Valencia Crónica #70

Issue #70 of Valencia Crónica is now available here.

The usual fine print.... Editor Bridget Baker issues VC approximately every other week, and it is intended solely for AC 32 team members and their families. Accordingly, VC is password-protected to ensure the privacy of contributors' contact info.

To obtain the password, or to be added to the email distribution list for Crónica, please write Bridget at valenciacronicaspain [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] nz. Over 500 families are now receiving VC by email.

Weather Defensive

Excerpt from a story this morning in the International Herald Tribune:

AC Management wouldn't release weather data on Valencia, so the Swiss team, which conducted the analysis, did its own research.

After analyzing the weather buoys on the northern "Romeo" course for wind in the afternoon when racing is scheduled, sailing has only been possible for half the number of days in April.

That is well down on the average of 80-90 percent of days being suitable for sailing from April through July since 2000.

"We still stand by our analysis that Valencia is a good sailing venue, it should not be judged on a single meteorological event," Bilger said.

But Valencia's Meteorological and Climate Center head, Jose Angel Nunez, said the event should have started in May to avoid possible scheduling problems.

"The wind that the competition is looking for won't be arriving until June and July," he said. "Winds are frequent in spring but not established until the summer, when they will be much more consistent. There's a better probability, frequency and intensity of wind the closer we get to summer, when you have the better atmospheric conditions for racing — it's evident."

Butterworth said the schedule wasn't only determined by the wind.

"The timing of the Cup was set certainly to fit into the market of television and then other events earlier and later in the year that could conflict with it," Butterworth said, referring to cycling's Tour de France.

Full story

Weather or Not

Two more days of nada de nada? Slide courtesy of the BBC Weather Centre.

What a Way to Run a Regatta

Excerpt from an editorial on the Sail World website by Bob Fisher:


'We did analysis of the [weather] statistics and Valencia was always the best,' said America’s Cup Management CEO, Michel Bonnefous at a press conference this morning, and stuck to that line through intensive questioning. 'We have done precise research and have good numbers – the worst case in April was losing four days.'

One of the sailing crew aboard Emirates Team New Zealand recalled after that press conference that there were nine days last April when sailing was not possible. Does that collaborate America’s Cup Management’s 'precise research'? No. Bonnefous called this year’s lack of wind, 'An unusually bad stretch of light weather.'

It could have been avoided by holding the entire event later in the year, but Bonnefous explained that ACM had chosen the ideal date for the America’s Cup match and worked backwards from there. On that basis, little consideration was given to the challengers to allow them to present a worthy opponent for the defender.

This situation does not benefit any of the challengers and is the result of one organisation running the racing for the challengers and defenders. All benefits go to the defender and enhance Alinghi’s ability to mount a successful defence. It is a situation that must never be repeated.

Perhaps the words of Paul Elvstrom should be brought to the attention of those in charge of this regatta. 'You haven’t won the race, if in winning the race you’ve lost the respect of your competition.'

Full story

MEDIA STATEMENT -- CC Meeting, 21 April 2007

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup (“CC”) met at the call of the Chair, Alessandra Pandarese (ITA) of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, at the ACM offices in Valencia from 1800 to 2030 last evening, Saturday 21 April. Representatives of ten of the eleven Challengers were present. Apologies were received from +39.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

+ Decisions at the previous CC meeting were affirmed -- RR1 Flights 3 and 4 are scheduled for Sunday, 5 and 6 for Monday, etc. Flights postponed to a later date would be raced the next day(s) and in sequence with the balance of the schedule pushed back accordingly. The Regatta Director would adjust the pairing list (in consultation with CC reps) as necessary from day to day to minimize if not eliminate course swapping between Flights on a given day, and to otherwise avoid a big casino with respect to the equalization of other factors as between all Challengers (use of the north inner course, MDS buoyed courses, etc.).

+ The Regatta Director's proposal for the schedule of racing for RR2 (one race per day beginning Fri 27 Apr) was supported with the following caveats:

++ There should be no "Off Day" between RR1 and RR2. RR2, with one race per day scheduled, should begin the day after the last day of racing for RR2. If RR1 racing is further delayed, the start of RR2 would be delayed accordingly.

++ The RR1 "No Change Period" should end at 2100 on the last day of RR1 racing, and begin for RR2 at 0800 the next day (first day of RR2 racing).

++ Two additional reserve days should be added to the end of RR2 (May 9 and 10). Any RR2 races that are postponed to a later date would be rescheduled as the first of two flights the next day only if and when all but one of the scheduled reserve days has been taken up with postponed race(s).

++ The start of the Semi-finals should be delayed one day to 15 May. The "No Change Period" for the Semifinals should begin at 0800 on 15 May instead of 24 hours before the warning signal for the first race.

Under the various rules that govern the LVC, schedule changes must be agreed by the Challenger Commission and ACM. At the end of last evening's meeting, the ACM COO said by phone that he was not prepared to approve the above changes to the Regatta Director's proposal for RR2.

The CC was unanimous and adamant that all eleven teams must be afforded an opportunity to race in a fair and proper Louis Vuitton Cup regatta.

The CC Chair and Chair of the NOR Working Party would consult further with the Regatta Director and ACM officials on Sunday and report back to the CC. With wind forecasts Sunday through Wednesday not promising for getting the scheduled two races per day completed, and ACM's apparent unwillingness to cooperate with the CC, it was likely the CC would need to meet again Sunday evening or Monday to consider further options and initiatives to ensure a fair and proper regatta.

CC Meeting Tonight

UPDATE - 19:30 Friday: Today we have made good progress on a revised Notice of Race and schedule of racing for the balance of the rounds robin. Together with getting two flights completed today, it was decided to postpone the CC meeting scheduled for this evening to tomorrow (Saturday) evening. In the meantime, and as agreed and announced this morning with the Regatta Director, we are proceeding tomorrow with Flights 3 and 4 and the current pairing list. Now let's hope there is some wind again tomorrow.




Postscript to this morning's meeting: It was also agreed that the CC would meet again this evening, in the jury meeting room at the ACM offices, 90 minutes following the end of racing (or another "AP over A" postponement). Purpose, to discuss open points from this morning's meeting after delegates have a chance to consult their teams, and giving the Regatta Director and the Chair of the CC's Notice of Race working party time today to sort through various options.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- CC Meeting, 20 April 2007

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup (“CC”) met at the call of the Chair, Alessandra Pandarese (ITA) of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, at the ACM offices in Valencia at 0800 this morning, Friday 20 April. Representatives of all eleven Challengers were present.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

+ The Regatta Director's proposal to "re-boot" (our word, not his) Round Robin 1 was unanimously supported. This means Flights 1 and 2 previously re-scheduled for today, originally a reserve day, would be sailed (attempted!). Going forward, subsequent flights will be raced in sequence, two flights per day, i.e., Flights 3 and 4 tomorrow (Saturday), etc. If one or both of today's flights are postponed, they would be rescheduled for tomorrow, kept in sequence, and the balance of the RR1 schedule pushed back accordingly. RR1 will be completed before any races of RR2 are started. However, when some but not all matches of a given flight (of ten matches) are completed, the uncompleted matches will be rescheduled later in RR1 (on a race or reserve day) as the Regatta Director deems equitable and expedient.

+ The Regatta Director will work on the pairing list to equalize to the extent possible use among teams of the buoyed courses and the north inner course (the so-called "stadium course") which will be the primary racing area later in the LVC and for the Match, and to minimize if not eliminate the need for any team to have to swap course areas on a two-race day.

+ There will be no relaxation of the minimum 7kt wind limit or shortening of courses, nor more than two flights scheduled per day.

+ The CC kept their options open so far as how to proceed beyond the end of RR1 given the challenging forecasts for continued light air today, Saturday and Sunday. Open issues include whether or not an "off day" should be scheduled at the completion of RR1 regardless how late RR1 ends. Also under consideration is whether to delay the start of the LVC Semifinals by a day or two assuming RR2 runs long.

+ The CC affirmed its long-held view that a high priority for RR2 is to have no more than one race per day and over the longer (3.3nm) course that will be used in the LVC Semis, Finals and the AC Match.

CC Meeting Today

At 0800 this morning at the Jury Meeting Room in the ACM offices there will be a meeting of Louis Vuitton Cup competitors. This has been called by the Regatta Director, Dyer Jones, to consider a significant rescheduling of racing for Rounds Robin 1 and 2.

This in response to the unprecedented (at least for the LVC) four days of postponed racing, and with the prospects for more postponements today and through the weekend due forecasts for continuing light winds.

This meeting will also, in effect, be a meeting of the Challenger Commission as the CC's advice and consent is required for what would be a significant amendment to the Notice of Race governing the Louis Vuitton Cup regatta.

The past two evening the CC's Notice of Race working party has met with Commodore Jones, ACM's CEO and COO, and Race Officers Peter Reggio and Harold Bennett to go over the "what-ifs", and a proposed new schedule of racing for Rounds Robin 1 and 2 has been drafted.

If embraced by the Challengers at this morning's meeting, it means, in effect, that we would "re-boot" the regatta. Under the current schedule today is already a reserve day, and in accordance with the NOR Flights 1 and 2 postponed from Monday have automatically been rescheduled to today. The idea is to start anew, and reschedule racing from tomorrow (Saturday) as if the RR1 started today. That means Flights 3 and 4 tomorrow, 5 and 6 Sunday, etc., with a re-shuffle of race and reserve days to fit in all 20 races of RR1 and RR2 between now and the 8th or 9th (or maybe 10th) of May.

Of course we will post the results of this morning's meeting here on the CCB when we get a change later this morning.

Bonnefous Interview

A long interview with ACM CEO Michel Bonnefous, Alinghi general manager during the last Cup, by the IHT's Christopher Clary, is featured in today's New York Times and is well worth the read....

Q. & A.
A Conversation With Michel Bonnefous

Published: April 14, 2007

Michel Bonnefous was general manager of the winning team during the last America’s Cup, but he is trying to project neutrality this time.

Bonnefous has spent the last three years with his wife and three young sons in Valencia, Spain.

Shortly after the Swiss and their mercenaries from New Zealand swept the home team in Auckland, Bonnefous was named president of America’s Cup Management with the backing of his boyhood friend Ernesto Bertarelli, the Swiss billionaire who remains head of Alinghi and part of its crew.

While past Cups have had separate organizing bodies for the challenger trials and the America’s Cup, Bertarelli and his principal rival Larry Ellison believed it needed just one. Their answer was America’s Cup Management (ACM). Bonnefous, with his close-cropped hair, thin-framed glasses and casual manner, has spent the last three years with his wife and three young sons in Valencia, Spain, the city he helped select as the site of these races, which are being held in European waters for the first time in 156 years.

Bonnefous presides over the biggest organizational budget in the event’s history, and last month in his unpretentious office with a view of the transformed port, he discussed the present and future of the competition with Christoper Clarey of The New York Times.

Excerpts from that interview:

CLAREY: What are your feelings as you look at the new bases and the new marinas?

BONNEFOUS: Even before we won with Alinghi, we sat down with a very small group and isolated ourselves and developed a kind of blueprint for what the organization would be like in case of victory. We put it away in a locker and then took it back out when we were in the final of the America’s Cup.

Now this is a reality, and it’s very close to the initial project we imagined four years ago, so that’s pretty interesting to see that we have more or less what we wanted. It’s great to see a big project coming through and changing a city. That’s new for the America’s Cup, using the event that way. It has been done somewhat in the past, but not really organized to this degree. This is truly an Olympic-style project.

CLAREY: What do you think will define this Cup in Valencia?

BONNEFOUS: There are two aspects for me: the social aspect and the sports aspect. Socially, this will definitely feel Spanish. When you have 60,000 or 100,000 people at 9 p.m. and all the bars open and there is a lot of life, you’re going to know you’re in Spain. We have made efforts to try to create a social environment around the competition that will be attractive and will work. I think this is important for the America’s Cup.

The other side is the sports event. And for this edition what I hope will be the defining element is that the teams are certainly going to be extremely close and that’s the effect of the Acts we had leading up to the Cup. In the previous Vuitton Cups, an underdog team would have the opportunity to sail two times against Alinghi and two times against Oracle, so that underdog team would do six races against top teams in the whole campaign.

But with this new format, the underdogs have sailed I don’t know how many races against the top teams. When you examine the previous Vuitton Cups, at the end the underdogs were very close to the others but only by the end after they had improved over three months of competitions. But this time I’m convinced we will see closer racing. I won’t say the favorites won’t end up the winners, because they have high operational capacities. But the underdogs this time are starting on a much higher level, and I think that’s what’s going to be great. The other aspect is that we have been using this class of America’s Cup boats for five editions now, so that also will make the boats closer.

CLAREY: There are skeptics, but do you feel you’ve been able to change the chip from Alinghi team member to America’s Cup Management?

BONNEFOUS: I’ve been able to change the mentality totally, because it’s not that difficult and because it’s my job. Alinghi was one approach. It’s totally different here, but for me this is the same kind of job, organizing and problem solving. I stay pretty objective. I like Alinghi, because we created it, but it doesn’t mean the decisions we take now with ACM are not fair. We can take fair decisions but still be a bit emotionally attached.

Full story (registration required, free of charge)

Michel Bonnefous (SUI, right) holding the Cup after Alinghi's historic win at Auckland in 2003, with skipper Russell Coutts (NZL, left) and team owner and sailing team member Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI, center).

Upwardly Mobile Mayoress

From today's Valencia Life newsletter:

Valencia Mayoress Rita Barberá could hardly conceal her surprise yesterday after the influential magazine Elle placed her amongst the most important feminine movers and shakers in the world. The Magazine found that amongst the most influential women in the world were Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, Mrs Barberá, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Esperanza Aguirre, the President of the Madrid Community.

PI 36

Earlier this week the Measurement Committee issued Public Interpretation No. 36 in response to a question about adjusting the forestay while racing. The text of the ruling:

Yes, it is permissible to change the rake of the mast while racing by changing the length of the forestay strop provided the length and attachment limitations of Rule 36.4 are satisfied at all times.

Valencia Crónica #69 -- Two Years!

Congrats to Bridget Baker on the two-year anniversary of Valencia Crónica, her email newsletter for AC families here in VLC.

Bridget's first issue in 2005 was sent to 30 of her AC friends on the various teams. Today more than 600 families receive it by email or read it (and back issues) here on the CCB.

Issue #69 of Valencia Crónica is now available here. The usual fine print.... Bridget issues VC approximately every other week, and it is intended solely for AC 32 team members and their families. Accordingly, VC is password-protected to ensure the privacy of contributors' contact info.

To obtain the password, or to be added to the email distribution list for Crónica, please write Bridget at valenciacronicaspain [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] nz. Over 500 families are now receiving VC by email.

LVC: Round Robins Pairing List Schedule

Issued Sunday by Regatta Director Dyer Jones:

This is the pairing list based on the Louis Vuitton Cup Notice of Race and established from the final challenger rankings following Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13. Under normal circumstances, Matches one to three of each Flight will be sailed on the northern race area with the ‘Romeo’ Race Committee while Matches four through six will be on the southern race area, with the ‘Juliet’ Race Committee.

For Round Robin One the Race Committee intends to start no more than two flights of races each day, with the first warning signal scheduled to sound at 14:05. If, due to weather conditions, it is impossible to run all the scheduled Matches on a day, the Regatta Director will respect the original pairing list as much as possible and re-schedule the un-sailed matches on the first available slots available (reserve days and one race days).

For Round Robin Two the Race Committee intends to start no more than one flight of races each day, with the first warning signal scheduled to sound at 14:05. If, due to weather conditions, it is impossible to run all the scheduled Matches on a day, or if there are matches un-sailed remaining from Round Robin One, the Regatta Director will respect the original pairing list as much as possible and re-schedule the un-sailed matches as the second start of the day until the schedule is back on track and then on the first available reserve day.

The Media Centre will publish every race day a document called the Morning Briefing. It will always contain the day’s programme and should be referred to for the day’s pairings, the current results table, the weather forecast and highlights of the previous day’s racing.

New CC Dox Password

Due to recent changes in Challenger personnel, the username and password to access protected CC documents here on the CCB has this morning been changed. The former username ("beat") and password ("alinghi") have been replaced.

CC Assistant Michael ten Bokum has been asked to email the new username and password to all Challenge Reps and Alts. Reminder that, as usual, they are case sensitive.

Happy Easter! (And, LOL, that's not the password.)

New Rep for +39

Yesterday the CC was notified by +39 that Paul Henderson (CAN) is no longer their Challenge Representative or a member of their team. Their general counsel, Stefano Feltrin (ITA), formerly the Alternate Rep, will now serve as Challenge Rep.

A revised CC Directory, as usual password-protected to preserve the privacy of contact information, is available here. It is also available by clicking on "CC Directory" in the right sidebar.

And while we are at it, the CC welcomed Victory Challenge's CEO, Johan Stenman (SWE), to our meeting yesterday. Johan filled in for their Challenge Rep, Bjorn Ohde (SWE), who was unable to attend the session given the short notice.



New +39 Challenge Rep, Stefano Feltrin (ITA). File photo by TFE.

Victory Challenge CEO Johan Stenman (SWE) at the CC meeting Saturday morning. TFE photo.

Six Days in April

ACM estimates that during the six days of Act 13 about a quarter of a million people came to the America's Cup Park to witness the events. Records were beaten on Friday when 63,000 people came to see the racing and admire the yachts, support boats and spectator boats as they traversed the canal to and from the Port America's Cup.


"A rising tide lifts all boats."

MEDIA STATEMENT -- CC Meeting, 7 April 2007

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup (“CC”) met at the call of the Chair, Alessandra Pandarese (ITA) of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, at the BMW ORACLE Racing team base in Valencia on Saturday 7 April 2007 from 0830 to 0945.

Representatives of ten of the eleven Challengers were present:

+ AREVA Challenge (FRA) -- Dawn Riley
+ BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) -- Tom Ehman and Russell Green
+ Desafío Español (ESP) -- John Cutler
+ Emirates Team NZ (NZL) -- Jack Lloyd
+ Luna Rossa (ITA/LR) -- Bruno Finzi and Luis Saenz
+ Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA/ML) -- Alessandra Pandarese
+ Piu Trentanove (ITA/+39) -- Stefano Feltrin
+ Shosholoza (RSA) -- Tommaso Chieffi and Salvatore Sarno
+ United Internet Team Germany (GER) -- Wolf Dietz
+ Victory Challenge (SWE) -- Dave Perry and Johan Stenman

Apologies were received from China Team (CHN) who were not able to be present, but Challenge Rep Jean-Charles Scale participated and voted by phone.

The CC expressed their appreciation to BMW ORACLE Racing for hosting the meeting at short notice.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

+ The proposed +39 Protocol amendment in connection with use of a V5 mast designed and built by another Competitor was not supported.

+ The CC confirmed that it will next meet on Wednesday 11 April for a debrief of Act 13 and in case there are matters arising before the start of the LVC on 16 April.

Regatta Notice #64 -- New Measurement Certificates

Text of Regatta Notice #64 issued this morning by the Regatta Director:

As provided in the Notice of Race referenced above, the Measurement Committee has confirmed that new ACC Measurement Certificates have been issued for the following yachts, and the Front Page has been posted on the Official Notice Board. The change(s) made have not required the yacht to be refloated or re-weighed and were completed by 08h00 this date.

Sail # / Competitor Name / Yacht Club

ITA 94 / Luna Rossa Challenge / Yacht Club Italiano
ESP 97 / Desafío Español 2007 / Real Federación Española de Vela

A .pdf file of the RN #64 is available here.

CC Meeting Today

The Challenger Commission will meet this morning in Valencia at the BMW ORACLE Racing team base (not the Holiday Inn as originally announced). Agenda includes consideration of the proposed +39 Protocol amendment.

Photog ("Heli") Agreement

This morning we are pleased to report that the agreement, long in the works, to relax the rules governing team photographers in helicopters and the use of still images by teams has now been signed by all relevant parties. It is, therefore, in effect for today's racing and henceforth.

The agreement also codifies the "Out of Race Area Undertaking" made by ACM in response to the protest of ACM by Luna Rossa a couple months back.

This is another of series of "omnibus" agreements, as your Ed. calls them, that are a simple and fast means of making a de facto amendment to the Protocol, and any and all other rules necessary to give effect to the changes agreed, without having to actually go through and individually amend the respective documents that may govern. Hence the final paragraph of the agreement:



The text of the agreement is available here (148kb .pdf file).

Good News: TVE Comes to the Party

From this morning's edition of Peter Gooch's Valencia Life email newsletter:

Also yesterday, Valencia mayoress Rita Barbera could hardly conceal her delight after state broadcaster RTVE finally agreed to fully cover the event with 150 hours from Valencia on its three channels – RTVE 1 & 2 and TeleDeporte. In a statement following the signing of the agreement, Mrs Barberta stated that RTVE coverage of the event ‘would guarantee that the Anericas Cup is seen by many millions of people across the world, which will create a very positive image for Valencia’.

Dollars and Sense?

Just one of the many similar comments we are seeing on the internet to the expensive online coverage of Act 13 racing and beyond....

America's Cup Update

Today's racing was a mixed bag as the weather was iffy apparently. Second race was cancelled. In the first race, BMW came out of nowhere on the last leg to overtake 5 boats and cross the line first. My favorites, Shosholoza came in second. I would love to see them win the whole thing. America's Cup in Cape Town possibly the same year as the World Cup (soccer that is). I might emigrate.

I was also a little disappointed by the multimedia coverage. In this age of Youtube, you sort of expect it all to be free all the time but the America's Cup organizers must be short of a few bucks/bob as they charge an ambitious $39.99 for multimedia coverage. This is to watch very hard to follow animations and videos. Quelle Rip-off!

Acting Up

Yesterday afternoon AREVA Challenge kindly organized an informal practice fleet race, inviting a number of other Challengers to participate. While not invited, the Defender joined in as well, sailing the four-leg race (2.8nm legs) alongside the Challengers. Photo courtesy of the excellent CupInfo website, which carried this story on yesterday's practice race.