Luna Rossa Challenge. AC 36

[Rennmaus]

WOW!
Just in:
 















[SIZE=14pt]PRESS RELEASE[/SIZE]





























[SIZE=13pt]BRAD BUTTERWORTH JOINS COR 36 [/SIZE]

The four times America’s Cup winner joins COR 36, Challenger of Record of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA, in the capacity of External and Institutional Relations Officer.

New Zealander Brad Butterworth (OBE) - four times America’s Cup winner, America’s Cup Hall of Fame inductee and multiple World Champion - one of the most respected yachting figures worldwide, has now joined Challenger of Record 36 – the organizer of the America’s Cup World Series Auckland, the Christmas Race and the Prada Cup Challengers Selection Series – with the role of External and Institutional Relations Officer, to create a contact figure and facilitate a direct communication flow with the New Zealand hosts and local Authorities.
Brad’s America’s Cup experience is an additional asset on which COR 36 can count to deliver a successful event, and his knowledge of the country, of the people and of Auckland will greatly facilitate the decision process in many of the matters connected to the Event.
Brad Butterworth declared “I have known the America’s Cup Italian fraternity for close to three decades and have always appreciated their enthusiasm for the Cup and their genuine and transparent sportsmanship. It is therefore with the same enthusiasm that I have accepted COR’s proposal to support them in the final phases of the organization of the America’s Cup World Series Auckland, the Christmas Race and the PRADA Cup Challengers Selection Series. I am thrilled to be involved once again in the America’s Cup, the yachting event I cherish the most.”

 

[Sailbydate]

 I clicked on the Cup history link. I suspect they have the wrong flag for NZL, right?

Right. 

Surely Kiwis must be used to be people getting their flag confused with the Australian one and don't get upset about it?

I'm used to yanks being confused about the relationship of UK, Great Britain, British Isles, England, Wales, Scotland , Ireland and NI. Doesn't get under my skin.

Or for that matter than 2/3 of Americans couldn't place the UK on a world map. (Especially since 20% couldn't place the USA on a world map either)

Yep. At least you're on the world map mate. Half the time we're left off, or worse, attached to Australia!

 

[Priscilla]

Right. 

Yep. At least you're on the world map mate. Half the time we're left off, or worse, attached to Australia!

Minor detail but those thieving Aussies plagiarised our flag their national flag up until 1954 was the Union Jack

The Kiwi national flag has been in use since 1902.

 

[hoom]

We could have had this

or this

 

[Sailbydate]

Just in case there is any doubt. ;-)

 

[Sailbydate]

Imagine flying this ensign from your boat's stern.

"I can see you".

 

[RMac]

Just in case there is any doubt. ;-)

View attachment 392514

Wow you Australians have some serious tides

 

[Ex-yachtie]

We could have had this

This has grown on me over time. It was always my preference of the final five, but I think it’s withstood the test of time, so far. 
 

Better than John’s pick. 

 

[Sailbydate]

Wow you Australians have some serious tides

H, ha. That could explain those delinquent cartographer's error - they referenced Google Earth during the flood tide. Muppets!

 

[Jethrow]

Minor detail but those thieving Aussies plagiarised our flag their national flag up until 1954 was the Union Jack

The Kiwi national flag has been in use since 1902.

Ummm, no. :lol:

 

[fish7yu]

Jimmy Spithill Interview: "The AC75 is quite a lot different from past boats"


by Red Bull Content Pool 17 Sep 07:25 NZST

Jimmy Spithill Interview: "The AC75 is quite a lot different from past boats"

Australian Jimmy Spithill has been the skipper and helmsman behind two America's Cup victories and believes that his new Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli can reclaim sailing's biggest prize as he travels to Auckland for the PRADA Cup challenger series.

Spithill won his first title in 2010 thanks to BMW Oracle Racing's 2-0 victory over Swiss team Alinghi, then followed up in 2013 with Oracle Team USA by coming back from a -2 penalty score at the start to win 9-8 on the final race from Emirates Team New Zealand.

For his latest tilt at the famous trophy, the 41-year-old must first get his Italian boat past two American teams and the British boat led by Olympic legend Sir Ben Ainslie for the chance to challenge defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand from March 6-21, 2021.

Here is what the Sydney native had to say from Luna Rossa's Sardinian base ahead of the autumn trip to compete on New Zealand water:

How are things coming there in Sardinia?

We've been testing and developing multiple components, and we're getting close to finishing development of Boat 2. Meanwhile, we already have some team members in New Zealand and our base is starting to go up there.

Will you definitely be the person at the helm in Auckland?

We're going to nail down our crew once we get a bit closer to the racing. In sport, nothing is definite!

How difficult is it to move a team and assets almost 19,000km in the current conditions?

It is always a big logistic operation in the America's Cup and, given COVID, it's even bigger. We have to do it on a staggered basis because only so many people are allowed to land in New Zealand each day and it's not just the 100 people on the team. Take me - I have a wife and two kids, so it's four of us. Our plan is to be operating in Auckland in mid-October.

The AC75 that you'll be sailing - has there ever been a boat like this?

No. It's quite a lot different from the boats in the past two America's Cup cycles. Those were foiling catamarans, but this is something else completely - a monohull with hydraulic foil arms. Though in one way it does remind me of the AC72 we sailed in 2013, because that was so new and no one had done it before. This feels like just as big a step.

What about your teammates?

It's a great mix. We have sailors who have been involved in successful America's Cup programs and a range of disciplines in the sport, and some really good young Italian talent who have impressed me. The next generation are so much further educated and developed coming in. Thanks to technology, they've had access to watch and learn and get themselves up to speed and, ultimately, they put the team before themselves. That's the most critical thing.

Luna Rossa has to race against three teams in the PRADA Cup to clinch the Challenger spot in the America's Cup Match, so it's not a given that you'll be facing New Zealand...

No, not at all. The Challenger Selection Series is going to be extremely tough. Every team has what they need in terms of resources, so it will come down to the team that makes the best decisions and can win races.

You've been in the America's Cup as both Challenger and Defender. Which do you prefer?

If I could choose, I'd be the Defender because you've got a 50 per cent chance of winning. Although being the Defender is also extremely difficult, because you have a target on your back and you have to help organise and run the event. As much as you try to separate the racing from the other side, that part still takes some energy. Plus, as the Defender, you just don't get to race as much... but I'd still want to be the Defender.

You skippered Oracle Team USA against New Zealand in the past two America's Cup matches, and you're an Australian to boot. Will you be public enemy number one in Auckland?

You know, New Zealand is an amazing place, and Kiwis really appreciate competitive teams. They respect nothing more than a team that leaves it all on the battlefield, like their own Team New Zealand or the All Blacks, and that's what we aim to do on Luna Rossa too.

So, in other words, you've got a lot of respect for each other?

Yes, and I respectfully want to beat them!

 

[Varan]

Jimmy Spithill Interview: "The AC75 is quite a lot different from past boats"


by Red Bull Content Pool 17 Sep 07:25 NZST

Jimmy Spithill Interview: "The AC75 is quite a lot different from past boats"

Australian Jimmy Spithill has been the skipper and helmsman behind two America's Cup victories and believes that his new Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli can reclaim sailing's biggest prize as he travels to Auckland for the PRADA Cup challenger series.

Spithill won his first title in 2010 thanks to BMW Oracle Racing's 2-0 victory over Swiss team Alinghi, then followed up in 2013 with Oracle Team USA by coming back from a -2 penalty score at the start to win 9-8 on the final race from Emirates Team New Zealand.

For his latest tilt at the famous trophy, the 41-year-old must first get his Italian boat past two American teams...

This article lost credibility here.

 

[Chapter Four]

Surely Kiwis must be used to be people getting their flag confused with the Australian one and don't get upset about it?

I'm used to yanks being confused about the relationship of UK, Great Britain, British Isles, England, Wales, Scotland , Ireland and NI. Doesn't get under my skin.

Or for that matter than 2/3 of Americans couldn't place the UK on a world map. (Especially since 20% couldn't place the USA on a world map either)

And they don't have to put up with Trump talking about the Austrian Bush fires.

 

[rh3000]

Jimmy Spithill Interview: "The AC75 is quite a lot different from past boats"


by Red Bull Content Pool

Lost it here for me...

Gotta say, poor Jimmy is looking old and tired in that photo :-( He should switch to something more therapeutic than bull hormones..

 

[Sailbydate]

Lost it here for me...

Gotta say, poor Jimmy is looking old and tired in that photo :-( He should switch to something more therapeutic than bull hormones..

Actually, I thought the exact opposite. He looks at optimum power-to-weight, fighting fit and ready to rumble to me. One of us, is likely wrong.

 

[Kiwing]

I think the usual confident smile is not there.  My penny's worth?

 

[Sailbydate]

I think the usual confident smile is not there.  My penny's worth?

I guess he's a little apprehensive about getting the helmsman nod. 

One thing's for sure, he has NOTHING to lose this time around...and another reasonable chance at redemption. "Imagine if these guys lost from here", comes to mind. I hope he gets that nod.

 

[Priscilla]

For his latest tilt at the famous trophy, the 41-year-old must first get his Italian boat past two American teams and the British boat led by Olympic legend Sir Ben Ainslie for the chance to challenge defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand from March 6-21, 2021.

Crikey that's what drinking too much Red Bull does to your brain.

 

[fish7yu]

Crikey that's what drinking too much Red Bull does to your brain.

Well, S+S still appears on the official AC36 website.

 

[KiwiJoker]

WOW!
Just in:
 















[SIZE=14pt]PRESS RELEASE[/SIZE]





























[SIZE=13pt]BRAD BUTTERWORTH JOINS COR 36 [/SIZE]

The four times America’s Cup winner joins COR 36, Challenger of Record of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA, in the capacity of External and Institutional Relations Officer.

New Zealander Brad Butterworth (OBE) - four times America’s Cup winner, America’s Cup Hall of Fame inductee and multiple World Champion - one of the most respected yachting figures worldwide, has now joined Challenger of Record 36 – the organizer of the America’s Cup World Series Auckland, the Christmas Race and the Prada Cup Challengers Selection Series – with the role of External and Institutional Relations Officer, to create a contact figure and facilitate a direct communication flow with the New Zealand hosts and local Authorities.
Brad’s America’s Cup experience is an additional asset on which COR 36 can count to deliver a successful event, and his knowledge of the country, of the people and of Auckland will greatly facilitate the decision process in many of the matters connected to the Event.
Brad Butterworth declared “I have known the America’s Cup Italian fraternity for close to three decades and have always appreciated their enthusiasm for the Cup and their genuine and transparent sportsmanship. It is therefore with the same enthusiasm that I have accepted COR’s proposal to support them in the final phases of the organization of the America’s Cup World Series Auckland, the Christmas Race and the PRADA Cup Challengers Selection Series. I am thrilled to be involved once again in the America’s Cup, the yachting event I cherish the most.”

"the role of External and Institutional Relations Officer, to create a contact figure and facilitate a direct communication flow with the New Zealand hosts and local Authorities"

A sorta "onshore tactician", so to speak.  If only LR had hired him sooner they would have avoided their snafu over the national flag.

Interesting to note that Billy B is such a distant footnote to Cup history that his new and exalted position has so far rated zero comment here!