The New York Yacht Club was home to the America’s Cup for 132-years. Now a form of Cup racing is back in New York, but on a smaller scale.

The race course is on a small lake in Central Park. The host of the racing wasn’t the NYYC but the Central Park Model Boat Club, where USA 87 (like BMW ORACLE Racing) and SUI 75 (like Alinghi), did battle. Thus the defender and the challenger of record tangled in International One Metre model boats.

The Model Club was founded in 1961 and has had a brush with the America’s Cup before. John Bertrand, the winning Australian skipper in 1983, showed up at the park to race against the members.

So, although it wasn’t quite on the same scale as the racing in Valencia, the American team will be hoping the model boats foreshadowed an eventual Cup match-up in 2007 on the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: www.americascup.com

700 swimmers take over the Port America’s Cup 700 swimmers take over the Port America’s Cup
For the first time, the Port America’s Cup has been the stage of one of the most unique competitions of the summer in Valencia, the XIV Traves a del Puerto.
Source: www.americascup.com

Emirates Team New Zealand - Leading on all counts Emirates Team New Zealand - Leading on all counts
Emirates Team New Zealand heads in to the ‘off season’ leading on all counts at the 32nd America’s Cup. The Kiwis won a ‘winner take all’ race over Alinghi on Sunday to claim Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12, which in turn put the team on top of the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship. Also, the ranking points the team earned in Act 12 allowed it to stretch out a lead over BMW Oracle Racing on the challengers-only Louis Vuitton Ranking.
Source: www.americascup.com

Conquering the world Conquering the world
“We are yellow, we are blue, we are Swedish, who are you?” was the rallying cry from the men in yellow shirts.

“Come on England, come on England!” replied the men in white.

This was the scene at the Victory Challenge base on Tuesday night when the team opened its doors to sailors, families and friends to watch the Swedes play England in the World Cup. It had the potential to be a divisive match for Victory Challenge where the majority of the sailors are Swedes but with a strong British contingent as well.

“It has been 38 years since England has won over Sweden in a football match,” said skipper Magnus Holmberg, trying to stir things up. “And if the Brits win tonight, they will have a very hard time on board the boat the rest of the week!”

In the best possible result for the future of Victory Challenge, the game ended in a 2-2 draw - an even result that you’ll never see in an America’s Cup Match. With the result both teams advance to the next stage of the competition.

Meanwhile, the scene in the Victory Challenge base will no doubt be repeated time and again amongst the 12 teams of the 32nd America’s Cup over the next few weeks as the World Cup grinds along.

Alessandro
Source: www.americascup.com

99 or 100 or maybe 101? 99 or 100 or maybe 101?
Over the past two weeks two new ACC sail numbers have been issued by class Technical Director Ken McAlpine. On Friday, Areva Challenge stated they are building FRA 93. The team assigned ACC 92 hasn’t come forward yet.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060627cb_4019w Valencia, 27 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Alinghi.

Source: www.americascup.com

BMW ORACLE Racing and Victory Challenge dominate in Portugal BMW ORACLE Racing and Victory Challenge dominate in Portugal
BMW ORACLE Racing skipper Chris Dickson and his squad narrowly beat Magnus Holmberg and his Victory Challenge team to claim the Portugal Match Cup over the weekend.
Source: www.americascup.com

A sad day in Valencia A sad day in Valencia
Valencia is in mourning today after a train derailed in the city’s metro system. Over 30 people have lost their lives and dozens more are injured.
Source: www.americascup.com

Areva Challenge makes changes Areva Challenge makes changes
Areva Challenge has made some changes to the afterguard of its race boat following Louis Vuitton Act 12.
Source: www.americascup.com