By kimball | Published:
September 29, 2010
The most EXCITING sailboat race I ever saw was a match race that went like this: One boat got the best of the prestart and led up the course. At the first mark, the same boat was in front by about 50 seconds. At each subsequent mark, the same boat was ahead by 50 seconds, [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 28, 2010
It ain’t 500 million euros, but it ain’t chicken feed either. Officials working in the Mayor’s office of workforce and economic development are promising the Defenders of America’s Cup, Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing, that the city will raise $270 million in corporate sponsorship to support the event if the 2013 match [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 28, 2010
The International Sailing Federation today announced its nominees for Rolex World Sailor of the Year. I’m guessing that a couple of the names will be unfamiliar to most readers, and I note that kites and windsurfers have their day— ISAF received nominations for the 2010 Awards from across the world for sailors representing all aspects [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 19, 2010
There’s this boat that was born of a concept, not to be “just a boat” but a spark to reignite interest in building new 70-footers for the West Coast, where “70″ is magic. At that level, it didn’t quite take, but Peligroso looks good on the water, and the boat has gone on to a [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 18, 2010
Race fans, professional sailors, would-be challengers for America’s Cup, all await a venue decision on the part of the Defenders, Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing. All have been given reason to expect the nod to go to San Francisco Bay for a Cup match in 2013, unless the city drops the ball. [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 17, 2010
Usually I’m a wordy guy. Unless you’re new here, you know that. But Thursday was Race One of the Rolex Big Boat Series, and I volunteered as Race Committee but was assigned light duty, leaving me (surprise surprise) opportunity to run off a few frames. A few words from my friends at the Monterey office [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 15, 2010
Not long ago I wrote a hackneyed but accurate phrase about imagining the America’s Cup “dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.” Judging by what’s popped up on the forums since Monday’s announcement that the 34th match will be contested in 72-foot wingsailed catamarans, I had the kicking and screaming part right. The conditions [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 13, 2010
There is much to be absorbed in Monday’s announcements by the Defender and the Challenger of Record for America’s Cup 34. Beyond the anticipated headliner that 72-foot, wingsailed catamarans are the platform of choice, I note that the latest documents open up some wiggle room regarding venue. Gone is the draft language stipulating that the [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 13, 2010
Today’s press conference in Valencia surprised no one when hard-winged cats were designated as the platform for the next America’s Cup. But 2013? That scares me more than all the knee-jerk nay saying about San Francisco as a venue. Then again, could Italy be ready? Valencia is ready, but would that be transformative? Here’s my [...]
By kimball | Published:
September 12, 2010
As I write, we are only hours away from knowing whether America’s Cup 34 will be raced in monohulls or multihulls. Time to get your head on . . . You can follow the press conference live from the BMW Oracle Racing base in Valencia, right here, 1300 VLC, 0700 NYC, 0400 for hard-riding West [...]