CC MEMO -- "CSS Rank" Scorecard

Among the various Cup websites, including ACM's, there is evident confusion as to the scoring of the Louis Vuitton CSS ("Challenger Selection Series") Rank.

The confusion stems from the fact that, under the "Valencia Plan," ties within an Act are not broken for the purpose of awarding Ranking Points. Here is the relevant paragraph from the Valencia Plan:

1. (c) ties will not be broken (Challengers tied for the same place at the end of an Act shall score the same Ranking Points for that Act; e.g., two Challengers tied for 1st would both score points equal to the final number of Challengers as per (a) above, no Challenger would score points for second place, and the third place Challenger would score two less points than the Challengers tied for first place).

Moreover, if there is a tie in Ranking Points, it is broken as follows (again, the relevant paragraph from the Valencia Plan):

6. (c) Challengers tied for the same CSS Rank at the end of the final Act (13th Act) shall score the same bonus points awarded for that Rank as in (b) above; e.g., two Challengers tied for CSS Rank 2 would each receive three bonus points, and the next Challenger would be on CSS Rank 4 and score three bonus points; however, different Ranks would be awarded to the tied Challenger(s) based on (and ties broken using) the results of all matches raced during the Acts (from Act 4) between the tied Challengers or, if that does not resolve the tie, the result of the last match between the tied Challengers, or if that does not resolve the tie, in favor of the Challenger(s) which finished higher (highest, in order) in the 13th Act.

Below, then, is the current (as of the end of Act 7) correct scorecard showing the CSS Ranking Points and, hence, CSS Rank, as agreed by the CC Chairman, the Chairman of the CSS Format/Scoring Working Party and a number of Challenger rules advisors, and with ties broken and Bonus Points that would be awarded per the above as if we were at the end of the 13th Act:


1 - BMW ORACLE Racing (USA), 41 Ranking Points (4 Bonus Points)

2 - Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 40 (3)

3 - Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA), 40 (3)

4 - Desafio Espanol (ESP), 30 (3)

5 - Piu 39 (ITA), 24 (2)

6 - Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA), 24 (2)

7 - K-Challenge (FRA), 23 (2)

8 - Victory Challenge (SWE), 22 (1)

9 - United Internet Team Germany (GER), 15 (1)

10 - Team Shosholoza (RSA), 9 (1)

11 - China Team (CHN), 6 (1)


As to how the two ties in Ranking Points, above, were broken:

+ in favor of ETNZ, because they have beaten Luna Rossa in both their Act 4 and 6 matches; and

+ in favor of Piu 39 because Mascalzone and Piu 39 have each won a match against the other, but Piu 39 won their most recent match (in Act 6).

Bonus Points, of course, are the points that a team will carry over into the round robins for the Louis Vuitton Cup that begins in mid-April 2007.

To review our post earlier this summer announcing and explaining the Valencia Plan, including the full text of the Plan, please click here.