America's Cup at San Francisco City Hall
It’s been over 6 weeks since the 34th edition of the America’s Cup was awarded to San Francisco. You can feel the pace accelerating with the enormous task to build the facilities, organize the event, and raise enough money to pay for it all.
For those familiar with our annual October fleet week celebration highlighted by the US Navy’s Blue Angels, you know what’s it’s like to be amongst hundreds of thousands lining the bay and straining to see their aerial acrobatics. Just image, daily events throughout the summer offering spectators, locals and tourists alike, that same exhilarating performance rush only now on the water. That’s what we have in store for us here in San Francisco during the summers of 2012 and 2013. Let’s just hope the fog cooperates and doesn’t decide to hang around in the afternoons for this can’t miss event.
So here’s a quick summary of where things stand 6 weeks into the AC34 preparation from a local resident and sailor excited that the race will grace our shores.
34th America’s Cup Race Format
Oracle Racing - SF City Hall
America’s Cup is a challenge series dating back to 1851 when the yatch America (for whom it’s named) captured the cup in Cowes, England. The defender of record is Oracle Racing representing the Golden Gate Yatch Club who won the 33rd Edition off the coast of Valencia, Spain in February 2010. The Challenger of Record is Mascalzone Latino representing Club Nautico di Roma. The design chosen for the America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup competitions will be the AC72, a 72’ catamaran with towering wingsails. For a more insight into the design rules, take a look at Wingsails for the AC72: 2013 America’s Cup with designer Pete Melvin.
America’s Cup: 7-22 September 2013 in San Francisco
The final race series pitting the winner of the defender series (if necessary) against the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup race series which determines the final challenger. It’s a best of 9 race series to determine the winner of the 34th America’s Cup.
Louis Vuitton Cup: 13 July – 1 September 2013 in San Francisco
The race series to determine who will challenge the America’s Cup defender in the final America’s Cup final series. Currently, there are 5 identified challengers: Mascalzone Latino (Ita), Artemis Racing (Swe), Aleph Team France (Fra). Energy Team (Fra), Team Australia (Aus) with the total number of challengers expected to exceed 10 teams from around the world. Check this cupinfo.com page for the latest list of confirmed and potential challengers.
The series will most likely begin as a round robin with quarter, semi, and challenger final pretty much assuring a 1 hour spectacle almost every afternoon on San Francisco Bay all summer long.
America’ Cup World Series: 2011 – 2012 at select locations around the world
This series will promote the America’s Cup event around the world, give the teams and the Event Authority the opportunity to raise revenue, and enable the sailors to become familiar with the catamaran and wing-sailed design.
Organizers have designed the AC45, a smaller, one design version of the AC72 competition catamaran for this series. As of 7 February they have completed their trials in New Zealand and have been turned over to AC Race Management to manage logistics as the teams test the prototype. For a detailed description of the AC45 performance, check out Richard Gladwell Sail-World.com post “Will the Cat cut the mustard?” , 22 January 2011.
The final World Series event will take place in San Francisco during the summer of 2012 with each team racing their initial version of the AC72 design.
Race Venue
The natural amphitheater which is the San Francisco Bay will make a stunning setting for these race series and the first time that the race will be held within viewing distance of the shoreline. Crowds will be expected to be in the 10’s of thousands building to 100s of thousands for the final event.
Summer fog usually burns off around noon during the summer and prevailing winds are out of the west – northwest gusting to 25+ knots in the afternoon so expect the AC45 and AC72 to achieve adrenalin pumping speeds in excess of 30mph.
Proposed Race Area from AECOM February 2011
The America’s Cup will substantial change the San Francisco waterfront with Piers 19-29 redeveloped into the America’s Cup Village and Event Management facilities, the launching and finishing point for each race, and Pier 26-32 home for team bases and operations. Additional details describing the modifications to the waterfront are described in a forth coming post on the America’s Cup Impact on the San Francisco waterfront from the San Francisco Planning Department EIR.
34th America’s Cup Organization
From the San Francisco perspective there are three organizations responsible for pulling off the 34th America’s Cup.
America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) responsible for all logistics associated with the race series around the world. This organization is headed by CEO and Regatta Director Iain Murray of Australia.
America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) responsible for bringing the America’s Cup to the masses around the world, help raise the revenue required to pull off the event, manage the development of the various America’s Cup venues, and interface with the City of San Francisco. This group will be lead by Richard Worth (Chairman) and Craig Thompson (CEO).
America’s Cup Organizing Committee (ACOC) a non-profit volunteer board representing San Francisco interests and chaired by Mark Buell. This group will work with the ACEA to raise the revenue required to pull off the event.
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