Source: www.americascup.com

Areva Challenge - Hunger for victory Areva Challenge - Hunger for victory
Stephane Kandler, the CEO of Areva Challenge, describes a difficult 2006 season for the team: “It was Ok, but it’s not fantastic to be the best of Division Three,” he says, referring to Louis Vuitton Act 12. His ambitious team wants more.
Source: www.americascup.com

France and the America’s Cup - 10 to win? France and the America’s Cup - 10 to win?
“Start early, to go far!” - This is the slogan of the French K-Challenge team, the first to openly begin its campaign for the 32nd America’s Cup, even before the 31st Cup had been decided in Auckland. But where K-Challenge is a new team, assembled for this 32nd edition of the Cup, it is carrying on a tradition that dates back to 1970. France, in fact, is the only country to continuously challenge for the Cup since that date.
Source: www.americascup.com

vm1j0438 Valencia, 02 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Emirates Team New Zealand.

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act12060702cb_2700 Valencia,02 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Dean Barker and Grant Dalton from Emirates Team New Zealand, winner of the Louis Vuitton Act 12 and of the 2006 season with Yves Carcelle, President of Louis Vuitton Malletier.

Source: www.americascup.com

Areva Challenge takes flight Areva Challenge takes flight
The French Areva Challenge is poised to take flight after a long winter that ended with the announcement that the team had the support of new sponsor, Areva, which would carry it through this America’s Cup cycle. On the water, the team has enjoyed success already. In Trapani, sailing as K-Challenge, the French knocked off their much bigger brothers in Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi, winning seven of their 11 match races.
Source: www.americascup.com

Pierre Mas - The long game Pierre Mas - The long game
If you were to look at the scoreboard from the past two Louis Vuitton Acts in Malm , you wouldn’t think there was much encouragement there for China Team. But this is a team playing a very long game, and a team that makes no pretensions at being able to win the America’s Cup in 2007.
Source: www.americascup.com

Sweden’s Victory Challenge is the team with the most reason to be excited by the prospect of the Malm -Sk ne Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 at the end of August. It’s an opportunity for the Swedes to show their homeland what the America’s Cup is all about, and with a strong opening performance by the team in the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts, there’s plenty to be enthusiastic about.

Magnus Holmberg is the skipper and sailing manager of Victory Challenge. In June, he led the team to a fifth place finish in the match races of Act 4 in Valencia, and then surprised the Cup community with a dominating performance in the fleet races of Louis Vuitton Act 5. Victory would have won the regatta, but for a Jury decision on a technical issue that disqualified the team from one race. With just a few weeks of preparation, the Swedish performance in Valencia was nothing short of spectacular.

We caught up with Magnus in Valencia, where the team continues to train in preparation for the Malm -Sk ne Louis Vuitton Acts.

Source: www.americascup.com

A new weapon in the Swiss arsenal A new weapon in the Swiss arsenal
SUI 91 as been out sailing on the waters off Valencia this week, as Alinghi work up their first of two new boats.
Source: www.americascup.com

Alinghi on form Alinghi on form
The Defenders of the America’s Cup, Alinghi, rebounded from their worst Louis Vuitton Act finish - a fourth in Act 10 - to dominate the fleet of challengers in winning Louis Vuitton Act 11. The Swiss followed up their success on the water by marking an important milestone in their defence, christening SUI 91 in a small ceremony on the team base.
Source: www.americascup.com

The America’s Cup at home in Geneva The America’s Cup at home in Geneva
Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America’s Cup, has spent the past two weeks touring the America’s Cup around Switzerland, culminating this past weekend in Geneva, where it was supported by the 32nd America’s Cup on Tour - the travelling ‘embassy of the America’s Cup’.
Source: www.americascup.com

Victory Challenge turns up the heat Victory Challenge turns up the heat
The Swedish Victory Challenge has ramped up its operation in Valencia to the point that on Monday, the team sailed its two America’s Cup boats, SWE 63 and SWE 73 for the first time since Auckland when the team trained during the quarter finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup on November 22, 2002.
Source: www.americascup.com

Neal McDonald goes to Victory Challenge Neal McDonald goes to Victory Challenge
Victory Challenge is the team that has recruited more sailors since the end of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 2006. In four months, the team has recruited 15 new crew members and the last one is one of the most respected sailors in the world, British Neal McDonald, who will have a role as traveller/strategist.
Source: www.americascup.com

America’s Cup champions America’s Cup champions
Two America’s Cup sailors have claimed two championship titles - the Star Class World Championship and the US Match Racing Championship.
Source: www.americascup.com

Source: www.americascup.com

Kiwis take NZL 84 out for a sail Kiwis take NZL 84 out for a sail
On Wednesday afternoon, Emirates Team New Zealand took their new boat, NZL 84, out for a sail on Valencia waters for the first time. The team had sailed NZL 82 earlier this week.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060701vb_1043w Valencia, 01 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Cup Act 12Luna Rossa Chalenge comes back to the base showingits battle scars.

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NZL 92 arrives in Auckland
With just over six months to go until the first race of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand has taken delivery of NZL 92, its second new boat built for this edition of the America’s Cup.
Source: www.americascup.com

Five minutes with Harry Dunning Five minutes with Harry Dunning
Harry Dunning is the principal designer for the Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. He has been a professional yacht designer for over 20 years, including long stints at Farr Yacht Design and the Reichel & Pugh design office.
Source: www.americascup.com

Hamish Pepper - From New Zealand to Italy Hamish Pepper - From New Zealand to Italy
Hamish Pepper knows all about being in a big team, having worked with Team New Zealand for the past two America’s Cups. This time he is strategist for one of the small, up-and-coming teams, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. But he is loving the change of pace, and the culture shock. “It’s more fun, a lot more enjoyable,” he says. “You’re spread out across more diverse areas in the campaign. I get to be involved in a lot of different aspects of the programme. So I get to learn more.”
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060625sg_3864 Valencia, 25 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Luna Rossa Challenge vs AREVA Challenge.

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Prime Minster Helen Clark launches NZL 92 Prime Minster Helen Clark launches NZL 92
The second boat built by Emirates Team New Zealand for the 32nd America’s Cup, New Zealand NZL-92, was officially launched yesterday in Auckland with Prime Minster Helen Clark performing the honours of christening the boat New Zealand at the team’s Auckland base.
Source: www.americascup.com

Viking plunderer Viking plunderer
The early performances of Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team have taken a lot of people by surprise, not least Alinghi who very nearly lost to the up-and-coming Italians. An 8-second delta represented a victory for Mascalzone as well as Alinghi.
Source: www.americascup.com

Source: www.americascup.com

Cup winner joins Germany Cup winner joins Germany
America’s Cup winner from 1992, Dave Dellenbaugh, has joined United Internet Team Germany as a back-up skipper to Jesper Bank. American Dellenbaugh, who has done three previous campaigns, will operate as second skipper and helm the German boat should Bank have to miss a race.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060701cb_1874 Valencia, 01 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12BMW ORACLE Racing.

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img_5232 Valencia, 24 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton ACT 12BMW ORACLE Racing vs Alinghi.

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Five minutes with Jesper Bank Five minutes with Jesper Bank
Jesper Bank is the skipper, helmsman and overall leader of United Internet Team Germany. With Louis Vuitton Act 10 approaching fast, the Germans, like all the teams, are trying to squeeze as much preparation as possible into the little time left. Here’s what Jesper had to say 55 days before Act 10…
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060625ff_3852w Valencia, 25 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12BMW ORACLE Racing.

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act12060622ff__1013 Valencia, 22 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Team Shosholoza vs Desafio Espanol 2007

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img_5252 Valencia, 24 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton ACT 12Team Shosholoza vs Areva Challenge.

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Luna rossa sailed the 2004 and 2005 seasons stuck in fourth place. They weren’t able to beat any of their brethren in the ‘big four’ until Trapani but they never lost to a team below them on the ladder. But the Italians have quietly maintained they were better than the results indicated and that last year, all the teams were shackled to the legacy of their old Cup boats, for better or worse.
Source: www.americascup.com

Monday news roundup - Areva’s Col wins in Denmark; Shosholoza sailor recovers Monday news roundup - Areva’s Col wins in Denmark; Shosholoza sailor recovers
S bastien Col wins in Denmark, while Shosholoza’s Charles Nankin recovers from surgery…
Source: www.americascup.com

Shosholoza gains a helping hand Shosholoza gains a helping hand
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has accepted an invitation to patron of Shosholoza. The Archbishop is scheduled to meet with the team on November 27 when they return to South Africa for a short break over the winter.
Source: www.americascup.com

Is the third time the charm? Is the third time the charm?
Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge is the eldest brother of the three Italian challenges at the 32nd America’s Cup, the third consecutive attempt at capturing the ‘Auld Mug’ by owner and project instigator Patrizio Bertelli and his skipper Francesco de Angelis.
Source: www.americascup.com

Red moon rising Red moon rising
Luna Rossa is billed as one of the ‘Big Four’. Along with Alinghi, BMW ORACLE Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand, this Italian team stands out as one of the slickest operations in the America’s Cup. It has maintained the momentum built up over the past two Prada campaigns, and skipper Francesco de Angelis has made some useful additions to the team, including young Aussie match racing star, James Spithill, along with a number of other key members from the OneWorld team of Auckland 2003.
Source: www.americascup.com

Team updates: Shosholoza changes tack Team updates: Shosholoza changes tack
Shosholoza, the South African challenger for the 32nd America’s Cup, has announced a change of skipper. Stepping off the boat is Geoff Meek, and coming aboard as the new skipper is Mark Sadler, who was previously in the afterguard as strategist.
Source: www.americascup.com

act10060514sg_9057w Valencia, 14 05 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11Areva Challenge.

Source: www.americascup.com

Although the big four teams dominated Louis Vuitton Act 11, no one was left with any doubt as to the level of competition further down the rankings. To finish fifth was an impressive result and the Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team knew it. With its new boat waiting in the wings, the team had the best launch pad for the next phase in their campaign.
Source: www.americascup.com

Jochen Schuemann - Putting it down to experience Jochen Schuemann - Putting it down to experience
Losing two races in a day doesn’t happen too often to the defender, Alinghi, so the final day’s racing in the round robin of Louis Vuitton Act 12 must have seemed like quite a slap in the face for the Swiss.
Source: www.americascup.com

A day in the life The lawyer - General Counsel A day in the life The lawyer - General Counsel
“For me the America’s Cup is a passion. I like this work more than anything; it is a very challenging environment and you work with very smart people. Even when there is conflict, you are in conflict at a very high level! So it’s a very challenging, but exciting work environment.”
Source: www.americascup.com

Juan Vila - Team Alinghi Juan Vila - Team Alinghi
Juan Vila has been equally successful in America’s Cup racing as in round-the-world racing in his crucial role of navigator. He was a member of the winning illbruck team in the last Volvo Ocean Race, and a year later was a member of Alinghi when the team won the America’s Cup
Source: www.americascup.com

Team Shosholoza - ‘The best in the world!’ Team Shosholoza - ‘The best in the world!’
Andrew Mlangeni is a revered figure in South Africa. He spent 26 years in prison along Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki and other prominent members of the African National Congress beginning in June 1964. Since the first democratic elections in 1994 he has been a Member of the South African Parliament.
Source: www.americascup.com

Andy Green, Team Shosholoza, sailing coach and tactician Andy Green, Team Shosholoza, sailing coach and tactician
Andy Green has been hired to impart his experience from the past two Louis Vuitton Cups and to pass on his match racing expertise to Team Shosholoza for the first three Louis Vuitton Acts of the 32nd America’s Cup.
Source: www.americascup.com

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Italian flair Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Italian flair
As one of three Italian teams, and the last of the three to challenge, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team has had a busy year in 2005, establishing the team, acquiring and modifying boats, and racing in the six Louis Vuitton Acts.
Source: www.americascup.com

“Espionage is expensive, and it throws a black mark on sailing. I am personally against it,” said Bill Koch on May 17th, 1992, after his victory in the America’s Cup aboard his America . He had just defeated the Italian challenger Il Moro di Venezia and many of those listening to him couldn’t believe their ears.
Source: www.americascup.com

1901: Night moves 1901: Night moves
“I have decided not to design and construct another Cup defender I feel that my best years for such work have passed,” wrote Nathanael Greene Herreshoff on May 23rd, 1902 to C. Oliver Iselin.
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An anniversary of legendary proportions An anniversary of legendary proportions
Newport, Rhode Island, Monday, September 26th, 1983 at 17:20 The moment when the United States lost the America’s Cup. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Australia II’s legendary victory.
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Juan Vila - Team Alinghi Juan Vila - Team Alinghi
Juan Vila has been equally successful in America’s Cup racing as in round-the-world racing in his crucial role of navigator. He was a member of the winning illbruck team in the last Volvo Ocean Race, and a year later was a member of Alinghi when the team won the America’s Cup
Source: www.americascup.com

Taking up the challenge Taking up the challenge
“The skirts come off in April, so you’ll see what everyone has done. Typically there haven’t been huge gains through appendage packages, but in April we’re all going to see, and people will likely react to what they see a little bit. It’s late, but there is still time to react to that a bit.”
Source: www.americascup.com

Destined for the America’s Cup - Luca Devoti & Iain Percy, Rivals on board Destined for the America’s Cup - Luca Devoti & Iain Percy, Rivals on board
In Sydney, Australia, in 2000, one Italian sailor fights hard against a British competitor for the Olympic Gold medal in the Finn Class…Luca Devoti against Iain Percy. At the end, it was the younger Percy who walked away with gold around his neck.
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China Team - conquering a country China Team - conquering a country
The America’s Cup rewards experience like few other sports. For evidence, take a look at the people involved with the top four teams on the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship. There simply aren’t too many rookies on board. It’s hard enough to tackle the America’s Cup as an experienced challenger, with all the intellectual property, hardware and know-how gained from previous campaigns.
Source: www.americascup.com

Peter Holmberg, Team Alinghi Peter Holmberg, Team Alinghi
As helmsman, Peter Holmberg is a recent high-profile addition to the Alinghi team, following his departure from BMW ORACLE after the last America’s Cup. Holmberg first came to prominence in the 1988 Olympic Games, when he won a silver medal in the Finn singlehander, the only sailing medal ever won by a US Virgin Islander.
Source: www.americascup.com

2006 - A critical year for the America’s Cup teams 2006 - A critical year for the America’s Cup teams
When we look back at the 32nd America’s Cup following the Match in June next year, it is very likely that the calendar year 2006 will be seen as the most important period for each of the 12 America’s Cup teams.
Source: www.americascup.com