Sausalito

Duchess of Cambridge congratulates Ben Ainslie ©ACEA 2015/Photo Giles Martin Raget

The Duchess of Cambridge gave the Royal Congratulations to Land Rover BAR (Ben Ainslie Racing) crowning them the event winners with 19 points at the completion of Day 1 racing of the first in many America’s Cup Louis Vuitton World Series race events.

Unfortunately, Day 2 racing was canceled due to unsafe conditions. The official statement from America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth Facebook page follows.

A Moët & Chandon moment
©ACEA 2015/Photo Giles Martin Raget

Next Event: Aug. 27-30 in Gothenburg, Sweden

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

After discussions with the America’s Cup organising committee due to extreme weather we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel today’s racing and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event programme, and the site has been closed for the day, Sunday July 26.

We had hoped to go ahead with early racing, but with winds gusting in excess of 30mph we could not risk the safety of the crews and public, and their welfare is paramount.

Rough Seas in Portsmouth ©ACEA 2015/Photo Giles Martin Raget

Due to high winds the Waterfront Festival Arena and Fanzone Arena is now closed, and we ask public to leave the event site.

For everyone who booked tickets in the Fanzone Arena and Grandstand today, refunds will be issued through Ticketmaster.

Read more

At the start of the Louis Vuitton World Series  races in Portsmouth, UK ©ACEA 2015/Photo Giles Martin Raget

An exuberant British team takes the lead with 19 points day one. Landover BAR wins the first race and Emirates Team New Zealand wins the second race in the 35th America’s Cup Louis Vuitton World Series regatta in Portsmouth, GBR. Kiwis are in second place with 18 points and Oracle Team USA in 3rd with 15 points.

We were spoiled by the superb television coverage of the 34^th America’s Cup match held on San Francisco Bay in 2013. Since the AC Louis Vuitton World Series races are being held in other parts of the world, we cannot easily find live viewing due to broadcasting exclusive rights. Highlights of the event in Portsmouth should be reported on NBC Sports Network in the US. Then there’s always Pay Per View! If you purchase the AC+ app from the America’s Cup website, you can watch the races live on your computer, tablet or phone.

Here’s a glimpse of the end of race 1 on July 25.

RACE RESULTS BELOW

Scoring for the World Series races:

Day 1 Standard Points

PLACE                       1          2          3          4          5          6

POINTS                   10          9          8          7          6          5

RACE 1 RESULTS

1 Landrover BAR GBR

2 Oracle Team USA

3 Emirates Team NZ

4 SoftBankTeam JPN

5 Artemis Racing (SUI)

6 Groupama Team FR

RACE 2 RESULTS

1 EmiratesTeamNZ

2 LandRover BAR GBR

3 Groupama Team FR

4 Oracle Team USA

5 SoftBank Team JPN

6 Artemis Racing (SUI)

 View the overall results.

Day 2 Double Points

PLACE                       1          2          3          4          5          6

POINTS                     20       18       16        14        12        10

Unfortunately racing was canceled for Sun. July 26 due to unsafe conditions.

Collage of photos leading up to Sat.’s race

Left: Mr. Kou Watanabe/Kansai Yacht Club Commodore – Right: Kazuhiko Sofuku/SoftBank Team Japan team leader. Photo – Yoichi Yabe/SoftBank Team Japan, courtesy of americascup.com

SoftBank and the Kansai Yacht Club have agreed to enter into the 35th America’s Cup challenge.

The 35^th America’s Cup has already fired up news feeds around the globe. Australia, the original Challenger of Record, withdrew from the 2017 America’s Cup in 2014. New AC class boat design and decreased size incited controversy. The Italians, second Challenger of Record, are out. The Kiwis are iffy due to funding issues after the venue for the Qualifiers was pulled from Auckland and moved to Bermuda where the 2017 America’s Cup will take place. Emirates Team New Zealand is still pursuing an appeal. And this is the first time in the regatta’s history that a defender (Oracle TEAM USA) selected a venue outside their country for the competition.

But now there is exciting news for the 35th America’s Cup. Japan has confirmed its entry of SoftBank Team Japan in the 2015 World Series races and the 2017 America’s Cup. This is the first time Japan has competed in the America’s Cup since 2000. Japan’s participation will ignite a renewed interest in the AC throughout Asian communities and enhance the competition for all the teams and spectators. Japan’s entry is confirmed. But, the rumor that former ETNZ helmsman Dean Barker will take the helm for SoftBank Team Japan, remains unconfirmed. Read more

The Teams:

Challengers: Artemis Racing- Sweden, Ben Ainslie Racing- Britain, Emirates Team New Zealand,  SoftBank Team Japan, Team France

Defender: Oracle Team USA