ac34_sfbay's blog

Kimball Livingston: Kiss My Tail Lights Goodbye

With this, the event is no longer committed to a long event at a cup village. That would be a shame, but when I think back to the Moet Cup on San Francisco Bay—way back, so far back that Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli were buddybuddy—Ellison was envisioning a traveling circuit that would have no need for massive outlays on infrastructure. He’s re-opened that door, I believe.

Sail World: Hark! A New America's Cup Era Dawns!

'This will be a competition for the Facebook generation, not the Flintstone generation,' said BMW/Oracle CEO Russell Coutts at the Defender's seminal press conference, which was held in Valencia at the team's base on Monday.

For sports fans who viewed the Cup as a stale leftover from days when a fit runner could out clip a 'racing' monohull, say hello to a Brave New World. For speed freaks who can't quite imagine match-racing maneuvers played out at 30-plus knots, buckle up. Your father's America's Cup this will not be.

SF Examiner: America's Cup making businesses feel pier pressure

Officials propose converting more than a mile of waterfront property from the Bay Bridge south into a “village” to accommodate the racing teams and fans of the event, which would require displacing businesses that currently occupy Piers 28, 30, 32, 48 and 50. No detailed plans for this displacement have been revealed, but city officials have indicated some of the businesses might move to Pier 70. On Sept. 2 the Port wrote its tenants saying if San Francisco wins the bid, “all existing tenants’ rights will be honored.”

Updated May 9, 2010.

Interview in Profil Online: original German version | English translation

Russell Coutts: "The crucial question is what will be sailed in the America's Cup in 50 years, and whether we are moving there today.. I have no doubt that there will be multihulls." Read more »

City officials and members of Alameda’s sailing and business communities are banding together in an effort to help bring the America’s Cup sailing race to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2013, a move they hope will lift the Island’s profile – and generate cash for city and commercial coffers.

• Alameda sailing enthusiasts, citizens, and businesses urge their city to look into helping San Francisco with America's Cup and it is placed on City Council agenda.
• March 2, 2010 Alameda City Council Minutes
• March 3, 2010 Letter to Larry Ellison

"Alameda supports San Francisco's efforts to secure the next competition and would welcome the opportunity to provide residential, warehouse and docking facilities to the sailing syndicates that would visit San Francisco to participate in the next America's Cup race."

— Alameda Mayor and City Council Read more »

Most folks would agree that one of the most memorable America’s Cups in history was the 1987 edition in Fremantle. As a young sailmaker at the time I had the opportunity to work and sail some for Stars and Stripes. Despite the fact that the old 12 meters were slow and wet, what the Freo Dr. served up made for tremendous racing.

Now imagine Freo like breeze, but in a protected bay, and in boats that are twice, maybe three times as fast. Then imagine strolling along the sidewalk in one of the largest and most picturesque cities in the world, and being nearly grazed by a set of spreaders on an AC boat as it hauls ass up wind right by pier 39. Imagine standing on the sea walls and being able to hear the unique moans from the carbon winches because the boats are so close. That’s what AC34 in San Francisco would be like. Read more »