Louis Vuitton Cup News : War Of Attrition

The Breck-Downs 

Its been a very rocky start to the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals across the bay . 
Finalist Emirates Team New Zealand and Prada Luna Rossa Challenge have both been plagued with breakdowns.   Near calamities and mechanical failures leaving us with what has become to be known as One horse dog and pony show last week . 

The Players 

Italys skipper Max Sirena has been frustrated from the beginning of the Vuittons with the early attempt to change a One design rule which he protested and won . To not racing in the opening series , Of the Round robins to now his own boat not cooperating .This is failure two of Luna Rossa first race last week it lost its ability to control its foils . The one most important fixture on the dagger boards that hold the most tonnage when the boat foils on its very little wing in the water snapped off leaving them no control of one daggerboard . 
Emirates failures Emirates loss all Hydraulic controls ,Hydraulics control all thing that move on a AC72 Emirates defaulted there race valve issue that was easily fixed, but was to late to beat the winds control over the second race of the day . 

The Races

Then The tides turned next race day when Emirates Team New Zealand did a Self inflicted pitch pole . That lead to two Members leaving the yacht .  Their mighty Ac72 wing powered  racing yacht came to a almost complete abrupt halt at the upper windward gate . Catapulting all the crew forward . Luckily only losing two crew members uninjured into the cold SF bay . Score one all by ways of attrition.

Which leads us rolling into this weeks schedule . Monday was anything but a layday
With the score now tied Luna Rossa became a determined completer in the Start box and we saw some of the most aggressive sailing in pre start box to date  . 

Chris Drapier Helmsman for Luna Rossa a Englishman did a smashing starboard broad siding slide just seconds before the start . A amazing technique which may have come back to haunt him latter when the wings man trimming aperture failed down course giving way to Emirates to claim their second One boat win  . 

Score 2-1 What's the saying where can i find a mechanic to fix my Ferrari ? In this country the answer usually is Italy in this case its . (Send it back to Auckland) where it was built . 

Youth Wings 

Meanwhile there another set of winged demons loose in the bay each morning .The Red Bull Youth America's Cup teams , these teams comprised of all nationality ruled countries are screaming all over the bay every morning. Ten teams of each country's best and brightest  will be completing in September at the conclusion of the Louis Vuitton Cup . Fleet racing that means all ten boats racing at once which promises to hold a very captive audience in the AC45s that have been refitted from the Americas Cup World series of last year.

So far the young guns have fared much better with less breakdowns of their big brothers the AC72 Class . 

Dirt runs downhill .
Weightgate  deep throat missing its un likely any one in the Oracle camp is going to hangout to dry the persons or person who altered the Oracle controlled AC45s . recently it has been reported the Oracle AC45s they have five . That three where altered with hidden lead in there mast step cross braces supports. 

In theory Cheating has been a work strongly used by the Emirates team  against Oracle . While the boats for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup where being measured in one boat seemed to weigh a lot more . After investigation was taken these weighted support posts were discovered in others . 

One was alleged to be Sir Russell Coutts Boat leading Russell to withdraw his results in the America's Cup World Series . Like most of what been going on of late this was later discovered incorrect . leading to Russell's results to be reinstated .

Further to confuse things there are rumors that during the Red Bull youth Trials Teams maintaining the boats for the trails where sabatoshing other countries boats. Again under management of Oracle Racing  . This has not been proven yet . 

To even more dismay now Oracle has filed a protest against Emirates Team New Zealand that states their youth America's Cup team tried to Spy by way of trespassing on Oracles AC45 during Youth America's cup Trials .

With the weight gate looming someone will be taking the fall . To protect Oracle and will probably face a severe  penalty from the international Jury .

And it now looks as if regardless of the outcome of this America's Cup defense we will wind up in the same Oak paneled halls of Justice to decide its fate . 

When Theres To Much Wind

Racing returns tomorrow Wednesday with Emirates and Prada facing off for race four of the Vuitton finals . 
Wind limits have plagued the races since the beginning only allowing for one race sailing days . ACRM or (America's Cup Race Management)  cannot at this point lower them they are a part of the safety package . Unless the two teams competing in the finals at this late time vote for a change its still highly unlikely because its in the Coast Guard event permit recommendations  . 

Viewing is free on pier 27 but some the best views are in the marina green areas that have daily activities Youth Sailing activities. The AC Open . 

Tickets can be found here and schedules . 

http://www.americascup.com/en/experience/spectator-tickets/shoreline-viewing