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HOW SAN FRANCISCO GOT THE CUP (OR BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR)

Published on San Francisco Examiner (http://www.sfexaminer.com)
Home > America’s Cup deal was sweetened to bring race to San Francisco
America’s Cup deal was sweetened to bring race to San Francisco

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Into the future: The Oracle Racing team and The City negotiated a last-minute deal that was more favorable for billionaire Larry Ellison and gained him flexibility. (Getty Images file photo
Larry Ellison had more to celebrate on the evening of Dec. 31 than the coming new year. The deal his yacht racing team signed that afternoon to bring the America’s Cup race to San Francisco in 2013 was much sweeter than the one The City floated just weeks before.

In negotiations with The City that occurred after the billionaire’s team made good on a threat to begin simultaneous negotiations with Rhode Island, Oracle Racing secured several potentially lucrative concessions.

The changes included elimination of a guarantee that The City would earn a small share of the revenues from the sale of condominiums to eventually be constructed on a waterfront property south of the Bay Bridge.

The City also clarified how it will get the state to lift restrictions on the 2-acre property so it can be sold outright to Ellison’s development team. And that team now has more flexibility about what it does with the $55 million it has agreed to invest in city property.

On Dec. 14, after a host of last-minute changes, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a host-city agreement that gave the mayor wiggle room to keep negotiating as long as The City wouldn’t have to spend any extra money. Yet the approval didn’t prohibit city officials from negotiating away potential income.

Ellison’s team won the America’s Cup in February, including the power to decide where the next race would be held.

Ellison said he’d like to bring the race to San Francisco Bay, and his team spent 10 months negotiating with San Francisco over a host-city agreement.

Port of San Francisco officials wouldn’t comment on whether the dalliance with Rhode Island was used as leverage to get more from The City. However, Port Special Projects Manager Brad Benson said the team desired greater certainty of return on its investment.

The final deal also allows the team to recoup its money if it invests more than $55 million. Developers are guaranteed 66-year leases if they invest at least $10 million in Pier 28 and $15 million in Pier 26.

In exchange for these concessions, Benson said The City received a promise that the team would invest the $55 million before 2013.

City Budget Analyst Harvey Rose, who has provided several critical analyses of prior drafts of the deal, said he would not be examining the final deal unless expressly asked to do so by the new Board of Supervisors.

kworth@sfexaminer.com

How the deal changed

The America’s Cup Host City Agreement changed between the version approved by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 14 and the version finalized by the Mayor’s Office on Dec. 31. Here are some of the changes:

Reduces revenues: Deletes a provision from prior drafts that would have allowed the Port of San Francisco to earn a small share of the revenues created when condominiums on the site are sold.
Enables property transfer: Laid out The City’s duties to remove all legal restrictions on Seawall 330, so that Ellison’s Oracle Racing team can own the property free and clear, rather than having to lease it for 75 years.
Clarifies developer revenues: Creates a mechanism for The City to pay back the developer for certain improvements on the waterfront, bringing the property back under city control. Spells out and speeds up the timeline by which an infrastructure financing district — a district that would allow developers to collect local taxes for public improvements to the waterfront property they’ve developed — would be proposed.
Established rental rates: Sets rates for the long-term leases of Piers 30-32 as $4 per square foot, and of Piers 26 and 28 as $6 per square foot.

Hubbard,Bill&Will

NYYC Members Bill and Will Hubbard in Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

The Hubbards’ Dawn Star at the start of the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
Photo Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Hobart, Australia — Jan 1, 2011 — It was a bright and windy morning today when boat owners, crews, friends and family gathered on the lawn of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in warm sunshine for the official prize-giving of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2010. The race’s rich 66-year history provides for an impressive collection of race booty: intricately crafted silver trophies, hand-carved half models and unique awards.

Just finishing the race makes you a winner resonated with the father and son team aboard the US entry, Dawn Star. Keen sailors and competitors Bill and Will Hubbard – NYYC members — shared a life-long dream of sailing in a Rolex Sydney Hobart, what has become known as the world’s toughest ocean going race. The 76-year old Hubbard said of the race, “I can honestly say it was the worst race and the best race I’ve ever done—and that’s the honest to God’s truth. The second day was hell on earth. I’ve never been so unhappy and thought that I made a major error in judgment.”

Bill Hubbard, 26, said the race was, “Wet! It was a test of endurance, but we got here.” At one point during the race south, Dawn Star was hit by a freak wave and knocked down, sending two crew members overboard. “Their safety gear kept them from being lost,” admitted the younger Hubbard.

And with a twinkle in his eye, the sunburned and unshaven elder Hubbard looked back on the adventure that was the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart and said, “The fourth day was the most fantastic day on the water we’ve ever spent. The wind was perfect. The weather was perfect and in that night every star in the sky was out. It was beautiful.”

Before leaving Sydney, Bill Hubbard’s son, Will, sailed their Baltic 46 Dawn Star from San Diego last February to be in Sydney for the race. This was the first Rolex Sydney Hobart for the pair.

The American sailing duo has always wanted to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Bill said, “There are a couple of reasons. My grandfather was Australian, and we have a number of relatives here. Over the last 10 years we’ve competed in a number of world-class races, including the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge and the Newport Bermuda Race, and have done well. The Rolex Sydney Hobart was a natural, and we thought we must add this race. It’s one of the premier, if not the premier, rough ocean passage races of the circuit. We thought, what the heck, let’s do it.”

The father and son team won the St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy in the 2006 Bermuda Race in their previous Lively Lady II.

LITTLE RHODY

‘WE GOT PLAYED’ – THE SAGA OF LITTLE RHODY
By Herb McCormick, yachting journalist
Here in Rhode Island, like last year, and the one before that, it’s been an exceptionally crummy year. In his Saturday column for the Providence Journal, the state’s biggest paper, sportswriter Bill Reynolds summed it up thusly: “Let’s see: high unemployment (about 12% and climbing), the Central Falls school disaster, everyone talking about moving to North Carolina, fear and loathing everywhere you go in R.I. Slink out the door, 2010.”

I grew up here, in Newport, and my dad’s longtime bookie, Nickie C at the old Cliff Walk Manor, would’ve wished the year farewell in similar fashion with his favorite expression: “Don’t let the screen door hit you in the ass on the way out.”

So when the news came down late on New Year’s Eve that the America’s Cup had been awarded to San Francisco after an 11th hour bid by the state to lure it to Newport, it seemed like the inevitable capper to a crappy year. As I watched the new flash on the tube a single word leapt to mind: “Perfect.”

A more accurate analysis was put forth in the “comments” section of the online story in the next morning’s ProJo. It was the first in a long string of like-minded assessments from folks who don’t happen to live by the water and who saw through the sham from the outset. I can’t remember if it was Vinnie from Cranston or Paulie from Pawtucket or Rocco from Woonsocket but it doesn’t really matter. Vinnie or Rocco or whoever it was absolutely nailed it: “We got played.”

Yo, Vinnie. Truth, brother.

Over the holidays I watched an old Charlie Brown Christmas special with my daughter. I love the fact that the “adults” never actually speak…you know they’re saying something by the single, repeated, droning note of an oboe or something: “Wah, wah, wah…”

A lot of good people put a lot of effort into trying to bring the Cup “home,” and though I tried to tell everyone who brought it up that there was an EXTREMELY strong possibility that we were being used as a negotiating tool for the ongoing talks in San Fran (not to mention the fact that finding the money that was being bandied about in a state on the brink of insolvement was going to be, um, tricky), optimism was high. There is little hope in RI at the moment (ironically, “Hope” is the state’s motto), and the possibility of a flood of jobs and tourists and development was strong ju-ju. Like, man, we needed this. Bad.

And in the aftermath of the decision, a lot of politicians and an Oracle spokesman were quoted about how close we’d come, and how cool that was, and what little doucats we might get tossed our way if this or that might happen down the road. But it all sounded like a lecture to Linus to me: “Wah, wah, wah, wah, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.” Noise. More noise. Endless noise.

Anyway, congratulations San Francisco. You’ll put on a hell of a regatta in the prettiest city on the planet. Honestly, when we first heard that the Cup was coming to Northern California, we were overjoyed.

Then, suddenly and dramatically, we were part of the discussion, and we allowed ourselves the luxury of dreaming, hoping against hope we weren’t in the crossfires of shysters and soundbites.

But here in hapless Little Rhody, the song remains the same. We got played.

sail on

At a time of the year when we pause to give thanks for what we have; think also of those who do not.
BILL LANGAN, YACHT DESIGNER

Michael William (Bill) Langan, age 55, died peacefully on December 31 at the Dana-Farber/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Just two months ago, Bill was honored with the prestigious Leadership Award by the International Superyacht Society (ISS), recognized by his peers for his outstanding contributions to the standards, prestige and character of the luxury yachting industry.
Although he was unable to travel to accept the award in person, he was deeply moved by this tribute.

Born in Greenwich, Connecticut on June 9, 1955 to Dr. Michael Joseph and Kathleen Holman Langan, Bill competed in most of the major ocean sailing races around the world. Starting in the sport on Long Island Sound at age 10, he was proud to have participated in 20 consecutive Newport Bermuda Races, his first at age 15, and to eventually serve as the race’s Technical Director.

Bill graduated from Greenwich High School and Webb Institute with a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Following a student internship at Sparkman & Stephens, the New York-based yacht design and brokerage firm, he joined the design department there in 1978 as Chief Draftsman. Two years later, Olin Stephens named him Chief Designer, the position Olin himself held for 50 years.

Bill’s early work with S & S included project management of the 12-meter yacht Freedom that won the America’s Cup race of 1980. In preparation for the 1987 America’s Cup challenge, Bill was chosen as designer for the America II campaign sponsored by the New York Yacht Club. 1987 marked the last time 12-meter yachts would compete in the America’s Cup, and with that change Bill decided to concentrate the firm’s business on luxury sailing yachts over 75 feet. Over the course of 20 years with S & S, Bill was responsible for over 300 individual designs.

In 1994, Bill participated in the expedition, headed by former US Secretary of the Treasury William Simon, that navigated the icy conditions of the Northwest Passage from Alaska to Greenland. Bill redesigned, refitted and strengthened Simon’s yacht, the 175-foot Itasca, to make Simon’s dream journey a reality.

In 1998, Bill fulfilled his own dream to found Langan Design Associates, Inc. of Newport, Rhode Island, and settled his family in Jamestown. With Bill at the helm, his firm completed over 40 designs, each unique, but all of them timeless in style, with attention to craftsmanship, advanced technology, and seaworthiness. His design vision was well received starting with his first design, the 130-foot ketch Victoria of Strathearn, that won design awards from both ShowBoats International and the ISS. Later designs include Eos, a 305-foot 3-masted schooner, the largest private sailing yacht in the world to date. Bill encouraged his wife to start her own firm, Candace Langan Interior Decoration, specializing in yacht interiors. Their most recent collaboration, Calliope, a 42-meter motor yacht, is featured in the December issue of Yacht International.

Bill was a member of Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown, New York Yacht Club, and the Storm Trysail Club. He served as Chairman of the Cruising Club of America Technical Committee for over 12 years.

Bill was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Candace Register Langan, and two children, Tom and Annie of Jamestown, RI, his parents of Greenwich, CT, six siblings and their spouses: Meg Moore (John) of Reston, VA, Ellen Langan (Steve Krafchick) of Seattle, WA, Katie Langan Santee (Kevin) of Mamaroneck, NY, Betsy Dell (Roger) of Roseville, CA, Bob Langan (Margot) of Portland, OR, and Stephen Langan (Kathy) of Bedford, NH; his mother-in-law Anne Mickle Register of Chestertown, MD, brothers-in-law Croft Register (Pam) and Fred Register (Connie), and sixteen nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 8 at 2 pm at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, where Bill and his family are members. Following the church service, there will be a reception at the Conanicut Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be given in Bill’s name to
The Jimmy Fund, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.

34th AMERICA’S CUP SAN FRANCISCO PROMO

IT’S SAN FRANCISCO

The announcement came a short time ago from the Golden Gate Yacht Club; San Francisco will host the next America’s Cup.

Wishing one and all a safe, happy and healthy new year

America’s Cup organizers confirm San Francisco has won bid for race

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pastedGraphic.pdf San Francisco has won the hard-fought bid to host sailing’s most prestigious race, the America’s Cup, the yacht race organizers have announced. (Getty Images file photo)

San Francisco has won the hard-fought bid to host sailing’s most prestigious race, the America’s Cup, the yacht race organizers have announced.

The announcement that San Francisco ‘s proposal topped other interested locations, such as Rhode Island and Italy, came after months of negotiations that included debates over tax breaks, land rights and the future development of San Francisco’s piers.

Billionaire Larry Ellison’s team, BMW-Oracle Racing which is based at the Golden Gate Yacht Club, won the last America’s Cup race in February. With the cup came the right to determine all of the specifics for the next race, expected to be held in 2013, including the location.

Though race organizers had been in discussions recently with Rhode Island over an alternate, it became increasingly clear in recent days that San Francisco would win the opportunity to host, as Rhode Island officials said they would not be able to endorse a bid in time for the team’s self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline.

The race could draw hundreds of thousands of people to the Bay Area to watch the international race, which lays claim to the oldest trophy in modern sports. Some economic analyses have estimated the race could bring the Bay Area over $1 billion in tourism and team-related money.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose staff worked through the winter holidays to negotiate the final details of the bid, said the selection represents a “tremendous opportunity to showcase sailing in the magnificent amphitheater of San Francisco Bay.”

“The selection of San Francisco today to host the 34^th America’s Cup marks the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for our city and for the sport of sailing,” he said in an emailed statement.

Though sources close to the negotiations had confirmed to the San Francisco Examiner that the bid was a done deal early in the day, America’s Cup officials waited until late afternoon on New Years Eve to break the news officially.

“We sought a venue that fulfills our promise – to showcase the best sailors in the world competing on the fastest boats,” said Richard Worth, Chairman of America’s Cup Event Authority in an emailed statement. “And hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise.“

The deal to bring the cup to San Francisco will likely make Ellison an even richer man, as The City has offered his team long-term development rights to acres of waterfront property, in exchange for bringing the race to the San Francisco Bay. Though Ellision’s team must make an initial investment into the waterfront, The City will pay that investment back in the form of free rent for decades.

San Francisco has also offered Ellison millions in city services to support the 2013 race.

kworth@sfexaminer.com

ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS

the following are a quote from an interview with Juan kouyoumadjian:

When asked for a snapshot of grand prix sailing at this moment, Juan’s answer is characteristically blunt. “There is a very evident discord at the top and people are very clearly at extremes, and people caught in the middle are, very clearly, not happy,” he said. “The Cup has become very marketing-driven as one of the absolute pinnacle events, and the other pinnacle event, the Olympics, is also under pressure – the decisions being taken are extraordinary.”

His view of the future is also less than sanguine. “I cannot foresee anything healthy at the top of the game. There is a very real danger of routes open for the very top professional sailors like Torben Grael, Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy, Robert Scheidt, a whole generation of top sailors, closing down as the professional world of sailing becomes more and more detached.

We have written about this disconnect in earlier posts. I believe that many in the sailing community sense it but don’t know what to do or where it goes from here. Does anyone have any thoughts?

DEADLINE LOOMING

Newport still craving the America’s Cup. However have just announced that they are not ready to meet the deadline of December 31, 2010

What are the REAL numbers for economic impact of the America’s Cup on a city? Valencia built a waterfront/America’s Cup venue that should be the envy of the sailing world. Where are they now?

America’s Cup campaigns have exhibited a feeling that nothing can ever be good enough. I can remember a time when a crew shirt was about all you got when sailing on an America’s Cup boat.

San Francisco presented a very thorough study and Alameda has indicated that the city is ready willing and able to help San Francisco in it’s effort to secure the races.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Newport estimates impact of hosting 2013 America’s Cup at $1.1 billion

By William Hamilton

PBN Staff Writer

Twitter: @waham

?(Updated, 3:30 p.m.)

NEWPORT – A new study estimates the impact of hosting the 2013 America’s Cup finals to be $1.1 billion for Rhode Island, with the international event spurring the creation of 7,867 jobs.

The study, commissioned by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and released Wednesday, paints a picture of an America’s Cup event that could have far-reaching effects on the region, with racing syndicates, super yachts and wealthy tourists descending on the Ocean State.

The 17-page report, assembled by Providence-based accounting firm Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co. Ltd, projects that every hotel room within a 50-mile radius of Newport would be rented leading up to the finals.

Sailing spectators would visit other local tourist destinations during the down times between races, the report said.

“It is not unreasonable to expect visitors to drive over to Point Judith or Narragansett, visit the vineyards, or even run into the Providence Place mall for some shopping and finish with dinner on Atwells Avenue,” it said.

The 7,867 new jobs would be distributed among several sectors, including lodging, restaurant, retail, transportation and entertainment, the study said.

America’s Cup organizers are considering holding the 2013 races in Newport as negotiations with the San Francisco leaders have sputtered. Race officials have said they want to announce the race site by Friday.

Following the release of the report Wednesday, Gov.-elect Lincoln D. Chafee said in a statement that the America’s Cup would a “tremendous shot in the arm” and that he had been communicating with race officials and the R.I. Economic Development Corporation through the holiday weekend.

But he added that he wanted to see cost estimates and “other appropriate diligence” before developing a position and course of action.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday officials in that city feel more confident that San Francisco is back in serious contention as the race site.

Sailing’s most prestigious race was last contested in Newport in 1983 when the New York Yacht Club lost the Cup to an Australian syndicate, ending a streak of victories dating back to 1851.

In developing its economic estimates, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co. said it only considered the three-month period surrounding the race finals, not the series of regattas that will be held ahead of the main event.

The report estimated the economic impact from direct race participants – the teams, sponsors, super yachts and race management – to be $499.7 million and $849.3 million factoring in a “multiplier effect.”

The impact from tourism is projected to be $122.1 million and $225.1 million when considering a multiplier effect.

The races would boost Rhode Island’s tax revenues by an estimated $18.9 million.

But the event would also require improvements at Fort Adams State Park, which organizers would like to use as a hub for race activities. The historic fort overlooks the East Passage of Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.

The study said the work would cost the state $33.2 million – $23.2 million for renovations in the fort and another $10 million for work along the waterfront outside the fort, including dock installation.

“These are improvements that have a long-term benefit, as an improved state park will likely attract other events in the future,” the report said. “However, the dollars need to be spent now.”

The EDC has hired a design and engineering team that includes the Louis Berger Group, Newport Collaborative Architects Inc. and Gates, Leighton & Associates to develop plans and cost estimates.

EDC Executive Director Keith Stokes has acknowledged that complete cost estimates and identification of funding sources won’t be ready before the Friday deadline, but he hoped race organizers would give Newport a conditional approval.

REDEMPTION

Wild Oats are confirmed first to finish. The rest of the fleet is facing milder weather (slower)

Wild Oats XI’s line honours victory confirmed

Race committee protests against her and Ran are thrown out

Wednesday December 29th 2010, Author: James Boyd, Location: Australia

“We’re back and we’re just very happy to be here,” said Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards after the news that a race committee protest had been dismissed and that the 30.48m supermaxi owned by Bob Oatley could be officially declared line honours winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

20 hours had passed since she crossed the finish line at 8.37pm on Tuesday to an understandably subdued reception on the Hobart waterfront. This afternoon, when she could be declared the line honours winner and receive the JH Illingworth Trophy and a Rolex Yacht-Master watch, the mood was upbeat.

The delayed recognition extends the mortgage that the 30.48 metre Reichel Pugh design has on this race:
– five line honours wins in six years;
– the most consecutive line honours wins; and
– the 2005 triple crown of line honours, the overall win and the race record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.

The champion supermaxi has only been beaten once across the line in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, by Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo last year.

“It’s a big deal, a lot of effort goes into the race, the result is a good one and we’re very happy,” skipper Mark Richards said.

Although he had always been confident he had fully complied with the rules, Richards conceded that he was a very relieved man when the final verdict was announced.

“I’m very relieved,” he said after this afternoon’s trophy presentation. “Protests are never a good thing, especially from the race committee. They had reasons to do what they did but fortunately we’d done our homework, ticked off all the boxes and got out of trouble.

“Juries are very good at making you sweat and they made us sweat today, but commonsense prevailed and the right result was made. It’s a big deal, we had a sleepless night, probably less leading into this than in Bass Strait.

“Two good things came out of this, race officials are very serious about safety and the back-up plans that are in place are working,” Richards added.

90 minutes earlier, after the international jury had dismissed the race committee’s protest against her and a similar one against Niklas Zennström’s Ràn, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Garry Linacre said justice had been done. “It was the right decision. We’ll now sit down at some stage and have a good look at the rule book and see what changes need to be made to the wording in relation to the use of HF (High Frequency) radio.

“That’s not to say safety of crews, and the ability of one yachtie to go to the aid of another yachtie in distress, will not always be paramount in the eyes of the race committee. The safety of all boats and competitors remains a top priority. In this case the chair of the race committee felt that the two boats involved had not complied with the race rules and opted for the use of satellite phones.

“The race organisation maintains that HF radio is still to be used as a primary function of communicating between boats and officials until such time as new technology comes along. But there is also a place for satellite phones,” Linacre said.

Wild Oats XI was in danger of becoming the fourth boat to have been first across the line but to have been successfully protested – Jock Muir’s Wild Wave in 1953, Marvin Green’s Nirvana in 1983 and Lawrie Smith’s Rothmans in 1990.

more withdrawals, race committee protests

jim mcCurdy767 — Ragamuffin in Cowes 1969

Wild Oats and Ran to be protested

Rolex Sydney Hobart race committee bring proceedings

Tuesday December 28th 2010, Author: Di Pearson, Location: Australia

The Race Committee of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, announced that they have lodged two protests; one against Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI and one against Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán.

Tim Cox AM RANR, Chairman of the Race Committee explained that both yachts had breached Rules 44.1 (a) and 44.2 of the Sailing Instructions which relate to ‘Mandatory Reporting from Green Cape’ via HF radio.

“The Race Committee met this morning and we lodged a protest against Wild Oats XI and Ran for not complying with Rule 44.1 (a) and Rule 44.2,” Cox said this afternoon. “Both have reported only by telephone, which does not comply, so the protests were lodged at 5.05pm today.”

“We broadcast the protests to the Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet at 5.00pm and advised David Kellett on the Radio Relay Vessel to advise the two boats of the protest against each one.”

Questioned whether protesting was a harsh measure, Cox said the rules had been put in place because of the fatal 1998 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and that it was a matter of safety. “This is a fundamental safety issue,” he said. “Should a situation occur, we cannot organise search and rescue operations via telephones. I consider this a serious breach,” he said.

Cox said the protests had been set down for 1.00pm on Wednesday 29th December and would be heard by the International Jury at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.