TEAMORIGIN TP52 FASTEST MONOHULL ROUND THE ISLAND 25 Jun 2011

TEAMORIGIN's TP52 hit the water today with Sir Keith Mills and Iain Percy in charge - and were the quickest monohull around in 4 hrs, 43 minutes and 1 second!

 JP MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT ROUND THE ISLAND RACE

REPORT FROM PETA STUART HUNT FROM EVENT WEB SITE : 

Under leaden skies, the former Jules Verne Trophy winner, Lionel Lemonchois, masterminded lumpy seas, gusts up to force seven and waves of approximately 20 foot around the iconic Needles, to cross the line in three hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds - just under 42 minutes outside Francis Joyon's 2001 best. 

Difficult conditions forced a number of early retirements among the record entry of 1,908 boats with Olympic champions Ben Ainslie, Paul Goodison and Shirley Robertson and round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur among the estimated 16,000 competitors.

TEAMORIGIN, Britain's ISAF match racing world champions and America's Cup team, were the quickest monohull around the 55-mile course, clocking four hours, 43 minutes and one second despite ripping a gaping hole in their mainsail.

Olympic gold medallists Iain Percy and Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson joined team principal Sir Keith Mills, the London 2012 deputy chairman, but despite the experience onboard it was still a tough day on the water.

Ex TEAMORIGIN Skipper and Three-time Olympic champion Ainslie, swapped his single-handed dinghy to skipper the Ker 40ft Keronimo, tussled with Olympic team-mate Percy on the starting line but came off second best.

“I have been round the Island many, many times but this one really takes the biscuit, it was amazing but also quite hairy at times," said Sir Keith.

"I think we touched 25 knots of boat speed at one point and that’s very pleasing in a sea state that was challenging, I mean we buried it a couple of times, broached a couple of times.

"It’s really refreshing to be the first monohull across the line especially after a little bit of a fracas with Ben Ainslie on the start line.

"He tried to pull a fast one on his old mate Iain Percy but Iain wasn’t having any of it and we didn’t let him jump in front of us. I think he thought we’d do him a favour but he was wrong."

AMERICA’S CUP RACING TO COME TO PLYMOUTH 02 Apr 2011

America's Cup racing coming to the UK

Full story from The Daily Sail:

Despite not having its own team – and it has been confirmed that none of five anonymous AC34 challenges is from the UK - Britain is to host one of the first America’s Cup World Series events, due to take place in Plymouth over 10-18 September this year. Had we known this 24 hours ago we would have discarded the news as an April Fool, for while we don’t wish to knock it, Plymouth is not Porto Fino and we had trouble equating the venue with an event which has as one of the principle sponsors a luxury brand like Louis Vuitton. While it is certainly picturesque, ‘glamorous’ is not a word synonymous with the West Country’s most historic and largest port after it was decimated by the Luftwaffe and little improved by 1950s city council planners.

But this is decidedly not an April Fool and after several hours of gestation on our part, the America’s Cup coming to Plymouth does make sense and neither side - not the America’s Cup Event Authority nor Plymouth City Council - has been hoodwinked. This is a smart deal.

In retrospect Valencia’s Darsena and the surrounding neighbourhood was about as downtrodden as it comes around the time it was announced as the venue for the 32nd America’s Cup. In many ways the reasons Plymouth has signed up to stage the America’s Cup World Series Plymouth is for the exact same reasons as Valencia: Aside from wanting to make money out of the event, Plymouth is keen to put itself on the map, not just in the UK but internationally, and in odd juxtaposition to the cuts going on throughout every area of the British economy, Plymouth seems to have an ambitious forward-thinking council who are prepared to take a gamble on hosting an event like this.

But is it such a gamble? Anthony Payne, the Acting Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council spelled out the financial case: “We didn’t take this decision lightly. To give you some flavour of the direct, immediate economic impact on this: We know that without even a single visitor coming into Plymouth that it will be a big deal for the local economy. With the teams that will be coming – the whole teams and their back-up teams, 700 people staying in Plymouth for 20 days or over £1.2 million of direct impact. And that is not including the direct spend of all these people – restaurants, etc. We believe that just with the 700 core teams, there will be a direct impact of over £2,000,000 on the city’s economy in that month of September.”

Payne continued that if you then factor in the media, VIPs, the superyachts that tend to follow Cup events around and then add the day visitors from the local vicinity, those coming for longer from across the whole of the UK, then Europe and possibly the world “we can’t guess what the impact will be. But the guys at the America’s Cup have done an economic impact assessment which shows massive returns for host cities. Even if we meet only 20% of that return we estimate that for the month that this is going to happen in the city, there will be a £10 million direct economic impact – that is why we have agreed to go with this.”

But in addition the America’s Cup World Series coming to Plymouth – one of the biggest events the city will have ever staged, alongside its popular annual fireworks festival - the event satisfies many of the West Country city’s marketing objectives. At present Plymouth is striving to establish itself as 'ambitious waterfront Europe city'. In addition, due to its immense naval heritage, they are keen to develop their marine sector.

Thanks to the will of the Council the deal has come together impressively quickly. Although tentative enquiries were made at the beginning of the year, the bulk of the deal was done through hard work, perseverance and the burning of the midnight oil, in a little over a week.

The event will see the return of racing yachts to Millbay Docks, famously where boats once upon a time were moored prior to the start of the Royal Western Yacht Club’s shorthanded races (and the finish of the Fastnet Race) prior to Queen Anne’s Battery being opened and the RWYC’s clubhouse moving there.

Today, some 25 years on, Millbay Dock is known only as the place from where you take the ferry to Roscoff. The dock remains as dilapidated as it was then, but all this is to change (although not before September) as, significantly, it has been deemed a ‘redevelopment area’.

As Payne states: “We almost have a blank canvas there, where we can turn it into a village for this event. Working with English Cities Fund we have been able to, in a very short time, get the license to be able to use that as a village to host this event. Without the work of English Cities Fund and the Homes and Communities Agency over this week to make that happen, we wouldn’t be able to host this event.”

Not that it is relevant for catamarans, but last year the Council managed to raise the funds to get Millbay Dock dredged, with the long term aim of having a new marina there.

So if staging this event is a ‘no brainer’ for the city on so many levels, why did the America’s Cup Event Authority agree to go there? “Why Plymouth? There are 100s of cities around the world that could do this?” pondered ACEA Chairman Richard Worth. “Actually it is fair to say there aren’t that many that are better to fulfil the criteria that we need. In one sense it is a perfect venue, because it is a maritime city that understands the sports of sailing. That is key. If you look out of the window [we are on the penthouse floor of Plymouth’s Holiday inn at the time] it has the best sailing stadium you can imagine anywhere in the world. You can stand on the shore as a spectator and see everything. You would be able to see the whole race course and the boats won’t disappear out to sea.”

Plymouth is certainly one of the UK’s best ‘stadium sailing’ venues, a natural amphitheatre for watersports events, where you can stand on The Hoe - just as Sir Francis Drake famously did back in 1588 when he spied the arrival of the Spanish Armada – and hold a commanding view of all of Plymouth Sound. Worth compared it with San Francisco which offers much the same possibilities for racing taking place on the Bay there.

Worth explained that one of the main objectives of the new-look America’s Cup is to bring sailing to the masses, the choice of venue being one key element, the new genre of wingsail catamaran being another.

This was spelled out by James Spithill who joined the press conference via Skype videocall from New Zealand: “In the past it has been frustrating that we haven’t been able to show different markets and different venues the America’s Cup. Now with this new format we get to showcase that in boats that are the latest technology. The America’s Cup has been branded the F1 of sailing and these boats are very much that in terms of technology, engineering, design, etc. We can take the whole package around to a global audience so that by the time we get to San Francisco in 2013 it will be one of the biggest sporting events in the whole world.”

The format of the World Series events has been modified slightly. Covering two weekends, the first will be fleet racing, while during the week there will be a match racing series culminating in a final on the second Saturday, rounding the event off with a final fleet race on the last Sunday.

In terms of reaching a new audience, another attraction for ACEA is that the event coincides with the University of Plymouth’s graduation events taking place in marquees on Plymouth Hoe – which will also be used by the event.

“Yacht racing has been traditionally a sport for the wealthy and for older spectators,” said Wendy Purcell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, causing some spluttering from my colleagues. “We hope to bring a new audience too that will add to the vibrancy of the event and most importantly make it more inclusive. The University is a major player in New Plymouth, exactly the demographic that will add to the Cup’s wider appeal.”

We were keen to find out what were the priorities ACEA were seeking in prospective venues for the World Series. According to Worth there are four or five things that “aren’t mutually exclusive or inclusive”: “Clearly finance is one – it has to be able to pay for itself. You have to be able to find a venue that is spectacular. And we have ticked that box here. You have to think about the weather clearly. Then there are market issues - one of the great things about being in Plymouth that is Plymouth is now going to represent not only the UK but northern Europe. So it is cash, weather, the ability to stage the event at all, market strength - all those things can be balanced to say it is okay to be in that place.”

Three events in 2011 is less than the five we expected and according to Worth before October this year they will announce the venues for what he expects will be the four or five America’s Cup World Series events in 2012. “The discussions to stage an event are not straightforward in any sense. Even if a council leader or a chief executive can say ‘yes, I want the event’ it still involves so many other people. We have a lot of work to do with other venues in 2012 to make sure that they come home in the same positive and good fashion.”

Bob Fisher rightly hauled Worth over the coals for the clashes of the World Series events this year have created. The first, taking place in Cascais over 6-14 August, has been moved forward by a week from the dates originally published in February in order to prevent it coinciding with an RC44 event in Marstrand. However it now clashes with Cowes Week and the Extreme Sailing Series event there. The 10-18 September dates for Plymouth are an exact conflict with both the Extreme Sailing Series event in Trapani and the final event of this year’s Audi MedCup. How arrogant is that?

Worth attempted to defend himself over the Cowes Week conflict: “The following week would have clashed with an RC44 event in Sweden and the week before it would have clashed with something else and that is only in the sailing context. If you factor in football or Formula 1 or anything else – whenever you want to hold an event there is almost always a problem. So yes, you have to clash with certain things. Almost any week in the year you want to stage anything there will be a problem.” But while clashes are bad because they dilute media attention for everyone, it creates another problem for crew in Cup teams who were hoping to also compete on the Audi MedCup or the Extreme Sailing Series this year. Artemis and Emirates Team NZ are now likely to be fielding B-teams for the Extreme Sailing Series events in Cowes and Trapani.

Keen observers will notice that no AC World Series event has been announced for 16-24 July, originally the published date for when the first World Series event would take place. Worth explains: “Once we were aware that teams were flooding in at the last minute there had to be a logistical period to make sure that everything gets delivered to them in the best possible way. Some teams have already got their boat and are already sailing in it and others who have just entered will only get their first opportunity to sail in New Zealand in the next few weeks. So there is that consideration from a fair sporting point of view – we need to wait until everyone has had their boat delivered and had a chance to start sailing in it.”

As a result the shipping of the AC45 fleet back to Europe has been delayed by one month and the teams will now continue to train in Auckland up until June. Meanwhile Tim Smyth and Mark Turner, along with the rest of the New Zealand boat building and composites industry will have their work cut out to try and churn out fifteen AC45s within the available time.

Despite the City of Plymouth being answerable to its constituents, it is unclear at this stage how much Plymouth is paying to host the event or indeed whether there is a fee payable to ACEA to host the event. What is certain is that it is not the 6-8 million Euros being rumoured. "That was never the case," says Worth.

Anthony Payne states the city's case: “Our contribution to this is limited to working with our partners who have already made investments in the city. We have got an events budget within the city and we are flexing that. We will have to pay some small amounts for additional toilets, a bit of walkway, a big screen on the Hoe, etc. The actual figures for that are very small compared to the benefit we are going to be getting. It is around £100-200,000 in our estimates. Obviously things can come out of left field that could impact. We will be working with our partners and the good will of our partners – the cash support for this, compared to the massive economic benefit we will be getting is very very small.”

Richard Worth told thedailysail that the deals with every city they are negotiating with is proving to be different, each city having its own unique objectives and means of financing such events. “In this case [Plymouth] we have the opportunity to bring in six national sponsors and they will be on our side of the division of opportunity. When you are doing the nitty gritty, we’ve had a good negotiation here – we have done a division of the opportunities, the returns as well as a division of the costs. Everyone should come out of this making serious money and Plymouth as a city should be delighted with this.”

Worth pointed out that America’s Cup World Series events at this stage are still a novelty but as they become more familiar he hopes that the tables will turn and there will be more demand to hold them. “We shouldn’t forget this is a new concept, it is a new event and there is a bit of marketing upfront that needs to be done before everyone gets the picture. These guys in Plymouth have figured it out pretty quickly and it is really good news for us and them that they have.”

The dates of the Plymouth event are approaching the autumn equinox on 23 September and as those who attend Southampton Boat Show (another part clash) know, this can be a particularly turbulent time of year weather-wise in the UK. Richard Worth argued that the AC45s have been designed so that they can be raced in 3-30 knots. So let’s pray for some breeze...

So we are still in a state of shock that an America’s Cup event in the world’s coolest boats is to take place in the UK, this year. It feels like we’ve invited the rich uncle over for lunch.

SAN FRANCISCO SELECTED TO HOST 34TH AMERICA’S CUP 04 Jan 2011

San Francisco has been selected as the host venue for the 34^th America’s Cup.

An official celebration event will be hosted in San Francisco on January 5th, event location details to be announced.

Source: www.americascup.com

“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, America’s Cup Event Authority.  “And hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise.“

“We thank Mayor Newsom, Board President Chiu, Supervisor Mirkarimi and all of the Board of Supervisors, the staff at City Hall and the Port Authority, Mark Buell and San Francisco America’s Cup Organizing Committee, and all who have worked so diligently on securing the bid,” Worth continued. “We look forward to working closely with City of San Francisco over the coming months to create a world-class America’s Cup event, and a large and lasting beneficial impact on the City.”

The world-famous San Francisco Bay will be home to the 2013 America’s Cup Finals and the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup, as well as an America’s Cup World Series event in 2012. This will be the first time the America’s Cup has been hosted in the United States since 1995.

“Today is one of great celebration, with San Francisco winning the right to host the America’s Cup, and all of the economic benefit, jobs and excitement that comes with it,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “San Francisco is the best place on Earth to host an event of this stature, and we could not be more proud to be the city that brings the America’s Cup back home to the United States.”

Independent studies show that the America’s Cup delivers the third largest economic impact in sport to host countries, behind the Olympic Games and soccer’s World Cup. The 34^th America’s Cup is projected to pump an estimated $1.4 billion dollars into the San Francisco region.

“As a native San Franciscan, I grew up sailing in front of the City. Racing for the America’s Cup in San Francisco is something I have dreamt of my whole life,” said Paul Cayard, CEO of Sweden’s Artemis Racing, a challenger for the 34th America’s Cup. ”By hosting sailing’s most important event in the Bay, the world will see sailing as it never has before.  As a team, Artemis Racing is particularly looking forward to competing in San Francisco.”

Racing will be held on the iconic San Francisco Cityfront and be visible from world-renown tourist destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, Crissy Field, the Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf. An influx of millions of tourists is expected for the Challenger Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Finals in late 2013.

“My support for San Francisco hosting the America’s Cup goes beyond the opportunity to see our team competing on home waters,” said Russell Coutts, CEO, ORACLE Racing, the current America’s Cup defending team. “We are excited to sail for our sport’s greatest trophy, on a stretch of water legendary among sailors worldwide.”

The Race Village will be constructed on Piers 19 and 29, with the team bases at and around Pier 30/32.  As part of the plan, the America’s Cup Event Authority will redevelop these piers as well as the surrounding infrastructure to support the racing, while rehabilitating the piers for the enjoyment of generations of San Franciscans to come.

With a goal of creating the most dynamic America’s Cup in history for fans and participants, changes have been introduced to the 34^th edition. Enhancements include the introduction of groundbreaking new 72’ wing-sailed catamarans capable of speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour, new race formats and rules, and a transformed media and online broadcasting approach to enable an interactive viewer experience.

 In the summer of 2011, America’s Cup teams will commence racing in the new America’s Cup World Series in the new wing-sailed AC45 catamaran. The America’s Cup World Series calendar of events will be published in early 2011.

ONBOARD PROGRAMME GETS QUARTER OF A MILLION YOUNGSTERS INTO SAILING 07 Dec 2010

A QUARTER OF A MILLION YOUNGSTERS GET SAILING AND WINDSURFING THANKS TO YOUTH SAILING SCHEME.

Over the last five years well over a quarter of a million youngsters have been enjoying sailing and windsurfing thanks to a pioneering scheme from the RYA called OnBoard.

“When we launched the programme back in 2005 we set ourselves the target of introducing 500,000 youngsters to sailing over a 10 year period. Now we are half way through it’s fantastic to see how many youngsters are getting out on the water and that the programme is well on target”, commented Vicky Lenz, RYA OnBoard manager, who has been involved with the project since the outset and has seen the scheme flourish over the past few years.

The grassroots sailing scheme introduces 8-18 year olds to sailing and windsurfing through schools, youth groups and training centres. Whether competing in a fun race at a summer festival or experiencing the thrill of taking a sailing boat or windsurf board out for the first time, 14,000 youngsters have enjoyed OnBoard so much they have continued to sail and windsurf regularly.

Vicky continued:  “Sailing has something for everyone and a key part of the OnBoard ethos is to give children of all ages and backgrounds the chance to experience the pleasure of the sport.”

200 OnBoard Clubs

2010 saw the 200th sailing club come ‘OnBoard’ assailexmouth.com joined the growing number of clubs and centres to become RYA OnBoard accredited. All OnBoard Clubs have to hold RYA Training Centre recognition, which means they must ensure that their staff, facilities and equipment are up to the required RYA standards, giving youngsters the best possible sailing experience in the safest environment.

More schools and teachers

With a strong focus on safety it is no wonder that OnBoard remains a firm favourite with schools across the UK. 1,500 schools and 1,600 teachers have taken part in the RYA OnBoard scheme helping sailing to become a popular choice on the PE curriculum.

Andy Hooper, RYA Southern and South East Regional Development Officer said: “It is brilliant that so many schools and teachers are getting involved with OnBoard. In its own way, sailing can change lives and can really boosts children’s confidence.

“Sailing gets you outdoors, is fantastic exercise and can also be a very sociable sport. It also requires a certain level of skill and those skills are constantly developing as you sail so it’s immensely rewarding. We hope to see even more youngsters, schools and teachers giving OnBoard a go in years to come.

3,000 volunteers

Over the past five years 3,000 volunteers have been helping to keep the OnBoard scheme alive, giving up their time to help with sailing sessions and summer festivals.

Vicky explained “OnBoard wouldn’t be where it is today without the dedication and commitment of these people and we are very grateful of their help and support.”

Get involved.

With the 2012 Olympic Games just around the corner any youngster looking to get into sailing could not have picked a more exciting time.

The good news is it has never been easier for schools and youth groups to get involved with sailing and windsurfing.

To find out more, and contact your local OnBoard Development Officer, check out the RYA OnBoard website at www.ruob.co.uk

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN WORLD MATCH RACE CHAMPIONS 2010 05 Dec 2010

AINSLIE WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia – 5 December 2010

Britain's Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN has won his first ISAF Match Racing World Championship title by winning the Monsoon Cup on a day of high drama in Malaysia. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was in imperious form at the deciding regatta having staged a stunning late season charge to snatch the title from the clutches of long time series leader Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team.

In what was the most enthralling ever finish to the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) the Ainslie v Richard duel went to the very final day of the final event of the season. Having turned the screws on Richard all week, Ainslie knew that if he won his Semi-Final and Richard failed to win his play-off race then the title would be his.

Ainslie's illustrious crew has been in such pressure situations many times before and the experience clearly showed. Their 2-0 victory over Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team sparked celebrations among the TEAMORIGIN crew, which includes two-time Olympic gold medalist Iain Percy, Christian Kamp, Mike Mottl and Matt Cornwell.

With the World title in the bag there was still unfinished business with the Tour's richest final at stake. Ainslie and his crew kept their composure for an epic final against Australian star Torvar Mirsky of Mirsky Racing Team. The confident young skipper reached the final with consummate ease, defeating Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing 2-0 in their Semi-Final.

It was a fitting finale to an enthralling 2010 World Match Racing Tour, with nail-biting match racing that went to the wire: Mirsky recovered from a shaky start to take the first race by a comfortable margin. But Ainslie was 11 seconds ahead at the finish of the second. After four races the score was again even, leaving everything hanging on the fifth, which went in Ainslie's favour.

Commenting on his landmark victory, Ainslie said: "It was obviously a great way for us to end as a team. It was very tough out there today but it was a united effort and we’re really happy all round. For the whole team this has been massive for us. We've enjoyed been on the Tour an incredible amount."

For Richard it was a disappointing end to what had been a fantastic season in which he led the Tour from the opening race at Match Race France in April. Two further wins followed at the Korea Match Cup and the St Moritz Match Race. However a mid-season blip and a stuttering finish to the year with poor performances in Bermuda and then finally Malaysia have cost Richard dearly, leaving him in second place in the Championship.

Richard reflected: "Obviously it’s a huge disappointment to have finished second in the Championship, having been first all season. Ben has a very strong team and they really deserve to be World Champions. I was happy with our preparation for this event and we sailed a fantastic season, making the podium five times. It’s a year we can be really proud of."
 

 To read more about TEAMORIGIN’s victory and the story of Ben Ainslie’s WMRT season, go towww.wmrt.com

 World Championship

BEN AND TEAMORIGIN TEAM THROUGH TO SEMI’S IN MONSOON CUP 04 Dec 2010

TEAMORIGIN iIN QUARTER FINALS 04 Dec 2010

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN THROUGH TO QUARTER FINALS

On day 3 of the Monsoon Cup, the final event of the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour, the World Championship was still wide open. Tension was high as this was a make or break day for several of the World Championship contenders.
 
A 12-15 knot northerly breeze greeted competitors, with one knot of current running down the Terengganu River.
 
There were many pivotal matches in this busy day, with the current ISAF World Match Racing Tour leader Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing Team), Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/ BlackMatch Racing), the 2009 World Champion and dual Monsoon Cup winner Peter Gilmour (YANMAR Racing) all in danger of missing the quarter finals.
 
It did not start well for Gilmour when in flight 11 Bjorn Hansen (Hansen Global Racing) beat Gilmour by just one heart breaking second.
 
Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN) and Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing) met in the next match.
 
Ainslie won the start but closing on the top mark Minoprio managed to lee-bow Ainslie and luffed up hard. Firmly in control Minoprio accelerated away to victory.
 
Next up Francesco Bruni (Team Azzurra) defeated Minoprio leaving the World Champion pensive at the stern of his boat, rubbing his trademark stubble.
 
The afternoon session started with Flight 13. The wind was blowing eight knots, with current down the river on the right so PRO David Tallis moved the start line to equalise the course.
 
Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) on 5-3 and Richard was an important match for both skippers. Richard was tied in knots and early in the pre-start. Mirsky was fast away on the right and in pressure and extended for a big win. The luckless Richard recounted ‘We made a mistake in the pre-start, we were definitely too early, they did a good job.’
 
Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing Team) had to defeat Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing) or his regatta was over.
 
Down the last run Robertson and his crew were faster and closing as the finish line loomedRobertson gybed and it looked like Richard faked but that’s not what happened as Richard explained dockside. ‘We were going to follow when he gybed, I started to but felt the solid puff and made a snap decision to go with the pressure and it paid off.’ 
 
So came the climax of the day. It was in flight 15 that Richard met Minoprio. Both were on three wins and six losses, the loser would miss the quarter final cut.
 
A sensational start as Richard was penalised just 10 seconds before the start and was over early - a dream for Minoprio. On the first cross Minoprio was ahead but Richard had more speed and then the tables turned. Richard rounded and with a fast hoist was three boat lengths ahead.

However the race stayed close until the second bottom mark was reached and Richard rounded in pressure while Minoprio stalled. A giant gain for the Frenchman who sailed away and was able to do his penalty comfortably at the finish line.
 
A jubilant Richard said ‘A great win for us. Our start was a disaster but we did not give up.  We stayed focused on our sailing and we managed enough of a lead to take the penalty and win.’
 
Adam Minoprio is leaving the ISAF World Match Racing Tour having crashed out of the Monsoon Cup and World Championship contention. He will have three months to get over this result before he joins the Emirates Team New Zealand Volvo Ocean Race campaign.
   
Immediately after the finish of the Richard v Minoprio match, Race Commentator Andy Green cruelly or cheekily (you decide) asked Minoprio ‘Three qualifiers, Phil Robertson, Keith Swinton and Jeremy Koo, as well Minoprio look to have missed the cut. Was last year’s World Championship win a fluke?’
 
A wry smile from the defeated Minoprio as he replied, ‘That race was very disappointing. We had a great pre-start, but we missed a left hand wind shift on the first beat and that was all Richard needed.’
 
Reflecting on his defeat, a downcast Minoprio commented  ‘This is the number one disappointment in my sailing career. We are shattered not to have made it through to the last eight and be out of the World Championship. Perhaps we should’ve gone to Perth. This will bug me for a while - it’ll take three months to get over this. We’ll take some time out to reflect on this now.’
 
In the next match Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Racing crew forced Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) over early, then sailed away to an important win for the four times World Champion, who made the quarter finals with that result.
 
A big smile from Gilmour as he said ‘Folks like us from the Facebook generation (NOT) are fighters. It all starts again now.’
 
There are still two flights to finish the round robins of the Monsoon Cup.
 

 The final comment of the day came from Adam Minoprio. ‘You learn more from losing than winning (often) and today we’ve learned a great deal.’  

TEAMORIGIN move up the leaderboard - day two of Monsoon Cup 02 Dec 2010

Richard Fighting to Stay in the Hunt while Ben Ainslie and TEAMORIGIN move up the leaderboard after 10 flights

Kuala Terengganu, 2 December 2010 – Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team staged a late fight back in the second Qualifying Session at the Monsoon Cup to keep his ISAF Match Racing World Championship hopes alive. A quick glance over his shoulder and the Frenchman will be encouraged to see his nearest rival Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing looking increasingly fallible. 

Richard's (FRA) French Match Racing Team, who remained defiant after a poor opening Qualifying Session, needed to post some early wins today to boost his overnight 0-2 scoreline and his confidence. It wasn’t to be. After a defeat against Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzurra he was up against Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team. They appeared evenly matched, with the Dane holding a slim lead on the water, but carrying a penalty, until Richard fell into a hole in the wind. Radich managed to unwind his penalty and finish almost two minutes ahead, pummeling Richard into his fifth loss of the event. 

The Frenchman hasn't relied on luck to lead the championship race, so it was no surprise to see him rally his team in his final two races against Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing and Jeremy Koo (MAS) Koo Racing Team- Evernew to give his team a more flattering 3-5 overnight scoreline. 

If Richard’s head was down, Adam Minoprio’s was dipped more. He was simply a different man out there today to the one Peter Montgomery said ‘flourishes when tension levels rise’. The Kiwi will have it all to do tomorrow after finishing in 9th position today.

Minoprio and Richard’s loss is proving to be TEAMORIGIN skipper, Ben Ainslie’s gain. The three-time Olympic gold medalist showed his pedigree in tricky light conditions at the Pulau Duyong. He won all his matches today, including a comprehensive victory over Richard. 

Asked why he felt Richard was suffering, Ainslie said: “It’s very tough out there in these very light conditions. Mathieu would no doubt be doing better if there was a steadier breeze as it would be more about match racing. The results have been coming more from general sailing ability… it’s probably easier for dinghy sailors than some of the match racers.”

Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar will be satisfied with his result today having gone unbeaten to extend his record for the regatta to 7-0. He came to the Monsoon Cup in 5th place and an outside chance of claiming a hat-trick of world titles. Results so far are playing into his hands - he will win the championship if neither Ainslie nor Minoprio finish on the podium, and Richard is knocked out before the Quarter-Finals. 

History tells us that it's too soon to write off any competitors at this stage – afterall Williams won both his World Championship titles after scraping into the Quarter-Finals in 8th place. After losing his first two races yesterday, Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team turned his game around today, winning all five of his matches to have one foot in the Quarter-Finals, along with Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team who also holds a 5-2 scoreline.

With Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzurra on the cusp of a Quarter-Final spot, six of the remaining seven teams are still in contention for a place in the final eight. If spectators needed any further evidence of the pressure these skippers are under, they need to look no further than the skippers’ heart-rate monitors. Consistently hitting the rates a seasoned athlete would show during a long-distance run, today the stress of trying to win the ISAF Match Racing World Championship was plain to see.

To see all of tomorrow’s action from Qualifying Session 3 live, including the clash between Richard and Minoprio that looks increasingly likely to determine which of the two top seeds will make it through to the Quarter-Finals, visit www.wmrt.com 

Results after 10 Flights:

Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 7-0
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 5-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 5-2

Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 5-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzurra 4-2
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 3-3
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-5

Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-4
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing Team 2-4

Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 2-4
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 2-5 

 Jeremy Koo (MAL) Koo Racing Team Evernew 0-8  

2 wins and 1 loss to TEAMORIGIN day one of Monsoon Cup 01 Dec 2010

RACING STARTS TOMORROW AT MONSOON CUP 30 Nov 2010

BEN AND TEAMORIGIN TAKE 3RD PLACE IN SUNSEEKER AUSTRALIA CUP 27 Nov 2010

AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN PROCEED TO SEMI-FINALS 26 Nov 2010

BEN AND TEAM RISE TO THE TOP : DAY TWO OF AUSTRALIA CUP 25 Nov 2010

 I. Williams (GBR) v. K. Swinton (AUS)

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN 3 WINS ON DAY ONE OF SUNSEEKER AUSTRALIA CUP 24 Nov 2010

TEAMORIGIN LOOKS AHEAD TO FINAL WMRT EVENT 24 Nov 2010

London – 24 November 2010: WMRT website

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN LOOK AHEAD TO LAST WMRT EVENT : MONSOON CUP

Triple Olympic gold medallist, Ben Ainslie believes victory in the ISAF Match Racing World Championship at the Monsoon Cup next week would be the perfect swansong for TEAMORIGIN and the ideal retort to Mathieu Richard’s taunts of inconsistency.

Following the decision by team owner Sir Keith Mills to disband TEAMORIGIN, Ainslie cited the Monsoon Cup and the ISAF Match Racing World Championship as the perfect way to bring down the curtain, for the foreseeable future at least, on one of the most established teams in the history of match racing: “It would be fantastic for us as a team to bow out at the top of the World Championship and to win the Monsoon Cup next week. The Monsoon Cup is unique – I’ve never sailed in an event quite like it because I don’t think there is an event like it in the world.”

With five teams each still in the running to win the Match Racing World Championship at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa in Terengganu, considerable lip service has been paid within the media and amongst the teams about the pressure the sailors will be under to perform. It’s something Ainslie is acutely aware of: “The very nature of match racing demands a certain test of nerve and the ability to deal with different scenarios in tense situations.

“Never more so than at the Monsoon Cup - there you’ve got to tackle the best match racers but also, because of the tricky weather conditions, any poor decisions will quickly eat away any advantage you might have made over your opponent.”

Peter Montgomery, the broadcasting stalwart of numerous America’s Cups, Olympic Games and Volvo Ocean Races, recently cited Ainslie’s mental toughness in the ‘white hot furnace of competition’ as being one of his key assets. For Ainslie, it’s Richard who will be shouldering the most amount of mental pressure: “It’s difficult to say whether Mathieu Richard’s confidence is easily knocked however I’m sure he’s probably feeling the pressure as he only holds a slight lead over Adam [Minoprio] and I. For us, we’ve got nothing to lose so that’s easier psychologically.”

On the subject of Richard and his belief that Ainslie’s biggest weakness is his ‘inconsistency’, the Brit replied: “I was quite amused to read Mathieu Richard’s comment - My team has competed in five events on this year’s Tour and we’re in with a chance of winning the title so I don’t agree with him on that.”

 Looking ahead to the specific challenges posed by the Monsoon Cup and the often treacherous conditions, Ainslie said: “If the monsoon rain kicks in, the challenge becomes altogether more difficult. It’s a question of how you and your team deal with that challenge which counts. It’s our third time competing in Malaysia so we know a lot about what it takes to win a match race there.”

BUILD UP TO FINAL WMRT EVENT 23 Nov 2010

WMRT WEB SITE REPORT:

Just as F1 had a sting in its tail with Vettel, who went into the last race in third place, snatching the title, WMRT is being tipped to have an equally dramatic climax at the Monsoon Cup, which is being held at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa in Kuala Terengganu from 30 November to 5 December.

Matthieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team will go into the final event of the year with a 15 point lead over defending Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing while Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN is just two points further back. Australia’s Torvar Mirsky, Mirsky Racing Team and two-time World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar are also still in with an outside chance.

Sailing pundit Mark Chisnell, who has watched the action unfold throughout the season, has called into question championship leader Matthieu Richard’s preparation saying: “I was interested to see that he’s chosen to race in Perth just before the Monsoon Cup. Mathieu is very methodical in his preparation, and I’m sure he’s got a plan, but this year his worst results have come in events that followed closely one after another – not a particularly good omen for him.”

While Chisnell believes the race is too close to call between Richard, Minoprio and Ainslie, he has all but written off the chances of Williams and Mirsky adding, “Even if I was a betting man, I wouldn’t put a pound on it, it’s just too close. I’d only say that it will be Richard, Minoprio or Ainslie – too much has to go the way of Mirsky or Williams for them to come from behind and take it. But after that, it’s wide open.”

Chisnell has also warned of the impact the rest of the field will have in deciding the outcome. With all the skippers having to take part in the Qualifying Round Robin to win their place in the knock out stages no-one is guaranteed a place in the final.

Alluding to the importance of the rest of the teams, Chisnell said, “They could have a huge impact – last year, it was decided when Peter Gilmour beat Torvar Mirsky in the quarter-finals. Gilly couldn’t overhaul Minoprio to win it by then, but instead, he stopped the man who could.”

With so many permutations and possible final results still to be decided, the following table gives a simple overview of who needs to do what to become the new ISAF Match Racing World Champion:

Richard wins the title if he:
• Comes 1st or 2nd
• Comes 3rd - as long as Minoprio doesn’t win
• Comes 4th or 5th - as long as neither Minoprio or Ainslie win
• Comes 6th or 7th - as long as neither Minoprio or Ainslie are in the final
• Comes 8th - as long as Minoprio doesn’t come in the top three and Ainslie doesn’t come in the top 2

Minoprio wins the title if he:
• Comes 1st - as long as Richard doesn’t come in the top 2
• Comes 2nd - as long as Richard doesn’t come in the top 5 and Ainslie doesn’t win
• Comes 3rd - as long as Richard comes 8th or lower, Ainslie comes 4th or lower, and Mirsky doesn’t win
• Comes 4th - as long as Richard doesn’t come in the top 8, Ainslie doesn’t come in the top 4, and neither Williams or Mirsky win

Ainslie wins the title if he:
• Comes 1st - as long as Richard doesn’t come in the top 3.
• Comes 2nd - as long as Minoprio doesn’t win, and Richard doesn’t come in the top 5.
• Comes 3rd - as long as Mirsky doesn’t win, Minoprio doesn’t come in the top 3, and Richard doesn’t score any points
• Comes 4th - as long as Richard doesn’t score, Minoprio doesn’t come in the top 4, and neither Williams or Mirsky win

Mirsky wins the title if he:
• Wins the Monsoon Cup - as long as neither Ainslie nor Minoprio come in the top 2, and Richard doesn’t finish higher than 8th

Williams wins the title if he:
• Wins the Monsoon Cup, as long as neither Ainslie nor Minoprio finish on the podium and Richard finishes outside the top 8

LET’S TALK TEAMORIGIN E-NEWS NOVEMBER 2010 02 Nov 2010

LET'S TALK TEAMORIGIN

ENEWS NOVEMBER 2010

READ THE LATEST TEAM NEWSLETTER :

http://www.mainsail.co.uk/newsletters/nov2010.html

BEN AINSLIE 2ND ON ISAF WORLD MATCH RACE RANKING LIST 28 Oct 2010

ISAF World Match Race Rankings 
The top three skippers on the open rankings remain the same with this ranking release, with Adam Minoprio (NZL) holding off the advances of Ben Ainslie. The real action is in the women's rankings where Nicky Souter (AUS) returns to the #1 position ahead of 2010 World Champion Lucy MacGregor (GBR).

Since the last rankings release, ISAF has crowned a new Women's Match Racing World Champion and the climax of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour is right on the horizon. Open Rankings

The gap between Adam Minoprio and Ben Ainslie has closed slightly after Ainslie defended his Argo Group Gold Cup title in Bermuda. Mathieu Richard (FRA) maintains his position in third overall ahead of Australia's Torvar Mirsky while Peter Gilmour (AUS) displaces Ian Williams (GBR) to complete the top five.

The World Match Racing Tour now moves to Malaysia for the final event of the season, the Monsoon Cup where all eyes will be on Richard, Minoprio and Ainslie all within striking distance of the World Championship title.

There are no Grade 1 Open events included in this release and just one Grade 2 event, the Master Espana Match Race. #7 ranked sailor Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) took the title in Bayona but does not change his ranking position.

Women's Rankings
The bronze medal for Nicky Souter at the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships has proved enough to boost her back to the #1 position but it is by the smallest of margins. The new world champion, Lucy is snapping at her heels just eight points behind. Claire Leroy (FRA) went out to Souter in the petit-final but was back on the top of the podium to claim her National Championship title; she slips one place down to #3. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) moves up one place to #4 while previous #1, Renee Groeneveld, who finished in seventh at the Worlds slides down to #5. Silver medallist Sally Barkow (USA) makes her return to the top ten at #9. Feeling the effects of not competing at the Worlds is Silke Hahlbrock (GER) who falls out of the top ten, five places to #13.

The next release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings will be on 8 December 2010.

Top ten open rankings

1. Adam Minoprio, NZL
2. Ben Ainslie, GBR
3. Mathieu Richard, FRA
4. Torvar Mirsky, AUS
5. Peter Gilmour, AUS
6. Ian Williams, GBR
7. Pierre-Antoine Morvan, FRA
8. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
9. Francesco Bruni, ITA
10. Peter Wibroe, DEN

Top ten women's rankings

1. Nicky Souter, AUS
2. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
3. Claire Leroy, FRA
4. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA
5. Renee Groeneveld, NED
6. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS
7. Katie Spithill, AUS
8. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA
9. Sally Barkow, USA
10. Julie Bossard, FRA

 www.sailing.org

AINSLIE DETERMINED TO TAKE GOLD 25 Oct 2010

AINSLIE 'DETERMINED' TO TAKE GOLD

By Helen William, Press Association Olympics Correspondent

Ben Ainslie does not think he is the hot pick, at the moment, to qualify for Britain's sole spot in the Finn for the London 2012 Olympics.

Ainslie is Britain's most successful Olympic sailor with three gold medals and a silver to his name - and he is determined to win a fourth successive gold at London 2012.

His domestic challenge comes not just from Finn world champion Ed Wright and world bronze medalist Giles Scott, who beat Ainslie in the Sail for Gold regatta.

There is also his fight for fitness following two years away from the Finn after his, now scuppered, dream to win the America's Cup with Team Origin.

"They might obviously be seen as the favourites at the moment and I have really got to catch up," he said.

"I think that is just being realistic having been out of the chase for two years.

"It is is also from having done Sail for Gold and coming fourth.

"With the right amount of training I think I can get back to where I was."

Since winning gold in Beijing, Ainslie, 33, has been concentrating on big boats while rivals Wright, 33, and Scott, 23, have broken through internationally as powerhouses in the heavyweight dinghy.

Ainslie said: "Qualification - they are always hard.

"They (Wright and Scott) are obviously working really hard and have been sailing well."

For all three men 2011 will be a key year to competing at the Olympics on home waters in Weymouth and Portland in 2012.

Wright, who this month was shortlisted for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year award, has already declared that Olympic qualification and the world championship are top priorities for next year.

Ainslie's absence has coincided with Wright proving himself as one of the heavy-hitters of the Finn class able to pull out top performance after top performance.

Wright is respected as one of the fittest sailors in the fleet. He relishes the power of the Finn and the technical challenges of the class.

Scott won Britain's only gold out of a total of eight medals at this year's Sail for Gold and in doing so ended Ainslie's six-year unbeaten run in the Olympic Finn class.

Beating Ainslie was "massive," Scott admitted, but it also showed he could win in the conditions that Weymouth, the 2012 sailing competition venue, throws up.

Working towards selection is going to be really difficult but Sail for Gold undoubtedly helped with his confidence, he said.

Ainslie's plans could see him back in the Finn "by November at the earliest" as he focuses on sailing fitness and boosting his body weight.

Training and hitting the gym, plus more time in the boat to try and improve ahead of racing next year, are the single-minded aims for this winter.

Ainslie said: "The hard thing from when you have gone from being at the top of sailing to not being involved for a couple of years is that period when you are doing the hard work and trying to get back to the top but you are not performing as you used to.

"I know that this winter is going to be a lot of hard work, very hard work.

"For me I have got a lot of catching up (to do) and I have got to work harder."

It is not just fitness that he has to tackle but the right sort of fitness, he notes.

"I have not really been away from the sport. I have been doing more sailing over the last two years but in different types of boats," he said.

"For me, more fitness is going to be a really big thing and I need to get my weight up."

The enforced switch from big boat duty with Team Origin back to Olympic sailing comes after a controversial raft of new ideas and rules by America's Cup winners BMW Oracle.

Team Origin team principal Sir Keith Mills, pulled his crew out of a much-longed for challenge for 34th America's Cup in 2013, declaring it was now "neither viable commercially, nor an attractive sporting contest for Team Origin".

Ainslie skippered the team which also included Britain's Beijing champions Iain Percy at the helm and Andrew Simpson as strategist.

He said: "It was slowly building up to a point where I would have to make a very difficult decision between the Olympics and the America's Cup.

"Now this has happened this gives me a clear shot on working over the next 12 months and working hard to get in to the Finn."

But there is still huge disappointment about the America's Cup.

"It is frustrating, very frustrating for myself and everyone else who has spent the past three years working very hard to get Team Origin to a position where we could challenge for the America's Cup.

"We felt that we had got it to that point," Ainslie said.

"Sir Keith felt that would not be something that would be viable. He is not the kind of guy to play games. We understand his view and respect his experience and his decision. I know in speaking to the other guys that everyone feels that way about the decision.

"It is disappointing for everyone involved. It is a sad time for everyone, but especially for Sir Keith."

He suggests that his time on the big boats and on the match racing tour, away from the regimented life of training for the Olympics, has made him a better sailor.

Perhaps ominously, he adds: "I certainly learned a lot more sailing in the America's Cup, in the big boats and the TP52s.

"You learn a lot more about the racing and the technical side of the sport and that all helps because it is refreshing.

 "I am really determined to go back in the Finn."

A CELEBRATION THROUGH IMAGERY 25 Oct 2010

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR ANNOUNCE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS 14 Oct 2010

London, UK – 14 October 2010

The ISAF Match Racing World Championship, which is in its 22^nd year and is now known as the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), today committed its future to monohull match racing and unveiled its future strategy which has been designed to ensure the growth and sustainability of the discipline.
 
The strategy will focus on ensuring the tour continues to provide close combative head-to-head racing. Today’s press conference, which can be viewed again at www.wmrt.com, revealed that WMRT will be doubling the tour’s bonus prize pool to USD 500,000 meaning sailors will compete for a total prize fund in excess of USD 1,750,000 in 2011.
 
It was also announced that WMRT will be launching a new host city bidding process in the next 14 days which will add six new venues by 2013. To complement the addition of new cities and to ensure the Tour embraces developing technology, submissions will be invited from international designers and boat builders to create boats for the new events joining the tour.
 
With the America’s Cup holders having clearly stated that they are starting with a clean sheet of paper by moving to catamaran racing for the foreseeable future, a void has been left in the historic framework of match racing. In order to address the void and create an effective strategy WMRT has undergone a thorough review process with its promoters, teams and sponsors as well as taking into account recent media reaction and public feedback.
 
The findings are echoed by data from a recent survey conducted by Sail-World, which shows clearly that the majority of sailing fans surveyed want to see match racing conducted in monohull boats.
 
WMRT CEO Jim O’Toole said that, “As rights’ holders we have a duty to act in the interests of match racing. The majority of people feel that the true essence of match racing is about intense, highly manoeuvrable, closely fought, head-to-head battles and we have developed our strategy to take into account these views.
 
“While we are committed to preserving the integrity of what the public sees as match racing we also have a responsibility to drive the sport forward and ensure that it constantly seeks to innovate and expand.  The doubling of the prize fund and addition of six new venues by 2013 with new boat designs shows our commitment to attracting great sailors and providing the best platform for match racing.”
 
Feedback received by WMRT as a result of the shift in the historic match racing framework indicates that there is still a desire for a sailor and team design-based match racing series.
 
WMRT President Peter Gilmour commented, “The decision by the America’s Cup holders to embrace catamarans means that it has moved out of the space which it had previously held as the pinnacle event in match racing and feedback that we are receiving indicates the interest remains."
 
“As the conduit for match racers around the world to realise their ambitions we will facilitate a collaborative process and provide a platform for interested parties to voice their thoughts.”
 

 Any parties wishing to explore this opportunity should register their interest via www.wmrt.com or contact WMRT Tour Director Craig Mitchell by Friday 26 November. Should there be strong enough interest then WMRT will facilitate a forum to develop the concept.London, UK – 14 October 2010

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN WIN THE ARGO GOLD CUP IN BERMUDA!! 10 Oct 2010

VICTORY FOR TEAMORIGIN IN BERMUDA

Hamilton, Bermuda – 10 October 2010 – Triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN put in a sublime performance to add a second Argo Group Gold Cup to his team’s trophy cabinet after a scintillating final against Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team in Stage 8 of the World Match Racing Tour.

The final had all the hallmarks of a classic with Radich showing consistently good form throughout the week with 12 wins out of 13, while Ainslie and his crew had been gaining momentum day by day. For added spice, Radich was seeking retribution for his final defeat at the hands of Ainslie in stage 5 of the Tour – Stena Match Cup Sweden.

In the first race, having eye-balled each other on the start line waiting for one another to flinch, both skippers breathed down each other’s necks on the first run. Having rounded the leeward mark, they soon came together once more with Ainslie dialing down to duck below Radich’s stern. The Dane then held a tiny advantage approaching the second windward mark on port tack to clear just inches ahead of Ainslie and re-take the lead, which he held to the finish.

Ainslie had a tantalizing wait to get his revenge, as dozens of Optimists flocked onto the race course for the RenRe Junior Gold Cup final, featuring young sailors from each of the competitor nations at the Argo Group Gold Cup. He used it to good effect though, as Ainslie rallied his team to take full advantage of the 10-12 knot breeze in his next race.

Having masterfully controlled Radich in the pre-start, Ainslie was a nose ahead at their first cross, which he held to round the windward mark in pole position. With his trusted tactician, Iain Percy at his side, the Briton switched to protect the right hand side of the course on the second beat. It paid off as their boat picked up a left-hand wind shift to take an unassailable lead to the finish.

The umpires worked at a frenetic rate in match 3, as Ainslie and Radich repeatedly crossed tacks, resulting in contact and a penalty for Radich. After a thrilling rounding of the windward mark, Radich threw in a dummy gybe, then followed it with a full gybe, hoping to cross ahead of Ainslie. Unfortuantely for the Danes, it forced Ainslie to change course handing Radich a red flag immediate penalty and effectively a second victory to Ainslie.

The excitement builds
It was do-or-die now for Radich if he wanted to take the Gold Cup and a US$50,000 winner’s cheque home. Ainslie himself knew that for his ISAF Match Racing World Championship ambitions, a win in Bermuda would leave him only two points behind second-placed Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/Black Match Racing and 17 adrift of current Tour leader, Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team going into the Monsoon Cup finale in Malaysia.

Radich had the nose on Ainslie as they approached the first mark, a lead which the Brit tried to take by sticking his bow inside Radich’s boat in an attempt to round first. It was an overzealous move that collected him a penalty. The spectators, who by now had formed an armada of vessels within Hamilton Harbour, could sense the tension as the two teams, watched closely by the umpires, went toe-to-toe: a dramatic luff saw both spinnakers flogging and a penalty against Radich that leveled the score. A double gybe and another huge luff from Radich raised blue and yellow flags, indicating both boats had infringed the rules. The next penalty was against Radich for sailing Ainslie past the layline to the leeward mark. Then, with Ainslie luffing hard, Radich took a final blow, picking up a further penalty that gave Ainslie a big enough cushion to effectively enjoy a victory lap of the course.

Reflecting on his triumph, Ainslie said: “We made it hard for ourselves and had a battle all the way through but maybe what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. We had fantastic racing against Jesper – it was classic stuff, as good as match racing ever gets.”

Radich was modest in defeat: “It was fantastic to be in the final with ideal conditions today. I’m really happy to have been able to put up a strong fight against Ben’s team – at the moment, they are the best match racing team in the world.”

The focus on the sailing world now turns to the final event of the World Match Racing Tour, the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. The outlook has become bleaker for Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar sponsored by Argo Group. They are now 29 and 33 points behind overall leader Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team respectively, with their fate lying in the hands of Richard, Ainslie and Minoprio. Richard will no doubt be pleased that his overall lead remains intact, with Minoprio only closing the gap by two points. After a challenging week Ainslie’s team will have been buoyed by their emphatic victory in Bermuda and the opportunity to take the overall Match Racing World Champion title in Malaysia.

Watch the Play of the Day, with Ainslie's jib trimmer Christian Kamp commenting on the heated action in their third match against Radich at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Q6S0f3zVQ

Overall Results at the Argo Group Gold Cup
1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN  25 Points
2. Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team  20 Points
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team  15 Points
4. Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team  12 Points
5. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing  10 Points
6. Taylor Canfield (USA)  8 Points
7. Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing  6 Points
8. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team  4 Points

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 8 of 9)
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team                         105 Points
2. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing                            90 Points
3. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN                                                     88 Points
5. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team                                        76 Points
5. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar sponsored by Argo Group    72 Points
6. Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team                                         60 Points
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra                                                           53 Points
8. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing                                            51 Points
9. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team                                        33 Points
10. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team                               29 Points
 

 The top six skippers earn an automatic invitation to the Monsoon Cup, the last event of the season at which the ISAF Match Racing World Championship will be decided. 

TEAMORIGIN IN THE FINALS TODAY 10 Oct 2010

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN MAKE IT TO THE SEMIS IN BERMUDA 09 Oct 2010

TEAMORIGIN get through to Quarter Finals in Argo Gold Cup 08 Oct 2010

TEAMORIGIN SAIL THE REPECHAGE TODAY FOR A PLACE IN THE QUARTER FINAL 08 Oct 2010

 Australia’s Torvar Mirsky perfect 6-0 moves to on Quarter-Finals in Argo Group Gold Cup

by Talbot Wilson

Hamilton, Bermuda – 7 October 2010- Torvar Mirsky kept his perfect score in racing Thursday morning to lead Group 3 in the 2010 Argo Group Gold Cup. His Mirsky Racing Team, ranked #3 of the World Match Racing Tour before the event, moves on to the Quarter-Finals with the best record so far. Also qualifying automatically in Group 3 was 2008 Argo Group Gold Cup Champion Johnie Berntsson of Sweden with 5 wins.
Mirsky defeated Great Britain’s 4^th ranked Ian Williams and the Team GAC Pindar sponsored by Argo Group in their Flight 7 match to maintain his momentum. Williams was knocked into the repechage ‘second chance’ series by the loss to Mirsky.

But the story of the day had to be the top-flight performance of Argo Group Gold Cup newcomer Taylor Canfield from St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. He earned automatic entry into the Quarter-Finals from Group 1 with 5 wins. Canfield, a 21-year-old student at Boston College, lost only to the other Group 1 automatic qualifier Jasper Radich from Denmark. Radich won the King Edward VII Gold Cup trophy in 2002 and his Gaastra Racing Team stands in 8^th place on the Tour. Radich was #1 in the group and Canfield #2.

Canfield, who is a rookie in the event, said going into the event, “I think the IODs will be very challenging as far as their responsiveness and lack of time in the boats. This is also my first world tour/grade 1 event, making it extremely stressful and nerve-racking. We are a young team with nothing to lose. We have sailed tougher for quite some time now.

Yesterday, he praised his crew for the great result so far: “They are doing a great job getting us around the course. We feel like we are comfortable in the IOD”s now.”

Canfield’s father, Bill Canfield a director of the Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas wasn’t planning on such a good result. He is leaving Friday on business and said, “ I’m pleasurably pleased. He’s a good sailor and proving it here. It is great that colleges in the United States are starting to match race. It brings a new group of young people into the sport.”

 Over in Group 2, Swiss sailor Eric Monnin was alone at the top with a 5-1 record. A surprised Reuben Corbett, who was moved up 2^nd in the group, joined him directly in the Quarter-Finals. Sailing into the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club marina after loosing his match today with Jakub Pawluk, Corbett thought he would have to sail the repechage to qualify. However, Ben Ainslie’s win over Adam Minoprio put both of them into the repechage and moved the young New Zealander directly into the finals.

Relaxing at Royal Bermuda YC after winning his group Monnin, who finished 4^th in 2009 said, “We won the round robin and we are thrilled with that. We have had quite a good year and with the same team as last year. Everything is going well for us. We are here at the Gold Cup for the seventh time and in the sixth prior times we have been here, we have raced twice in the final rounds on Sunday so yes, being around until Sunday is a big goal for us.”

Today was great sailing for us,” he added. “We actually like the light air and since we are Swiss so we are used to the light, fluky air in the Swiss lakes.  We are a light crew and so the light air is good for us. tomorrow (Friday) will be a little more challenging for us as it is meant to be a very windy day.”

World Match Racing Tour points-leader Mathieu Richard from France, who won here in 2007, had only 2.5 points and failed to make the cut. This loss is a serious threat to his hopes of winning the overall Tour Championship. He must win the Monsoon Cup in November to stand a chance.

The six teams that were third and fourth in each group will sail the ‘last chance’ repechage with the winner and runner-up filling the last two Quarter-Final slots. In Group 1, 3rd place went to Denmark’s Bjorn Hansen, #9 on the tour, and 4^th place was 23-year-old Kiwi Phil Robertson. Group 2 skippers Ben Ainslie, #5 on the tour and Adam Minoprio, #2 ranker, will have another chance. Group 3 rounds out the six-team fleet with Ian Williams, Great Britain’s #4 on the Tour and Alvaro Marinho from Portugal.

The repechage group was scheduled to sail Thursday afternoon but thy only got on flight in due to lack of a breeze. Winners in the 3-5 kt drifter were Minoprio, Williams and Ainslie.

Flights 2-5 matches were postponed until 8:00 this morning. The repechage will be followed directly by the Quarter-Finals. If weather permits, the popular Pro-Am that matches sponsors and dignitaries with Gold Cup teams for shore-course fleet racing on Hamilton Harbour will be sailed as scheduled this afternoon.

With the big wind predicted today, there should be some exciting competition among this group that includes some of the top ranked sailors in the world.

Royal Bermuda Yacht club is the perfect place to watch the racing. Action continues all week with the finals of Argo Group Gold Cup and the RenRe Jr. Gold Cup and the Family Festival of Sail all scheduled for Sunday.

Tune in for more Argo group action today and all weekend. At home, spectators can enjoy all the action on www.wmrt.com with live commentary, streaming video and all the results and news of the day. Also featured is the Argo Group Gold Cup World Match Racing Tour “Play of the Day” and plenty of photos and video, too.

In Bermuda, the Bermuda Sports Network hosts live video and commentary.

MIRSKY TEAM HITS TOP GEAR AT ARGO GROUP GOLD CUP 07 Oct 2010

From www.wmrt.com

Hamilton, Bermuda – 6 October 2010 –Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team showed just why he is earmarked for future glory in world match racing by storming to an unbeaten run of five match races after Qualifying Session 2 at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda. If reigning World Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing and Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing stole the lion’s share of the early headlines, it’s the calm and collected young Australian who is now stamping his authority all over the penultimate event of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour.

Dave Perry (USA), Alvaro Mininho (POR) Seth Sailing Team and Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team all succumbed to Mirsky’s tactical nous today. However, it was far from plain sailing for the Australian team with their match against Perry notably tight, forcing the umpires to work overtime to deal with a deluge of protests.This was toe-to-toe action with Perry collecting the first penalty in the pre-start and then Mirsky taking one back during a series of rapid gybes on the first run. A further penalty for Mirsky seemed to shake the Australian team into focus as they then stuck three penalties on Perry in quick succession as they approached the leeward mark. It was textbook match racing which Perry simply had no answer to.

Looking ahead, Mirsky is far from complacent: “We haven’t won the competition yet, so our results so far don’t count for anything. Like everyone else we’re still getting used to these –boats, our starts aren’t great and our decisions are too rushed. That said, we’re confident that we will continue to sail well.”

The World Match Racing Tour is famed for bringing through emerging talent and today in Bermuda one of those prodigies came to the fore. Taylor Canfield (USA) defied his age to peg back the current leader in the Tour standings, Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, in emphatic fashion. The French skipper trailed the 21 year-old around the course however with a penalty holding him back, the young skipper’s only option was to slow down in an attempt to pin one on Richard. This marked the start of three incredible minutes of tactical jostling. Richard took a risk to take control of the race, but misjudged it and collected a red flag penalty, leaving both boats with a penalty to take after crossing the finish line. Canfield got back onto the course side and completed his first, but Richard fouled his young opponent a second time while taking his turn, a move for which he eventually paid the ultimate price in a black flag disqualification.

Both skippers went on to win their next races however Richard has lost his chance of proceeding straight to the Quarter-Finals and now faces a must-win match against Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team if he is to make the Qualifying play-off. It will be a tough ask though asRadich holds a cast-iron record at the Argo Group Gold Cup, including a victory in 2002, and continued that form today, winning all his matches.

In the tightly-fought battles today two skippers – Williams and Richard – collected half-point penalties for boat damage. Both requested a jury hearing, but only Williams was successful, in convincing the judges that he hadn’t broken the boat contact rules in his match against against Marinho resulting in him getting the half point back again.

SIX SKIPPERS UNBEATEN IN FIRST DAY ACTION IN THE ARGO GROUP GOLD CUP 06 Oct 2010

By Talbot Wilson

Hamilton, Bermuda – 5 October 2010 – French sailor Mathieu Richard did not have a good Tuesday in Bermuda. In the first three flights of the Stage 1 qualifying round-robin races in Bermuda’s Argo Group Gold Cup, Richard’s French Match Racing Team, the current leader on the World Match Racing Tour, suffered two critical losses.

Six skippers remain unbeaten moving into Wednesday after three flights. Wednesday the 22 teams will sail three flights and then the one more on Thursday to qualify for the next stage. The top two teams in each of the three groups automatically move into the Quarter-Finals. The third and fourth in each group sail a 6-boat round robin and the top two from that round move into the quarters, too. It is a last chance for teams to regain their composure and move up with the winners.

Quarterfinals begin on Friday, after the Thursday night ‘Rock the Dock’ party at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

 Looking back on Tuesday, Richard lost to Terry Mclaughlin (CAN) Team Commonwealth and to Lucy Macgregor, current ISAF women’s Match Racing World Champion (GBR) GBR Match Race Girls. Richard’s only win was over first time Gold Cupper Mike Buckley (USA). Buckley was ahead of Richard in the early stages of the race, but lost his lead by failing to cover from ahead on the first leeward leg. Richard won the Gold Cup in 2007.

Leading Group 2 is Rubin Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing with three wins and no losses. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch also has an unblemished record at 2-0 with one bye for the day.

In Group 3 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team has two wins, Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar sponsored by Argo Group has two and Jonnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team has two. Those skippers all had a bye in one flight today and have no losses. Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team has three wins for a perfect day as well. He’ll even up on numbers when his bye comes around later.

In Group 2 and Group 3, each team has a bye because the field is only 22 boats, not the full 24-boat fleet. Some of the sailor only raced two races today.

Complete results for the three groups are on the World Match Racing Tour web: http://www.wmrt.com/news/98-argo-group-gold-cup/11370-2010-argo-group-gold-cup-pairings-and-results.html

Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team and Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team and Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing lead Group 1 at two wins each. Taylor Canfield (USA), a 21-year-old skipper from the USVI, defied the odds by winning his first two matches, the second against the seasoned veteran Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team.

Richard’s victory against Mike Buckley in his third race today couldn’t hide his frustrations and he faces his highest ranked opponents on Wednesday: “It was not a good day for us – this is a tricky place to sail and the boats are also difficult. We made some big mistakes and don’t feel good right now. We know we must make some changes to have a chance of going through to the Quarter-Finals.”


Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN, last year’s winner of the King Edward VII Gold Cup, came away with only one win in two flights he sailed. His win came over Bermuda schoolboy Lance Fraser Team TOP’s Ltd. Ainslie’s loss was to 23-year old Ruben Corbett, one of the hottest competitors on the world match racing scene, whop was perfect in his firs three matches.

Action continues all week with the finals scheduled for Sunday October 10th.
At home, spectators can enjoy all the action on www.wmrt.com with live commentary, streaming video and all the results and news of the day. Also featured is the Argo Group Gold Cup World Match Racing Tour “Play of the Day” and plenty of photos and video, too.

In Bermuda, the Bermuda Sports Network, http://www.bermudasportsnetwork.com/, hosts the live video and commentary.

Click here for biographies of skippers, details for Argo Group Gold Cup and a full schedule for events.

TEAMORIGIN START RACING IN THE FINAL EVENT OF THEIR MATCH RACING TOUR 05 Oct 2010

Triple Olympic gold medalists and ISAF World Sailor of the Year Ben Ainslie hopes Hamilton Harbour will once again prove to be fertile ground for TEAMORIGIN.

By Colin Thompson, The Bermuda Sun.

Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor defeated current World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) champion Adam Minoprio 3-1 in last year’s Argo Group Gold Cup final to lift the revered showpiece for the first time.

He said: 'We really enjoy sailing in Hamilton Harbour and really enjoy the boats, the venue, the yacht club and all the people and so we feel kind of at home. I think it’s safe to say the boats and venue suits us and so I hope we can do well.'

The five-time Finn class world champion is fresh off a disappointing showing at last month’s Danish Cup in Denmark where he was denied precious points after making an early exit from the regatta.

With only two events remaining in this year’s WMRC Tour series, Ainslie openly admits his chances of landing the coveted prize are slim at best. Yet he is still determined to give it his best shot.

'We haven’t done enough events this year to get the points and realistically you have to give yourself more events in case things don’t go well. But I would say we have an outside chance,' said Ainslie, who has one win on the WMRC Tour this year (Match Cup Sweden).

'We’ve had some good regattas obviously in Sweden where we won and also in Marseille at the beginning of the year where we were second. But at the last two events (St. Moritz Match Race and Danish Open) we didn’t go so well, which was pretty disappointing for us.'

The five-time British Yachtsman of the Year currently lies fifth in the WMRT standings behind compatriot and past Argo Group Gold Cup winner Ian Williams, who is also back this year.

Lawyer-turned full-time sailor Williams is currently in the hunt for a third WMRT crown along with defending champion Minoprio (New Zealand), past Argo Group Gold Cup winner Matthieu Richard (France) and Tovar Mirsky (Australia).
Only skippers’ best five finishes count towards the WMRT Tour championship at the end of the season.

Ainslie added: 'With the Argo Group Gold Cup being the penultimate regatta in the World Match Racing Tour this event will be crucial for the guys at the top leading into the final in Malaysia.

'The guys at the top of the leader board have done a lot of regattas and certainly sailed well in the majority of them. They’ve also had a few bad regattas but this has given them the opportunity to discard those regattas as it were.

'For us every event counts and having a bad result in the last race in Denmark really made life difficult for us.

'But we will just enjoy Bermuda and try and do as well as we can and see where that leads us.'

TEAMORIGIN DECIDE NOT TO CHALLENGE FOR AC34 01 Oct 2010

TEAMORIGIN DECIDES AGAINST AMERICA’S CUP CHALLENGE

TEAMORIGIN, the yacht racing team established by Sir Keith Mills, and skippered by triple Olympic Gold Medallist, Ben Ainslie, announced today that it will not be challenging for the next America’s Cup scheduled for 2013.

The team, which was set up in 2007, has been waiting for three years to enter the America’s Cup, which was delayed when the US team, BMW ORACLE Racing, took the Swiss team, Alinghi, through the US courts.  The US team won the court battle and won the 33^rd America’s Cup Match to become the America’s Cup Defender in February this year.  The new US Defender has recently announced the format for the next America’s Cup, including the rules and type of boat to be raced. TEAMORIGIN has also been briefed by the Defender and has made numerous comments on both the regatta rules and class rule.

Having now had a chance to analyse the race format, the proposed fixed wing catamaran boat, the timetable, rules and costs, Sir Keith has concluded that the 34^th America’s Cup is neither viable commercially, nor an attractive sporting contest for TEAMORIGIN. Therefore he has decided that the team will not submit a challenge when the challenge period opens on 1 November.

Sir Keith Mills, TEAMORIGIN Team Principal, “After three years of waiting in the wings to enter a British team in the America’s Cup I am bitterly disappointed that we will not be competing.  However, the format and timetable decided by the Defender, BMW/Oracle, is simply not viable for TEAMORIGIN.  We have assembled an outstanding team, led by Grant Simmer and Ben Ainslie, and I am personally very sorry that they won’t now get the chance to race for a British team in the next America’s Cup”.

Over the next couple of months TEAMORIGIN will be considering whether it will compete in other yachting events over the next few years.

ENDS

 For further information contact Leslie Greenhalgh, TEAMORIGIN Director of Marketing, Communications and Events on lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com and +44 (0)7795 483116 

TEAMORIGIN’S GRASSROOTS PROGRAMME PARTNER, RYA ONBOARD, INTRODUCES CITY YOUNGSTERS TO SAILING 29 Sep 2010

Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged 8 to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres.

TEAMORIGIN is the Main Partner to the OnBoard programme, providing valuable financial support as well as the involvement of their professional sports team to act as inspiration to young people attracting them to and retaining them in the sport of sailing.

Over a ten year period OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants. So far it’s nicely on track.

Thursday 24^th September was a school day with a difference for some 30 pupils who visited the 2012 sailing venue in Weymouth and Portland. 

The pupils from Westfield Arts College in Weymouth, (a school for children with special needs) were joined by youngsters from Stormont House Special School in Hackney at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (WPNSA) and took to the water for a day of sailing around Portland harbour. They were also treated to a special meeting with Paralympic classes World Champion, Skandia Team GBR’s Alexandra Rickham.

At the start of the day the sailors were met by Alex and eagerly listened as she described her Paralympic two person SKUD class boat. They also had the chance to ask her all about Paralympic sailing before taking to the water themselves for the chance to put their skills into action.

The kids soon made friends as they paired up with a child from a different school and sailed double handed in Laser Picos enjoying sailing across the wind and tacking, before ending the day with a fun relay race.

“It is really good fun sailing on the sea” said Jamie from London. “I was nervous to begin with because of the size of the Portland Harbour but Fergus (crew) is a good sailor and we were able to sail well together.”

Tony Wood, RYA Regional Development Officer “It was fantastic to see the two schools come together and enjoy sailing at the Olympic venue. We are very grateful to the Worshipful Company of Dyers and the Chesil Trust for funding to enable these sailing sessions to take place.

“Thanks to SailLaser and their instructor team for providing a really good experience for all the young sailors. We are looking forward to further combined London and Weymouth/Portland sailing sessions in the lead up to 2012.”

Alex says “It was awesome meeting the kids and seeing them getting out on the water and feeling excited about sailing. It was wonderful to see them meeting and sailing with the youngsters from the Hackney and it is fantastic to see the link between London and Weymouth is being made in different ways.”

All the kids have been introduced to sailing through the RYA OnBoard grassroots scheme which gives youngsters the chance to try sailing and windsurfing through their schools and training centres. 

Thanks to funding from the Chesil Trust and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, a link has been established between the two schools to provide opportunities for the pupils to sail together and to visit the Olympic venues.

The pupils from Westfield Arts College are planning to join Stormont House Special School for a visit to the Olympic venue in London.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA’s website www.rya.org.ukor the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk.

BREEZE ON FOR THE FINAL DAY OF THE AUDI MEDCUP 25 Sep 2010

AUDI MEDCUP FINAL EVENT: CAGLIARI,  DAY FIVE, SATURDAY 25^THSEPTEMBER 2010

It was an exciting day on the race course today with the north westerly mistral blowing dogs off chains in the Bay of Angels, Cagliari.

TEAMORIGIN had a great last race of the season surfing the downwind legs in excess of 20 knots of boat speed to take second place behind Audi A1. 

Matt (Catflap) Cornwell, TEAMORIGIN bowman “We had a great race in 25-30 knots of wind.  Even saw a couple of 32 knots gusts down the last run which was good fun!  We hit our top boat speed which was nice, 23 knots down wind, it was on the edge but really great fun and nice to see a good result to end the series.  We’ve earned our beers today!”

Matador were looking good for continuing their winning streak of this event until disaster struck going round the first mark, they ripped their spinnaker and were buried to the middle of the fleet as they retrieved it and re-hoisted another.  Unfortunately this put an end to their quest to wrestle second place in the series from Quantum Racing so they stay on the podium in third overall.

Matador won this event but it's Emirates Team New Zealand who take the series once again this year having won overall in 2009 as well. 

TEAMORIGIN finish the Audi MedCup series in fourth place overall, slightly disappointing given that a podium place was still possible going into this event .   The team will now get ready for the last match race event of their season in Bermuda and then the final Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai regatta in November before turning their attentions to multihull sailing in preparation for the America’s Cup

Ben Ainslie, skipper and helm, TEAMORIGIN “It’s been a great season.  As a team we have come a long way and improved in many key areas.  We are looking forward to the next event in Bermuda and also finding out more information regarding the next America’s Cup”

For full results go to: http://www.medcup.org/results/venue.php?trophy=5

Follow TEAMORIGIN on twitter and facebook

http://twitter.com/TEAMORIGIN

http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/TEAMORIGIN-Official-Page/162631532895?ref=ts

To follow racing with live race coverage streaming with virtual eye go to:

www.teamorigin.com

www.medcup.org

For images go to:

www.teamoriginimages.com

ian@ianroman.com

For more information contact:

katemardel@teamorigin.com

+44 7920 820682

Skype katemf

RACING POSTPONED TODAY DUE TO UNSTABLE BREEZE 24 Sep 2010

A light unstable breeze which blew from just about every direction of the compass, and never reached any more than seven knots, finally scuppered the penultimate day of racing at the Region of Sardinia Trophy in Cagliari

If the weather proved unkind, not fulfilling the role which was asked of it on what could have been a decisive day, the final day of the 2010 Audi MedCupseason does look promising. A NE’ly Mistralwind of between 15 and 25 knots would, if it arrives as forecasters currently suggest, offer perfect conditions for the season’s finale.

The planned start time for Saturday has been moved forward to 1200hrs, midday, in an effort to allow three races for both the 42 Series and the 52 Series fleets.

The lack of racing today was bitter-sweet for Guillermo Paradaand the crew of Matador. In the quest for the Region of Sardinia Trophythe lack of racing strengthens the hand of Matador to win the regatta, but leaves them potentially three races to overturn the six points deficit on Quantum Racing  tomorrow if they are to capture second place for the season’s Audi MedCup Circuit.

Karol Jablonski (POL) and the crew of Synergy (RUS)are also within reach of their first regatta podium finish of the season, lying second by just 2.5 points ahead of Quantum Racing.

They are likely to consider that attack is the best form of defence as they also have Audi A1 powered by All4ONE(FRA/GER)pursuing their sixth place overall for the season, chasing only 7.5 points behind.

It was confirmed today that AUDI AG will extend their title support for the Audi MedCup Circuit, the world's leading regatta circuit, for a further three years through until the end of 2013 season.

The Soto 40 will join the 2011 Audi MedCup alongside the 52 Series with at least eight entries expected next season.

María Torrijo (ESP), PRO Audi MedCup Circuit: "The wind's been shifting all day due to the storm, and besides it hasn't really picked up, seven knots the most. We've registered 180 degrees shifts in a very short period of time and that's made us take the decision not to race. The committee boat's been on the water the whole day. Tomorrow's forecast has improved and it seems we'll have between15 and 20 knots."

LAST COASTAL RACE OF THE SERIES AND MATADOR EXTEND THEIR REGATTA LEAD 23 Sep 2010

AUDI MEDCUP FINAL EVENT: CAGLIARI,  DAY THREE, COASTAL RACE, THURSDAY 23^RDSEPTEMBER 2010

TEAMORIGIN proved today that the coastal race is not their favourite element of the Audi MedCup regatta series finishing seventh in today’s race.

After just over an hour’s postponement to racing the race committee got the TP52 fleet going for today's coastal race.

TEAMORIGIN had a great start and worked with the shifts to round the top mark in third place.

Things didn't go their way on the run and it was a game of catch up from that point on.   With a couple of long reaching legs there were less passing opportunities than they'd like, though they managed to get ahead of both Luna Rossa and Christabella mid-point through the race.  

Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN skipper and helm "we had a tough race, we pushed hard but it didn't go our way and was a frustrating finish. With two more days racing we need to keep working hard until the end.”

Matador once again had a spectacular day taking the lead early and just extending away from the fleet ending the race with possibly the biggest lead we've seen this season in the TP52 series and now have a comfortable lead for this regatta in Cagliari.

Quantum sailed a good race holding strongly onto second place, Artemis third and Audi A1 in fourth.

Emirates Team New Zealand only managed a sixth but have done enough to claim the series and are now unbeatable for the overall Audi MedCup Trophy.

So after today’s 1.5 point scoring race there’s a shift in the score board.  Matador lead, followed by Synergy, Quantum, Emirates TNZ and Audi A1.  TEAMORIGIN are now in sixth but retain fourth place in the series, now 20 points behind Matador in third. 

For full results go to: http://www.medcup.org/results/venue.php?trophy=5

Race schedule for Friday

Two windward/leeward races,  first warning signal at 1300

Follow TEAMORIGIN on twitter and facebook

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/TEAMORIGIN-Official-Page/162631532895?ref=ts

To follow racing with live race coverage streaming with virtual eye go to:

www.teamorigin.com

www.medcup.org

 For images go to:

www.teamoriginimages.com

ian@ianroman.com

 For more information contact:

katemardel@teamorigin.com

+44 7920 820682

Skype katemf

COLLISION ON THE RACE COURSE IN THE FINAL RACE! 22 Sep 2010

AUDI MEDCUP FINAL EVENT: CAGLIARI,  DAY TWO, WEDNESDAY 22^ND SEPTEMBER 2010

It was enough to take both Bribon and Audi A1 out of the third and final race on day two in Cagliari.

A classic port/starboard situation as the fleet approached the first top mark, Audi A1 on port preparing to duck Bribon sailing in on starboard but something in Audi A1’s timing just wasn’t quite right.   The duck wasn’t enough and Audi A1’s bow sprit went ploughing into the aft quarter of Bribon, gashing the hull and breaking their bow sprit clean off.   Disaster for Bribon and it’ll be a amazing if they make it to the start line on Thursday for the coastal race so a long night ahead for the boat builders.  They may not come back in this regatta at all.

Meanwhile TEAMORIGIN were already around the mark ahead and sailing their way to the best result of the regatta so far. 

A great start by skipper and helm Ben Ainslie, hitting the line with pace and accuracy enabled them to stay in the top third all the way around race three and take second place in front of Emirates Team New Zealand and behind Matador.

The team had a difficult start to the day ending race one in eighth place but undeterred were able to  halve that score by race two delivering a fourth place finish just one second behind Audi A1.

Warwick Fluery, mainsail trimmer “It was a tough day.  It wasn’t always clear which side of the course to go.  Yesterday was easier to read than today”

Matador and Synergy are both having a good regatta to date, posting consistent results and sailing well.  Emirates Team New Zealand are definitely in the mix but a tenth today won’t help them in their quest to wrap up the series at the top.

So after 6 races TEAMORIGIN are up to fourth in the regatta and hold fourth in the series, just eleven points behind Matador in third so tomorrows coastal race with a 1.5 scoring system is pretty important in the grand scheme of things.

Race schedule for Thursday

One coastal race,  warning signal at 1300

Follow TEAMORIGIN on twitter and facebook

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/TEAMORIGIN-Official-Page/162631532895?ref=ts

To follow racing with live race coverage streaming with virtual eye go to:

www.teamorigin.com

www.medcup.org

For images go to:

www.teamoriginimages.com

ian@ianroman.com

For more information contact:

katemardel@teamorigin.com

+44 7920 820682

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CHALLENGING CONDITIONS ON DAY ONE IN CAGLIARI 21 Sep 2010

The first day of racing here at the Audi Med Cup Cagliari threw a variety of conditions at the sailing teams today. 

The forecast models were not at all certain what they could promise on the race course and that was evident in the changing  and shifty conditions that were experienced with the wind swinging up to 30 degrees by the last race.  The committee had to move the marks on virtually every leg of the race.  

TEAMORIGIN got off to a great start in the first race in a 9 knot south easterly but it seemed the left side was the way to go and the British crew didn’t go all the way.

Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, TEAMORIGIN strategist explains  “We wanted to go left but didn’t commit to the pin because we wanted to get a decent safe lane to the left, sadly we couldn’t hold the lane so had to bail and ended up getting tacked on 4 or 5 times so in those light winds tacking isn’t ideal and we got sailed to the back which was tough.  The left came in strong and we were pretty frustrated but that’s what happens sometimes”

The second and third races TEAMORIGIN placed fourth in each race in a steadily bumpier sea state and increased wind.  By the end of the day they were seeing upwards of 17 knots on the race course

“The breeze really picked up, we had 17-18 knots at times so it became really good racing by the middle of the third race.  It was great fun, a tricky day and we kept fighting back” commented Bart.

After today’s racing TEAMORIGIN finished with 7,4,4 and lie in 5^thplace in this event, holding their 4^thplace in the series.  

Iain Percy, TEAMORIGIN tactician- "We battled hard today but things didn't fall our way. We can still finish in the top three in the series. But a lot will depend on the coastal race, which counts 1.5 points and where we have often struggled. But we are due a good one."

Race schedule for Wednesday

Three races scheduled, first warning signal at 1300

Follow TEAMORIGIN on twitter and facebook

http://twitter.com/TEAMORIGIN

http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/TEAMORIGIN-Official-Page/162631532895?ref=ts

To follow racing with live race coverage streaming with virtual eye go to:

www.teamorigin.com

www.medcup.org

For images go to:

www.teamoriginimages.com

ian@ianroman.com

For more information contact:

katemardel@teamorigin.com

+44 7920 820682

Skype katemf

GOOD PRACTICE RACE FOR TEAMORIGIN IN CLASSIC CAGLIARI CONDITIONS 20 Sep 2010

The final event of the Audi MedCup 2010 series got underway today with the official practice race sailed in near perfect  conditions. 

With a dying Mistral wind on its way out that gave an opportunity for the south easterly sea-breeze to come into its own and provide the fleet with a lovely 12 knots for some champagne sailing.

TEAMORIGIN took a few practice starts to find their stride but by race time were in a good position and got off the line well.  They led most of the way around the course taking second place in the end as Bribon nipped in and took the bullet just one second in front with Emirates Team New Zealand another second behind.

TEAMORIGIN’s navigator Ed Smyth commented “It turned out to be a really nice day actually.  We had a good shake-down out there today, it’s always good to do practice some practice starts and practice racing to get some confidence up in the sailing area and the conditions”

With all the teams having now sailed most of this series against each other it looks like there will be some good close racing in the week ahead.

Cagliari is Sardinia’s capital and provides a beautiful and historic backdrop for the event.  Locals and tourists are coming through the race village to enjoy the atmosphere and hospitality that Audi MedCup provides.

Race schedule for Tuesday

Three races scheduled, first warning signal at 1300

Follow TEAMORIGIN on twitter and facebook

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To follow racing with live race coverage streaming with virtual eye go to:

www.teamorigin.com

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www.teamoriginimages.com

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For more information contact:

katemardel@teamorigin.com

+44 7920 820682

Skype katemf

OFFICIAL PRACTICE HAS STARTED IN CAGLIARI, SARDINIA 19 Sep 2010

Today the Region of Sardinia Trophy Regatta, the final event of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit season, takes on proper shape and form as the official Practice Race for the 52 Series is scheduled for this afternoon.

As usual there are two practice starts which allow the teams to get used to the conditions and refine their starting, before Practice Race itself.

After a Mistral day yesterday, with fantastic conditions very typical of the Gulf of Cagliari – flat waters and powerful, fast sailing – there is some residual NE’ly Mistral around this morning. But the sun is out, the seas inviting and after a cool early morning there is a good chance of thermal breeze coming in for the early afternoon.

That means an initial fight, with 4-10 knots of E-ESE’ly breeze resulting around start time of 1300hrs, and through the afternoon it should average out to around 8-12 knots.

TEAMORIGIN had a good day practicing yesterday with a few of the other teams.  The final regatta of the 2010 season has attracted ten 52 Series boats.

Ashore the Audi MedCup Public Village is open, and busy this morning, previewing the daily Dockout show which takes place each morning.

Audi MedCup TV goes live tomorrow and you can watch it here: http://teamorigin.com/en/player/  from 1250hrs.

TEAMORIGIN HEAD TO CAGLIARI FOR FINAL AUDI MEDCUP EVENT 16 Sep 2010

TEAMORIGIN RESPOND TO AC34 INFORMATION RELEASED TODAY 13 Sep 2010

TEAMORIGIN issued the following statement following the publication of the 34^thAmerica’s Cup Protocol and the information presented at the America’s Cup Press Conference in Valencia.

Grant Simmer, CEO of TEAMORIGIN, gave his comments today:

 “The whole America’s Cup community has been waiting a long time to get solid information on the 34th America’s Cup, and so today is a positive day for TEAMORIGIN and all prospective teams.  The Protocol and the announcements give us many important pieces of information, much of it we heard for the first time today. Furthermore the Defender commented at the press conference, that we will be receiving more important information over the coming months.”

 “2013 is the year of the next Cup. We now know that for sure. There were a lot of new elements published today and a lot of changes have been made to the first Protocol draft published in June. For instance designers are able to work for more than one team, which is an interesting and significant change from past Cups. We will now review the new Protocol document and associated information to see if this matches our expectations, and we look forward to meeting the Defender with the other prospective challengers, to discuss the many detailed questions that today’s Protocol has inevitably brought to light.”

Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN Skipper and Helmsman, added his thoughts,

“It is great to finally have an idea of the future for the America’s Cup. Challenging in multihulls will be an interesting proposition for all of the teams. The game starts here.'

Sir Keith Mills, TEAMORIGIN Team Principal, stated:

“Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts promised Challengers:

-           A level playing field – giving teams a fair chance of winning

-           Neutral event management – to ensure the event was not controlled by one team

-           Cost containment – to prevent an arms race

We now need to study the new Protocol document and determine whether it matches these promises. TEAMORIGIN will only challenge if the 34th America’s Cup is fair and neutrally managed. “

MINOPRIO TAKES THE WIN IN DANISH OPEN 12 Sep 2010

OVERALL RESULTS DANISH OPEN WMRT EVENT

DISAPPOINTING RESULT FOR TEAMORIGIN AT DANISH OPEN 11 Sep 2010

Bornholm, Denmark – September 11, 2011 – Three time Olympic Gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and four time Match Racing World Champion Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing were among the big name casualties who were sent packing from the Danish Open today, effectively ending their dreams of winning the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Championship.

Both skippers were resigned to the fact that the Championship probably lies beyond their grasp having lost out on valuable points as reigning Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, Tour leader Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra marched into the semi-finals which are set to be completed tomorrow morning.

With just three flights of qualifying remaining to be completed this morning and 7 skippers still in with a chance of making the semis there were always going to be some big names facing an early exit. Ainslie and Gilmour both went into the morning’s matches with a fighting chance of reaching the semis and faced up to each other in their opening match of the day.

It was the experienced Gilmour who came out on top giving the Australian hope of making the semi-finals in Denmark for the second year in a row. However, both Gilmour and Ainslie lost their next matches dashing any chances they had of making it through to the knock out stages.

Ben Ainslie's hopes of winning the World Match Racing Tour were left in tatters as he failed to qualify for the semi finals at the Danish Open © Loris von Siebenthal, WMRT

A disappointed Ainslie said, “In terms of the Tour and doing well we have to face that we’re probably out of it. We had a chance in all three of our races this morning but just couldn’t get into gear and get any speed. It’s been a really frustrating day but we have to take it on the chin.

“We’ll be at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda (Stage 8 of the WMRT) and have a good history there so will just have to see how we sit going into the final event in Malaysia. We love being on Tour and match racing is excellent for practicing our skills.”

Gilmour, who reached the semi-finals in Denmark last year said, ”We came into this morning thinking we’d need two wins out of three and when we won against Ben we had a real chance, but we let Mirsky off the hook in the next race. He had a penalty in the pre-race start and we gave a weak one back.

“Its very noticeable how the standard has improved on the Tour. It’s not so much at the top but more with the rest of the field. In the past you knew you were going to have a few easy matches before the knock out stages. Now every race is a battle.”

Minoprio topped the standings at the end of qualifying which gave him the right to choose his opponent for the semi-finals, opting to take on Italy’s Francesco Bruni, who had not been in action in the morning having completed his qualifying flights on Friday.

With two flights of the first to three point semi finals taking place this afternoon, with the remaining matches being staged tomorrow ahead of the final, Minoprio’s decision to take on Bruni appeared to pay off as he opened up a 2-0 lead. In the other semi-final Richard looked to increase his strangle hold on the championships as he opened up a 2-0 lead over Mirsky.

Speaking after the day’s racing Richard said, “It has been a very good week for us so far. In the past we’ve led the Championship at this stage and then fallen away. This time we are not thinking about our ranking. We are just taking each race one by one and focusing on racing. We have improved technically this season and have a lot more experience now. We’ve been together a long time and it all seems to be working well.”

Semi-final standings
Adam Minoprio leads Francesco Bruni 2-0
Mathieu Richard leads Torver Mirsky 2-0

Standings at the end of qualifying for Danish Open
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 9-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 9-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 8-3
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 8-3
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 6-5
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 6-5
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 5-6
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 5-6
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing 4-7
William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing 4-7
Suzanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward 1-10
Michael Buckley (USA) MB Sailing 1-10

DAY TWO AT THE DANISH OPEN MATCH RACE 10 Sep 2010

Italy's Francesco Bruni Takes Pole Position 

Bornholm, Denmark, 10 September 2010 - Italy's Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra, was in red hot form on day two of qualifying for the Danish Open and leads the charge for semi final places with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses, but with 3 flights to complete tomorrow morning and 7 skippers still in with a chance of qualifying the battle for the semis is wide open.

Bruni, who carried a 3-2 record over from yesterday got off to winning ways with victory over reigning ISAF World Match Racing Tour Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing and followed that up with a win against Peter Gilmour YANMAR Racing. Bruni then bounced back from a loss to current ISAF World Match Racing Tour leader Matthieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing to win his three remaining races of the day.

Speaking after his amazing sequence of wins Bruni said, "It was an incredible day for us and everything seemed to work well. We're in a strong position with 8 wins but I remember in St Moritz we thought we had done enough but didn't go through. The competition is so tough you can't take anything for granted."

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team was also on form winning all three of his races to post a 7-1 record, while Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing and Adam Minoprio are the next closest challengers with 6 wins and 2 losses each.

Home Success

Home favourite Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing pulled off a stunning victory over triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN, leaving the Englishman among the chasing pack fighting for a berth in tomorrow afternoon's semi-finals.

"Winning over Ben was amazing for us. We try to go into every race treating everyone the same but it's not everyday that you beat a legend like Ben, so it was a very good day for us. Ben tried to push us into an attack ahead of the start, luckily we were able to gybe in time. We got away from him at the start and were always ahead then," said Ebler.

Classic Duel

While Friday saw calmer winds for the sailors there was no let up in intensity on the water with crews pushing themselves and their boats to the limits. Veteran World Champions Peter Gilmour and Bertrand Pacé rolled back the years with a classic fierce duel which saw the pair clash twice.

The first incident came at the first leeward mark which saw Gilmour penalized for not giving Pacé room to round inside his line. Seconds later Pacé incurred his own penalty as the windward boat not keeping clear. With Pacé holding the advantage on the final approach to the finish Gilmour made a last ditch attempt to snare the Frenchman which ended in disaster as his spinnaker made contact with Pacé's backstay which cost the Australian another penalty and with it the match.

Earlier in the day the 50 year-old Gilmour collected the honour of 'play of the day' in a clash of the generations as he took on 20 year-old qualifier William Tiller. Having lost his first match against Richard, Gilmour was facing down the barrel of a second straight loss, with Kiwi Tiller leading down the final run. But Gilmour maintained the attack right to the end, gybing to sit on Tiller's wind and roll over the top of him five lengths from the line.

Best of the Rest

Ben Ainslie will need his best form in his three remaining races tomorrow to secure a place in the semis having won 2 and lost 1 of his races today, leaving him with a 5-3 record. Sweden's Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team also still has a chance to qualify, finishing the day on a 5-3 record.

Despite 2 wins today Ebler is unable to qualify for the semis along with 20 year-old William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing who showed his huge potential racking up four victories today. It was a day to forget for Mike Buckley (USA) MB Sailing, yesterday's surprise winner over Matthieu Richard, as he lost all 8 races. Denmark's three time Olympic sailor Susanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward scored her first win of the day against Buckley but finished with a 1-10 record.

Tomorrow sees the last three flights of the qualifiers and the start of the knockout semi-finals, in which the first teams to score three points will go through to the finals on Sunday.

See the play of the day and highlights of the day’s action on the WMRT youtube page: www.youtube.com/worldmrt  and follow the race action in real time from 1000 local time every day with the live blog at www.wmrt.com/liveblog and the boat tracker at www.tractrac.com

 
Standings at the end of day 2 of qualifying for the Danish Open

Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra                                                                          8-3
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team                                     7-1
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing                          6-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team    6-2
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN                                                     5-3
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing                                           5-3
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team                                  5-3
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team                                      5-6
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing                                                             4-7
William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing                                4-7
Suzanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward                                                  1-10
Michael Buckley (USA) MB Sailing                                                  1-10

MIXED OPENING DAY FOR TEAMORIGIN IN THE DANISH OPEN 09 Sep 2010

In sharp contrast to last weeks drift-a-thon in St Moritz the opening day of the Danish Open match race in Bornholm brought strong and gusty winds and the race organisers managed to get through 5 flights, really putting the teams through their paces.

A vang breakage on one boat and a crew man temporarliy in the water on TEAMORIGIN meant there was no shortage of action on the race course. 

TEAMORIGIN started the event strongly and won the first 3 of their matches against Bertrand Pace, Susanne Ward and Fransesco Bruni but Bjorn Hansen and Torvar Mirsky just got the better of the team leaving a final score on the day at 3-2.

STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR OPENING DAY OF THE DANISH OPEN MATCH RACE 07 Sep 2010

 Day one of the Danish Open match race and after yesterdays practice session, and a chance to get used to the very different kind of boats, the teams go into the round robin series

ROUND ROBIN PAIRINGS

FLIGHT 1
Winners in bold
M1 Mathieu Richard vs Mike Buckley
M2 Peter Gilmour vs Adam Minoprio
M3 William Tiller vs Mads Ebler

FLIGHT 2
Winner in bold
M1 Adam Minoprio vs Mike Buckley
M2 Mads Ebler vs Peter Gilmour
M3 William Tiller vs Mathieu Richard

FLIGHT 3
Winner in bold
M1 Peter Gilmour vs Mike Buckley
M2 Mads Ebler vs Mathieu Richard
M3 Adam Minoprio vs William Tiller

FLIGHT 4
Winner in bold
M1 Ben Ainslie vs Bertrand Pace
M2 Francesco Bruni vs Bjorn Hansen
M3 Torvar Mirsky vs Susanne Ward

FLIGHT 5
Winner in bold
M1 Bertrand Pace vs Francesco Bruni
M2 Bjorn Hansen vs Torvar Mirsky
M3 Ben Ainslie vs Susanne Ward

FLIGHT 6
Winner in bold
M1 Torvar Mirsky vs Bertrand Pace
M2 Francesco Bruni vs Ben Ainslie
M3 Susanne Ward vs Bjorn Hansen

FLIGHT 7
Winner in bold
M1 Francesco Bruni vs Torvar Mirsky
M2 Susanne Ward vs Bertrand Pace
M3 Bjorn Hansen vs Ben Ainslie

FLIGHT 8
Winner in bold
M1 Susanne Ward vs Francesco Bruni
M2 Bertrand Pace vs Bjorn Hansen
M3 Torvar Mirsky vs Ben Ainslie

FLIGHT 9
Winner in bold
M1 Peter Gilmour vs Mathieu Richard
M2 Mike Buckley vs William Tiller
M3 Adam Minoprio vs Mads Ebler

FLIGHT 10
Winner in bold
M1 William Tiller vs Peter Gilmour
M2 Mike Buckley vs Mads Ebler
M3 Mathieu Richard vs Adam Minoprio

FLIGHT 11
Winner in bold
M1 Ben Ainslie vs Mike Buckley
M2 Mads Ebler vs Torvar Mirsky
M3 William Tiller vs Bjorn Hansen

FLIGHT 12
Winner in bold
M1 Mads Ebler vs Ben Ainslie
M2 William Tiller vs Torvar Mirsky
M3 Mike Buckley vs Bjorn Hansen

FLIGHT 13
Winner in bold
M1 Ben Ainslie vs William Tiller
M2 Mads Ebler vs Bjorn Hansen
M3 Torvar Mirsky vs Mike Buckley

FLIGHT 14
Winner in bold
M1 Bertrand Pace vs Mathieu Richard
M2 Susanne Ward vs Peter Gilmour
M3 Francesco Bruni vs Adam Minoprio

FLIGHT 15
Winner in bold
M1 Mathieu Richard vs Susanne Ward
M2 Adam Minoprio vs Bertrand Pace
M3 Francesco Bruni vs Peter Gilmour

FLIGHT 16
Winner in bold
M1 Adam Minoprio vs Susanne Ward
M2 Francesco Bruni vs Mathieu Richard
M3 Bertrand Pace vs Peter Gilmour

FLIGHT 17
Winner in bold
M1 Susanne Ward vs William Tiller
M2 Mads Ebler vs Francesco Bruni
M3 Mike Buckley vs Bertrand Pace

FLIGHT 18
Winner in bold
M1 William Tiller vs Francesco Bruni
M2 Mike Buckley vs Susanne Ward
M3 Bertrand Pace vs Mads Ebler

FLIGHT 19
Winner in bold
M1 Mike Buckley vs Francesco Bruni
M2 Bertrand Pace vs William Tiller
M3 Susanne Ward vs Mads Ebler

FLIGHT 20
Winner in bold
M1 Bjorn Hansen vs Mathieu Richard
M2 Peter Gilmour vs Ben Ainslie
M3 Torvar Mirsky vs Adam Minoprio

FLIGHT 21
Winner in bold
M1 Mathieu Richard vs Ben Ainslie
M2 Bjorn Hansen vs Adam Minoprio
M3 Peter Gilmour vs Torvar Mirsky

FLIGHT 22
Winner in bold
M1 Bjorn Hansen vs Peter Gilmour
M2 Mathieu Richard vs Torvar Mirsky
M3 Ben Ainslie vs Adam Minoprio

.

TEAMORIGIN 4TH OVERALL IN ST MORITZ 04 Sep 2010

 St. Moritz, Switzerland – 5 September 2010 – Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team won the ‘King of the Mountain’ title today in spectacular style, taking a huge stride towards his quest to become the 2010 ISAF Match Racing World Champion.

Having toyed with the teams all week at the St. Moritz Match Race, it was on the final day that the Maloja wind truly kicked in, bringing with it a supreme display of match racing for which the ISAF World Match Racing Tour is renowned. Richard, despite not always being on top of his game throughout the week, knuckled down when it mattered most, grinding out a series of hard-fought victories against his nearest rivals today.

When the two British skippers, triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and double ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar won their first semi-final matches, the prospects looked good for an all-British final. However, Richard had no intention of playing second fiddle and led Ainslie all the way round the course in their next race to level the score.

It was standing room only in the packed grandstands and with everything hanging on the final race of both semi-final matches, the crowds of spectators were in for a treat. A dogfight before each of the starts characterized the races. With a penalty to his name in his deciding semi-final battle against Ainslie, it appeared Richard’s only option as they approached the final mark was a brutal one - to pin a penalty on Ainslie. Fortunately for Richard, his Blu26 found a gust, giving him enough time to complete his penalty turn and dispense with the Brit.

Meanwhile, in the Williams vs Minoprio bout Williams took the first match, but Minoprio responded in the second with a move at the windward mark, where Williams collected two penalties in rapid succession, allowing Minoprio to take a decisive victory. Williams though regained his composure for the final race of his dual with the New Zealander, with just enough control over Minoprio to maintain a slim lead to the finish and a place in the final.

The scene was set for a fitting British-French finale, with the title going to the first team to win two races. This was sailing’s version of ‘Le Crunch’. At times, both played underdog, exchanging glances and penalties. It was one all after two races and in the deciding race, it seemed only right that the wind, so unpredictable and challenging all week, should have the final say. Richard, playing a string of gusts and shifts to perfection, pulling five lengths clear, a lead he maintained to take the ‘King of the Mountain’ crown and CHF36,000 in prize money.

Richard, reflected: “I wasn’t happy after losing the first race against Ian in the finals. I was too excited, made mistakes and didn’t have a positive feeling. So, we picked ourselves up, changed our mood and took the match to them. We go to Denmark with a healthy lead however we know there is still all to play for. For now though, we’re overjoyed.”

As the Tour heads to the island of Bornholm, Denmark, next week, it is possible that the next few weeks will determine not just the outcome of this year’s World Match Racing Tour but also shape the future of match racing with the America’s Cup announcements that have been a hot topic all week in St. Moritz. Whatever the outcome, Richard and his rivals will remain focused on their endeavours to take the World Match Racing Tour title.

Overall Standings the 2010 St. Moritz Match Race:

Skipper/Teams Points
1 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25
2 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 20
3 Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 15
4 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 12
5 Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 10
6 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 8
7 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6
8 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 4
9 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
10 Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Race Team
11 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
12 Jerome Clerc (SUI) Team CER Geneve

For fans around the world, the St. Moritz Match Race will be featured in a TV highlights programme called The St Moritz Match Race. Featuring all the action from Lake St. Moritz, it will premiere on Eurosport at 21.35 on 6 October and also show on Eurosport Asia Pacific at 13.45 on 13 October. The programme will be screened on Sky Sports 3 at 18.00 on 22 October.

The St. Moritz Match Race highlights show will be broadcast on channels across the globe including CNBC, Setanta, Showtime, Sky NZ, Sevenload, Yacht and Sail International, America One, ESPN Star Sports, PCTV Mexico, Melita Cable, Bands Sports Brazil as well as local Swiss broadcaster Teleclub. The latest TV schedule for all the races can be viewed at: http://www.wmrt.com/multimedia/tv-schedules.html

*Note: times are subject to change without notification

TEAMORIGIN THROUGH TO QUARTER FINALS IN ST MORITZ 03 Sep 2010

After some spectacular match racing today in front of the grand stand the top teams now qualify to go through to the quarter finals which start tomorrow and the finals on Sunday.

Quarter finalists will be Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN,  Adam Minoprio, Mattieu Richard, Ian Williams, Bjorn Hansen, Damien Iehl, Bertrand Pace, and Francesco Buni with Williams straight through to the semi final. 

DAY 3 IN ST MORITZ AND TEAMORIGIN IN SECOND PLACE 03 Sep 2010

St. Moritz, Switzerland – 2 September 2010 - Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team was the aggressor on day two of The St. Moritz Match Race in Switzerland, storming through a run of five successive victories including a comprehensive defeat of the reigning ‘King of the Mountain’, Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing.

If the spectators expected the relative newcomer to the ISAF World Match Racing Tour to be apprehensive after a disappointing opening day, he did not show it. As the thermally-induced Maloja wind rushed in, the young Frenchman exhibited some deft moves on the water, leading Minoprio around mark one by three lengths and eventually extending his lead all the way to the finish.

The ISAF World Match Racing Tour has a rich history of nurturing the best match racing talent and Iehl looked every bit a champion in the making today. His next fight was against another super-tough opponent, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, currently ranked second in the Tour. The two skippers jostled and jabbed like boxers to gain the upper hand at the start with only inches separating them. This was toe-to-toe action. Mirsky gained the initial advantage, but Iehl read the subtleties of the wind to perfection, building what proved to be an insurmountable 10-length lead at the first mark.

 With two victories under his belt Iehl was unstoppable, even by the might of triple Olympian and America’s Cup sailor Francesco Bruni (ITA) AZZURRA. At the start the French team gained the favourable lee bow position and led the accomplished Italian round all three laps of the course. 

Iehl, commented: “We had a clear game plan today which gave us the great starts we needed, as well as a strategy that delivered the best course through all the wind shifts. Our teamwork and manoeuvres were spot on too – it was a perfect progression for us from yesterday.”

A classic French – British dogfight is developing between the front runners and if anyone is going to put a counter-attack together on Iehl, there’s a strong chance it will come from Ian Wiiliams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar who leads the standings overnight, having won all three of his races today.

Triple Olympic gold medalist and America’s Cup skipper, Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN also demonstrated total dominance of his opponents with a clean sweep of victories, as did Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team.

With seven teams advancing to the next stage, three are confirmed as having made the quarter finals, but another six – including some veteran stars – are still in the hunt for the remaining four places.

Results after Day 2 of the St. Moritz Match Race:
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar: 7-1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN: 6-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team: 6-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing: 5-3
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team: 5-4
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team: 5-4
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team: 5-4
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team: 4-4
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra: 4-4
Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team: 2-7
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team: 2-7
Jérôme Clerc (SUI) CER: 0-8

You can follow the live blog at www.wmrt.com from 1 to 5 September from 11.00am until racing finishes at approximately 18.00

A preview to the St Moritz Match Race can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCqmo-2i3gs

For fans around the world, the event will also be featured in a TV highlights programme called The St Moritz Match Race. Featuring all the action from Lake St. Moritz, it will premiere on Eurosport at 21.35 on 6 October and also show on Eurosport Asia Pacific at 13.45 on 13 October. The programme will be screened on Sky Sports 3 at 18.00 on 22 October.

The St. Moritz Match Race highlights show will be broadcast on channels across the globe including CNBC, Setanta, Showtime, Sky NZ, Sevenload, Yacht and Sail International, America One, ESPN Star Sports, PCTV Mexico, Melita Cable, Bands Sports Brazil as well as local Swiss broadcaster Teleclub. The latest TV schedule for all the races can be viewed at: http://www.wmrt.com/multimedia/tv-schedules.html

TEAMORIGIN CLOSE DAY TWO IN SECOND PLACE IN ST MORITZ 02 Sep 2010

The team demonstrated a consistant performance by securing wins in all three of their matches today and sit in second place in the regatta behing Ian Williams of Team Pindar GAC.  For full results go to:

www.wmrt.com

MATCH RACE ST MORITZ GETS UNDERWAY TODAY 01 Sep 2010

Ben Ainslie and his match race team of Iain Percy, Matt Cornwell and Christian Kamp arrived in St Moritz on Monday and spent yesterday afternoon practicing in the crisp mountain winds of St Moritz.

Ben Ainslie:  “We are looking forward to getting back into the Championship; we are lying fifth in the rankings so we will be focusing on improving on that status. St Moritz should be a challenging lake venue... we will have a lot to take on in a short space of time."

You can follow the live blog at www.wmrt.com from 1 to 5 September from 11.00am until racing finishes at approximately 18.00

ROUND ROBIN PAIRINGS

FLIGHT 1
Winners in bold
M1 Ian Williams vs Jerome Clerc
M2 Mathieu Richard vs Ben Ainslie
M3 Bertrand Pace vs Damien Iehl

FLIGHT 2
Winners in bold
M1 Jerome Clerc vs Mathieu Richard
M2 Damien Iehl vs Ben Ainslie
M3 Bertrand Pace vs Ian Williams

FLIGHT 3
Winners in bold
M1 Ben Ainslie vs Jerome Clerc
M2 Damien Iehl vs Ian Williams
M3 Mathieu Richard vs Bertrand Pace

FLIGHT 4
Winners in bold
M1 Johnnie Berntsson vs Torvar Mirsky
M2 Bjorn Hansen vs Francesco Bruni
M3 Adam Minoprio vs Eric Monnin

FLIGHT 5
Winners in bold
M1 Johnnie Berntsson vs Bjorn Hansen
M2 Francesco Bruni vs Adam Minoprio
M3 Torvar Mirsky vs Eric Monnin

FLIGHT 6
Winners in bold
M1 Johnnie Berntsson vs Adam Minoprio
M2 Bjorn Hansen vs Torvar Mirsky
M3 Eric Monnin vs Francesco Bruni
 

A DAY OF MIXED FORTUNES FOR TEAMORIGIN GIVES A PODIUM FINISH 29 Aug 2010

 AUDI MEDCUP EVENT FOUR: CARTAGENA, FINAL DAY, SUNDAY 29^THAUGUST 2010

A perfect 14 knot easterly wind held through the last 3 races of the regatta here in Cartagena and TEAMORIGIN went out ready to sail up the leader board once again.

  After yesterday’s results Emirates Team New Zealand had a firm grip on first place but not beyond TEAMORIGINS reach and Matador were close behind. 

 A seventh in the first race only increased their determination to retain a podium position in this event so after the best start of the fleet on race 2 they sailed into a solid first place, things were looking good.

 James Stagg, pitman:  “It was a good race, we hit the left with Synergy, which was the right side of the course and led around the top mark.  We managed to extend away from them and the fleet on the first run and it just kept getting better from there”

 Crossing the start line  early on race 3 meant TEAMORIGIN had their work cut out but they made some gains and in the end have secured their first podium finish of the season.

 Ben Ainslie, skipper and helm:  “It was a good week for the team.  We had a couple of tough races but have been improving throughout the season which was always our goal and hope for a strong finish to the series in Cagliari”

 Emirates Team New Zealand were back to form today securing two bullets and confirmed their spot at the top.

 Overall the results for the Med Cup series mean that TEAMORIGIN are serious contenders for second place with Matador on equal points and Quantum Racing not far infront.  That’ll make things interesting in Cagliari.

 The town of Cartagena has been a great host to the Med Cup for this, the penultimate event in the series, the next and last stop of the tour in Cagliari, Sardinia is 20-25th September.

Results from today:

Next week Ben Ainslie and his match racing team of Iain Percy, Christian Kamp and Matt Cornwall will be in St Moritz to see if they can emulate their recent match race win in Sweden.

www.wmrt.com

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A DAY OF MIXED FORTUNES FOR TEAMORIGIN GIVES A PODIUM FINISH 29 Aug 2010

More to follow. 

For full results go to www.audimedcup.org

TEAMORIGIN 2nd OVERALL DESPITE GEAR FAILURE 28 Aug 2010

The start of the weekend certainly bought the wind on this, a very different day of the Audi Med Cup Cartagena.   As the weather experts had predicted a solid north easterly wind was well established when the race teams arrived at the dock so without further delay the sailors hit the water.

TEAMORIGIN went into race one leading the regatta with a good eight point margin on Emirates Team New Zealand and sailed a convincing race, coming back from an average start they managed to weave through the fleet beating Bribon by just one second and Emirates TNZ took first.

Christian Kamp, trimmer: “ We had not such a good start but two really good runs on the first race, we stayed in the pressure and were able to overtake boats on both downwind legs to come in third”

Race two presented a different set of challenges.  Stronger winds and big seas have historically not been good bed fellows to TEAMORIGIN and today was no different.  The team struggled to keep up with the front of the fleet in the sea state, fighting for boat speed every leg, but disaster struck right at the end of the race.  Rounding the island just off Cartagena a problem with the headstay at the front of the boat meant the foredeck crew had to drop the jib, signalling game over for TEAMORIGIN in that race.

"We hadn't had the greatest of races - we always seem to have problems with these coastal races but we fought hard," said tactician Iain Percy.

The shore crew will have a busy evening but with three races scheduled for tomorrow, the last day of the event, TEAMORIGIN are still very much in the hunt.

Race results from today:

ANOTHER SOLID PERFORMANCE FROM TEAMORIGIN WITH A 1st, 2nd, AND 3rd 27 Aug 2010

A strong and confident performance from TEAMORIGIN today who improved progressively with every race.  They worked hard to stay at the top of the fleet covering opponents and really holding their own in some of the closest racing we’ve seen so far in Cartagena.  Today’s conditions certainly suited this British team:

Iain Percy, tactician:  “We were very happy with today’s performance.  Ben has been starting incredibly well this week, I think there’s only been one start we didn’t get totally right and today as a crew we found our sweet spot.  There’s still a long way to go in the series ”

Race one saw a slightly frustrating end as TEAMORIGIN had started solidly, crossing the line with good speed and led the fleet most of the race.  It was the final run that presented some tricky decisions which in the finale gave them a very respectable third place behind Matador in first and Artemis just nosing into second.

Julien Cressant, mastman:  “Yes, of course it was frustrating to go from 1^stto 3^rdbut it’s important in these situations to stay together as a team.  Sometimes there’s a mistake at the back of the boat, sometimes at the front but we move on and that meant we were tight as a team and ready for the next races”

A small wind increase for race two and flat water offered the optimal conditions much favoured by TEAMORIGIN.  Not as strong a start but tight and tactical sailing saw Ben Ainslie and the team close in from seventh to third on the first leg then take Artemis on the run into second place.  They played a good hand in protecting their position and held second the rest of the race as Bribon extended to take first place.  

Shifty winds by the third and final race of the day were not an obstacle to TEAMORIGIN who sailed a cool and confident race from the front, extending on every leg to consolidate their lead in this regatta.

Ben Ainslie, skipper and helm:  “It was a good day.  The boat goes great in flat water and we’re sailing better and better as a team.  There’s still a long way to go, it could be a different day tomorrow!”

Race results from today:

Race schedule for Saturday 28^thAugust

Coastal race warning signal at 1300

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RACING ABANDONED FOR TODAY DUE TO LACK OF WIND 26 Aug 2010

Light and shifty conditions plagued the race area in Cartagena today forcing the race committee to eventually abandon racing at 15.45hrs.

Event organisers and teams hope for a return of the wind for tomorrows coastal race scheduled to start at 1300hrs.

Race results remain the same:

Race schedule for Friday 27^th August

 Coastal race, schedule warning signal at 1300

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TEAMORIGIN LAUNCHED WITH A 3RD AND A 1ST ON DAY ONE OF THE AUDI MED CUP 25 Aug 2010

Today was a fantastic opener of this, the penultimate event in the Audi MedCup series 2010.   Race one saw Matador led the fleet from early on while Luna Rossa, TEAMORIGIN and Emirates TNZ just metres apart took 2rd 3^rd and 4^th respectively.  But it was race two that belonged to TEAMORIGIN.  They nailed the start and never looked back, extending their lead on every leg. 

With three more races scheduled tomorrow TEAMORIGIN are hoping todays fortunes extend through into the rest of the regatta

 For full story go to www.medcup.org

 TEAMORIGIN quotes from today:

Iain Percy, tactician: "The race was won in the start and the guys and Ben did a great job of getting us the best start at the starboard end.   We tacked straight onto port and headed for the positive current, the right was king today, it worked a treat.  On some days like today the easiest place to be is out in front, you know what the tactics are, the rich just get richer and you're able to take the wind of the boats behind as you stretch away

Ben Ainslie, skipper and helm:  ‘We had a great day out there.  Bart and Percy did a great job of picking the right side and the guys sailed the boat really well around the track.  The boat handling was great and everything went our way’

“It’s the first event we’ve had the same crew as the last one for various reasons, using the same guys makes a huge difference and a day like this helps to build confidence in the team”

 Race results from today:

Race schedule for Thursday 26^th August

 3 windward/leeward races, schedule warning signal at 1300

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GOOD START FOR TEAMORIGIN WITH A 3RD IN THE FIRST RACE HERE IN CARTAGENA 25 Aug 2010

Matador led the fleet almost the whole race to take first place with Luna Rossa displaying a great comeback into the race in second.  TEAMORIGIN held onto 3rd after a fantastic final run with Emirates Team New Zealand in fourth. 

THE WIND COMES JUST IN TIME FOR A PRACTICE RACE 24 Aug 2010

With a scheduled start of 1pm there was no hurry to leave the dock as the forecast onshore southerly breeze was still battling with the mornings north westerly wind causing a prolonged period of light, variable sea breeze transition.    After almost 2 hours postponement the race committee were able to kick off racing at around 3pm. 

Two practice starts were followed by the real thing and TEAMORIGIN got a fantastic start.  In the front row and with speed they came through the pack, which had all decided the boat end of the start line was where they wanted to be ,and were able to head out to the right, by far the favoured side of the race course.  Matador, the only ones over early had to go back and restart their race, setting them back just a few minutes.

The bay here in Cartagena is a fairly typical Mediterranean sailing area though the currents are not to be underestimated, probably the biggest learning from the TEAMORIGIN boat today.   ‘We’d looked at the currents of course but it’s only when you get out here and sail and see how it plays out on the boats on the race course that you can really see what’s happening across the bay with the currents and eddies’ commented Ed Smyth, TEAMORIGIN navigator. 

TEAMORIGIN had a great first beat, covering Emirates Team New Zealand and with the hammer down sailing fast were able to roll over them.   Third around the top mark behind Artemis and Bigamist the team were sailing well.   Further into the first run and Emirates gybed off earlier, managing to nudge just ahead of TEAMORIGIN so that at the leeward gate they took the favoured left hand mark and TEAMORIGIN opted for clear air on the right.

Artemis learnt their lesson from the first leg (disastrously choosing left up the course)  and, with the rest of the fleet headed all the way right to stay out of the current, going all the way to the corner and hitting layline.   This move gave them the jump on TEAMORIGIN putting us now in 5^thplace on the race course. 

In the run to the finish the wind was pretty light.  Matador gybed out to the right for clear air and TEAMORIGIN got ahead of Synergy but in the final line to the end it was Matador who had managed to get back into the race and take 5^thplace.

‘We learnt that the current can be pretty funky out here in the bay, and not always do what we’d expected it to’ said Iain Percy, TEAMORIGINs tactician.  ‘Great to have got out here and got a race in so we’ve got more knowledge now for the rest of the week’ echoed Ed Smyth.

With three races scheduled for tomorrow and potentially more wind we’re looking forward to a great first days racing here at the Audi MedCup, Cartagena. 

TEAMORIGIN READY FOR THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE RACE HERE IN CARTAGENA 22 Aug 2010

Matt Cornwell                                        Bow                                                             GBR

Julien Cressant                                    Mast                                                             FRA

Chris Brittle                                           Grinder                                                       GBR

Christian Kamp                                    Trimmer                                                     DEN

Andy Hemmings                                  Trimmer                                                     GBR

James Stagg                                         Pit                                                              GBR

Warwick Fleury                                     Main                                                          NZL           

Kelvin Harrap                                        Strategist                                                 NZL

Andrew Simpson                                  Strategist                                                USA

Iain Percy                                              Tactician                                                 GBR

Ed Smyth                                               Navigator                                                NZL

Ben Ainslie                                            Skipper/Helm                                        GBR 

THE 1851 CUP REGATTA ON SKY SPORTS 17 Aug 2010

BMW Oracle and TEAMORIGIN go head-to-head in the 1851 Cup at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. It recreates the famous race that gave rise to sailing's most revered event: the Americas Cup.

An insightful and exclusive behind the scenes look at The 1851 Cup regatta hosted by The Royal Thames Yacht Club during Cowes week, the longest running sailing competition in the world.

Interviews with Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN skipper and helmsman and Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor reveal what it takes to go match racing head-to-head with the Americas Cup winners BMW Oracle Racing and win!  

Onboard cameras give viewers the full flavour of the highs and lows and heat-of-the moment action from within the cockpit of an americas cup yacht.

With a real range of weather conditions to contend with as only the Solent can dish-out both teams are pushing the sailors and the boats to deliver, but ultimately there can only be one winner.

Sky Sports will be broadcasting this ½ hour programme this week at the following times:.

Thu, 19th, 6pm409Sky Sports HD2
Thu, 19th, 6pm402Sky Sports 2
Fri, 20th, 3:30am402Sky Sports 2
Fri, 20th, 3:30am409Sky Sports HD2
Fri, 20th, 2pm418Sky Sports HD3
Fri, 20th, 2pm403Sky Sports 3
Sun, 22nd, 11am403Sky Sports 3
Sun, 22nd, 11am418Sky Sports HD3
Sun, 22nd, 3pm404Sky Sports 4
Sun, 22nd, 3pm454Sky Sports HD

TEAMORIGIN SAILORS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR TOMORROWS MEDAL RACE IN WEYMOUTH 13 Aug 2010

SKANDIA SAIL FOR GOLD REGATTA

WEYMOUTH

RESULTS AFTER 10 RACES SAILED

Ben Ainslie, Finn class - 2nd overall -

Iain Percy and Bart Simpson, Star class - 6th overall -

Tomorrows medal racing counts for double points so all to play for going into the last day of Skandia Sail for Gold regatta

TEAMORIGIN SAILORS SHOWING FORM AT SAIL FOR GOLD REGATTA 12 Aug 2010

SKANDIA SAIL FOR GOLD REGATTA

WEYMOUTH

RESULTS AFTER 6 RACES SAILED

Ben Ainslie, Finn class - 2nd overall on 32 pts

Iain Percy and Bart Simpson, Star class - 6th overall - two 1st places yesterday!

VICTORY FOR TEAMORIGIN AT CONCLUSION OF 1851 CUP 06 Aug 2010

VICTORY FOR TEAMORIGIN AT CONCLUSION OF 1851 CUP

The three final races held yesterday between Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN and Larry Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing at the 1851 Cup in the Solent, saw the British crew and skipper quadruple Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie claim victory over the 2010 America’s Cup champions from the US led by James Spithill.

This week in Cowes, the 1851 Cup regatta saw TEAMORIGIN come out on top on the first two days of windward-leeward match racing. However victory on Thursday in the re-enactment of the 1851 race clockwise around the Isle of Wight, which spawned the America’s Cup, the pinnacle event in yacht racing, went to BMW ORACLE Racing, just as their forebears on America had 159 years earlier. While TEAMORIGIN were ahead on points going into today’s match racing, morally it was even between the two teams. 

BMW ORACLE Racing claimed the first of the final day’s triple points scoring windward-leeward races to even the score with TEAMORIGIN.

In this Ainslie nearly managed to lock Spithill into ‘dead man’s corner’, the area of the start box behind the pin, however both were early for the line and the highly experienced BMW ORACLE Racing skipper managed to wriggle back into contention. TEAMORIGIN had the upper hand up the first part of the beat, but by the first mark rounding BMW ORACLE Racing had taken the lead. At the weather mark TEAMORIGIN were on BMW ORACLE Racing’s transom and in attempting to get the inside overlap, weren’t able to achieve this, and the British crew ‘expressed their frustration’ to the umpires and their opponents for which they were duly awarded with a penalty for ‘dissent’.

From here the British team trailed the Americans around the race course, their defeat as BMW ORACLE Racing crossed the line coinciding with the British team’s spinnaker bursting.

Race two provided a fantastic display of the drama possible in top-level match racing.

In this TEAMORIGIN swapped sides in the pre-start to take the right side and a favourable shift soon after the start gun caused them to move to take an early lead.

This was to be the tightest race of the day as was proved on the first run, when BMW ORACLE Racing were on TEAMORIGIN’s transom creating a wind shadow. To get out of this situation Ben Ainslie luffed his opponent, causing the spinnaker on Spithill’s boat to touch them resulting in a penalty being awarded to BMW ORACLE Racing. The American team managed to slip ahead after this, leading for the next lap, but not by enough to clear their penalty before the finish – but this was not without considerable effort spent trying: On the final run both boats at one point found themselves pointing the wrong way up the race course as TEAMORIGIN attempted to prevent the American boat completing its penalty turn. Eventually the two boats did finish the race neck and neck, but with BMW ORACLE Racing having failed to complete their penalty. 7-4 to TEAMORIGIN on points.

In the final race today with the wind exceeding 20 knots, Ben Ainslie once again excelled in the pre-start shovelling his opponent well beyond the right side of the start box. This resulted in both boats being late for the start line, but with TEAMORIGIN ahead by a boat length and in control. BMW ORACLE Racing attempted to engage through the race, but were too far behind. The American team’s fate was sealed when during the spinnaker hoist on the final rounding of the weather mark they ran over their sail. This disaster handed TEAMORIGIN the race win, but also victory in the 1851 Cup Regatta with a final scoreline of 10-4.

Commenting on defeating the defenders of the America’s Cup, Team Principle of TEAMORIGIN, Sir Keith Mills said “We’ve seen some of the best match racing this week in Cowes from two extraordinary teams. The event has really put the America’s Cup back on the map and a British boat beating current America’s Cup holders has made the whole event very special”

Skipper and helmsman of TEAMORIGIN, triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie commented “It was a great regatta for TEAMORIGIN. The new team that was put together for this event gelled really well. Having defeated the defenders of the America’s Cup in front of a home crowd, we are all now looking forward to the future.

James Spithill, BMW ORACLE Racing’s young skipperhad this to say moments after stepping ashore: "I guess you could say it was honours even with each team winning a trophy. But fair do's to Ben and his team. We knew they would be tough opponents in home waters and they were."

Geoff Cousins, Managing Director, Jaguar UKrounded up on the overall event :

 “We are absolutely delighted that TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar won the match racing series of the 1851 event. It's a shame we couldn't keep the Thames Cup on home soil but I would like to congratulate the entire team for their hard work and dedication. 

'It has been an honor working with Sir Keith Mills and TEAMORIGIN. Their determination and expertise is admirable and will stand them in good stead for the future. Jaguar’s dedication to nurturing the best of young British sporting talent remains as strong as ever through the Jaguar Academy of Sport.

 ”What a great day to be a fan of British sport and well done to BMW Oracle Racing on winning the Thames Cup for the round the island race." 

TEAMORIGIN TAKE VICTORY IN THIRD RACE AND OVERALL MATCH RACE TITLE 06 Aug 2010

USA TEAM TAKE RACE WIN TO BRING IT TO 4 POINTS EACH 06 Aug 2010

BMW ORACLE Racing wins race around the Isle of Wight 05 Aug 2010

BMW ORACLE RACING DEFENDS AMERICA'S HONOUR

The re-enactment of the 1851 race around the Isle of Wight that spawned sailing’s greatest competition, the America’s Cup, got off to a phenomenal start today between BMW ORACLE Racing, the present America’s Cup champions and Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN as their two yachts blasted east down the Solent. 

The stage was set when the two boats engaged around seven minutes prior to the start. As BMW ORACLE Racing skipper James Spithill pointed out: “It was pretty cool. It was great how we just ripped straight into it from the start. You could see how seriously both teams were taking it.”

Sadly for the British team moments before the start they picked up a penalty for gybing too close. 1-0 to the US team’s skipper James Spithill. 

With a downwind start the powerful, heavy ACC boats, under their giant spinnakers, sailing so close they appeared to be somehow attached, carved their way down the eastern Solent, creating a magnificent spectacle for those out on the water as well as the thousands following the racing over the internet. 

TEAMORIGIN skipper and helmsman Ben Ainsliecommented: “We were expecting a softer race than we’ve had the previous couple of days, but from the start and for the next hour and half we were overlapped the whole way around, luffing each other. It was fantastic. These guys are a great team to race against. It is great for us to be out there racing the America’s Cup holders around the Isle of Wight.”

The racing remained tight down the Solent as the boats headed towards Portsmouth and after the first gybe round the eastern side of the island there were two major luffs. In the second TEAMORIGIN came out ahead but picked up a second penalty and match racing rules obliged them to carry out their 360deg penalty turn immediately. 

Meanwhile the Americans were nursing a damaged spinnaker and had to drop it losing precious ground. This kept TEAMORIGIN ahead of BMW ORACLE Racing as they rounded the No Man’s Land Fort but during the subsequent spinnaker drop as they hardened up, most of the spinnaker was down when the foot fell overboard, dragging the whole sail into the water and it promptly wrapped itself around the keel. Rapidly Anthony Nossiter dived over the side to clear the kite but by the time it was cleared and the British crew was underway again, BMW ORACLE Racing had overtaken and pulled out an 800m lead. 

It was far from without incident on board BMW ORACLE Racing. In addition to their spinnaker issues they also managed to destroy their jockey poles through trying to sail high angles under spinnaker as they reached down the eastern end of the Solent. 

As James Spithill pointed out: “There was a bit of seamanship involved to try and look after the boat and get through it all. The boats are on the limit in that stuff.”

Impressively Ben Ainslie and the TEAMORIGIN crew were able to halve their deficit as they short tacked along the south side of the Isle of Wight towards St Catherine’s Point, however BMW ORACLE Racing was first to crack off towards the Needles and re-extended. En route to the Needles TEAMORIGIN’s yacht developed a technical problem when the metal fitting holding the jib to the halyard parted company. As David Carr pointed out: “It might not have been up to the job, but it was a pretty big sea state at the time sailing upwind in fairly big seas in 20 knots for two hours - it is just one of those things.” 

This being an exhibition race, the organisers were keen to lay on a show coming back down the Solent so once round the Needles and into Hurst Narrows, BMW ORACLE Racing stopped and the race was restarted, the American team given a one minute head start with the hope that the two boats would match race their way back to Cowes in the same spectacular style as they had left in the morning. 

Sadly this wasn’t to be when on their first gybe following the restart TEAMORIGIN blew up their second spinnaker. By this time the wind had piped up to 24 knots and the British team did a safe outside gybe and centred the main but as the spinnaker refilled it exploded. 

As David Carr said: “Maybe it was karma. It would have been a bit strange to win the race after a restart, but it was disappointing not to be right up with them at the finish.”

So BMW ORACLE Racing, the US team, claimed victory defending the honour of the Stars and Stripes, just as America had 159 years before. As James Spithill said: “Coming down the Solent it was like everyone on the Isle of Wight had come out to view it. I think it meant a lot to the people and it meant a lot to the guys on the boat. It was a real battle out on the water and I enjoyed every minute of it.” 

Tomorrow for the final day of the 1851 Cup there is a return to windward-leewards with four races scheduled. Racing is set to start earlier than normal, at 10:00. The score is currently four wins and one loss to TEAMORIGIN with wins for the first three races tomorrow worth three points each. TEAMORIGIN must win the first race tomorrow if they are not to go level on points with their American adversary.

SCOREBOARD AT 4:1 AFTER DAY TWO OF 1851 CUP 04 Aug 2010

Full story to follow

TEAMORIGIN TAKE IT TO 3:0 on the scoreboard 04 Aug 2010

STRONG START TO TEAMORIGIN 03 Aug 2010

STRONG START FOR TEAMORIGIN

Under dramatic skies and with the wind at the upper end of the range permissible for sailing, so the 1851 Cup got off to a fine start. With two races held today, quadruple Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie and his crew on TEAMORIGIN ended 2-0 up over the America’s Cup champions BMW ORACLE Racing, led by Australian James Spithill.

After a delay waiting for Cowes Week fleets to finish, so racing got underway at 16:10 BST with the start box located to the west of the Bramble bank and the weather mark off to the southwest between Gurnard and Egypt Point on the Isle of Wight.

For the first race TEAMORIGIN had the favoured starboard entry. After a relatively conventional dial-up start, the boats crossed the line evenly on starboard, with the British team by the committee boat and BMW ORACLE Racing down towards the pin.

James Spithill and the crew on the American yacht made the best of the first beat to lead around the top mark by two boat lengths. On the run Ainslie and his crew kept it close and the defining moment of this race came at the leeward gate when BMW ORACLE Racing chose to round the starboard mark (looking downwind) while TEAMORIGIN rounded the opposite mark.

As BMW ORACLE RACING tactician, John Kostecki explained: “Going into the bottom gate we liked the right gate looking downwind, but in fact it was a lot more even than it looked. We got that wrong. The left gate ended up being favoured and there was a 10 degree wind shift as well - and they instantly had the jump on us. It was our fault for choosing that.”

By the second weather mark rounding it was TEAMORIGIN who led around with a four boat length advantage which they maintained to the finish where they arrived 7 seconds ahead.

In the second race it was game over for the American team far sooner. After holding a small advantage going for the start line, BMW ORACLE Racing was deemed over early and after taking a while to return and start correctly they set out up the first beat with a deficit of more than 300m on TEAMORIGIN. In fact with the wind building into the early 20s, gusting up to 25 knots and with tide going on to the ebb (against the wind) the race officials chose to shorten course at the leeward gate and send the boats home to Cowes. This confirmed the win for TEAMORIGIN and a 2-0 lead at the end of Day One of the 1851 Cup regatta.

Ben Ainslie talked through the start of this race: “We had about 22 knots and both boats ended up dialled up. James [Spithill] did a nice job with the fake dial [up] and came back round at us and we ended up back head to wind. We ended up going backwards at about 3-4 knots and both teams did a good job handling that. There was a reasonable starboard end bias, and both teams were fighting for it quite hard. We pushed at the end and had room to get in between James and the start boat and they were trying to squeeze up and make life hard for us, but it got them to the line a bit too early. It is really hard judging the current out there. We are not exactly used to it with these boats.”

His tactician Iain Percy reckoned that BMW ORACLE Racing was as much as 5-10 seconds early and with the tide pushing them towards the line, this was accentuated further.

In the lively conditions, exaggerated by the sea state being further whipped up by the large and enthusiastic spectator fleet, so both boats suffered gear failure. BMW ORACLE Racing broken battens in their mainsail and then had issues with their headboard in race two, while on the TEAMORIGIN boat their pit winch broke down, forcing them to make a conventional (rather than a faster string line) spinnaker drop at the leeward mark in race one.  “The guys did a really good job to recover from that. It was definitely a team work day today,” said skipper Ben Ainslie.

Racing on the busy Solent in the middle of Cowes Week and a shipping channel passing through the middle of the race course brought some fresh challenges compared to what these crews are typically used to. As BMW ORACLE Racing’s Murray Jones noted: “I quite enjoyed it out there today. It adds a dimension to the racing we are used to and all the different classes of yachts in the Solent during Cowes Week and ships, makes it interesting. You have to stay awake. It is a great change.”

Iain Percy agreed: “One of the challenges is that you keep on thinking about the racing and not about ships and all the rest of it, especially on a day like today. Those boats have a lot of distractions anyway in 25 knots, everyone is full-on boat handling. We have to steal five seconds every now and then to think about what is going on.”

Tomorrow three further windward-leewards are scheduled starting no earlier than 15:30 BST. Conditions are forecast to be equally as boisterous as they were today with the passage of a cold front expected to pass over Cowes early afternoon.

TEAMORIGIN WIN RACE ONE BY A MERE 7 SECONDS! 03 Aug 2010

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY 02 Aug 2010

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY!

America’s Cup-style racing returns to the Solent tomorrow with the start of the 1851 Cup between Larry Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing team, the current America’s Cup champions, and Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN. The teams represent the USA and the UK respectively as was the case when the first race for the 100 Guineas Cup (as the America’s Cup was called at the time) was held in these waters, watched by a young Queen Victoria in 1851. On that occasion the sole US entry, America, was up against the fastest boats the UK could muster, yet the legendary all-black yacht still walked away with the trophy, which has never returned to British hands in the intervening 159 years.

The two boats TEAMORIGIN’s USA-87 and BMW ORACLE Racing’s USA-98 went out training for the first time this afternoon with a course set up in the mid-western Solent, allowing the crews to re-acquaint themselves with the boats, short courses and to practice starts.

“It is pretty cool to come back to where it all kicked off,” stated BMW ORACLE Racing skipper and helmsman James Spithill. “It is surprising that it has taken this amount of time to start something like this. I think it is a fantastic idea.”

While BMW ORACLE Racing is the current America’s Cup champion and the 1851 Cup is being sailing in their boats, Spithill reckons they are on the back foot, compared to TEAMORIGIN. “Look at the whole team and also what they have done over the last two or three years and it has been monohull sailing and match racing,” he says of the British crew. “Ben and the guys have been out there doing all that while we have been doing nothing but multihull and big boat sailing. So we are trying to catch up to them and by the end of the week we’ll be somewhat closer.”

Aside from the Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta in La Maddalena, this is the first occasion Spithill has raced this generation of America’s Cup yacht since Valencia in 2007. In terms of his track record against Ben Ainslie, his equivalent at TEAMORIGIN, Spithill reckons he had the upper hand when they competed against each other on the World Match Racing Tour, but on their last encounter in La Maddalena, it was Ainslie and his British team that came out on top.

Meanwhile Ainslie is enjoying the return of America’s Cup-style racing to the UK.

” There is no better opportunity to invigorate Cup fever in the British public than at Cowes Week. It looks like it is as good as ever with so many boats,” he says of the world’s most famous sailing ‘week’, which dates back to 1826.  “There are so many people around that for us to be racing the Cup boats on home waters is pretty special. Hopefully once Cowes Week competitors have finished their racing they can come and watch us.”

Racing in the strong tides of the Solent, Ainslie reckons navigation will be one of the keys to success. “It is going to be about who gets out of the tide first or who makes the best call on the tidal influences. 1/100^th of a knot of boat speed won’t be the deciding factor.”

Ironically for this regatta TEAMORIGIN has a Spanish navigator in Juan Vila, previously with the 31^st and 32^nd America’s Cup winner Alinghi, while the American team has a navigator from Northern Ireland in Ian Moore, who holds the advantage of being an Isle of Wight resident.

“It is going to be exciting racing AC boats in the middle of the Solent in full flood tide,” admits Moore. “High tide is about 5-8pm so we will be racing in full flood tide, beating in to the tide and with short runs with the tide behind us coming back down again. It was a bit of an eye opener today. How you enter the start box, how you kill time before the start, all those things change in a strong tidal venue. We are all learning to adapt to it. People who get on top of that quickly will have an advantage.”

Star Gold medallist, Andrew Simpson, strategist for TEAMORIGIN, agrees that tides change the match racing game. “The pre-start is very different when you have a tidal component, but in a lot of places on the match racing circuit like the Monsoon Cup there is a lot of current, so you get used to it. It does change the game. The positioning in the box is different. If you are early and there is 2.5 knots behind you, there is no way to kill it. You can be really vulnerable because there is no way to stop the thing. Juan [Vila] has been unbelievable on getting the time to line right today.”

Racing is due to set sail at 1530 BST tomorrow, when three races are scheduled.

 For more information contact Leslie Greenhalgh on lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com

GATHERING OF THE CLANS 01 Aug 2010

GATHERING OF THE CLANS

48 hours out from the start of the 1851 Cup on Tuesday 3^rd August, the sailing teams from both TEAMORIGIN and America’s Cup defender, BMW ORACLE Racing, are gathering in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

There have been modifications to both the American and British teams since they last raced each other at the Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalena in May. Each has recruited from  Ernesto Bertarelli’s America’s Cup team, Alinghi the defenders of the 32^nd and 33rd America’s Cup.

BMW Oracle Racing has gained New Zealander Murray Jones,talented sailor afloat and innovative design enginner ashore, and Dutch bowman Piet van Niuwenhuyzen from the team they beat in the 33^rd America’s Cup.

Following the appointment of former Alinghi Managing Director Grant Simmer as CEO, Sir Keith Mills’ British team has both of Alinghi’s veteran sail trimmers – Warwick Fleury and Simon Daubney – in addition to navigator Juan Vila grinder Will McCarthy and pitman Rodney Ardern – sailing with them for the four days of racing this week in Cowes.

“We have a few more legends this week!” explains TEAMORIGIN Skipper and Helmsman, Ben Ainslie. “It was a great opportunity for us to try a few different people for a number of different reasons, eg there have been a few injuries such as Mike Mottl [injured during a spinnaker drop in La Maddalena]. So it is fantastic to have Warwick and Simon trimming, Rodney in the pit and Will McCarthy coming in as another grinder.”

While the boats to be used this week in the 1851 Cup both belong to BMW ORACLE Racing, this is not the advantage that might be perceived for James Spithill’s crew. The boats were built for the 32^nd America’s Cup in 2007 in Valencia when Chris Dickson was the American team’s skipper and helmsman. Five of the BMW ORACLE Racing crew – strategist Rodney Daniel, trimmer Ross Halcrow, grinders Brian MacInnes and Joe Spooner, mid-bowman Brad Webb – raced on board in 2007, but the rest of the 17 man crew are new, including helmsman James Spithill who was with the Italian Luna Rossa team three years ago.

Besides for the last two years Spithill and the sailing team have been focussing their attention on racing multihulls in preparation of the 33^rd America’s Cup.

“It’s been harder than I thought it would be,” says Spithill on making the transition back from multihulls.  “You expect to come back to the same level quite fast, but it takes time. It’s the small details that matter. It’s why this 1851 Cup series is so good for us. TEAMORIGIN is a fantastic team with some of the best sailors in the world, and I have no doubt that they will be right up there challenging when the next America’s Cup comes around.”

Today BMW ORACLE Racing has been awaiting the arrival of the rest of their sailing team, including their skipper who will be reaching Cowes tonight. This afternoon some of TEAMORIGIN’s sailing crew have been out training and reacquainting themselves with the Solent aboard two Etchells keelboats.

BMW ORACLE Racing’s boats, USA 87 and 98, have been shaken down following extensive repairs. The former’s stern and latter’s bow were seriously damaged in a race between French and Italian crews during the Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalena.

Meanwhile the television production and virtual tracking teams are busy preparing for the big day as the 1851 Cup will see a continuation of BMW ORACLE Racing’s media evaluation trials for the 34^th America’s Cup, in particular examining the television.

 Coordinating the TV trials is Denis Harvey, who has previously produced programs for past America’s Cups and the Olympics. New features for the 1851 Cup will be two on board cameramen, one aft, the other positioned precariously forwards on each boat. Data is also being captured from the winches on board each boat. According to Harvey this is to demonstrate “the sheer physicality - these guys are athletes. ” 

COWES WEEK UNDERWAY TODAY 31 Jul 2010

FINAL BUILD-UP TO START OF 1851 CUP EVENT

With just three days to go to the start of the 1851 Cup on Tuesday 3^rd August, preparations are in full swing as the rest of Cowes Week starts today, Saturday 31^st July. Yesterday a mixed crew from both competing teams took USA-87, newly branded as TEAMORIGIN ‘Racing with Jaguar’, out for a shakedown sail in the middle of the Solent.

USA-87 is now liveried up in TEAMORIGIN’s colours, including the significant Jaguar logo down the side. This is the first time the boat has sailed since the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Sardinia in May when it was damaged in a collision with USA-98. Today, Saturday, the same mixed crew will take USA-98 out for the same shakedown sail. This is the boat that BMW ORACLE Racing will race next week and will be skippered by James Spithill the skipper of the America’s Cup winning trimaran USA.

The full crews of both teams are arriving from all over the world in preparation for the practice racing on Monday. Some of the BMW ORACLE Racing crew are competing in the RC44 Regatta in Valencia which ends tomorrow.

TEAMORIGIN skipper Ben Ainslie and his tactician and strategist Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson arrive today from Weymouth where they have preparing for the Sail for Gold Regatta which starts straight after the 1851 Cup next week. Most of the crews have raced in Cowes before but not all, some have never been to Europe’s largest regatta before - a regatta where over a thousand yachts will compete in some 30 odd classes over the next seven days.

Principal Race Officer for the 1851 Cup is none other than New Zealander Harold Bennett, the man who was also PRO for the incredible 33^rdAmerica’s Cup Match in Valencia last February. Harold, one of the most experienced race officers and youth coaches in the world, has never been to Cowes before either. He will work with the Royal Thames Yacht Club Race Committee to blend his experience of organising short course match racing courses for the America’s Cup with the Thames’ experience of operating in the highly-congested and tidal Central Solent area.

On Saturday Harold was familiarising himself with the layout of everything and just taking in the sheer scope and scale of Cowes Week.

“This is a truly outstanding spectacle. To run racing for all these classes in this stretch of water requires a finely honed and experienced organisation. I have just arrived in Cowes and so its all new to me. I’m really looking forward to watching the racing.“

“With regard to the 1851 Cup and working with the Royal Thames YC Race Committee, they’ll be doing everything just as they always do. I’ll keep an overview on proceedings and manage the relationships with the two teams, but I’m going to need to totally rely on the Thames’ vast experience of running racing here in Solent.”

For further information go to www.the1851cup.com(information going live today) and the two team websites : www.teamorigin.comand www.bmworacleracing.com

Leslie Greenhalgh

 +44 7795 483116 

TEAMORIGIN ‘RACING WITH JAGUAR’ HITS THE WATER!! 31 Jul 2010

JAGUAR PARTNER WITH TEAMORIGIN FOR SUMMER OF SAILING 28 Jul 2010

JAGUAR PARTNER WITH TEAMORIGIN FOR SUMMER OF SAILING

London, 28^th July, 2010.  Jaguar announced today a partnership with TEAMORIGIN –‘TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar’.

TEAMORIGIN, the British America’s Cup sailing team, created by Sir Keith Mills with the single purpose of winning the America’s Cup for Great Britain is joined by Jaguar for a summer of sailing activities. The first event that will see ‘TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar’ is during Cowes Week this August, when they will face BMW ORACLE Racing (the current holder of the America’s Cup) in the 1851 Cup event.

This new partnership is part of Jaguar’s commitment to the best of British sport under the umbrella of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. The partnership is further strengthened by the shared commitment of both organisations to strive for improved environmental performance. This is highlighted through TEAMORIGIN’s ‘Race for Change’ strategy, and Jaguar’s advanced Lightweight Aluminium technology, which resulted in the recent win for the new XJ of a Green Award from What Car? magazine. 

Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal, TEAMORIGIN, commented, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jaguar as our partner.There is a superb fit and alignment of purpose between TEAMORIGIN and Jaguar.  Jaguar is clearly one of the most revered and iconic British brands and, just as Jaguar is now taking on and beating the best in the automotive world, so our mission is to take on and beat the best in the world on the water.  The fit is further enhanced through our shared commitment to improve our environmental performance.”

Geoff Cousins, Managing Director, Jaguar UKcommented, “To partner with TEAMORIGIN is a fantastic opportunity for Jaguar. We are looking forward to the first appearance this summer at the 1851 Cup event, an exciting competition, which will see Britain’s best sailing talent compete against the current holders of The America’s Cup.  It’s a mouth-watering prospect and one we are proud to support. This is a serious British endeavour, which fits perfectly with the recently launched Jaguar Academy of Sport, which is all about investing in the future of British Sporting talent.”

TEAMORIGIN’s newly branded livery will appear during Cowes Week (racing takes place between Tuesday 3^rd and Friday 6^th August) and will feature striking Jaguar branding on both the hull and sails.  The spinnaker will feature a Jaguar leaper in Union Jack Motif, the symbol of the Jaguar Academy of Sport.

Denise Lewis, Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport,commented: "As a Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport I was excited to learn about another exciting venture by Jaguar, which is continuing its efforts to support the best of British sport. Jaguar is building on the Jaguar Academy of Sport and really showing its commitment to the success of British sporting athletes.  I am looking forward to following the racing during Cowes week, Ben Ainslie and I were together at the Sydney Olympic games, where we both won gold, and I want to wish him and the team all the best for the race and look forward to hearing the result of the 1851 Cup event."

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman of TEAMORIGIN,commented: “TEAMORIGIN’s goal is to win the America’s Cup for Great Britain, to achieve this we need to engage the support of like minded partners. In Jaguar, we can see great synergies where they share our passion for sport and competition at the highest level.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Nick O’Donnell, Jaguar UK PR Manager

nodonne2@jaguar.com

+44 (0)7825 115 951

Faye Goldstraw, Jaguar UK Press Officer

fgoldst1@jaguar.com

+44 (0)7860 872 224

TEAMORIGIN:

Leslie Greenhalgh, Director of Marketing, Communications & Events

+44 (0)7795 483 116

lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com

www.teamorigin.com

www.the1851cup.com

Editor’s notes:

Jaguar

Jaguar and TEAMORIGIN share a passion for pioneering technologies and enhanced environmental performance.  Jaguar’s XJ 3.0 Diesel V6 Luxury model has just been awarded the 2010 What Car? Green award in the luxury category, demonstrating the company's commitment to developing new technologies and improved performance. This is also evident with TEAMORIGIN's partnership with the Carbon Trust as their Environmental Partner.  Jaguar's endeavours to achieve CO2 reductions are also demonstrated with its pioneering aluminium architecture, one of the most significant contributors to the new XJ’s green credentials - using around 50 percent recycled material in the body, with future plans to increase that figure to 75 percent, which alone creates a saving of three tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle compared to a body shell made from new aluminium.

The Jaguar Academy of Sport

The Jaguar Academy of Sport, launched in March 2010, aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. It will fulfil this aim through a Bursary Fund which will support new British sporting talent, a prestigious annual Awards Ceremony, and a unique club of the best of British sport which will be used to inspire the next generation. For more information visit www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk

TEAMORIGIN

• TEAMORIGIN is the British America’s Cup sailing team set up in January 2007 by Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAMORIGIN.
• The team’s mission is to win the America’s Cup and inspire positive action around climate change
• Headed up by Sir Keith, other key team members include Grant Simmer, CEO and three times winner of the America’s Cup; Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman, three times Olympic gold medalist and one time silver medalist; Iain Percy, Tactician and double Olympic gold medalist;
• Race for Change is an inspiring strategic collaboration between sport and the environment launched in association with the Carbon Trust, the UK’s leading authority on carbon reduction, and environmental partner to the team
• TEAMORIGIN plans to use the Race for Change platform and programme to raise awareness and inspire their audiences around the urgent need for action on environmental matters
• The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the official challenging yacht club to the team for the next America’s Cup, this is the fourth time that the Club will challenge in the 140 year history of the contest
• During 2010 the team is competing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas, the AudiMed Cup TP52 series and the World Match Racing circuit
• For more information, go to www.teamorigin.com; www.carbontrust.co.uk; www.royalthames.com

GARRARD UNVEIL THE ROYAL THAMES CUP 28 Jul 2010

Garrard unveils the royal thames cup

which will be awarded to the winner of the ‘Round the Island Race’

 during next week’s 1851 Cup Regatta

28^th July 2010- Garrard, the oldest jewellery house in the world, has created and unveiled a stunning new trophy ‘The Royal Thames Cup’. Designed by the internationally renowned designer and Creative Director of Garrard, Stephen Webster, the Cup features a sterling silver claret jug mounted upon an ebony base.

Webster presented the trophy to the Rear Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC), Mike Halstead, on behalf of Garrard.

In turn, the Royal Thames Yacht Club will award the new Cup to the winner of next Thursday’s ‘Round the Island Race’ between British America’s Cup contenders, TEAMORIGIN, and the winners of the 33^rd America’s Cup, BMW ORACLE Racing representing the Golden Gate YC of San Francisco. The two teams are facing off in a “friendly” series of match races dubbed the “1851 Cup Regatta” being held as part of the Cowes Week Regatta (3^rd – 6^th August 2010).

Having created some of the world’s most iconic sporting trophies, including The William Webb Ellis Trophy – awarded to the winner of the Rugby World Cup, The America’s Cup and the Premier League Trophy – awarded to the winner of the English Football Premier League, Garrard has produced a contemporary trophy for this international sailing spectacle. Garrard has a strong history of crafting trophies for the RTYC, including 11 which are currently in the collection.

“In 1776, Garrard made the first competitive sailing trophy, The Cumberland Cup, followed by the original America’s Cup in 1852. Therefore when a new trophy was required for the 1851 Cup event at Cowes, it was only natural that the Royal Thames Yacht Club came to Garrard,” commented Webster.

Webster continues, “I spent days in Garrard’s silver vaults looking for something that would look magnificent. After much exploration, I found a sterling silver claret jug made by Garrard in 1972. Though in need of a little TLC, it became the basis for this new trophy. After months of careful restoration, the trophy has been decorated with a contemporary silver design in the tradition of Garrard’s fine craftsmanship and placed upon a tall ebony base.”

“The presentation of this new cup by Garrard will allow TEAMORIGIN to develop and compete in sailing events of international stature,” says Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAMORIGIN. “We look forward to racing on behalf of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and competing for the new Royal Thames Cup, during the 1851 Cup Regatta with BMW ORACLE Racing next week in Cowes”.

Garrard has designed a trophy that can be used by TEAMORIGIN and the Royal Thames Yacht Club for future sailing events. Stephen Webster’s contemporary design of the cup pays tribute to classic trophies whilst integrating contemporary elements to the design.

- Ends -

About Garrard

Garrard, the international jeweller with a cultural heritage of unparalleled richness was founded by master goldsmith George Wickes in 1722, who received his first royal commission in 1735.  By the time the firm had passed into the hands of Robert Garrard in 1802, whose name it still bears, creating designs of matchless magnificence for the social and royal sects had become a matter of course.  Garrard's lavishly seductive collections can be found today at its flagship stores in London's Albemarle Street, Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive, and New York's Soho – or on display in the permanent exhibition in the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels reside.  Garrard's legacy of devotion to the highest degree of workmanship has been the company's trademark since the first designs drew the attention of the world nearly three hundred years ago.  Garrard continues to passionately embrace the past by creating tomorrow's heirlooms today.

About TEAMORIGIN

• TEAMORIGIN is the British America’s Cup sailing team set up in January 2007 by Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAMORIGIN.
• The team’s mission is to win the America’s Cup and inspire positive action around climate change
• Headed up by Sir Keith, other key team members include Grant Simmer, CEO and three times winner of the America’s Cup; Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman, three times Olympic gold medallist and one time silver medallist; Iain Percy, Tactician and double Olympic gold medallist.
• Race for Change is an inspiring strategic collaboration between sport and the environment launched in association with the Carbon Trust, the UK’s leading authority on carbon reduction, and environmental partner to the team
• TEAMORIGIN plan to use the Race for Change platform and programme to raise awareness and inspire their audiences around the urgent need for action on environmental matters
• The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the official challenging yacht club to the team for the next America’s Cup, this is the fourth time that the Club will challenge in the 140 year history of the contest
• During 2010 the team is competing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas, the AudiMed Cup TP52 series and the World Match Racing circuit
• For more information, go to www.teamorigin.com; www.carbontrust.co.uk; www.royalthames.com

Garrard’s historic links with RTYC

The eleven historic trophies designed and created by Garrard are securely displayed by The Royal Thames Yacht Club and represent a fascinating review of the history of yacht racing.  The earliest Garrard trophy dates back to 1776, and is probably the oldest yacht racing trophy still in existence in the world. 

The Royal Thames Yacht Club’s Garrard trophies are as follows:

1776 Cumberland Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin and Porter

1777 Cumberland Fleet Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin

1780 Cumberland Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin and William Taylor

1781 Cumberland Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin and William Taylor

1782 Cumberland Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin

1792 Vauxhall Annual Cupcreated by Garrard’s John Wakelin

1794 Vauxhall Annual Cupcreated by John Wakelin and Robert Garrard

1802 Royal Thames Trafalgar Cup created by John Wakelin and Robert Garrard

1806 Vauxhall Annual Cupcreated by Robert Garrard

1846 The Docker Cupcreated by Robert Garrard

1882 The Ascot Platecreated by R&S Garrard

2010 The Royal Thames Cupcreated by Garrard’s present Creative Director Stephen Webster

The Royal Thames Yacht Club traces its origins back to 1775, when the Duke of Cumberland, brother of George III, donated a silver cup for a yacht race on the Thames.  This marked the formation of the Cumberland Fleet, which remains the alternative name of the Club, which is still used when members get together on the water.  Originally known as the Thames Yacht Club, it gained its royal connection in 1830 when William IV came to the throne.  Today the Club’s patron is HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.  HRH The Prince of Wales is Admiral of the Cumberland Fleet, and the Club’s Commodore is HRH The Duke of York.

TEAMORIGIN TAKE 6TH PLACE IN AUDI MEDCUP BARCELONA EVENT 25 Jul 2010

TEAMORIGIN NOTCHES UP 3RD RACE WIN OF THE SEASON 25 Jul 2010

 TEAMORIGIN NOTCH UP 3RD RACE WIN OF THE SEASON 

With Team Principal, Sir Keith Mills, onboard, TEAMORIGIN, achieved a race win today, Saturday 24th July in Barcelona moving into joint 4th place for this regatta.

PENULTIMATE DAY OF RACING TP52 BARCELONA 24 Jul 2010

MIXED DAY FOR TEAMORIGIN : DAY ONE OF RACING IN BARCELONA 22 Jul 2010

AUDI MEDCUP RACING, BARCELONA

DAY TWO - THURS 22ND JULY 2010

Quantum Racing (USA) emerged as overall leaders of the Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona after opening with two fifth places and a second on what proved an especially testing first day of racing as the Audi MedCup Circuit competes for the first time ever off the Catalan capital. 

As an introduction to a new venue nothing was gained easily in the moderate 9-13 knots NE'ly breezes. With the start line set directly in front of where the Olympic village was for the 1992 Olympic Games, relatively close to the shore, there was an awkward choppy sea kicked back off the beach to contend with. The variable cloud cover moved the wind around from time to time, the breeze varied in strength across the course and the racing for the most part was extremely close with small errors punished heavily in the intense competition. 

The Quantum Racing team came back to the dock at the city’s Moll de la Fusta, greeted by huge crowds. After a long day on the water the 2008 Audi MedCup champions looked mildly frazzled but content to have stuck within their budgeted 12 points for the day which leaves them leading by only one point from a trio comprising Emirates Team New Zealand in second, Artemis (SWE) in third and Bribón (ESP) in fourth, whilst Cristabella (GBR) lies fifth. 

As if to highlight how hard it was to stay regular in these conditions, in the TP52 fleet, Britain’s Cristabella took second in the first race, won the second race and then rode the rollercoaster down to an 11th in the third. Three different boats won races. 

After weak openings in Cascais and Marseille, Emirates Team New Zealand seemed to despatch any talk of a first day hoodoo when they won the first race, profiting when early leadersBribón let them squeeze inside them at the leeward gate. 

In the third race the all-Italian Luna Rossa team read the top of the first beat to perfection and lead Quantum Racing across the finish line to post their first win of their Audi MedCup Circuit TP52 campaign.

In the light of losing out the first planned day of racing there will now be no Coastal Race at this regatta.

Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona 

TP52 Series
Day 2
1. Quantum Racing (USA), 5+5+2= 12 points 
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 1+4+8= 13
3. Artemis (SWE), 7+2+4= 13  
4. Bribón (ESP), 3+3+7= 13
5. Cristabella (GBR), 2+1+11= 14
6. TeamOrigin (GBR), 10+6+3= 19
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), 9+11+1= 21  
8. Matador (ARG), 4+9+9= 22 
9. Synergy (RUS), 6+10+6= 22    
10. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 12(DNC)+8+5= 25

 11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 8+7+10= 25

TEAMORIGIN ISSUE SAILING TEAM LINE-UP FOR AUDI MEDCUP BARCELONA 18 Jul 2010

Matt Cornwell : Bow : GBR

Julian Cressant : Mid Bow : FRA                       

Chris Brittle : Grind : GBR

Christian Kamp : Trimmer  : DEN

Andy Hemmings : Trimmer :  GBR

James Stagg : Pit  : GBR

Warwick Fleury : Main: NZL           

Kelvin Harrap :  Strategist  : NZL

Andrew Simpson :  Strategist : USA

Iain Percy : Tactician :   GBR

Ed Smyth :  Navigator: NZL

 Ben Ainslie : Skipper/Helm :  GBR 

TEAMORIGIN UPDATE ON DESIGN RESOURCE FOR AC34 12 Jul 2010

TEAMORIGIN decide not to work with JYD for the 34th America's Cup

(JYD - Juan (Kouyoumdjian) Yacht design)

TEAMORIGIN today announced that discussions with JYD for the 34th America's Cup are not progressing.

Grant Simmer, who joined TEAMORIGIN in June after 10 years with Alinghi in various senior roles, including design coordinator, has been undertaking a review of the team's design options.

Simmer holds a strong view that with a new design rule soon to be announced, teams need to be in a position to be able to build their design capabilities to reflect the new rule. 

As preparations for the next America's Cup gather momentum, several weeks of discussions have taken place between TEAMORIGIN and JYD.

Last week however, TEAMORIGIN decided to take an alternative approach than the one offered by JYD and, as a result, terminated discussions with JYD.

For more information, contact Leslie Greenhalgh on +44 7795 483116 and lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN TEAM WIN STENA MATCH CUP IN SWEDEN 11 Jul 2010

Ben Ainslie and TEAMORIGIN Team Maestros of Marstrand in Stena Match Cup Sweden

Marstrand, Sweden – 11 July, 2010 – WMRT Report 

During a penalty flag festooned semi final today on the last day of Stena Match Cup Sweden Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team smoked Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 3-0. Living legend Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN dominated Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team going through to the final on 3-1. The ultimate show down came between Ainslie and Radich with Ainslie storming through with 2 comprehensive wins over Radich in light, twitchy conditions. The Brit got what he wanted today becoming 2010’s ‘Maestro of Marstrand’. Holmberg kept in the picture wining 2-1 over Mirsky appearing on the podium in 3rd place.

Ben Ainslie commented after the win, "Great result for the team, it was tough competition but we sailed well as a team and got the fundamentals right."

Ainslie kept his foot on Radich’s throat at all match moments today giving Radich Racing Team no room to breath. There was a constant dialogue onboard TEAMORIGIN, this tight team sailed smart and fast without any inkling of these professionals freezing up under pressure. Boat on boat contact was registered between Ainslie and Radich during the final stages of the pre-start to match 2. The umpires were quick to act and gave Radich a red flag penalty requiring him to take it immediately. The ball was then very firmly in Ainslie’s court as he took clear advantage and led right round the course.

A forward thinking Ainslie is looking into building a solid World Match Racing Tour campaign for the final half of this 2010 Tour season. “It looks like we can do a couple more events now, we can do the Argo Group Match Cup in Bermuda and there’s the new Qingdao Match Cup event so it gives us the opportunity to hopefully get enough scores in. I think it’s going to be hard because we’re not doing as many events as the others, so the strike ratio for us has to be a lot higher”.

The Tour will be rewarding Marstrand’s organisers for their branding efforts during last year’s event at the Closing Ceremony dinner this evening. Stena Match Cup Sweden was awarded the ‘ISAF World Match Racing Tour Best Branding Award’ to highlight their commitment to on site event branding during the 2009 Tour event. With such a successful event 2010 could also be an award winning year for this highly organised venue.

Stena Match Cup Sweden winners Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN

At the beginning of Sweden Ainslie and Radich were equal in the WMRT standings at 7th with 20 points.  After Ainslie’s win today he now overtakes Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing and moves up into 5th place.  Radich now actually drops down into 8th position overall even though he was 2nd this week. The rise and falls in the standings demonstrates how every point counts. Richard still remains out on top 17 points clear of Mirsky.

The first half of this year’s 10 event World Series has provided World Match Racing Tour teams with ample racing travelling round Europe and to Asia. The teams will now be analysing the first half of their 2010 Tour and strategising for the final half which kicks off at St Moritz Match Race towards the end of August with the Tour culminating in Malaysia at the Monsoon Cup during December.

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2010 Overall Standings

1 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 25 Points 
2 Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 20 Points 
3 Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 15 Points 
4 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 12 Points 
5 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 10 Points 
6 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 8 Points 
7 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6 Points 
8 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 4 Points 
9 Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 
10 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 
11 Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 
12 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 
13 Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing 
14 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 
15 Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 
= Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 5 of 10)

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 77 Points
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 60 Points
3. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 54 Points
4. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 52 Points
5. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 45 Points
6. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 43 Points
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 41 Points
8. Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 40 Points
9. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 29 Points

 10. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 16 Points

TEAMORIGIN INTO FINALS OF MATCH CUP SWEDEN 09 Jul 2010

Results after today's quarter finals

Semi-finalists

Jesper Radich  QF results 3-2

Torvar Mirsky QF results 3-1

Ben Ainslie QF results 3-0

Magnus Holmberg QF results 3-1

Ben Ainslie and team beat Mattieu Ricard and commented on the day's action

"Good day for the team, tricky light conditions but we did a good job sailing the boat fast and Iain picked the breeze really nicely"

BEN AINSLIE AND TEAMORIGIN ADVANCE TO QUARTER FINALS 08 Jul 2010

  Quarter-Finalists and results to date

Group A
Jesper Radich (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra

Group B
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team

Day 3: Round Robin Standings

Group A
Jesper Radich (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team 6-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 5-2
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 5-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 4-3
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 4-3
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 3-4
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 1-6
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team 0-7

Group B

Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 6-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 6-1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 5-2
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 4-3
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 3-4
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 2-5
Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing 2-5

Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 0-7

MORE DETAILS REVEALED ON 1851 CUP PLANS 05 Jul 2010

BRITISH SAILING TEAM TO TAKE ON THE NEW AMERICA’S CUP CHAMPIONS IN COWES WEEK SAILING EXTRAVANGANZA

America’s Cup trophy on public display

RACING FOR THE 1851 CUP TO TAKE PLACE FROM TUESDAY 3^RD TO FRIDAY 6^TH AUGUST 2010

Wednesday 23^rd June, 2010

The two hottest match racing skippers in the world, TEAMORIGIN’s Ben Ainslie, and BMW ORACLE Racing’s James Spithill, will lead their teams contesting the 1851 Cup.

Britain’s TEAMORIGIN will be the be first potential challenger for the next America’s Cup to race head-to-head with BMW ORACLE Racing, winners of the 33^rd America’s Cup.

Competition will take place on the historic waters of the Solent and around the Isle of Wight upon which a race won by the New York yacht America gave rise to the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in the international sport.

The 1851 Cup celebrates this event.

Racing will be held as close to West Cowes as possible to give spectators a close-up view, with a special race around the Isle of Wight also planned.

The racing schedule is:

• Match racing : up to three short match races per day on Tuesday 3^rd, Wednesday 4^th and Friday 6^th August, starting from 1430 onwards

• Round the Island race : Thursday 5^th Augustboth boats will go around the Island in a clockwise direction, replicating the direction of the yachts back in 1851

Aged 30, Australian James Spithill the youngest-ever America’s Cup skipper, will go into battle against Great Britain’s Ben Ainslie, aged 33, Skipper and Helmsman of TEAMORIGIN, four times Olympic medallist with 3 golds and 1 silver.

"This will be an incredible event which I am sure will capture the imagination of sports fans across the UK,"commented Ben Ainslie. "We relish the idea of taking on the Defenders in our home waters. We have a busy season in 2010 and The 1851 Cup is one that we are all particularly looking forward to.”

The teams will be based at the 1851 Marquee on Cowes Parade, adjacent to the Royal Yacht Squadron.  There will be information and activities for public and guests daily.

The iconic America’s Cup will be on public display during the day.   Members of each team will be on hand to sign posters, answer questions and talk about their passion for their sport and for winning the America’s Cup.

James Spithill, Skipper of BMW ORACLE Racingadded: “Ben’s a mate and fantastic sailor. Having said that, we’re really looking forward to taking the fight to him and his guys. For our team, this is a key stepping stone from having been victorious challengers in February when we beat Alinghi, to becoming a unit that has to defend the 34^th America’s Cup.”

ENDS

• For more information on the 1851 Cup and TEAMORIGIN, contact lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com; +44 7795 483116
• For more information on BMW ORACLE Racing, go to www.bmworacleracing.com
• For more information on Cowes Week, go to www.cowesweek.co.uk

Supporting notes:

TEAMORIGIN:

• TEAMORIGIN is the British America’s Cup sailing team set up in January 2007 by Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAMORIGIN.
• The team’s mission is to win the America’s Cup and inspire positive action around climate change
• Headed up by Sir Keith, other key team members include Grant Simmer, CEO and three times winner of the America’s Cup; Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman, three times Olympic gold medallist and one time silver medallist; Iain Percy, Tactician and double Olympic gold medallist; and Juan Kouyoumdjian, Principal Designer
• Race for Change is an inspiring strategic collaboration between sport and the environment launched in association with the Carbon Trust, the UK’s leading authority on carbon reduction, and environmental partner to the team
• TEAMORIGIN plan to use the Race for Change platform and programme to raise awareness and inspire their audiences around the urgent need for action on environmental matters
• The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the official challenging yacht club to the team for the next America’s Cup, this is the fourth time that the Club will challenge in the 140 year history of the contest
• During 2010 the team is competing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas, the AudiMed Cup TP52 series and the World Match Racing circuit
• For more information, go to www.teamorigin.com; www.carbontrust.co.uk; www.royalthames.com

BMW ORACLE Racing:

• BMW ORACLE Racing is the current America’s Cup champion, winning the 33^rd Match on February 14, 2010, in Valencia, Spain.
• San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club is the third American club, and only the sixth since 1851, to be Trustee of the America’s Cup.
• BMW ORACLE Racing was the first American team to triumph in the Cup since 1992.
• The team’s 30m trimaran, USA 17, is the most advanced and fastest America’s Cup yacht in history. It bristles with innovation, capped by the biggest wing ever built. At 68m, it is longer than any wing fitted by Boeing or Airbus.
• Masterminding USA 17’s victory over Alinghi 5 of Switzerland was skipper/helmsman James Spithill, the youngest-ever winning skipper in the 159 year history of the Cup, and chief executive Russell Coutts, the most successful skipper the event has known.
• BMW ORACLE Racing was started 10 years ago by Larry Ellison, founder of the global software company Oracle Corporation. It is a creative team, employing advanced technologies.

• Larry Ellison is a longstanding competitive helmsman, most recently winning the RC44 class’ 2010 Austria Cup.
• He has pledged to make the America’s Cup a fair competition for all competitors, a sustainable business proposition for partners and teams, and a more compelling event to engage a wider-than-ever audience
• For more information, go to www.bmworacleracing.com; www.bmworacleracingblog.blogspot.com; www.americascup.com; www.ggyc.com

TEAMORIGIN COMMENTS ON NEW AC34 PROPOSED PROTOCOL DOCUMENT 25 Jun 2010

  Grant Simmer, CEO of TEAMORIGIN, commented on the draft Protocol document for the 34th America's Cup:

"We are very pleased to have received the draft form of the Protocol for the 34^th America’s Cup last night. It is a very detailed document and so will take us some days to digest and discuss internally. TEAMORIGIN very much wants to be involved in the process of moving this draft forward into a final Protocol document by the 31^st August 2010 and therefore we will collate our thoughts and feedback over the next week and input our comments. The document has been based in some areas on the AC32 Protocol, with some new additions. We do have some concerns but will voice them directly to GGYC. We are very encouraged to see that GGYC and Club Nautico di Roma are keen to empower and include the future potential challengers in this process as we move forward."

THE 1851 CUP IS TAKING SHAPE 22 Jun 2010

THE 1851 CUP

Details to be issued this week

Sailing programme

Tuesday 3rd August, Match Racing, up to 3 races, start from 1430

Wednesday 4th August, match racing, up to 3 races, start from 1430

Thursday 5th August, Round the Island race, start approx 1200

Friday 6th August, match racing, up to 3 races, start from 1430

NO RACING ON FINAL DAY OF MARSEILLES CUP 20 Jun 2010

NO RACING TODAY IN MARSEILLES 19 Jun 2010

TEAMORIGIN IN 5TH OVERALL AFTER A TOUGH COASTAL RACE 18 Jun 2010

OVERALL RESULTS AFTER COASTAL RACE

1ST QUANTUM 22.5 PTS

2ND MATADOR 27 PTS

3RD AUDI POWERED BY ALL4ONE 29.5 PTS

4TH ETNZ 31 PTS

5TH TEAMORIGIN 31 PTS

6TH SYNERGY 35.5 PTS

7TH BRIBON 41 PTS

8TH CRISTABELLA 43.5 PTS

9TH LUNA ROSSA 44.5 PTS

10TH ARTEMIS 53 PTS

11TH BIGAMIST 78 PTS

TEAMORIGIN TOP SCORING BOAT OF THE DAY BRINGING THEM UP TO 3RD OVERALL 17 Jun 2010

Thursday 17th June : Audi MedCup report, day two: While many of their nearest rivals had an up and down day it was solid consistency which kept the green TP52 of the 2008 champions Quantum Racing at the top of the Audi MedCup Circuit’s Marseille Trophy regatta leaderboard today.
	Out on the Rade Nord, a switch from yesterday’s southern arena, the breeze was equally hard to read and several teams results roller-coastered from one race to the next. Quantum Racing’s (USA) fifth and sixth keeps them ahead of Matador (ARG) only on tie-break as the Argentine TP52 had a taste of life at the both extremes. Alberto Roemmers’ (ARG) crew sailed a strong first race, getting into slightly stronger wind to the right early on in the first beat to lead from first turn, winning by a handsome margin in the 5-9 knots of gentle SW’ly breeze. But in the second race they found themselves at the wrong side of a big shift and slumped from third at the first turn to end up tenth over the finish line.  Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) made their key gain as they rose from eight to second by profiting from that one shift. The Franco German team were tenth in the first race. Top scorers of the day were Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR) and the TeamOrigin who scored a third in the day’s first then convincingly won the second race to elevate themselves to third on the regatta standings. Percy and strategist Santi Lange (ARG) showed an almost uncanny ability to read the pressure best, preserving their gains when they could, also proving that they seem to have put their Cascais speed issues behind them. The leader board after five races is incredibly close. Only five points separate the top five boats. Quantum Racing are credited with the lead by virtue of their two victories yesterday, and TeamOrigin are only one point behind. Quantum’s starting has been excellent. They had to dig deep and fight back when they fouled Bribón at the leeward gate of the second race, an incident which skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) put down to a momentary ‘brain fade’ But the coastal race’s 1.5 points bounty on tomorrow could prove decisive in this regatta and Quantum Racing go into it perhaps with an edge of confidence after winning the longer race here last year.

TEAMORIGIN OPEN THE EVENT WITH A 4,7,7 RACE PLACINGS 16 Jun 2010

AUDI MEDCUP REPORT, DAY ONE:   It was a day of sharply contrasting fortunes for past and present Audi MedCup Champions on the Rade Sud today as the Marseille Trophy opened with three races which proved a very different test to last month’s breezy curtain raiser in Cascais, Portugal. Iberdrola won the GP42 Series Practice Race.
	As 2008 champions Quantum Racing rekindled their winning mojo with back to back wins in Races 2 and 3 to lead the regatta at the end of the first day, the reigning champions came off the water in ninth of ten and 2007 circuit winners in tenth. Breezes rarely topped ten knots but it was the changes in strength and direction which made life especially testing for afterguards. Taking the positive benefits of the bend generated by the steep, bluff Marseilleveyre mountains was usual key. But there was no simple strategy, there were many traps, zones of light winds which were best avoided. With Morgan Larson (USA), who won as tactician for the 2008 champions, returned to the afterguard fold for this regatta, Quantum Racing’s starts were strong and their tactical sailing a good blend of pushing when they needed to and managing the risks in the patchy breezes. They were able to hold off Synergy (RUS) by only 3 seconds in a thrilling finish to Race 2. Winning, ahead of Audi A1 powered by All4One in the third race, sees Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the team end the day locked even on 10 points with the very consistent Matador (ARG) whose 3,3,4 for the day is a welcome tonic after their slightly disappointing Portugal Trophy regatta. Emirates Team New Zealand unfortunately repeated that off-key start that they made to the season’s first races, tenth in the first contest which was won by Bribon. This time, in the lighter conditions which are not the powerful Kiwi boat’s favourite, they failed to bounce back into the top tier of the fleet during the following two races, but so close are the points in this extremely tight class that they are only four points shy of the top half of the fleet. Marseille Trophy TP52 Series Overall – Day 1 1. Quantum Racing (USA), 8+1+1=10 points 2. Matador (ARG), 3+3+4= 10 3. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 2+9+2= 13 4. Cristabella (GBR), 6+4+3= 13 5. Bribón (ESP), 1+8+8= 17 6. Synergy (RUS), 9+2+6= 17     7. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+7+7= 18 8. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+5+10= 20   9. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 10+6+5= 21 10. Artemis (SWE), 7+12(RAF)+9= 28   11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 12(DNC)+12(DNC)+12(DNC)= 36

TEAMORIGIN ISSUE SAILING TEAM LINE-UP FOR AUDI MEDCUP MARSEILLES EVENT 12 Jun 2010

Matt Cornwell                                      Bow                                                     GBR

Julian Cressant                                   Mast                                                    FRA

Chris Brittle                                         Grinder                                                GBR

Christian Kamp                                   Trimmer                                              DEN

Andy Hemmings                                 Trimmer                                              GBR

Nice Bice                                            Pit                                                        AUS

Warwick Fleury                                   Main                                                    NZL    

Santiago Lange                                   Strategist                                             ARG   

Stevie Erickson                                   Strategist                                             USA

Iain Percy                                            Tactician                                             GBR

Ed Smyth                                            Navigator                                            NZL

Ben Ainslie                                         Skipper/Helm                                      GBR

For any further information, please contact lesliegreenhalgh@teamorigin.com;

+44 7795 483116; For photos go to www.ianroman.com

TEAMORIGIN NEXT STOP : MARSEILLES AUDI MEDCUP 07 Jun 2010

ETNZ WIN LV FINAL IN 3:2 THRILLING FINISH V SYNERGY 06 Jun 2010

Emirates Team New Zealand wins Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena

Two races down and on match point, Emirates Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena today in an action-packed afternoon of match race sailing.

The New Zealand boat that won the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland in February prevailed 3-2 against the SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team that had put the Kiwis on the ropes 2-0 after the first race today.

"In the end it comes down to confidence in our team,” said Dean Barker, skipper and helmsman of ETNZ. “It's hard to believe. It was a long way back from 2-0 down. But the guys stuck with it and they gave us an opportunity that we jumped on. After that we sailed more like we expect to and it feels fantastic to win another event.”

Grant Dalton, CEO of Team New Zealand put it slightly differently: “This regatta has been about the emergence of these teams that are putting us under pressure. We need someone to put a blow touch on us before we start performing. That’s not good enough. someone’s going to knock us off our pedestal if we carry on like that. I would have been incredibly hacked off if they hadn’t won.”

It was the first time in America’s Cup history that a Russian-flagged boat has reached the final of a Louis Vuitton-sponsored event and her mixed Russian and international crew led by Polish skipper Karol Jablonski came very close to clinching the series.

After the finish, boats crowded around the Kiwi winners and a fireboat sprayed water high in the air as Barker and his crew hosed each other down with champagne from two jeroboams and a methuselah of Moët & Chandon presented on board by Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Yves Carcelle.

The start for the last race of the day set a new record for race turnarounds. The cutoff for competition was 4:00 pm and Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio and his team hustled to setup and signal the start of the last race, less than five minutes after the finish of race three.

A shifty easterly breeze that built slowly in speed provided excellent conditions on a warm, sunny final day of racing. Because there was no wind early, the petit final for third and fourth places was abandoned and the French/German team All4One was confirmed in third place, with Sweden’s Artemis fourth.

Final, Race Two:  SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team def. Emirates Team New Zealand, 01:22 – ETNZ had the starboard entry advantage but after a long dialup Jablonski claimed the committee end with the Kiwis to leeward in the middle of the line.  ETNZ and Barker were bow out as Jablonski carried them all the way out to the port layline. A right-hand shift carried both boats below the mark and an unsuccessful last-minute effort by Barker to punch through to leeward in a flurry of tacks saw the Kiwi boat make a down-speed rounding 20 seconds astern. Synergy sailed away. Rod Dawson, tactician, Synergy: “It was really satisfying. We wanted the right and Karol did a fantastic job. We felt it was going to shift that way and we controlled the race from that side. The shifts were up to 20 degrees, very tricky conditions…”

Final, Race Three: Emirates Team New Zealand def. SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team , 01:05 – ETNZ trailed by 26 seconds at the first mark but crisper, faster gennaker sets and gybes, and a tactical call half way down the first run, pulled the Kiwis within six seconds at the gate. Under pressure, SYNERGY’s crew fumbled the gennaker takedown bringing the boat almost to a standstill. Minutes later ETNZ led by 156 metres. At the start, Jablonski had conducted a master class in starting tactics, leveraging a starboard entry and controlling a long dialup that led above the line before taking off at the pin on port, with the Kiwis tucked away 22 metres to leeward. Davies said: "It was won down the first run for us. The right side was very, very strong. We managed to pull back close and the pass was down the run. He had a bad rounding but I think we were going to be ahead and on the favored side of the course." Jablonski said: "That's the game of mistakes. We gybed on the first run a little bit too early and TNZ had an edge, that's why we decided to go to the other mark.”

Final, Race Four: Emirates Team New Zealand def. SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team, 00:04 – The Kiwi boat prevailed in a muscular tactical battle punctuated by a flurry of protest flags in 14 knots of breeze. After a spirited pre-start the boats split with the Kiwis on starboard before quickly tacking onto port to control.  Barker led by seven seconds at the top mark but the Russians overtook on the run, only to be penalized after contact when ETNZ closed up again.  The action was furious and the flags frequent on the last run as Synergy fought to land a penalty on their opponent but Barker kept clear and broke through to win by four seconds with the Synergy penalty still outstanding.

Final, Race Five:  Emirates Team New Zealand def. SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team, 01:23 – Synergy claimed the committee end on starboard with ETNZ to leeward and immediately tacked away. The Kiwi boat tacked to cover and it was a replay as they went out to the starboard layline with the Russian boat forced to follow. Barker led by 12 seconds after the run and held off Jablonski in a spirited tacking duel up the second weather leg. Synergy’s hopes were shattered on the run when their gennaker shredded as they trailed by three boat lengths. Davies said: "It was a tough one. But we got there in the end. It was a tricky venue and tough competitors. It was tough to win and we're pretty darn proud of it. The turning point was on that final run when their spinnaker blew out! In the end, the team keeps backing itself. It was stressful, but like all of these regattas, you just have to win the last race, and we peaked at the right time. Synergy sailed really well as did all of the top boats. It's been a really close regatta, the closest of these we've had…It's hard to keep people behind us, that's for sure."

Final Results

  1.  Emirates Team New Zealand
  2.  SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team    
  3.  All4One
  4.  Artemis
  5.  Mascalzone Latino Audi Team
  6.  Azzurra
  7.  TEAMORIGIN
  8.  Luna Rossa
  9.  BMW Oracle Racing Team
10.  ALEPH Sailing Team
 

SYNERGY INTO FINALS V ETNZ 05 Jun 2010

ETNZ THROUGH TO FINALS : OTHER SEMI-FINAL TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW 04 Jun 2010

SEMI FINALS ON TODAY 04 Jun 2010

ROUND ROBIN 1 FINALLY COMPLETED, QUARTER FINALS UNDERWAY 03 Jun 2010

TEAMORIGIN update Thursday 3rd June

The Round Robin was finally completed today at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena. Final results were:

1. ALL4ONE - FRA/GER - 6 points

2. Artemis - SWE - 6 points

3. ETNZ - NZL - 6 points

4. Mascalzone Latino - ITA - 5 points

5. Synergy - RUS - 5 points

6. Azzurra - ITA - 4 points

7. TEAMORIGIN - GBR - 4 points

8. Luna Rossa - ITA - 3 points

9. BMWOracle Racing - USA - 3 points

10. Aleph - FRA - -2 points

The Quarter finals were set to take place today, holding them in order of ranking so if there was a lack of time to complete them all then the event could still move on to Semi-Finals tomorrow.

Proposed Quarter Finals:

QF1 : Synergy (5th in RR) v Mascalzone Latino (4th in RR)

Two races were sailed and the score is one all in a best of 3 series so one more race to be sailed

QF2 : ETNX (6th in RR) v Azzurra (3rd in RR)

If there is time:

QF3 : Artemis (2nd in RR) v TEAMORIGIN (7th in RR)

QF4 : ALL4ONE (1st in RR) v Luna Rossa (8th in RR)

If there is not time to complete QF3 and 4, the top ranked two teams move to the semi finals and lower ranked two sail off against each other.