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November 11, 2010 |
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IACC boats were used in five Americas Cup and five Louis Vuitton Cup regattas from 1992 to 2007. The four Version 5 boats racing in Dubai two from BMW Oracle Racing and two from Emirates Team New Zealand were amongst the last boats built to the rule. Altogether 100 sail numbers were issued for trial horses and race boats under 13 national flags. Albert Jacobsoone, pitman aboard the French entry All4One, knows the boats by heart. He sailed FRA 2, the second IACC boat launched. The first Americas Cup Class boats came out in 1991, Jacobsoone said today. Weve been sailing them for 20 years! These are heavy monohulls with big spinnakers. I might not be attached to these boats but still, it’s the end of an Americas Cup period. Following the informal testing and training completed this week, there will be two days of official practice tomorrow and Saturday for the six competing teams, ahead of the first day or racing on Sunday.
There is a new regatta format featuring two round robins, with winners in the first scoring single points in each back-to-back match against the same team. In the second round robin, each win is worth two points. The top four boats will advance to a best-of-three semi-finals and those winners to a best-of-five finals. Featured events during the regatta include racing on 60-foot dhows on Heritage Day, Saturday, 20th November, and a separate day of IACC fleet racing on Thursday 25th November. Boats will race a windward-leeward course against the impressive backdrop of Dubai’s skyscraper skyline but with a difference compared to previous Louis Vuitton Trophy events. The windward-leeward races will commence on a mid-course start line with the start line also serving as a gate on each windward and leeward leg. With a much shorter (half size compared to previous races) first leg, the boats will likely be very close at the top mark, making for plenty of passing opportunities on the downwind legs. Throughout the race, the mid-course gate will force the boats closer together, increasing the pressure on the crews to execute their maneuvers flawlessly. The opening press conference for the six skippers will take place at 1800 local time tomorrow, Friday. The Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the Principal Sponsor of the event. Also see:
LVT Dubai Regatta Format About WSTA About Louis Vuitton |
