Larry and Russell hit the water...

Gilles Martin-Raget

Gilles Martin-Raget

Gilles Martin-Raget

Gilles Martin-Raget

BMW ORACLE Racing competes in first regatta of the 2008 season.

BMW ORACLE Racing competes in the team’s first competition of the 2008 season starting tomorrow at the RC 44 Cagliari Cup in Italy. Skipper Russell Coutts and team owner Larry Ellison are sharing afterguard duties in their first regatta together.

“This is Larry’s first time sailing the RC 44s and he is really enjoying it,” said BMW ORACLE Racing skipper Russell Coutts. “On our first day of training yesterday, we saw 25 knots of fresh sea breeze off the Sardinia coast. We had a great time shaking down the boat and tuning up with some practice starts and drop set maneuvers. Larry is looking forward to helming this week in both the match racing against the pro skippers and in the fleet racing events against the other owner/drivers. It’s a competitive fleet here and promises to be great racing.” - More news at http://www.bmworacleracing.com/

Trimaran Match Racing BMW ORACLE...

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget
Matching Racing 60ft Trimaran's are you crazy! Can you imagine sailing in 25 knots of wind and converging at 20 knots of boat speed!

Photos of Team BMW Oracle sailing

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Photos by Gilles Martin-Raget http://www.martin-raget.com/ BMW Oracle

Some photos from Team BMW Oracle's multihull training in Lorient this week.

BMW Oracle already laying up carbon...

Progress well advanced on new America’s Cup yacht.
The third America’s Cup racing yacht to be built in Anacortes is well underway, BMW ORACLE Racing the U.S. Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup confirmed today.

The multihull yacht is being built for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) team for a match against the defender later this year. This will be the third America’s Cup racing yacht the U.S. team has built in this waterfront community 100 miles (160 km) north of Seattle.

“We are proud to be in Anacortes where we can draw on world-class expertise and where the team has enjoyed so much local support,” said the team’s Boat Construction Manager Mark Turner. The team built its two America’s Cup Class yachts USA 87 and USA 98 in Anacortes for the 32nd America’s Cup competition in 2007 in Valencia, Spain.

The rules that govern the America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift, require the boat to be constructed in the country of challenge. “We selected Anacortes due to our successful track record here, thanks to supportive local officials, a fantastic marine infrastructure and the proximity to aerospace-quality tooling and other support operations required to build such a high-tech America’s Cup boat,” Turner said. “Anacortes was the clear choice, we are very happy to be back here,” he said.

Turner is working alongside co-construction manager Tim Smyth. Housed in a 100-foot X 200-foot (30m x 60m), three-story shed, the building has been converted into a purpose-built composite yacht construction facility. The team also works with Janicki Industries in nearby Sedro-Woolley which provide high-tech precision tooling for the boat construction.

“Since last December we have been focused on being ready for this match, and getting the boat in the water as soon as possible,“ Turner said.

He said the team would provide further updates on the boat’s construction soon. -http://bmworacleracing.com/

Photo: Neil Rabinowitz / BMW ORACLE Racing

Oracles Foiling Trimaran Unveiled

Photo by TMZ

Just 2 hours north of Valencia, Oracle BMW’s new 90 ft foiling trimaran leaves its manufacturing facility just before night fall. After much speculation on if the trimaran would have foils, foreign designer Bruce Nelson confirms that the flat bottom design is a clear sign that the Tri will be able to foil at about 6 knots! “It is going to be one fast trimaran and one scary ass ride!” the designer stated to the media. Not sure how long this one will last before it self destructs. The center hull was last seen heading towards Valencia. Our calls have not been returned from Oracle BMW to confirm that it is indeed their boat.

Spithill or Coutts?

Looks like Coutts might take a back seat to this next cup as his new protégé James Spithill takes on of the Oracle cats out for spin off Valencia.

Oracles Catamaran Out of the Bag

Photos by http://www.sailsudaka.com/
Oracles new toy takes to the waters in Valencia Harbor of a shake down sail.

Why not just have the next cup in these and save everyone a boat load of money and time.

The Empire Strikes Back

BERNE, Switzerland - America's Cup holders Alinghi have accused yachting rivals BMW Oracle of holding the competition to ransom following their decision to file legal proceedings in New York.

BMW Oracle owner Larry Ellison is suing Alinghi for what he says are "unfair" rules for the running of the next America's Cup - a charge strenuously denied by the Swiss team.

"Far from being an attempt to control everything, the new protocol has been written to make the 33rd America's Cup even better," said Michel Bonnefous, president of the ACM organising body set up to run the competition on Alinghi's behalf.

"The vision is shared by many Challengers from around the world, four of whom have now formally entered the competition, with others about to do so.

"Larry Ellison is holding the Cup to ransom for competitive gain by attempting to disrupt the preparations."

Alinghi's New Zealand-born skipper Brad Butterworth attributed the US team's lawsuit to sour grapes. http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Video: Russell Coutts Signs with Oracle

Click button to play
Russell Coutts signs with Oracle
Kiwi Russell Coutts has announced that he's signed with the Larry Ellison backed BMW Oracle from San Francisco. Video from http://www.stuff.co.nz

Russell Coutts Signs with Oracle

Why is this man smiling? It might have to do with the fact that he has just signed his own ticket to retirement with Larry Ellison. Sources in Europe have reported to us that Russell spoke with Larry on Sunday, July 15th during the Malcesine Cup and has agreed to skipper Oracle Racing and run the program. How much is this deal worth? That’s a good question! We have heard that Larry said “Whatever you want!” Maybe that is why Russell is grinning ear to ear. You may think this is a rumor but it's not. Nice work Russell! -SK

Click here for update: http://www.sailkarma.com/2007/07/we-told-you-so-russell-coutts-and-larry.html