IACC San Francisco

Racing on SF Bay

( iaccsf.com)

ACC

USA 76 confirmed to race in IACCSF Regatta (11/28/02)
(source : iaccsf.com)

The International America's Cup Class San Francisco (IACCSF) today announced that San Francisco-based Oracle BMW Racing have registered to compete in IACCSF's 2003 regatta series.

The series begins in May 2003 and will be raced on San Francisco Bay. Larry Ellison will skipper USA-76 in the IACCSF's Grand Prix division.

"I have long dreamed of the world's top America's Cup teams racing their boats on San Francisco Bay. Regardless of who wins the Cup in 2003, the world's best boats and sailors will be coming to compete in nature's most beautiful sailing amphitheater," commented Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle BMW Racing.

More teams are expected to announce their participation in the following weeks.

Four regattas are scheduled for the 2003 season :
- Sausalito Cup : May 9-11, 2003
- Il Moro Trophy : July 25-27, 2003
- Golden Gate Series : September 6-14, 2003
- IACC World Championships : October 13-19, 2003

Il Moro Trophy Regatta - Day 2 (07/28/02)
(source : iaccsf.com)

A typical summer day on San Francisco Bay greeted the IACCSF this morning - cold, foggy and an early breeze building. An air of anticipation brewed as the IACCSF crews rallied for breakfast at the Sausalito Yacht Club, exchanging sailing stories, pulling foulies on, anxious to get out on the Bay for Day 2 of the Il Moro Trophy regatta.

The First race start gun fired at 10:45am with Stars & Stripes first over the line, followed closely by NZL 14, Oracle BMW, Il Moro and NZL 20. Racing in 15-18 knots, the yachts close hauled up to the Blackaller mark on the city side of the Bay with Oracle BMW taking an early lead. Half way across the Bay, Stars & Stripes blew her main halyard and subsequently withdrew for the remainder of the day. Oracle BMW rounded the first mark with NZL 14 and NZL 20 close behind. It was Oracle BMW’s race from the outset, crossing the line almost four minutes ahead of NZL 14.

In true San Francisco Bay summertime fashion, by the time the boats met at the start line for Race 3 the sun was out and the breeze had picked up to almost 20 knots – perfect conditions for IACC racing. These magnificent yachts looked awesome on the line, dwarfing the hundreds of spectator boats and other racing fleets out on the Bay.

Another great start to starboard as the yachts reached off to the first mark, Yellowbluff. NZL 14 quickly flipped to port, with the others following. Oracle BMW rounded first, with NZL 14 following by a minute and NZL 20 no more than a couple of seconds behind NZL 14. Ferrarese drove NZL 14 hard to position in front of NZL 20 and Il Moro as they approached Racoon Straits then blew her chute and quickly lost ground to NZL 20 and Il Moro. As NZL 14’s chute tore from the halyard, we couldn’t help that Sweeney was sitting on her bow so accordingly he takes boat jinxer of the day award. Oracle BMW took another easy first, eight minutes ahead of Il Moro.

Accordingly, due to high wind conditions and in the interests of safety, Day 3 of the Il Moro Trophy regatta was canceled. The awards ceremony was held at noon at the Sausalito Yacht Club.

Results

Race 1 :

1 - ORACLE BMW Racing (USA 49), Larry Ellison
2 - NZL 14, Roberto Ferrarese
3 - NZL 20, David Thomson
4 - Il Moro (ITA-1), Peter Stoneberg
DNF - Stars & Stripes (USA 11), John Sweeney

Race 2

1 - ORACLE BMW Racing (USA 49), Larry Ellison
2 - Il Moro (ITA-1), Peter Stoneberg
3 - NZL 14, Roberto Ferrarese
4 - NZL 20, David Thomson
DNS - Stars & Stripes (USA 11), John Sweeney

Il Moro Trophy Regatta - Day 1 (07/27/02)
(source : iaccsf.com)

A spectacular San Francisco Bay day, blue sunny skies with the fog clearing over the Golden Gate around noon welcomed Day 1 of the Il Moro Trophy.

Racing got underway at 2:45pm in 10-12 knots of breeze, almost perfect conditions for these yachts. NZL 14 quickly reached off to port to take the lead around Yellowbluff, closely followed by Oracle, Il Moro, Stars & Stripes, and NZL 20.

NZL 20 blew her large kite just after the first rounding, leaving her with a small chute for the remainder of the race. This setback seemed to only temporarily impact her speed as she hoisted her small chute and soon caught up with the rest of the fleet.

NZL 14 took the lead into Racoon Straits but was soon passed by Oracle, with Il Moro close behind. Stars & Stripes sailed down Racoon Straits in 4th place, with NZL 20 close behind.

Oracle, sailing with her new BMW logos, rounded Southhampton Shoals and began building a solid lead that she held for the remainder of the race, finishing approximately 12 minutes ahead of the fleet.

While the class of '92 yachts sailed a tight race for the most part, Ferrarese's wealth of experience at the helm paid off as NZL 14 took the lead in the last leg to create significant distance between NZL 14 and NZL 20, third over the line.

Results

1- ORACLE BMW Racing (USA 49), Larry Ellison
2 - NZL 14, Roberto Ferrarese
3 - NZL 20, David Thomson
4 - Il Moro (ITA-1), Peter Stoneberg
5 - Stars & Stripes (USA 11), John Sweeney

IACC Racing on SF Bay This Weekend (07/23/02)
(source : iaccsf.com)

America's Cup Media LLC, founders of the world's only organized fleet of vintage International America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts has announced that international match racer Roberto Ferrarese (Italy), will helm NZL 14 in the Il Moro Trophy regatta this weekend on SF Bay.

Ferrarese has participated in two America's Cup campaigns (Consorzio Italia and Il Moro di Venezia), three Admiral's Cup campaigns, and the Flying Dutchman class at the Moscow Olympics.

Yachts at the start line will include previous IACCSF regatta winner Oracle (USA-49), NZL 14, NZL 20, Stars and Stripes (USA-11), and Il Moro (ITA-1). Format for the weekend racing comprises one buoy race starting at 2pm on Friday July 26, two buoy races starting at 10:30am on Saturday July 27, and a distance race starting at 10:30am on Sunday July 28, with an Awards Ceremony at the Sausalito Yacht Club at 4pm.

Sausalito chosen for IACC Museum (06/29/02)
(source : sfgate.com)

IACCSF has unveiled its master plan to the City of Sausalito for its 2003 season and beyond. The proposed plan creates a working America's Cup Museum downtown Sausalito for the ten committed IACC yachts that will compete in the 2003 season on San Francisco Bay. IACCSF founder Tina Kleinjan presented the 15 minute video and overview to the City council, Chamber of Commerce and Mayor during last weeks City meeting.

The plan if approved with create a permanent boat yard for the IACCSF fleet with facilities to hold up to twenty dry sailed IACC yachts on the Sausalito waterfront. The plan will be the first of its kind in the USA and a clear return to Sausalito's heritage as a maritime port. Sausalito has embraced the idea and is working with IACCSF to provide a viable location.

Much like the Newport RI days for the twelve meters, Sausalito will become home to the Vintage IACC yachts from around the world. IACCSF has one more regatta this season July 26-28 with the "Il Moro Trophy" at the Sausalito Yacht Club. Five IACC yachts will be on the line including previous regatta winner Oracle Racing.

Larry Ellison wins first Sausalito Cup regatta (05/27/02)
(source : sfgate.com)

Oracle guru Larry Ellison captured the inaugural Sausalito Cup after winning all three races against a fleet of five vintage America's Cup yachts on San Francisco Bay.

Ellison was skipper of USA-49, built for the San Francisco-based AmericaOne syndicate three years ago. Peter Stoneberg took second on ITA-1, which was built for Italy's Il Moro di Venezia campaign for the 1992 America's Cup. David Thomson was third driving NZL-20, built for New Zealand.

Winds exceeded 22 knots; the five yachts "blew up" nine spinnakers at roughly $35,000 apiece. NZ-14, helmed by match racer Ben Beer, ripped its $85, 000 mainsail in half.

Larry Ellison to helm USA 49 in San Francisco (05/24/02)
(source : iaccsf.com & sfgate.com)

Taking a break from his company's government-contracts imbroglio, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison will drive one of five vintage America's Cup racing yachts this weekend on San Francisco Bay in the first Sausalito Cup.

Ellison will be at the helm of USA-49, which was built by the San Francisco- based AmericaOne syndicate for the 2000 America's Cup and skippered that year by Whitbread 'Round the World Race winner Paul Cayard.

The three-day regatta, whose first race begins early this evening, will feature powerful 75-foot yachts built for America's Cup competition in the 1990s, including ITA 1, USA 11, NZL 14, and NZL 20.

ITA 1 is a Frers Design IACC yacht built for the 1992 America's Cup in San Diego and will be helmed by San Francisco venture capitalist, Peter Stoneberg. Both NZL 14 and NZL 20 are Farr Design yachts also built for the 1992 America's Cup. NZL 14 will be helmed by professional match-racer Ben Beer. David Thomson, global entrepreneur, will helm NZL 20.

USA 11, formerly owned by Dennis Conner and known as Stars and Stripes is the latest addition to the IACC San Francisco fleet and will be helmed by John Sweeney, also a professional sailor with Oracle Racing. Stars & Stripes will be officially christened at the Sausalito Yacht Club following Saturday's racing.

Based in San Francisco, the fleet is managed by America's Cup Media the brainchild of John Sweeney, a Sausalito sailor and member of the Oracle Racing team. It is the only organized fleet of vintage America's Cup yachts in the world.

SF 2003 IACC schedule announced (04/18/02)
(source : iaccsf.com)

The International America's Cup Class San Francisco (IACCSF) today announced its official schedule for 2003. The season will consist of four events open to all vintages of IACC yachts. The season will culminate in the IACC World's held in mid-October. A minimum of ten international teams is expected.

2003 IACCSF Schedule

- May 9-11 Sausalito Cup
- June 6-8 America's Cup Media Trophy
- September 6-14 Big Boat Series
- October 13-19 IACC World's

Four San Francisco-based IACC teams and four International teams have committed to the 2003 season. The foreign teams bringing their yachts to San Francisco include current Italian America's Cup Team Mascalzone Latino with ITA 55 (former USA 55 Stars & Stripes), Polska 1 the Polish challenge for 2006 with POL 5 (former Espana 5), and the IAC Challenge Nassau with NZL 10 and 12.