Thursday 24 March 2011

America's Cup: Challengers Fast Out of the Blocks


Artemis Racing. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

by ORACLE Racing media

Artemis Racing launched its first AC45 over the weekend, which was christened by Kylie Jameson, wife of Phil Jameson, a former member of ORACLE Racing. Shortly afterwards, Artemis Racing skipper Terry Hutchinson and a crew of four began what the team plans as a two-week trialing session.

“We’ve now had two full days of sailing and I can safely say that the AC45 is quite different than anything we’ve sailed before,” Hutchinson said. “It is also powerful and physically demanding, so it should make for some interesting racing.”


Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/ETNZ.

The two teams are expected to be joined by Emirates Team New Zealand. Kiwi boss Grant Dalton finally came public last week with the team’s entry, after Emirates Airlines committed to renew a sponsorship that has been in place for nearly 10 years.
Dalton said the team had paid an initial fee to America’s Cup Race Management to secure access to a supplied one-design AC45. The yacht and wing sail were delivered to the Emirates Team New Zealand base within the past two weeks for assembly by sailing and shore crews.

America's Cup