Day One Racing Postponed For Lack Of Wind In The 33 America’s Cup

  BMW Oracle Returns To Base After Day 1 Racing Cancelled (Photo by Gareth Evans) by Gareth Evans   Race day 1 started light, but the forecast promised winds would increase.  Bryan Willis, the British representative on the America’s Cup International Jury, was confident that racing would go ahead.  Matt Sheahan of Yachting World magazine, a renowned expert on Valencia weather, was forecasting... [Read more]

Groupama 3 Expected To Pass Cape Of Good Hope Tuesday

Loic Le Migon and Lionel Lemonchois (Photo Courtesy of Team Groupama) The position of the Saint Helena High isn’t favouring progress towards the Cape of Good Hope: Groupama 3 has been forced to pick out a course to the SSW before slowly straightening out her trajectory to the South this Monday afternoon… As a result her lead over the reference time is diminishing.  Franck Cammas and his... [Read more]

33 America’s Cup Crew Lists

Alinghi At Port America's Cup (Photo by Gareth Evans) Alinghi 5, the 33rd America’s Cup defending yacht, left the Alinghi base this morning for Race 1 of the 33rd America’s Cup amid a cacophony of Swiss bells and cheers from Alinghi fans, friends and families. This moment has been long awaited.   Too bad that enthuasism was cut short by a postponment of today’s racing due to... [Read more]

BMW Oracle Wins The Coin Toss And Enters To Starboard In Tomorrows America’s Cup Race

Fireworks Light Up Port America's Cup As The Festivities Heat Up (Photo by Gareth Evans) Challenge and Adventure’s Gareth Evans was on hand for the coin toss. “At the coin toss, SNG/Alinghi were asked to call heads or tails. They thought they had won and asked for the starboard entry into the start box. GGYC/BMW Oracle subsequently won the toss, and spoilt Alinghi’s plans by... [Read more]

Franck Cammas and Crew of Groupama 3 Cross The Equator And Extend Their Lead

Groupama 3 (Photo courtesy of Team Groupama) After crossing the equator at 0902 hours UTC this Saturday morning after 5 days and 19 hours at sea and with a lead of over a day in relation to Orange, the maxi trimaran Groupama 3 has begun her descent of the Southern hemisphere. Faced with SE’ly tradewinds and in a still, fairly calm sea, Franck Cammas and his nine crew are making for the Brazilian... [Read more]

Valencia’s Mayor Rita Barbara Visits Port America’s Cup Pror To Sunday’s Opening Ceremonies

Valencia's Mayor Rita Barbera Enjoys The Run Up To The America's Cup At Port America's Cup In Valencia (Photo by Gareth Evans) Sunday 7th February sees the official opening ceremony of the 33rd America’s Cup, starting at 1300hrs in the heart of Port America’s Cup, by the Veles et Vents building. The opening ceremony will include the draw for which side the competing yachts have to enter... [Read more]

33rd America’s Cup Owners’ Press Conference In Valencia A One Sided Event

Ernesto Bertarelli Speaking To The Media (Photo by Gareth Evans)  Article and Photos by Challenge and Adventure’s Gareth Evans The Owners’ Press Conference held this afternoon was very well attended by the press – approximately 150 out of the 600+ accredited media personnel were there.  Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the team owners.  Whilst Ernesto Bertarelli arrived... [Read more]

Oman Sail’s Masirah Wins Extreme Sailing Series Asia

Oman Sail Masirah". Shown here racing close to the shore line. Skippered by Pete Cumming(GBR),Leigh McMillan(GBR),Mark Bulkeley(GBR),Nasser Al Mashari(OMA) (Photo by Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC Event)   Oman Sail Masirah crowned winners of the final event in Muscat and the overall Series.(All Photos by Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC Events) First European champions, now Oman Sail Masirah is... [Read more]

Groupama 3 Passing Into The Doldrums Tonight

Thomas Coville and Lionel Lemonchois (Photo courtesy of Team Groupama) Franck Cammas and his nine crew have had an excellent day prior to a weekend where a rather quick passage across the Doldrums is forecast, with a switch of hemisphere as early as Saturday morning! With an average of more than 22 knots along the direct course since leaving Ushant, Groupama 3 already has more than a day’s lead... [Read more]

Oman Sail’s Majan Departs Saturday For Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race

The Nigel Irens Design Majan, Skippered by Paul Stanbridge Under Sail (Photo by) On Saturday, 6th February, Oman Sail’s new A100 ‘Majan’ alongside their 75-ft multihull ‘Musandam’ will depart Muscat [Oman] to begin a new chapter in ocean racing as they embark on tracing out the route of the future Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race.   With a total distance of 16,300 nautical miles (30,200km) this... [Read more]

Muscat Action Packed Today With 25+ Knots For Extreme Sailing Series Asia

Red Bull Extreme 40 (Photo by Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/OC Events) Thousands gathered on the beach on the first public day of the Muscat event of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia to see the six teams race in the biggest breeze so far - not only of the Asian series but the entire 2009 European series! With 25 knots of wind that accelerated the boats downwind at speeds of 30km per hour, this was white-knuckle... [Read more]

Groupama 3 Expands Lead As They Make For The Equator

  Groupama 3 Swooshing Toward The Equator (Photo courtesy of Team Groupama) The sailing conditions were ideal this Thursday afternoon as Groupama 3 began to drop down the western side of the Cape Verde archipelago. With a 250 mile lead over the reference time, Franck Cammas and his men are now casting their minds to the best strategy to adopt once they cross the equator, which should take place on... [Read more]

Port America’s Cup Opens Saturday In Valencia, Spain

  Marina Real Juan Carlos (Photo courtesy of America's Cup) Saturday 6th February the AC Park for the 33rd America’s Cup opens to the public in the Port America’s Cup in Valencia. Between the hours of 1000hrs and 1800hrs visitors will be able to enjoy all of the magnificent facilities and activities which are on offer during the second edition of this historic sporting trophy, the oldest in... [Read more]

Groupama 3 Headed For The Doldrums

Groupama 3 (Photo courtesy of Team Groupama) The rounding of the low off the Canaries last night went well and Groupama 3 was crossing a transition zone this Wednesday afternoon in order to tackle the tradewinds off Cape Verde. With a lead of nearly half a day over the reference time, Franck Cammas and his nine crew are now aiming for a suitable point of entry to enable them to rapidly traverse the... [Read more]