One cannot visit Asheville, North Carolina and not go to visit the Biltmore. The house itself was pretty much what we expected to see. However the gardens and the care they receive is extraordinary. I will add that the care that is taken in the details is as fine as I have seen anywhere.
On a beautiful day on which Oracle Team USA sailed its two AC72 boats together for a full day for the first time, storm clouds continued to lurk over the America’s Cup rules negotiations Wednesday.
With the four teams unable to reach an agreement while working with two mediators over a couple of thorny issues, Emirates Team New Zealand was preparing to file a protest to the five-member America’s Cup jury.
Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said he will file for a jury verdict. A Luna Rossa spokesman, Francesco Longanesi-Cattani, said his team would file a protest, too.
“What’s happening is just short of a scandal,” Longanesi-Cattani said.
The jury, however, won’t arrive until Wednesday, just four days before the Louis VuittonCup challenger round-robin begins July 7.
According to Dalton, regatta director Iain Murray has overstepped his bounds in implementing rules changes as part of his 37 safety recommendations following the fatal capsize by Artemis Racing on May 9.
“He’s done a really good job, but he’s gotten himself – welcome to America – in a liability scenario,” Dalton said. “He’s worried that he’ll get into a liability scenario (in case of another accident) with his recommendations.”
The key issue is the size of the elevators, the lateral pieces that attach to the rudders and help lift the boats out of the water. New Zealand and Luna Rossa prefer smaller elevators in accordance with existing Cup rules; Oracle and Murray prefer larger, heavier elevators that they say would help keep a boat from capsizing.
“We think he’s gone further than he needed to go,” Dalton said.
Murray acknowledged he was concerned about liability but said his main concern was not to give an advantage to any one side.
If the jury supports Murray’s recommendations, Dalton said he wouldn’t take it to court. By the terms of the America’s Cup protocol, doing so would disqualify any team. He might win in court, but such a ruling might take 10 months.
Another issue still to be decided is over Murray’s recommendation that 100 kilograms be added to the structure of the boats to promote stability. The teams disagree over where the extra weight should be applied, so as not to give one side an advantage.
Oracle Team USA CEO Russell Coutts downplayed the 11th-hour maneuvering. “I’ve never seen a rules issue decide the outcome of a (Cup) race,” he said, and he’s been involved in Cup sailing since 1993.
“These guys love to sit around, argue about minutia,” he said. “They’re not doing it for safety reasons. They want to try to force us to spend a week rebuilding the rudders in the boat shed. That’s the only reason they’re doing it.”
The first evening we were treated to the fireflies on a lawn in Luray.The following day started with the guided tour of the luray caverns an extraordinary event. I had no idea it was there. If ever you have the opportunity I encourage the detour. A second long day of driving, as we headed for skyline drive (shenandoah national park) for part of the trip to Asheville, NC. Stopping for ice cream at the pink cadillac. Both days driving at 2:30 pm we had thunderstorms with torrential rain, only lasting 1/2 hour each time, enough to merit pulling to the side of the road until it passed. We have not made much westing on our trip to California yet.
We left Newport this morning having driven to luray Virginia. Perhaps tomorrow the famous caverns, then the skyline drive on the Blue Ridge Mountains as far as Ashville, NC. to finish day 2.
This is going to be a landlocked tour of the United States. Our route is rather indirect and we intend to land in Los Angeles, Ca., before Felix’s 2nd birthday.
SAN FRANCISCO – Two weeks before the launch of the first America’s Cup race, competitors continue to quarrel about new safety rules put forth in the wake of last month’s training fatality.
The primary stalemate involves changes to the overall weight and rudder dimensions – so-called “class rules” — of the turbo-charged multihull AC72s, which when foiling can reach speeds of nearly 50 mph.
“It’s just frustrating when you’re literally thirteen days away from starting the first race and you could be forced to actually make changes to the equipment, which if you are making design-related decisions should have happened a year ago,” said Dean Barker, skipper for Emirates Team New Zealand, in an interview with USA Today Sports on Thursday.
Team New Zealand is one of three boats competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup, a series of races to determine who will face off against the defender, Team Oracle USA, in September. The other two challengers are Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge and Swedish-based Artemis Racing.
The four teams have agreed to most of the 37 recommendations issued following the training death of British Olympian Andrew Simpson. The Artemis crew member apparently drowned when the team’s AC72 nose-dived and broke up, trapping him underneath.
But two members of an international jury brought into San Francisco last week to resolve the impasse were unable to reach a consensus on every issue.
“I want to thank the mediators for their work, as the process was beneficial,” Regatta Director Iain Murray said in a statement Saturday. “It was useful to hear the teams’ perspective on safety from a competitive viewpoint. But as Regatta Director, I have a clear task. For me, safety means safety for everyone. Full stop. I stand behind all of the original recommendations to increase safety for all of our sailors this summer.”
Time is short. And with the first race to set to begin July 7, pressure is mounting.
Acceptance of the recommendations is essential to obtain a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has ultimate authority in San Francisco Bay. Without a permit, the races cannot take place.
Organizers said the permit should be issued next week, but if teams still have problems with the language of the changes, they can appeal to a full five-person jury, which has final dispute-resolution power.
Small design changes can have a significant effect on performance.
While the Cup defender sets boat design guidelines, room remains for modifications. Tweaks to weight and aerodynamics in races that last less than 30 minutes can spell victory or defeat.
The changes to the original race protocol call for increased weight of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and alterations to the rudder.
According to Team New Zealand’s Barker, a veteran of several America’s Cup races during the past two decades, the latest suggestions “aren’t necessarily purely safety related.”
“We’ve designed our boat according to what the class rule was,” he explained. “We made compromises in our design decisions. We provided a boat that was safer but maybe not faster across a wide array of conditions. We don’t feel that it’s right that we should pay a penalty for making those decisions when we did.”
Tom Ehman, vice commodore for the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the holder of the Cup, said in a phone interview he was “cautiously optimistic” the issues would be wrapped up in time.
“It’s horse trading,” Ehman said. “It’s like trying to pass a bill through Congress.”
Meantime, the teams from New Zealand, Luna Rossa and Oracle have been out on the bay honing their boats and sharpening their crews.
Artemis, which considered pulling out of the regatta, has been training in smaller 45-foot catamarans while their second AC72 is being readied for a return to the water.
A spokesman for Luna Rossa declined to comment on its preparations pending the outcome of the mediation. Artemis did not immediately respond to questions emailed Friday.
Promised to showcase sailing for the “the Facebook generation, not the Flintstones generation,” according Team Oracle billionaire owner Larry Ellison, the 34th edition of the oldest major international sporting event has been beset by financial woes, safety concerns and last-minute format changes.
The prohibitive costs of the technically demanding multihull AC72s with their 13-story sails have raised concerns about the risks and left a much smaller field than was originally expected. At the last full America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, six years ago there were 11 challengers.
Oracle Team chief executive Russell Coutts said in an interview last week that to ensure success future Cups would need smaller boats and lower costs.
“That’s pretty much unanimous,” Coutts said. “Everyone sees that now.”
More immediately, the teams need to see eye to eye.
I think there is a book here. Ken speaks so well, he makes you feel he is speaking to you not just the crowd.
Ken Read: “The Volvo Ocean Race is my life”
Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race
By Agathe Armand
The 2011-12 edition was the closest in our 40-year history but according to Ken Read the next one will be even tighter – and even more demanding for the sailors involved. The former PUMA skipper, now president of North Sails, is (almost) certain he’ll be watching from the shore this time but when your emotional bond with a race runs as deep as his, it’s best not to rule it out.
Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race Marc Bow/Volvo Ocean Race PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race
“I still think like the race is my life. Whether it feels every minute of my day or not, I still think like it’s a big part of my life” – Ken Read
After two editions at the head of PUMA Ocean Racing, you’re now President of North Sails. How would you rate this new challenge against a Volvo Ocean Race campaign?
“It’s a big Volvo project! North Sails worldwide has 1,600 employees so it’s a reasonable size company. And I think that’s why they want me to do what I do.
“It’s managing people, it’s managing projects, it’s managing problems, it’s creating solutions, it’s surrounding yourself with good people… It’s really no different!”
North Sails is the official sailmaker of the new Volvo Ocean 65. What about the production itself?
“These sails will have to do two things: they have to be very fast, and they have to be incredibly durable. We think we have the 3Di moulding process for a very fast and very durable product. And we will do all of them at the same time before to move the mould.
“We could make Dacron sails if we wanted to, it would last around the world. But it wouldn’t have that high speed and high technology look and feel that the Volvo has to maintain. With the cost cutting procedures that are in place, including substantial cuts in the amount of sails to be used around the world, it’s on us to put our money where our mouth is to make sure that these sails last. And it’s a challenge!
“The race goes across the Equator four times, that’s a lot of exposure to brutal sunlight. And down south where the ozone layer is very fine, these sails get beat up not only by the people and by the water and by the wind but also by the rays.”
How do you look at the 2014-15 edition then, and what are your thoughts on One Design?”
“It’s a completely different animal this time around. I don’t think the One Design had any reflection as to my decision to do another one or not. My decision was more based on where I am in my career and the opportunity I had with North Sails. If this North Sails opportunity wasn’t there, would I still dig into another Volvo? Possibly. But it was the right call at the time, I think.
“I’m very curious to see what the One Design will bring to the race. What are the strategies going to be like? I think these boats are going to sail around right next to each other all the time! With our customised Volvo Open 70, it was incredible how we sailed around right next to each other. It’s all going to be much closer this time. There will be more pressure, less sleep, it’s going to make this race harder I can guarantee that.”
I’ve got to ask you the Newport question – you must be delighted to see the race stops in your hometown in 2015!
“It’s great. First of all I think it’s a wonderful solution for a North America stopover. And I’ve always been a big fan of the Volvo Ocean Race being a big fish in a small pond, so to speak. The mid-size cities are the ones with the most success as stopovers.
“I think Newport is going to fit the bill of this town/city, which is just big enough to give this race international exposure, and small enough so that the race will be the biggest fish.
“And the sailing heritage, and the facilities that they are going to put together… It’s going to be a great set-up and I only expect wonderful things from it. Plus my brother Brad is one of the stopover organisers!”
In 2011-12 you said it would be your last Volvo. Is that your final word?
“I’m obviously passionate about the race and addicted to it. I made a transition from being a round-the-buoys guy to being an offshore sailor and I love it! It would be a shame not to use what I learnt for the past six or seven years, and continue to learn. I wouldn’t say it’s the last you’ve seen of me in a Volvo race but I’m pretty sure it’s the last you’ve seen of me running a Volvo team.”
So we might see you again, and not only in Newport?
“I talked with Ian Walker couple of weeks ago about his project (Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing). I’m not bashful in saying that if somebody get nicked up or hurt or if they need somebody to come in and sail a leg or two, I’d love to do that.
“It’s just great talking about the Volvo Ocean Race. It’s still clearly my passion. I cannot even tell you how many speeches I’ve done about the race since it’s over and I love doing them because it brings out emotions. I still think like it’s my life. Whether it fills every minute of my day or not, I still think like it’s a big part of my life.”
It seems that almost every other day I post about the America’s Cup events in San Francisco. Not about the sailing, rather the events surrounding the sailing. Some people have remarked to me that they do not believe that the America’s Cup will take place. I have trouble believing that it will not take place. All the interested parties are to deeply invested. Should it arrive there, the lawsuits would likely go on for years.
Here is the official Coast Guard report concerning the capsize incident of artemis and death of Andrew Simpson.
Remember, the Coast Guard has yet to issue the necessary permits for the America’s Cup to take place. A critical piece of the puzzle.
For anyone wanting to see the boats racing, one must find a way to see past all of the maneuvering leading up to the actual events.
CORONET UPDATE: FRAMED
BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK 2013 starts this weekend. It is always a very pleasant event. Block Island is a quiet beautiful island, with the exception of the event tent, where one can go if they want to make noise.
I have added the interpretation of rule 55, I suspect this was an unintended consequence, but there it is.
