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Bermuda, 12/06/2015 Sultanate of Oman to host opening event of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in 2016   m1156_crop43013_680x510_proportional_144 Mark Lloyd / Download m1158_crop43013_680x510_proportional_144 Mark Lloyd / Download m1159_crop43013_680x510_proportional_144 Mark Lloyd / Download m1155_crop43013_680x510_proportional_144 Mark Lloyd / Download  

 

   

The Sultanate of Oman will create a rare slice of sporting history when it becomes the first country in the Middle East to host America’s Cup racing by staging the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman in February 2016.

 

A point-scoring event for the opening stages of the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda, the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman will take place in Muscat from 27-28 February, as the curtain raiser to the 2016 season, which will be spread over six different venues around the world.

 

See the video here

 

For many of the America’s Cup sailors, including Sir Ben Ainslie (Land Rover BAR), Dean Barker (SoftBank Team Japan) and Franck Cammas (Groupama Team France), the waters off the Sultanate of Oman will be familiar territory, since Muscat has been hosting high performance multihull racing every year since 2011.

 

Near perfect sailing conditions that consistently deliver a 10-15 knot breeze combined with a sunny climate and warm waters have made Oman a popular destination for many Olympic Classes that have chosen to stage their World Championships at a time of year when the weather in Europe and North America limits training opportunities.

 

The driving force behind the Sultanate’s sailing activity has been Oman Sail, which was established in 2008 to create a generation of sailors and raise the Sultanate’s profile as a high end tourism destination using its centuries old traditions with the sea as a platform to promote its sporting, cultural and economic potential.

 

From grassroots sailing, introducing many thousands of girls and boys to the sport through its sailing schools and community programmes, through to elite participation, setting world records on its flagship MOD70 and winning two Extreme Sailing Series championships, Oman Sail has repeatedly broken new ground in its programmes both on and off the water, culminating in this exciting new development at the highest level of the sport, the America’s Cup.

 

“We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman here in Muscat for the first time and we are very proud and excited to welcome the America’s Cup community and its massive following to the Sultanate,” said Salim Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion for the Ministry of Tourism.

 

The 2015 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events in Portsmouth (UK), Gothenburg (Sweden) and Bermuda, with teams entered from the UK, USA, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan and France, attracted enormous crowds at the venues with live action followed on television by tens of millions around the world.

 

Oman Sail CEO David Graham believes that the wide reach of the America’s Cup will create new opportunities for the Sultanate and increase the country’s exposure around the globe.

 

“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of sailboat racing with a long and interesting history and we are thrilled to be hosting the first Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in 2016 here in Oman.

 

“Oman Sail has worked hard since 2008 to reconnect the people of Oman with their sailing roots and to create a generation of sailors. We have a very successful youth, women, national and international sailing programme and are actively generating socio-economic benefits for the country and contributing to the development of the Omani people through sailing. Hosting a Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event will provide huge inspiration to our sailors and take us closer to our aims.

 

“The America’s Cup brand is incredibly powerful so this will be a monumental opportunity for us to showcase the Sultanate of Oman and to celebrate a landmark moment in the history of Oman Sail.”

 

The America’s Cup trophy took centre stage at the press event hosted by The Chedi, Muscat and attended by David Graham, Oman Sail CEO, Salim Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion for the Ministry of Tourism, and Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO of Oman Air.

 

Also present for the announcement, Harvey Schiller, America’s Cup Commercial Commissioner, said: “Oman is an ideal place for us to open the 2016 racing calendar. It’s exciting to be bringing America’s Cup racing to this part of the world for the first time. We all look forward to adding to the success of Oman Sail with this historic event.”

 

In February, spectators in Muscat are in for a real treat as the foiling AC45 yachts, capable of breath taking speeds, fly across the water in front of the fans.

 

And with points counting towards the America’s Cup Qualifiers in 2017, the Oman event will give fans their first opportunity of 2016 to see all the runners and riders seeking to gain an early advantage. 

 

Note to Editors

Established in 2008, Oman Sail is a national initiative that uses the power of sport to contribute to the development of the Omani people. The equal opportunity project runs sailing programmes for thousands of young Omani men and women, inspiring a new generation to discover sailing. It encompasses a national sailing squad and high achieving inshore and offshore racing teams, all of which benefit from world-class coaching and whose ultimate objective is to win an Olympic medal for Oman. The goal is to rekindle Oman’s maritime heritage while raising the country’s regional and international profile as a high-end tourist and foreign investment destination, through competitive sailing at home and abroad. Oman Sail seeks to instil confidence and to teach valuable, transferable life skills to a generation of Omanis.

 

Oman Sail – media information

International media enquiries, please contact: 

Daphne Morgan Barnicoat – Global PR, Oman Sail 

+27 83 895 0720 | +34 678 659 317

daphne.morganbarnicoat@omansail.com

 

For access to high resolution photography and broadcast quality TV footage: http://omansail.qiumediacenter.com/en/home

 

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Following this posts, I am afraid to admit it, but I enjoy watching. It reminds me of the old days watching the citizen match racing series (who remembers that?). I'd love to see this style racing off Westhaven again. Or even Evans bay.

 

Pity is that 3 NZ skippers and all finished at the back of the fleet.

 

That guy Ben Ainsley knows how to sail. He was over the line in 3/6 races and came back in all of them to podium and win the regatta.

 

Peter Burling and ETNZ led at the first mark in 4/6 races and in two of them ended up dead last. (To be accurate, he came fifth in one of those because they passed Artemis when it got tied up on the last mark). Disappointing.

 

There was consistent 7-8 knots of breeze and the average speeds were 11 knots in all races so it wasn't pedestrian.

 

The only thing I don't like about the high performance cat racing is that (normally) the boat which gets clear at the start stretches out with clear air to win. But some of the battles for the other placings is compelling viewing.

 

Well that's what I think.

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What a crock this 'event' is. I got up at 6am to watch 4 of 6 teams drifting sideways over the line. Looked just like squadron racing yesterday! Some boats made it around first mark, then everyone got sucked sideways out of bounds. Only then did the race get blown up. Second race attempt had boats cruising around at 5 knots, as gun went it got called off too. WTF?

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Can't blame the conditions. No one knows what Huey will throw at you, al a Ssnz250. But can blame race organizers for the what is purely a PR exercise not a regatta. Gotta be the stupidest race venue possible.

 

No more proof needed than the last race. ETNZ pulled off a stunning win after being over the line early and being caught up on the buoy. All the other boats sailed into a hole and ETNZ charge past them all at 20knots.

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Chicago, 06/12/2016 SoftBank Team Japan claims first win in front of huge crowd in Chicago   m1751_crop43013_680x510_proportional_146 Ricardo Pinto / Download m1760_crop43013_680x510_proportional_146 Sam Greenfield / Download m1757_crop43013_680x510_proportional_146 Sam Greenfield / Download m1753_crop43013_680x510_proportional_146 Ricardo Pinto / Download  

 

   

Up to 1000 boats were ringing the race area just off the city front. Tens of thousands of fans were lining iconic Navy Pier. Bars, restaurants and fan zones were heaving. The best sailors and fastest boats were ready to show what they could do. After phenomenal practice racing on Friday, with two capsizes, the wind took a while to co-operate.

 

So while fans enjoyed a great day on Navy Pier, officials took the ‘substitute race’, which was sailed on Friday, and scored it as Race One of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Chicago.

 

That victory went to SoftBank Team Japan who would have seen a measure of justice in having Friday’s “substitute race” count on the leaderboard.

 

In New York, the team won the substitute race, but it was never used.

 

But in Chicago, with winds too light and unstable to start on time, the substitute race was inserted in the broadcast and scored as an official race. It was the first win of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series for SoftBank Team Japan.

 

“It’s a shame we couldn't get racing started on time today, but it's nice to turn the good work from Friday into a win on the scoreboard today,” said skipper Dean Barker.

 

"We've been working hard to improve our performance... Friday was a good day and we take a lot of confidence from that.”

 

Artemis Racing scored second place and Groupama Team France was third.

 

On the other side of the ledger was ORACLE TEAM USA, who capsized in the substitute race on Friday and who now must carry that last place finish on the scoreboard.

 

As Saturday afternoon progressed under steamy, sunny conditions, and with the sea breeze taking its time to settle in but picking up, race officials and teams extended the race window beyond the initial 3:00pm deadline and were eventually able to get one late afternoon race completed for the fans on Navy Pier.

 

This race was a huge crowd-pleaser and is designated as a ‘substitute race’ for Sunday. Should conditions not allow for racing to progress as scheduled on Sunday, it will be inserted in the international broadcast and scored as an official race.

 

Emirates Team New Zealand were the top team on Saturday, finishing ahead of ORACLE TEAM USA and Artemis Racing.

 

“The race today was a tough battle in front of some really impressive crowds," said Artemis Racing skipper Nathan Outteridge. "I’m pleased we were able to put on a race for everyone who turned up as the fans here in Chicago have been awesome."

 

“The amount of people on Navy Pier and the number of boats out on the water made for a pretty amazing experience to be out there sailing in front of them all," said Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Glenn Ashby.

 

"Everybody looked like they were having a really good time, in the grandstands and on the spectator boats on the water, and it was good to put in a strong win in front of every single person out there today, whether it evenutally counts on the leaderboard or not

 

"Racing here in Chicago has been special, and I’m glad we could take a win in front of such a big crowd.”

 

Conditions are predicted to be excellent tomorrow, setting up a fantastic finish for Super Sunday.

 

 

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Chicago

 

Race One (substitute race from Friday)

 

1. SoftBank Team Japan – 10 points

2. Artemis Racing – 9 points

3. Groupama Team France – 8 points

4. Emirates Team New Zealand – 7 points

5. Land Rover BAR – 6 points

6. ORACLE TEAM USA – 5 points

 

 

Saturday Substitute Race finish order (this race will only be scored if used on Sunday)

 

Emirates Team New Zealand

ORACLE TEAM USA

Artemis Racing

Land Rover BAR

SoftBank Team Japan

Groupama Team France

                     

About the America’s Cup

The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport, dating back to 1851, when the yacht America, after which the trophy is named, beat the best of the British fleet in a race around the Isle of Wight, U.K. The trophy won on that day was donated in trust through a Deed of Gift and has since become a symbol of immense achievement. It is perhaps the hardest trophy in sport to win. In it’s 165-year history, only four countries have managed to win the America’s Cup.

 

The America's Cup is currently held by the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco, U.S.A.. On September 25, 2013, its team, ORACLE TEAM USA, completed the biggest comeback in sports to retain the trophy it had first won in 2010.

 

On December 2, 2014, Bermuda was named as the home of the 35th America’s Cup, with the iconic Great Sound as the race course area where the new America’s Cup Class boats (15-meter, foiling, wing-sailed catamarans) from each competing nation will race for the America’s Cup in May/June 2017.

 

The America’s Cup is honored to partner with Louis Vuitton as the title partner of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers and the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs. Louis Vuitton is also the presenting partner of the 35th America’s Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton.

 

The America's Cup is also proud to be supported by BMW, Bremont, ORACLE, XL Catlin, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Gosling’s, Sperry and Sail Racing; as well as: Appleby, BF&M, Butterfield, Butterfield & Vallis, Moët & Chandon, PwC and the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club and in New York by Brookfield Place.

 

America’s Cup updates are also available on your mobile device. Go to the App Store to download the official America’s Cup App.

   

{C} 35th America's Cup Media Contacts

Peter Rusch

Director of PR and Communications

+1 441 519 0382

peter.rusch@americascup.com

 

media@americascup.com

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In the last two series ETNZ has either been killed on the start line or coughed up a first or second place to finish at the back of the fleet in every race (except the one in New York where they started 5 minutes after the fleet which then sailed into massive hole and ETNZ, being so far behind, held the new breeze and sailed around them to win). This tells me that their tactics are poor and they are not sailing fast. Unlike Artemis and Japan right now.

 

I still think that these new boats are a one trick pony- the boat that wins the start gets clear air and nearly always stretches out to win by heaps. The real racing is for the minor places.

 

If one didn't care that ETNZ was so awful yesterday's racing for the minor places was an awesome watch.

 

Based on performances I think Sir Ben Ainsley could be the favourite because USA is not doing well.

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