Totalsailing.tv

June 29, 2007

It’s been said more than once that sailing is not a television sport.

But such statements only come from those who’ve never seen it work, because, ironically, the only place that yachting does work as a spectator sport is on TV.

Properly set up and directed by people who understand both the sport and television, sailing can be hugely compelling.

Allied to the technology is the human element, which is where Totalsailing.tv comes in. Between us, we embrace every element that creates world-class sailing coverage for television.

We have done it for a long time, but now we have come together to form totalsailing.tv as a full service yachting coverage provider – check it out!

www.totalsailing.tv

18 Comments | Americas Cup, Sailing, Sports, Television, Yachting | Permalink
Posted by peterlester

Weathermen put pressure on Cup holders

June 28, 2007

Team New Zealand now have belief, they know they can compete and they know they are fast enough.

Alinghi went into the America’s Cup believing they were going to blow away the challenger. It is not the case.

Alinghi will now know they are in for a scrap, which will be different for the Kiwis on Alinghi who have always been on a faster boat.

We have now seen some chinks in Alinghi’s armour, namely their decision-making and the design of their spinnakers which has shown a few flaws.

For Team New Zealand, their defeats in the challenger series have made them stronger and were probably good for them.

Alinghi are not used to losing and I have no doubt they will come back. But if the wind continues to be a bit fluky, the Kiwis are match-hardened and ready.

Alinghi are now looking over their shoulders. When New Zealand got that wind shift up the first beat yesterday Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird looked over his shoulder and went “Oh f***”. You know that is a negative thought, you know that it is affecting them.

Read the rest of this entry »

40 Comments | Alinghi, America's Cup Teams, Americas Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, IACC, New Zealand, Newspaper Stories, Sailing, Spain, Sports, Television, Valencia | Permalink
Posted by peterlester

For all the supporters in Auckland

June 21, 2007

Auckland City Council invites Aucklanders to come and support Emirates Team New Zealand in their quest to bring the Auld Mug home.

From Saturday, 23 June, America’s Cup fever will take over the Marine Events Centre (135 Halsey Street, Viaduct Harbour), where the public can watch the racing live on a big screen and cheer on the team.

The family friendly indoor venue will be open from 11pm every night of racing, with build up coverage beginning at 11.30pm and racing at approximately 12.30am, dependent on weather conditions in Valencia.

Access to the venue is from Halsey Street or via a floating pontoon from Te Wero Island in the Viaduct.

Scheduled racing dates are Saturday 23, Sunday 24, Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 July (with Thursday 5, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July as reserve days). Like the Louis Vuitton Cup, the 32nd America’s Cup is a ‘first to five’ (best-of-nine) series.

8 Comments | Alinghi, America's Cup Teams, Americas Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, New Zealand, Sailing, Spain, Sports, Television, Valencia, Yachting | Permalink
Posted by paulnz

There is only one…

June 5, 2007

Some interesting statistical info just came out from the Media Centre:

  • There have been 127 races sailed to date in the Louis Vuitton Cup
  • Maximum delta: 11.49 minutes China Team vs Victory Challenge (May 2)
  • Minimum winning delta: 1 second Desafío Español 2007 defeat +39 Challenge (April 30)

1 818 740 visitors to Port America’s Cup for the 2007 season (since April 1)

  • 1 700 hours broadcast in 2007 (up to April 30) in over 150 countries that receive images of the 32nd America’s Cup
  • Audience of 928 million people in 2007 (up to April 30)
  • up to 33 cameras are in use at any one time during racing
  • over 540 people are on-site, employed by rights-holders
  • over 130 ACTV production people
  • 400 hours of production of live TV in 3 galleries

6 000 bottles of Moët & Chandon consumed in Port America’s Cup :D

But the most important number at the America’s Cup remains ‘one’.

There is one winner in each match and each series.

Only one team will win the Louis Vuitton Cup and go on to race Alinghi in the 32nd America’s Cup Match.

This is the America’s Cup and there is no second… anyone excited?

5 Comments | Alinghi, America's Cup Teams, Americas Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, Facts, Luna Rossa, Sailing, Spain, Sports, Television, Valencia, Yachting | Permalink
Posted by paulnz

A crazy old day

May 15, 2007

Team New Zealand 1

Desafio Espanol o

Luna Rossa 1

BMW Oracle Racing 0

Wowee what a crazy old day in Valencia.The wind was all over the show. It was like sailing off Takapuna in a south westerly.

There were big wind shifts and also a big range of wind speeds.

Windshifts was what it was all about. They were massive. Looking at the Oracle and Luna Rossa match on the second beat the boats tacked through about 70 degrees. At one stage they did three tacks and they tacked through 40 degrees because of the windshifts.

Team New Zealand got the start they wanted against Desafio Espanol. Dean Barker timed it beautifully. They look like they have got this mode that allows them to hang in that windward position for two or three minutes.

They hooked up on the windward side of the Spanish, then a shift came through and vroom they were 200m ahead. That was a planned move. They had to hold on and hit the first shift. They then kept it close. It is the old small gains, small losses thing.

In the other race Luna Rossa tactician Torben Grael was at his brilliant best. Their weather call was to get the first shift out of the left and they did. For the leading boats on the downwind it is quite difficult because of the pressure differences to defend a lot. I was surprised to see Luna Rossa gybe away on the first downwind run. The second downwind they covered more. Chris Dickson threw that last gybe at them and fell into a windless hole. So it was game, set, match

For Oracle the loss is their second major one in a row. All eyes are now on them to see how they react.

3 Comments | America's Cup Teams, Americas Cup, Desafio Espanol, Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa, Oracle BMW Racing, Sailing, Spain, Sports, Television, Valencia, Weather, Yachting | Permalink
Posted by peterlester

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