2003 America's Cup

The 31st America 's Cup was a sailing competition in the New Zealand Hauraki Gulf in 2003. Winner was the Swiss team Alinghi against the Cupverteidiger Team New Zealand. Thus, the Cup was the first time in the 152- year history of the America 's Cup to a European team.

Prehistory

At the 30th America's Cup in 2000, the New Zealand team defended by Russell Coutts and Peter Blake the Cup against the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the Italian team Luna Rossa Patrizio Bertelli from under the skipper Francesco de Angelis. With a 5-0 result of the victory was clear.

The New Zealand team had very limited financial resources. Thus, no new contract was offered, despite the immediate announcement on revenge of Bertelli, the crew members. In the following period, therefore, leave, among other things, Russell Coutts, tactician Brad Butterworth as well as some other the New Zealand team. Coutts and Butterworth hire to the Swiss team Alinghi.

Other interested parties threw in the course of 2000 their hat into the ring. For the first time a German team should which was led by Michael Illbruck participate. In February 2002, the project had to be abandoned due to lack of funds. With the Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the former AT & T owner Craig McCaw and the pharmaceutical billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli wealthy competitors stood in the wings. Even more financially strong companies buy in teams, so in SAP Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle.

Sailing area

Was sailed in the Hauraki Gulf, about 15 nautical miles north of Auckland. The area is characterized by two opposing sea breezes from the southwest and from the northeast. In addition, there are local influences on the wind through the volcanic island of Rangitoto and of Gradientenwinde. The rapidly changing conditions make the region one of the most challenging sailing areas in the world.

For the participants, it was important to have good weather observations and forecasts. Only in this way it was possible to recognize benefits from the changing winds and exploit them.

6 Louis Vuitton Cup

Boats

Was sailed with the approved since 1992 for the America 's Cup IACC yachts.

Team

Round Robin

In the so-called Round Robin the challengers ( challenger ) sailed in individual races against each other. The first round was held to 11 October 2002 of 1. For every victory, a point was well written.

The second round took place until 4 November 2002 from 22 October. . This time was for each win one point is awarded.

The respected even as a favorite team Alinghi, BMW Oracle and OneWorld were their role. Last year's finalist Prada but failed miserably and collected within the first four races, three defeats. Reasons it was thought especially in boat design. The chief designer Doug Peterson had provided the yacht with a spoon bow. While OneWorld in the first round, winning all encounters, it had to put in the second round three. For this purpose, due to a spy protest came the deduction of a point. BMW Oracle was able to increase against fellow competitors Alinghi and OneWorld in the second round and lost only his race against Prada after defeats in the first round. Due to the bad startes in the competition Ellison replaced the skipper and helmsman Peter Holmberg by Chris Dickson. However, this left after driving the rudder Holmberg and drove himself as skipper. Especially Dickson's lack of sailing experience was responsible for this decision. Alinghi had to put in the first round defeat against OneWorld and in the second against BMW Oracle. At the last meeting, the team decided, since the victory of the Round Robin was unharmed. This was interpreted as a victory of Prada.

The other five teams could not connect to these services. Was disappointing, especially the cutting of the team to the experienced Cupteilnehmer Dennis Conner with ten defeats.

The end result of the Round Robins was as follows:

Quarterfinals

The quarter-finals were 12 - extended 19 November. The hope runs were 23 - extended 30 November. Contrary to the previous Cup was created with the introduction of hope runs the chance to get a second chance at a possible defeat. However, the results in the Round Robin was accordingly made ​​differences. While the top four teams had a double chance, the remaining four teams had only a simple chance. Necessary for a victory was winning four of match races.

The match between the two favored yachts Alinghi and Prada were able to clearly decide 4-0 for the Swiss. Two times the projection was only slight, but the Alinghi crew their opponents had constantly under control. In the last match, the Italians pass up more time for the improvement of their boat to have. Among other things, the bug is being rebuilt for the second time.

Also, the match between BMW Oracle and OneWorld leads to a clear conclusion. Above all, thanks to the higher speed potential of the BMW Oracle yacht and the crew changed this result was achieved.

In order to mobilize all reserves again, Le Défi Areva, the French team built their ship around again. Among other things, the keel fin was reduced by 50%. Since there was a lack of training opportunities, the result was still clearly in favor of Sweden.

Even in Britain, the lack of experience with the boat and the lack of training time is noticeable. Against the advice of Dennis Connor and its faster yacht they have no chance. Short-term alterations and changes in the team can not save the result.

Results

The hope runs reflect the results of the Round Robin. Although the inferior competitors Victory Challenge and Team Dennis Connor keep trying to put pressure on the opponents, they makers at the end due to technical problems and poor preparation.

Together with Prada handed Dennis Conner before the hope runs a protest of espionage against OneWorld one. Instead of the required disqualification to the Team, however, denied a victory each in the following rounds.

Semifinal

The semi-finals offered depending on pairing different voltage. Alinghi BMW Oracle safe control in all runs and the semi-finals clearly decided for themselves.

Between Prada and OneWorld, the voltage was much higher. The Americans had to cross the benefits while Prada was faster before the wind. The individual races were therefore characterized by frequent change of position.

The first race to win OneWorld, since at Prada spinnaker pole broke. In the following run then could beat Prada, only to again be in the next three runs One World precedence to need.

The next races but had to be canceled due to strong winds. Prada now ran the risk excrete because at the end of the semi-finals the most wins would have decided, reached without any of four wins. On the last possible day of the competition racing is only held one yet taken the required two. Although taking place almost at irregular conditions race wins Prada, but must retire at the end anyway. Again, it showed up again, that Prada did not help, especially the frequent changes to the boat throughout the Louis Vuitton Cup and beat especially the lack of training impact.

In the repechage BMW Oracle OneWorld can defeat clearly 4-0. The individual races were extremely scarce. OneWorld is on a par with BMW Oracle. Because victory ultimately decides a slightly better design of the boat that it allowed BMW Oracle to stimulate and focus the opponent under pressure.

Final

The discharged semi-final between the two teams made ​​it clear that Alinghi was the clear favorite.

The first two races in rough seas was won by Alinghi due to the better boat design. In the second race was still a fraction of the spinnaker pole at Oracle BMW to do so.

In the third race BMW Oracle was in ideal conditions for this team play to its advantages and stood just before his first victory. Both teams were closely related. Only two penalty turns for BMW Oracle won the race to their detriment.

The only win was BMW Oracle in the fourth race. The Swiss succeeded in this case not the Americans to cover properly, so that they could pass and won. The fifth race was back to a clear decision for Alinghi. In the sixth race BMW Oracle was again awarded a penalty turn. However, the Americans did all occasions unused and drove this first on the finish line. At this point, Alinghi was already too close to come, so that the decisive fifth victory at the Swiss went.

America's Cup

The first race took place in good weather and a little rough seas. The pre-start the New Zealanders went on a bit cautious. Already on the first leg were the counterparties to the same, as more and more water penetrated into the ship of the New Zealanders. A total of about six tons of water flowed into the boat and led to consequential damages. Just 25 minutes after the start broke the Großbaumnock and Alinghi was able to record the first victory.

The second race started with a Vorstartduell, at the Alinghi could play mainly the everyday practicality of the boat. Since the New Zealand boat was primarily designed for speed, it had him melee difficulties. Subsequently, the boats lay naheauf. Despite a temporary projection of the New Zealander of 34 seconds Alinghi could catch up again and again. At the last turning Coutts put a tack jibe set and was then able to overtake just before the finish and win by 7 seconds ahead.

In the third race, the New Zealanders made ​​a mistake and choose the wrong side of the course. The Swiss were the meantime open a lead of 150 m and also save the finish.

For the fourth race was held the tactician Hamish Pepper Frenchman Bertrand Pacé on board. The race was postponed several times due to poor competition conditions. With the breaking of the mast of the New Zealand boat this race ends.

Also, the fifth race ended prematurely due to a technical defect of the New Zealand boat. After a botched neck of the spinnaker pole broke. The great advantage of the Alinghi team was no longer aufholbar at this time.