We did it !! The American team, founded ten years ago by software mogul Larry Ellison, achieved its ultimate goal when they powered across the finish line of today's Race 2 with a margin of 5 minutes and 26 seconds to defeat the Swiss Defender’s Alinghi 2-0. This has been an unprecedented event poising 2 giant multihulls against each other. Bravo to our boys, the wing mast and to multiulls!
T+2 days: The America's cup committee again choose the Fountaine Pajot Cumberland 46 power catamaran. At this year's controversial event held in Valencia Spain, several Fountaine Pajot power catamarans, are sailing between the two most exceptional multihulls of the world: The US challenger, the 90' BMW ORACLE trimaran and the Swiss defender, the 90' ALINGHI catamaran. These 2 yachts are extensions of egos for 2 billionaires. On one hand we say "Bravo"- for putting their money into creating the most awesome sailing machines - yet "Shame on them" - for dragging this once illustrious event through courtrooms and embarrassing the sailing community and millions of fans.
As we - sailing fans, are approaching the ultimate battle of multihull giants (in court), the NY Supreme court ruled today "..stop bickering - and go race" ! This means, the first of the best of 3 race series will start February 8 th- that's in 8 days gents.
Ok, the cat (actual -tri) is out of the bag! Team Oracle BMW have just revealed an enormous wing sail which they will be putting on their giant America's Cup trimaran. The wing is of unprecedented dimensions and actually 80% larger than the one of a Boeing 747. Go boys - Hike Hard! Anyone want to take a guess of who will win the Cup ? Take a second and vote in the poll on the top right of this page.
The world's biggest sailing trimaran has just covered 2 921 miles between New-York and Point-Lizard, UK in 3 days 15 hours 25 minutes and 48 seconds, at the average speed of 32,94 knots!! By improving the previous record of 12 hours 32 minutes and 6 seconds held by Franck Cammas in 2007, the twelve sailors of the maxi-trimaran commissioned by Banque Populaire hit their first record and reach the height of their expectancies. Bravo and hats off !
As the US-America's Cup challengers are fine tuning their giant trimaran "Team Oracle-BMW", the Swiss defenders pulled out all the stops. They have just launched "Alinghi" a monster catamaran that will go head to head in what might be the most spectacular America's Cup race in history.
For now Team Oracle has won the race in the courtroom against Alinghi permitting racing the next America's Cup in giant multihulls. Will this ego quibbling never end? Let's hope that the NY court's decision will hold and that we will witness the greatest yacht race ever. Check out the sailing video
When one envisions a world circling cruiser –images of a stately heavy displacement yacht come to mind. Now switch gears for a second. My friend Reini Gelder and his wife Sandra sailed around the world in their 40’ racer/cruiser trimaran – not once but twice, and are still together! During one of my commutes to France I had the pleasure of staying one night aboard their efficient tri, visiting the Eric Tabarly ‘Cite de la Voile’ and learning about the organization “Light for the World”
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