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The
Party is over for
the Challenge Series (08/19/03)
(source
:
Yacht
Racing)
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Due to lack of sponsorship, the organizers
of The Challenge Series have called it a year.
The following is the official word from their
site:
"The Challenge Series has now completed
five regattas over two years. We have grown
from two yachts to seven and along the way saved
four AC yachts from the scrap yard. The partners,
Tina Kleinjan and John Sweeney, have funded
the events until now. At first we planned on
one event and then it was three, four, then
five.
The line has been drawn at five, and we now
need a company to back the Challenge Series
to make it an ongoing event. The deadline to
achieve this was 8/14/2003, and although many
sponsors have showed great interest, nobody
has committed to a level that would let the
events be self sufficient.
We have cancelled the September 5-8 event unless
somebody provides funding, and will do the same
for October. The plan is to wrap everything
up and set our sights on three great events
in 2004 with sponsors and television.
We will change the rules to only allow 1992
and 1995 AC yachts and work closely with America's
Cup Properties to secure the official Vintage
America's Cup Class rights. T
he regattas have been a huge success, not only
for the sailing community but for Bay Area public
who finally got to see America's Cup Class racing
in the perfect amphitheater.
John, Tina, Nick, and the team appreciate all
the support everyone has offered. This is a
passion of ours and a very large undertaking.
We look forward to seeing it grow again next
year and hope with time and planning to make
it an even bigger success. If you are interested
in funding it or know who might be, please let
us know ASAP". |
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Sailing USA-76 on her home waters and in
brisk winds, the Oracle BMW Racing crew won
the grand prix division from USA-49, the 2000-generation
yacht once known as AmericaOne, but not without
a fight.
Despite the generation gap between boats, USA-49,
driven by Peter Stoneberg (with a crew including
Dawn Riley, Hamish Pepper and Jeff Madrigali),
gave the 2003-genre USA-76 a run for her money
in many of the six races. USA-76 owner Larry
Ellison was at the helm from start to finish
in all of the races, with skipper Chris Dickson
and helmsman Gavin Brady calling tactics.
"If we'd been in Auckland, 49 wouldn't have
been as competitive. But she's a narrow boat
with a lot of sail area and was very fast in
some angles," Brady said. "It's hard to find
good competition in a non-America's Cup year,
so we enjoyed the challenge."
The six-boat fleet of America's Cup Class yachts
-- including four vintage boats -- enjoyed typically
breezy San Francisco conditions in the three-day
regatta.
During the Il Moro Trophy, Larry Ellison drove
in every race, and was able to spend three days
training with the crew before the regatta.
Oracle BMW Racing will follow up the Il Moro
Trophy victory with five days' match racing
training on San Francisco Bay. The crew will
split into two and race in Farr 40s.
"This is the second phase of our time in San
Francisco," Brady said. "Most of us haven't
had as much match racing this year as we usually
would, so it will be good to get out and do
a bit more and gel more as a group." . |
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Day 3 of the Sausalito Cup saw the first
clouds appear following two brilliant and clear
days on the Bay infamous for its summer fog
conditions. The clouds brought heavier wind
conditions for Race 1 and subsequently, Race
2 was cancelled.
After 3 days of racing, the International America's
Cup Class fleet found its start groove and spectators
were treated to a fantastic visual as the five
yachts jostled for position on the line to cross
almost simultaneously and heading out on starboard
tack to the first mark under the north end of
the Golden Gate Bridge.
Oracle BMW Racing split off on port immediately,
leaving the vintage fleet in the dust for the
remainder of the race, emphasizing the impact
of ten years of yacht design and technology
advances.
It was a treat to see the older boats in full
fleet race mode with a stiff 25+ knots beating
up the city front, with the likes of Charlie
McKee and Stu Bannantyne, Illbruck Challenge
veteran, assisting Karie Thomson behind the
helm of NZL-20, former Team New Zealand tactician
Hamish Pepper lending a hand to skipper Mary
Coleman on NZL-14, Dawn Riley helping on the
bow of USA-11 helmed by John Sweeney, and Dee
Smith, the aggressor, pushing the limit on ITA-1
with skipper Peter Stoneberg.
Chris Dickson’s presence on board USA-76, helmed
by Larry Ellison, filled out the complement
of great sailors out on San Francisco Bay today,
a reunion of some of the top yachtsmen and yachtswomen
that the America’s Cup has spawned.
Regardless of the age of IACC boats, it remains
a thrill to see them fleet race in the fabulous
conditions offered up by San Francisco Bay.
Even Hamish Pepper had join in the laugh after
he voiced concern that it was risky business
sailing the older boats, after all, they could
easily break...just like new ones...
Three more regattas are scheduled in 2003. First
will be the Il Moro Trophy (July 25-27). |
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Yet another picture perfect day for International
America's Cup Class fleet racing on San Francisco
Bay, with Larry Ellison's Oracle BMW Racing
taking first place in both races by a decent
margin.
Notwithstanding, NZL-20 helmed by Karie and
David Thomson held their own in Race 2 against
USA-76 from the class of 2002, taking the first
cross from USA-76, and finishing just 8 minutes
after Ellison and his team. Not bad for a boat
ten years older than its competition.
Proving that the older boats still have it in
them, ITA-1 and NZL-14 dialed up the fun factor
and sailed a close race, jostling for position
at the roundings, engaging in a tacking dual
coming out of Racoon Straits. On a neck to neck
approach to the Blackaller mark, ITA-1 starboard
tacked NZL-14, forcing a stall on the red Kiwi
yacht.
No mishaps to report other than a kite blow
out on USA-11 on the final run to Elephant Rock.
The breeze maintained a steady 22-25 knots along
the San Francisco city front, becoming lighter
on the north end of the course. |
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