Search the Community

Just over two months to go before the knife edge of the yachting world takes to the water on the fastest sailing boats ever. Although the incredably quick AC45 cats have produced some spectacular results, its the mighty AC72 monsters that the Louis Vuitton Cup and, ultimately America's Cup will be decided on. All teams are only allowed two AC72s. Louis Vuitton Cup racing begins July 4th and concludes August 30th with three challengers slugging it out: Sweden's Artemus Racing - the surprise favourites and Challenger of Record, along with regular America's Cup stalwarts, Italy's former Louis Vuitton Cup winning Luna Rossa Challenge - with their AC72 decked out in Chrome, and Emirates Team New Zealand - the only former winning America's Cup team still in it's current format. A match series will begin in August, followed by a truncated three way semi final series and Finals with a 'best of' 13 races, the winner needing to win 7. Oracle Team USA will be paralleling this event with a two team Defender Series picking out over the crews of Ben Ainslie and Jimmy Spithall, using the team's only two AC72s. America's Cup Finals racing begins September 7th and concludes September 21st. Where the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge current America's Cup holders Oracle Team USA. A 'best of' 17 races will decide the winner who will need to win 9. I know that there are many out there that would rather watch paint dry or Syncronised Swimming...But this whole new generation of ultra high speed catamarans leave the past 40 knots behind them. And enevitably someone's going to crash and/or wipeout...just go to YouTube and watch Oracle's first AC72 disintergrate after nosediving into SanFran Bay at 40knots. Early days yet, but getting a page up and running now. Don't need to vote striaght away - best wait till mid July/August.