have news soon about when the Kiwis will launch their AC45X experimental boat. They and the French are the only teams not to have an experimental boat with grinding pedestals and dimensions close to the AC Class yachts that will race in 2017. For testing, the team has been using a modified AC45 on loan from Luna Rossa.

April 28, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

More About the AC45x Development Boats

Here’s an index to several articles on the Cup Experience website that give more background about each team’s development boats. Note: Neither Team New Zealand nor Team France has a development boat yet.

Ben Ainslie Racing: launch and training
Luna Rossa (challenge withdrawn) AC45x details and modifications
Artemis and Oracle launch
Oracle training
Artemis details and modifications

April 20, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

The New “America’s Cup Class” – the AC48

The new class rule calls for a 48 foot long foiling wing-sail catamaran with a crew of six, one of whom must be a national of the team’s country. Hulls, crossbeams and wings are virtually one design, typically with tolerances of four millimeters. Designers have free rein on daggerboards, rudders, aerodynamic fairings (think of Adrian Newey at work for BAR) and control systems. Hulls and wings come apart in sections that fit in standard forty foot shipping containers. The new class will be much less expensive than the AC62 to design, build, sail, transport and launch. Critics claim they will lack the grandeur that an America’s Cup yacht should have and that spectators will not be able to see the differences the designers contribute. The other question is whether making this change so late in the cycle will attract additional challengers (like the long-rumored Asian team) and whether any new challengers will compensate for the loss of Luna Rossa.

America's Cup - The AC48 is dramatically less impressive than the AC72. The AC45, with its wing extension, is taller. Thanks to François Chevalier for this comparison. — America’s Cup – The AC48 is dramatically less impressive than the AC72. The AC45, with its wing extension, is taller. Thanks to François Chevalier for this comparison.

April 20, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

The Tyranny of the Majority

When Team Australia withdrew as Challenger of Record last July, Luna Rossa was next in line. They decided to form a Challenger Committee to deal with Protocol changes proposed by the defender. What were they thinking? They gave up the power to veto any Protocol changes and left themselves vulnerable to a simple majority vote. In late March, ACEA announced plans to jettison the AC62 Class. Luna Rossa threatened to withdraw, pointing out that it was too late to make such a change and believing that the design rule should only be changed by a unanimous vote. Oracle’s proposal was not to change the AC62 Class Rule, but to discard it. They claimed this manoeuvre was a change to the Protocol, not a change to the design class. On March 31, Artemis, BAR and Team France voted to accept Oracle’s proposal to change the Protocol, dropping the AC62 and replacing it with the “America’s Cup Class.” Luna Ross was good to their word and promptly withdrew from the America’s Cup and cancelled the Cagliari America’s Cup World Series regatta, which was to have been held in June.

America's Cup - Patrizio Bertelli, in happier times, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup on his first try, in Auckland in 2000. The 2017 challenge was his fifth, equalling Sir Thomas Lipton. — America’s Cup – Patrizio Bertelli, in happier times, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup on his first try, in Auckland in 2000. The 2017 challenge was his fifth, equalling Sir Thomas Lipton.

April 20, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

Mysteries and Miracles

Recent decisions by ACEA, Oracle and three of the challengers (Artemis, BAR and Team France) have mystified close followers of the America’s Cup and the two other challengers (Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand). The class of boat has been changed. The AC Qualifiers have been pulled from Auckland. One or two mysterious Asian teams have been announced as potential challengers. There is a deadline on May 1 for all teams to pay the balance of their entry fee ($900K) plus the $1 million performance bond. Read my summary here and here.

“The natural conditon is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.”
“So what do we do?”
“Nothing. Strangely, it turns out well.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. It’s a miracle.”

Impresario Fennyman explains the theater to his financial backer Henslowe.

Shakespeare in Love

April 20, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

In Case You Missed the First Cup Experience Club Webcast

Our timing was good: On March 31st, the very day the competitors were voting against Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand, and replacing the AC62 with the smaller, almost one design “America’s Cup Class,” an enthusiastic group gathered online to watch and discuss videos and photos that show why the new class will be exciting to race.

America's Cup Artemis Racing's AC45x "Turbo" — America’s Cup Artemis Racing’s AC45x “Turbo”

We looked at five photos and two videos showing the Artemis and Oracle boats. You can see the photos and watch the videos here. Thanks to John Navas for the great footage of these boats training on San Francisco Bay. I’ve taken highlights from John’s videos to show the manoeuvers the teams have been drilling.

April 3, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

Luna Rossa Drops Out of America’s Cup Over Boat Size Change

Team owner Patrizio Bertelli withdrew his challenge for the America’s Cup when he was out voted on a decision to change the size of boat that will be raced. The AC62 was dropped in favor of a new 48 foot long “America’s Cup Class” foiling wing sail catamaran with a crew of six.

Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand voted against the change, but were on the losing side of the vote, with challengers Artemis Racing, Ben Ainslie Racing and Team France all voting for the change, which was proposed by defender Oracle Team USA. Ironically, Luna Rossa would have been able to veto the change had they kept their role as Challenger of Record, replacing Team Australia, who withdrew in July 2014. Instead, at Luna Rossa’s suggestion, a Challenger Committee was formed, operating on a simple majority for changes to the Protocol.

exc-55222ec1e4b02bbbd567c605 — PATRIZIO BERTELLI – FIVE TIME AMERICA’S CUP CHALLENGER. PHOTO: RICHARD GLADWELL

Bertelli had harsh words in his press release about the change, calling it “illegitimate… an evident abuse of process by surreptitious use of procedures.” The other teams had equally harsh words for Bertelli in a joint statement: “Regrettably, abiding by the results of the majority vote appears to be something neither they, nor Team New Zealand, are (sic) willing to do… unless they are part of the majority.”

Although Bertelli declared that Luna Rossa “will honor all of its contractual obligations” to team members and others, this is clearly a blow to the team.

“I have spent the last 16 months with an amazing group of people, working our asses off. Absolutely gutted we won’t get to show the world. @DraperChris”

This is a sad end to a team with a fifteen year history in the America’s Cup, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000 before falling to Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match. Bertelli was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2012, and like co-Hall of Fame member Sir Thomas Lipton, he challenged five times, never winning.

April 1, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

New “America’s Cup Class” Catamarans Replace AC62 for 2017 America’s Cup

img11-compressed — OTUSA’S “TURBO” TEST BOAT FOR THE 2017 AMERICA’S CUP

The America’s Cup challengers voted 3-2 to change the Protocol and race in “America’s Cup Class” 48 foot catamarans instead of the AC62 class that had been announced 10 months earlier.

As is often the case, politics were part of the mix. Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand voted against the change. After the vote, Luna Rossa carried through on their threat to withdraw from the America’s Cup. They complained that it was too late in the cycle to change the class of boat used. ETNZ claimed that the decision was linked to the choice of venue for the America’s Cup Qualifiers, saying that ACEA offered to hold the AC Qualifiers in Bermuda rather than Auckland if the new class were to be accepted – european teams were reportedly strongly against holding the AC Qualifiers in Auckland.

Reasons given for making the change were cost savings and the surprisingly good performance and manoeuverability of the test boats that Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA launched on San Francisco Bay. OTUSA reportedly has hit over 46 knots. Artemis has been seen foiling upwind and executing roll tacks, even attempting foil to foil tacks.

In depth look at the test boats –
Members Only Content for the Cup Experience Club

Cup Experience Club members can take a closer look at the AC45 “Turbo” boats. Five marked up photos and two videos show the details and the impressive performance that convinced ACEA to propose moving to the new, smaller America’s Cup Class. Bronze level member ship is FREE – all we need is your email address.

Earlier articles about the AC45 “turbo” test boats:

March 29, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

High stakes dealings at the America’s Cup

Showdown

There will be a showdown at the Competitors’ Forum meeting on Tuesday 31 March 2015. Negotiations over changing the boats to be raced and the venue for the first phase of America’s Cup have reached a climactic moment. Luna Rossa has threatened to withdraw. Team New Zealand may lose a major funding source. The Protocol may be changed drastically – abandoning the split venues for challenger selection and scrapping the AC62 in favor a a new class of boat.

What caused the showdown? Where do things stand?

On Wednesday 25 March, Commercial Commissioner Harvey Schiller announced plans to abandon the AC62 in favor of a smaller boat.
On Thursday, Luna Rossa announced their opposition to the change, stating that they would withdraw if the change were made, and that they would cancel the first America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari in June.
Also on Thursday, Emirates Team New Zealand announced their support for Luna Rossa‘s position.
Within hours, Schiller informed ETNZ that the America’s Cup Qualifiers (the round robin phase of the challenger selection) would not be awarded to Auckland. The New Zealand government reconfirmed that without the Auckland regatta, they would not renew as a sponsor of the team.
On Friday 27 March, ACEA CEO Russell Coutts confirmed that the current proposal is to abandon the split venue for challenger selection, and instead to hold all 2017 racing in Bermuda.
Coutts explained that America’s Cup World Series racing will be in foiling one design AC45’s, as previously announced.
Coutts also repeated that he expects to have one Asian challenger (widely rumored to be from Japan) and possibly another Asian challenger. Coutts made it clear that he only wants competitive teams and criticized China Team for being uncompetitive in the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain.
The class rule for the new, smaller America’s Cup boat will be presented to the teams. It is likely to be a scaled down AC62, possibly an AC54, with a crew of six instead of the eight man crew on the AC62.
This would be a change to the Protocol, not a change to the AC62 Class Rule. The distinction is important, since only a majority of the five challengers is required to change the Protocol, while a change to the AC62 Class Rule would require unanimous approval.
Artemis Racing, Ben Ainslies Racing and Team France have all expressed their support for the change

What happens next?

A Competitors’ Forum meeting has been called for Tuesday 31 March to vote on the changes.

March 24, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

Luna Rossa: Two boat testing in foiling AC45’s

Luna Rossa is the only team to be sailing two AC45 test boats. The team’s base in Cagliari, Sardinia has been active, with two boat testing and ongoing modifications to their AC45 test boats. They have added wheel steering, but to date we have not seen flared hulls and cockpits or any modifications to the crossbeams on their AC45 test boats “Piranha” and “Swordfish.” Read more here and here.

Luna Rossa has acquired Energy Team’s AC45 which will be modified add the one design foiling package for racing in the AC World Series. The ACWS kicks off in Cagliari in early June. Francesco Bruni will helm the Luna Rossa entry.

America's Cup Luna Rossa running two boat testing with foiling AC45's — America’s Cup Luna Rossa running two boat testing with foiling AC45’s

March 24, 2015 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

ETNZ: Peter Burling replaces Dean Barker as helm

Emirates Team New Zealand suffered almost two weeks of media frenzy after leaks that 24 year old Peter Burling would replace Dean Barker as helmsman.

Ten days after the initial reports, ETNZ confirmed Burling as helmsman and Australian Glen Ashby as Sailing Director. Barker was offered the position of Performance Coach but turned it down. He has since left the team.

At the beginning of March, 50 staff began work at ETNZ. One of their first tasks is to modify their AC45 to the one design foiling version that they will race in the AC World Series, beginning in June. The team will then convert a second AC45 into a development boat for testing AC62 design ideas.

The ETNZ design team has likely been working during the past few months, but the team is clearly in catch up mode, given that OTUSA, Artemis Racing, Luna Rossa and Ben Ainslie Racing have all been sailing in their AC45 development boats. Read more.

March 5, 2015 By Jack Griffin

What has Luna Rossa done to their AC45x?

Luna Rossa-compressed — AC45X DEVELOPMENT BOAT WITH WHEEL STEERING AND STANDARD CROSSBEAMS. PHOTO: LUNA ROSSA

In late January Luna Rossa fitted wheel steering to their AC45x test boats, “Piranha” and “Swordfish.” They posted this photo to their Facebook page on January 24, 2015 with the caption “training at dawn.” These boats will continue to evolve as Luna Rossa develops their AC62 design in the lead up to the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda. We have not seen any photos or video of these boats sailing. In the photo we can see that the boat still has the standard AC45 crossbeams.

Luna Rossa is the only team sailing two foiling AC45 test boats. Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing both have sailed much more highly modified AC45x test boats. Ben Ainslie Racing has converted their AC45 for foiling, but the crossbeams and steering we have seen are still from the original AC45 version. Team France and Emirates Team New Zealand have begun modifying AC45s to the one design foiling version for the America’s Cup World Series. Neither Team France nor ETNZ has begun work on a development AC45x for testing AC62 design concepts.

Unofficial reports say that Luna Rossa has purchased another AC45, from Energy Team. They will modify this boat to the one design standard for racing in the America’s Cup World Series, which begins June 5, 2015 in Cagliari.

More information about the rules on AC45 development boats and one design race boats here and here.

December 22, 2014 By Jack Griffin

A Closer Look at Luna Rossa’s Foiling AC45

LUNA ROSSA AC45 HELMSMAN CHRIS DRAPER APPEARS TO HAVE A REMOTE CONTROL IN HIS HAND.

Luna Rossa has been testing two AC45 catamarans converted for foiling. In this photo, it looks like helmsman Chris Draper has a remote control in his right hand – perhaps for controlling rudder rake and daggerboard rake and cant. Remember that the Protocol allows the teams to test a wide range of ideas by modifying an AC45 or by building a new boat from scratch based on just the lower part of the hull shape of an AC45. The AC62 Class Rule allows the rudder to be raked up to three degrees while racing and the daggerboard to be raked up to 12 degrees and canted 15 degrees. We can assume that all teams will be testing daggerboard shapes and control systems for appendages and wings on their AC45s, since they cannot launch their AC62 until 150 days before the beginning of the America’s Cup Qualifiers – probably in September 2016.

If you want to dive into the details, you can download the AC62 Class Rule here.

September 22, 2014 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

Foiling AC45’s in AC World Series

“Development AC45’s” and “Racing AC45’s”

Luna Rossa has modified both of their AC45’s and is testing them at their base in Cagliari, Sardinia. But these boats will not race in the America’s Cup World Series. Read on, to learn why not.

“Racing” AC45’s – one design

ACEA announced last week that all six America’s Cup teams have agreed to a project to modify the AC45 catamarans for foiling in the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS). When will racing in foilers begin? Will the foiling AC45’s be one design? What wind speed will be needed to foil an AC45? Will the Youth America’s Cup be raced in foiling AC45’s?

Three teams, Luna Rossa, Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA have already modified AC45’s for foiling. Ben Ainslie Racing will launch their modified AC45 within a few weeks. Each team has made the modifications differently. The trick for the America’s Cup World Series is to keep the AC45 a one design class and avoid an arms race in AC45 development. This means they will have the same shape daggerboards, rudder wings and rake control systems. The AC 45 Class Rule needs to be changed and the boats used for racing must all be modified by the builder, Core Composites. At least six AC45’s – one for each competitor – will need to be modified for racing. The question is when – before any racing begins, or part way through the series?

“Development” AC45’s – anything goes!

The Protocol strictly limits the number of daggerboards and wings a team can build for their AC62, but allows an unlimited number of daggerboards and wings on their development AC45’s. In fact, as long as the lower part of the hulls is the same shape as an AC45, they can build anything they want to test – a boat with wider beam, aerodynamic crossbeams, hydraulics, electronics, cockpits and grinding stations, daggerboard and rudder rake controls, you name it. Click any of the photos for more info some close-ups of AC45 daggerboard cages.

While developing their AC72, Oracle Team USA modified two AC45’s for foiling and tested hydraulic wing control systems.

Artemis Racing modified an AC45 for foiling in Spring 2013. Notice the straight daggerboards with angled winglets.

Luna Rossa has been testing curved daggerboards with straight winglets. For America’s Cup World Series racing, wind instruments would not be permitted under the current AC45 Class Rule.

September 19, 2014 By Jack Griffin

Tricky Questions about Foiling AC45’s in the America’s Cup World Series

2017 America's Cup - Luna Rossa has modified two AC45s for testing — Luna Rossa has modified two AC45s for testing

A few questions

ACEA announced this week that all six America’s Cup teams have agreed to a project to modify the AC45 catamarans for foiling in the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS). When will racing in foilers begin? Will the foiling AC45’s be one design? What wind speed will be needed to foil an AC45? Will the Youth America’s Cup be raced in foiling AC45’s?

Not news: foiling AC45’s in America’s Cup World Series

The Protocol already provided for the possibility of changing the AC45 Class Rule and moving to foiling in 2016. At the 9 September press conference Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena expressed his wish to move to foiling for all AC World Series racing. Three teams, Luna Rossa, Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA have already modified AC45’s for foiling. Each team has made the modifications differently. The trick is to keep the AC45 a one design class and avoid an arms race in AC45 development. This means the AC 45 Class Rule needs to be changed and the boats used for racing must all be modified by the builder, Core Composites. At least six AC45’s – one for each competitor – will need to be modified by Core Composites. The question is when – before any racing begins, or part way through the series?

News: agreement to continue the ACWS in 2018

The big news this week was getting all six teams to agree to continue the America’s Cup World Series in foiling AC45’s in 2018, regardless of who wins the America’s Cup. Read more.

AC45’s for racing and AC45’s for development

America’s Cup World Series racing will take place in one design AC45’s, with standard hulls, crossbeams, daggerboards, rudders, rigging and wings. Just as the AC45 already has a standard wing extension for light air, perhaps we will see two different daggerboard shapes – one for foiling conditions and another for displacement mode in light air, or for the Youth America’s Cup. Each team will need at least one “class legal” AC45 for racing and for their youth team.

For development, the teams will continue modifying other AC45’s to test ideas for their AC62. Until the AC62’s are launched around September 2016, we may see a lot of interesting AC45 development, as these photos show.

OTUSA's Experimental AC45e in 2012 with wing control system in bulge — OTUSA’s Experimental AC45e in 2012 with wing control system in bulge

Keeping costs down??

The Protocol strictly limits the number of daggerboards and wings a team can build for their AC62, but allows an unlimited number of daggerboards and wings on their development AC45’s. In fact, as long as the lower part of the hulls is the same shape as an AC45, they can build anything they want to test – a boat with wider beam, aerodynamic crossbeams, cockpits and grinding stations, daggerboard and rudder rake controls, you name it.

Luna Rossa has modified two AC45s for testing — WE CAN SEE LUNA ROSSA’S DAGGERBOARDS AND WIND INSTRUMENTS. WHAT HAVE THEY ADDED THAT WE CAN’T SEE?

Different boards for foiling and for displacement mode?

You can be sure all the teams will test a number of daggerboard shapes. Depending on which venue is chosen for the America’s Cup Match, teams may need different sets of daggerboards for their AC62 – one set for foiling in moderate to strong wind and another, lower drag set, for displacement mode in light air. Remember how time ran out on Emirates Team New Zealand in Race 13 last September? The wind was at times barely strong enough to fly a hull, let alone foil. Might they have finished within the time limit if they had used lower drag, non-foiling boards?

IN 2013 ARTEMIS SHOWED STABLE FOILING USING STRAIGHT DAGGERBOARDS WITH ANGLED WINGLETS.

We’ll probably see daggerboards optimized for stable foiling on the one design AC45’s. But the teams will test a wide range of shapes on their development AC45’s.

If you like the details, keep reading…

The current AC45 Class Rule does not allow wind instrumentation, navigation electronics, hydraulic controls or anything else not on a standard AC45.

THE CURRENT AC45 CLASS RULE ONLY ALLOWS THE DAGGERBOARDS TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. THIS CLOSEUP SHOWS THE STANDARD DAGGERBOARD HOUSING. NOTE, TOO, THE LOCATION OF THE FITTING FOR THE LIFTING POLE.

America's Cup 2013 - Oracle's experimental AC45 daggerboard cage with rake and cant controls — America’s Cup 2013 – Oracle’s experimental AC45 daggerboard cage with rake and cant controls

Photos and more info about AC45 test boats and surrogates here.

Jack Griffin - Cup Experience Editor — Jack Griffin – Cup Experience Editor

Questions? Ask Jack

Send me your questions here or with an email to askjack@cupexperience.com

August 20, 2014 By Jack Griffin Leave a Comment

Artemis Racing Announces their challenge, new recruits

Artemis Racing’s sailing team, L to R: Rod Davis (USA/NZL), coach, Iain Percy (GBR) skipper, Iain Jensen (AUS), wing trimmer, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), helmsman, Chris Brittle (GBR), grinder, Max Salminen (SWE), grinder, Frederick Lööf (SWE), tactician, Christian Kamp (DEN), trimmer.

There are six Olympic gold medalists in this photo: Davis, Percy, Jensen, Outteridge, Salminen, Lööf.

Lööf and Salminen took the 2012 gold medal in the Star, narrowly defeating Percy and the late Andrew Simpson, the 2008 gold medalists, by winning a nailbiter medal race.

Stockholm – 18 August 2014: Artemis Racing today officially announced their challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. The team represents Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet (KSSS), the Royal Swedish Yacht Club. KSSS is the fifth oldest yacht club in the world.

Artemis Racing becomes the second team, after Emirates Team New Zealand, to announce formally their challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. Italy’s Luna Rossa, Britain’s Ben Ainslie Racing and Team France have all indicated that they will also challenge. ACEA has scheduled a press conference on September 9 to introduce the challenging teams.

Joining the team are Swedish Olympic champions, Fredrik Lööf and Max Salminen, as well as America’s Cup veteran Rod Davis, as coach.

Team Manager Iain Percy continues to serve notice that Artemis plans to dominate: “We are not only in this competition to win the 35th America’s Cup, but to dominate the America’s Cup arena for the next decade.”

Team Founder Torbjörn Törnqvist is more moderate with his choice of words but no less committed to success: “I strongly believe that Artemis Racing is a team capable of winning the 35th America’s Cup.”

Artemis Racing base at AC venue. AC72 “Big Blue” from 2013 on display. AC62 race boat on crane.

Artemis Racing aspires to be the most sustainable and responsible team in the America’s Cup, announcing a number of initiatives including plans to ‘up-cycle’ or, ‘re-purpose’, their future base at the 35th America’s Cup venue.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want"

What's the Objective?

Tradition?

Popular Topics

What's the Revenue Model?

Will We See a New Framework Agreement?​

In depth look at the test boats – Members Only Content for the Cup Experience Club

Showdown

What caused the showdown? Where do things stand?

What happens next?

“Racing” AC45’s – one design

“Development” AC45’s – anything goes!

A few questions

Not news: foiling AC45’s in America’s Cup World Series

News: agreement to continue the ACWS in 2018

AC45’s for racing and AC45’s for development

Keeping costs down??

Different boards for foiling and for displacement mode?

If you like the details, keep reading…

Stockholm – 18 August 2014: Artemis Racing today officially announced their challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. The team represents Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet (KSSS), the Royal Swedish Yacht Club. KSSS is the fifth oldest yacht club in the world.

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