CHN-95 China Team's New Boat Sails

Today in Valencia, China Team's brand new IACC yacht left the Port America's Cup for her first sail on the Mediterranean. The breeze was offshore 12-15knots. So nice weather to do the structural tests required before combat with the other teams.

CHN-95 leaves the Port America's Cup, Valencia

One of the more interesting features of the Chinese boat is that she has a bowsprit. This is now the fourth team to sprout a sprit. BMW Oracle, Alinghi, Shosholoza, Team China

CHN-95 has a bowsprit

Team China's artistic interpretation of flippers

Need a Thrill?

How about dynamite surfing? This is cool. Not sure if it is real or a really good edit job, but the guys certainly get a thrill out of it. In the current climate we live in, they are lucky they did not get charged for some kind of terrorism act. Apparently the video was taken in Copenhagen, Denmark of all places. Click here.

World Sailing League

Russell Coutts & Paul Cayard have finally launched their World Sailing League. Rumours of this event have been around for at least the last couple of years if not more, but apparently the "time is right" to launch the event.

The format is fleet racing in 70ft one design catamarans. Fleet racing will appeal to the general public more than match racing, and catamarans will potentially be more exciting that monohulls. Although the Volvo 70 footage seen in the last year has been pretty good!

One of the best features of the event is that the cost to teams will be capped at a reported 5 to 6 million euro (transport, boat lease, maintenance etc) and crew salaries will be capped as well. This feature will surely help level the playing field.

Unfortunately racing is not due to start until 2009. Now, all I here from marketing gurus is "time to market", so one has to wonder if this long lead time will cause the end of the regatta before it starts? We wait with great anticipation!

BMW Oracle break a mast

USA71 a 2003 generation AC boat broke its mast today whilst training on the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand. Apparently the mast broke at the jumpers whilst sailing downwind with the spinnaker up in about 15 knots of breeze.

BMW Oracle have been training in Auckland for the last three months and are due to end their training next week and return to Valencia, Spain.

This is the second mast to break (that we know of) in this edition of the America's Cup. The first was United Internet Team Germany who broke an old mast mid last year whilst training in Valencia.