CC MEMO -- Tom Weaver Interview

CC member Tom Weaver (Mascalzone Latino Team Capitalia) is featured today in an interesting interview on their team website that was also picked up by the Scuttlebutts NA and Europe. Key quotes:

"The Acts are definitely commercial. The cost of hosting and participating in the event is becoming so huge that everyone has to find sponsors. The sponsors need to be guaranteed a return on their investment and so the Acts are perfect for raising their visibility. But, you also need to bare in mind that the Acts are fantastic for all the competitors as well. These regattas serve as a wake up call, a testing ground, an opportunity to 'check in' on the competition…any things that all improve our teams. The Acts can definitely be viewed as a win-win situation for everyone involved.

"If the current regatta format is used, 2 laps with short courses, the starts will be more important than ever, there will not be a lot of time to set up in a passing lane for the trailing boat, the racing will be close and for the first time in almost 15 years I am sure it will not be 5-0."


ACM Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio, Bruno Trouble and
Tom Weaver at a recent Mascalzone function in Valencia.

CC MEMO -- Housekeeping

[UPDATE 1830 Monday 11 July -- The 12-13 June meeting minutes, previously posted and since circulated by email, have been removed to keep them strictly private to the CC. The list of CC working parties attached to the minutes will be posted separately.]

[UPDATE 1800 Tuesday -- A new username/password (subsequent to "neutral/ management") has been installed and emailed to CC reps.]

The CC Directory has been updated again by our Assistant Michael ten Bokum. There are a number of new email addresses and phone numbers. The Directory is available (password protected as always) at the link near the bottom of the sidebar, or by clicking here.

Yes, the password was changed per notice given orally at the June CC meetings. To obtain, call or email the CC Blogger.

Reminder -- the CC will next meet for a de-brief of Acts 4 and 5 on Monday 27 June at 12:00, at the Holiday Inn.

CC MEMO -- Virtual Eye & Onboard Cameraman Agreements

The Virtual Eye and Onboard Cameraman agreements unanimously approved by the Challenger Commission at our meeting last Monday were finally approved and signed by all parties at the beginning of Act 4 with minor wordsmithing negotiated by the former CC chairman with the approval of the Chairman. The documents are available by clicking on the links above.

The efforts and support of ACM's Michel Hodara and Alinghi's Hamish Ross are noted with appreciation.


Onboard cameraman George Johns.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- 12-13 June CC Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 June, 2005 – 14:00


The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup ("CC") met at the call of the Chairman, George Clyde (K-Challenge) in Valencia on 12-13 June, hosted in part by the Holiday Inn Valencia and by el restaurante Lambrusqueria ("The Docks").

Representatives from all eleven Challengers were present:

+ BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) -- Russell Green and Tom Ehman
+ China Team (CHN) -- Jean-Charles Scale
+ Desafio Espanol (ESP) -- John Cutler and Matt Wachowicz
+ Emirates Team NZ (NZL) -- Grant Dalton and Kevin Shoebridge
+ K-Challenge (FRA) -- Dawn Riley
+ Luna Rossa (ITA) -- Bruno Finzi, Luis Saenz and Marco Mercuriali
+ Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA) -- Tom Weaver, Alessandra Pandarese and Francesco Aversano
+ Piu 39 (ITA) -- Paul Henderson
+ Team Shosholoza (RSA) – Salvatore Sarno and Geoff Meek
+ United Internet Team Germany (GER) -- Andreas John and Uwe Sasse
+ Victory Challenge (SWE) -- Bjorn Ohde

Also present were CC Assistant Michael ten Bokum and, for a portion of the meeting on 12 June, Terry Hutchinson and Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand.

At the invitation of the CC, ACM Regatta Director Dyer Jones was present for part of the meeting on 12 June.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

Onboard Cameramen – A proposal to amend the ACC Rule for Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 4 (match racing) allowing teams in a given match, if they both agree, to carry a TV cameraman onboard as 19th crewmember was unanimously approved. The cameramen and their equipment will be weight-equalized, and they must normally remain aft of the aerial frame. The video recorded by the cameramen will be used by ACM for the nightly highlights package distributed to rights holders around the world, and for other broadcasting and promotional purposes. The teams will also have access to the footage. Amendments to the Class Rule require unanimous approval of all “Competitors” (Challengers and the Defender). The Defender had previously agreed to this amendment, which is similar to one in effect for the 2004 Acts.

Racing Rules 17.1 and 18.4 – A proposal by a Challenger working party headed by Marco Mercuriali (Luna Rossa) to amend the “proper course” racing rules to provide -- for sailors and umpires alike -- more clarity and certainty in the application of these often-controversial rules was unanimously approved. The working party had previously obtained the backing of the Defender and Umpires. These amendments will become effective for Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 4 and 5, and will be reviewed at the CC’s debrief meeting following Act 5 on 27 June. The text of these amendments will be published on the CC Blog when issued by the Regatta Director. The Chairman recognized the diligence and success of the working party and thanked them on behalf of all Challengers.

Running Backstays – A proposal by the Defender and Challenger of Record to amend the ACC Rule concerning running backstays was unanimously approved. The amendment clarifies the wording of ACC Rule 44.1(f) which, in the latest edition (Version 5) of the Class Rule, was intended to require that running backstays remain connected to the mast and the hull in their normal positions at all times while racing. This would prevent, for example, teams lowering topmast backstays to the deck when racing upwind to reduce windage. The language of the amendment, which was welcomed by the Measurement Committee:

ACC Rule 44.1(f) is amended to read, "[Whilst racing:] running backstays, topmast backstays and check stays shall remain permanently attached to their fixing points on the mast and the hull and in the same load bearing position throughout the race. For the avoidance of doubt, a detachment as the result of gear failure does not infringe this rule provided re-attachment is effected as soon as practicable, nor does easing the runners forward to allow the boom to go out."

Virtual Eye – A proposal to amend the Protocol and other Rules for Acts 4-9 to allow ACM to provide the Virtual Eye (formerly Go Virtual and, before that, Virtual Spectator) race data to all teams immediately following each day’s racing was unanimously approved. This will permit the teams to have timely graphical presentations for use in sailing and technical debriefs, as well as for hospitality and other internal purposes. The agreement is similar to one in place for the 2004 Acts.

MDS – The Chairman reported that there had been no change in the previous stance of ACM concerning the Met Data Service. Therefore, and as unanimously resolved by the Challengers at the May CC meeting, a formal protest to the Jury has been lodged by the Chairman on behalf of all Challengers and is pending.

2006/2007 Racing Schedules – The Regatta Director reviewed the proposed racing schedules and formats for 2006 (Acts 10-12, all in Valencia) and for 2007 (the 13th Act, the Challenger Selection Series, and the Match, also all in Valencia). The start and end dates, and type of racing (match or fleet) for the respective Acts were confirmed, as previously published on the CC Blog. It was agreed that for Acts 10 and 12 in 2006 (both match racing –- Act 11 is fleet racing) there would be one or two round robins for all twelve Competitors, with the top four teams advancing to a knock-out semifinals followed by a two-team knock-out finals. It was also agreed that the eight teams not advancing to the semifinals should continue racing in each Act on some basis, to be determined at the CC’s next meeting and subject to the agreement of ACM and the Defender.

“Mega Buoy” – It was reported that tests by the Race Committee of the prototype windward mark, large enough to accommodate several onboard cameramen, had not been successful due to problems in towing, anchoring and quickly relocating the buoy. The idea will either be considerably re-worked or dropped.

Jury/Umpire Websites – The recently-inaugurated Jury website and Umpire website were welcomed by all Challengers. The CC urged the Measurement and Race Committees to put up similar websites as soon as possible.

Exchange of GPS Data – On a number of occasions over the past two years, the Defender has advanced an idea to require the Defender and Challenger in the AC Match to “trade” GPS data by radio-telemetry, so that each would have the lat-lon of the other yacht without the use of laser guns or similar. This idea was discussed by the CC, and it was agreed the Chairman would ask the Defender to submit a formal proposal to the CC as soon as possible.

Future Meetings – The CC will next meet in Valencia on 27 June, at 12:00 (not 16:00 as previously announced), to debrief Acts 4 and 5. The next full meeting of the CC will be 23 August at Malmö-Skåne, with another debrief meeting following the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts on 5 September. The CC will then meet in Trapani on 27 September and 10 October.


Marco Mercuriali (Luna Rossa) explaining proposals to
amend the often-controversial "proper course" racing
rules at yesterday's CC meeting.

CC MEMO -- Protocol 4.4 (ACM Financial Reports)

ACM's previously issued "financial reports," mentioned by the Chairman at today's CC meeting in re. Protocol 4.4, are available, password protected for the CC only, by clicking below.

Document 1
Document 2

CC MEMO -- New Challenger Websites

Desafío Español, the Spanish Challenge, has an attractive new website up (albeit under construction): http://www.desafioespanol2007.com/ Likewise Mascalzone Latino - Team Capitalia: http://www.mascalzonelatino.com/.

Links on the sidebar have been updated.

CC MEMO -- 06 and 07 Draft Racing Schedules

The most recent draft schedules proposed by the Regatta Director for 2006 and 2007 are available, password protected for CC members, by clicking on the respective year.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- Valencia Plan, Summary

You will find the materials issued today at the joint press conference with ACM posted on their official website, www.americascup.com. Especially worthwhile are the good graphics (including scoresheets) produced by ACM's Marcus Hutchinson.

Here is a summary of the Valencia Plan -- breaking the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup into its four phases:

• The Acts: Beginning with Act 4 this month (the 2004 Acts will not be counted), at the end of each Act the first-placed Challenger (irrespective of Alinghi's final place) scores points equal to the number of Challengers (11), the second place Challenger scores one less point, etc. These points are multiplied by the weighting factor for that Act: 2005 Acts x 1, 2006 Acts x 2, 2007 Act x 3. After the final (13th) Act in April 2007, the total points each Challenger has accumulated will rank the Challengers first through last. This "Louis Vuitton Rank" is used to award bonus points to be carried forward by Challengers into the Round Robins. LV Rank 1 is awarded four bonus points, LV Ranks 2, 3, and 4 each get three bonus points, LV Ranks 5, 6 and 7 two bonus points, and LV Ranks 8-11 one bonus point. Challengers will also be "seeded" into the Round Robin schedule of races according to LV Rank, with the highest-ranked teams meeting at the end of each Round Robin.

• The LVC Round Robins: In mid-April thru early May 2007 the 11 Challengers will sail two Round Robins, match-racing each of the other 10 Challengers twice for a total of 20 matches each (110 matches in total!). Each Round Robin win counts 2 points. Maximum possible points a Challenger could have at the end of the Round Robins is 44 (20 race wins x 2 points, plus a maximum of 4 bonus points). At the end of the second Round Robin, the four Challengers with the most points advance to the Semi-Finals, and the Challenger with the most points at the end of the Round Robins gets to choose which of the other three it will race in its Semi-Final series.

• The LVC Semi-Finals: In mid-May 2007, head-to-head match racing for the two Semi-Final "pairs." The winner of each Semi-Final is the first to win five races.

• The LVC Finals: In early June 2007, the winners of the two Semi-Final series meet in the LVC Finals; again, the winner is the first to win five races. The winner of the LVC Finals is awarded the Louis Vuitton Cup, and races the Defender in the 32nd America's Cup Match beginning 23 June 2007 (also first to win five races).

The actual dates of the two Round Robins, the Semi-Finals and the Finals will be finalized shortly by the Challenger Commission and ACM.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- Valencia Plan: "The CSS Begins Next Thursday"

After 14 months of deliberations and negotiations, the Valencia Plan for the format and scoring of the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup is being announced jointly by ACM and the CC in Valencia today.

There have only been a handful of major changes to the game in the 154-year history of the America's Cup, and certainly the Valencia Plan is one of them.

The first significant development came after the 1st Match in 1870, in which the Defending yacht club's fleet of yachts met and defeated the sole Challenger, the English yacht Cambria, in a fleet race. Thereafter the Deed of Gift was re-written to require the Defender to meet the Challenger with only one yacht, and we have had "match racing" ever since.

The second came 100 years later, in 1970, when multiple challengers were accepted -- hence, the introduction of a "challenger selection series." In 1983 the CSS was formalized as an event in its own right when the Louis Vuitton Cup was awarded for the first time to the winning Challenger, and this has continued in the 20 years since.

The third is the Valencia Plan in 2005. In a soundbite, it expands the America's Cup from three months to three years. Challengers actually begin racing for challenger selection points next Thursday 16 June -- the start of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 4 -- and will continue to do so through early June of 2007 when the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will be crowned.

The LVC winner will meet the Defender, Alinghi, in the 32nd America's Cup Match beginning 23 June 2007.

The Valencia Plan rationalizes, indeed legitimizes, the Louis Vuitton Acts. It brings Fleet Racing back into the Cup for the first time in 135 years. It promotes meaningful head-to-head racing between the Defender and all the Challengers for the next two years, not just the last two weeks of the America's Cup in 2007.

Moreover, it is "on strategy" for the modern America's Cup, the vision for which has been provided by Ernesto Bertarelli and Larry Ellison, by:

+ furthering "friendly comeptition between foreign countries" (from the 1887 Deed of Gift); and

+ providing a "competitive sporting regatta for all Competitors, to realise the sporting and commercial potential of the America's Cup, and to encourage world-wide growth and interest in the America's Cup as the premier event in the sport of sailing..." (from the Protocol Governing the 32nd America's Cup).

With ACM we are issuing detailed explanations this afternoon, which, of course, will be posted here as well following our noontime (CET) press conference.

In the meantime, the text of the final, signed version of the "Valencia Plan" is now available here (Adobe .pdf file). A clean copy of the final draft, unsigned, (MS Word .doc file) is posted here.

For an excellent online history of the America's Cup written by veteran Cup racer Halsey Herreshoff, who is also President of the America's Cup Hall of Fame, please click here.

CC MEMO -- Valencia Plan Announcement, Tomorrow

In follow up to our previous post (updated 3 June) that the "Valencia Plan" for the format and scoring of the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup had been signed, today ACM's Peter Rusch issued the following invitation to Team representatives for tomorrow's announcement:

* * *

Dear Teams,

The presentation of the scoring system and format for the Louis Vuitton Acts and Louis Vuitton Cup has been rescheduled to:

Tuesday, 7th of June 2005, Noon

Please find more information below in the copy of the email sent this morning to your Team's PR:

What: Press Point to announce scoring and format for the Louis Vuitton Acts and Louis Vuitton Cup

Where: 32nd America's Cup Media Centre, Ground Floor - Antigua Estación Marítima, Muelle de la Estación s/n, 46024 Valencia

When: Noon, 7th of June 2005

On Tuesday, the 7th of June, at noon, representatives of the event organisers for the 32nd America's Cup and the Challenger Commission will present details of the scoring system and format for the Louis Vuitton Acts and Louis Vuitton Cup as agreed between the event and the challengers, through the Challenger Commission.

This press point will take place at the ground floor of the Media Centre for the 32nd America's Cup, Antigua Estacion Maritima, Muelle de la Estacion, Valencia, SPAIN.

Representatives from the Teams and their press officers are invited and encouraged to come to this press point.

* * *

Tomorrow afternoon the full text of the Valencia Plan, along with explanatory notes, will of course be posted here on the CC Blog.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Regatta Notice #12, Acts 4/5 Yacht Entered & Competitors Meeting

Regatta Notice 12 was issued today. The original document is available here, and the main text follows:


The Regatta Director has received registration of the following yachts for participation in Acts 4 & 5.

ITA 59 -- +39, Circolo Vela Gargano
FRA 60 -- K-Challenge, Cercle de la Voile de Paris
SWE 63 -- Victory Challenge, Gamla Stans Yacht Sallskap
ESP 67 -- Desafío Español, Real Federación Española de Vela
CHN 69 -- China Team, Qingdao International Yacht Club
GER 72 -- United Internet Team Germany, Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club
ITA 74 -- Luna Rossa, Yacht Club Italiano
SUI 75 -- Team Alinghi, Société Nautique de Genève
USA 76 -- BMW Oracle Racing, The Golden Gate Yacht Club
ITA 77 -- Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia
NZL 82 -- Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
RSA 83 -- Shosholoza, Royal Cape Yacht Club

Competitors are required to send at least one representative to a Competitors Meeting which will be held at 19.30 on Tuesday, 14 June 2005 in the Jury Hearing Room of the Regatta Operations Office building located next to the Edificio Varadero.

CC MEMO -- "Port America's Cup"

ACM have advised that the new name going forward for the Dársena Interior, where the teams will all soon be based, is "Port America's Cup." We are asked to use the new name in our p.r. and similar materials -- as will the CC Blog.

JURY -- JN-019, Procedural Decision in ACJ-008

Today the jury issued a procedural decision which supports the CC's position taken in our application concerning the "Met Data Service" dispute (case "ACJ-008").

The decision is welcomed by the CC as it confirms that the CC has the right to appear before the Jury on this and similar matters, and that all Challengers also have the same right to appear, irrespective of whether the matter has been brought by the CC.

For more information, see the recent post "Stormy Weather."

The full text of the Jury's decision, issued today as Jury Notice JN-019, is available here.

CC MEMO -- Quote-Unquote

"It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's
required."

-- Winston Churchill


Alan Bond and John Bertrand --
AUSTRALIA II, first winners of
the LV Cup, 1983.

CC MEMO -- CSS Format/Scoring Plan is Signed

[Updated 3 June 2005 -- The joint announcement by ACM and the CC of the details of Valencia Plan VI(e) will take place next Tuesday, 7 June. A media advisory with details will be issued by ACM.]


An excerpt from an email Wednesday evening to the CC from Challenger Selection Series ("CSS") Working Party Chairman Tom Ehman:


Finally, after 13 months -- ¡está firmado!

Was done and dusted at 18:00 this afternoon. After the six signatories [two each from ACM, the Challenger of Record Golden Gate Yacht Club and the Challenger Commission] had signed either the original or by fax, ACM General Counsel Nathalie Vez-Habegger and I initialed the five pages.

Thanks to all of you for your guidance and support. Special thanks to Melinda Erkelens (CSS-friendly Protocol), John Cutler, Bruno Finzi, and Dawn Riley (CSS Working Party), Luis Saenz and Marco Mercuriali (strategic and technical advisors), and CC Chairman George Clyde.


A joint announcement of the historic "Valencia Plan VI(e)" is being arranged with ACM. It will take place Friday or early next week. It is understood that Challengers will be briefing their teams, but are asked to keep details of the Plan within their teams in the meantime.