Countdown to America's Cup World Series Portsmouth
IslandStats.com
Adam Barboza, Project Manager, ACBDA has written an article about this weekend’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth event that marks the one-year Anniversary for the series. In the last 12 months the America's Cup teams have traversed the globe racing in the UK, Sweden, Bermuda, Oman, and the US (New York & Chicago).
The standings so far are:
Emirates Team New Zealand (295 points). Behind helmsman Peter Burling and skipper Glenn Ashby ETNZ have put together a string of impressive results and seem to be in the hunt for victory in every race. A miraculous come from behind win in the last race in New York gave them a second win in the series, so you can never count them out. With Burling heading to Rio for the Olympics - to take on Nathan Outteridge of Artemis Racing – Ashby will be at the helm this time around.
LandRover BAR (285 points). Sir Ben Ainslie's team started the series with a bang on home waters when they won last year's Portsmouth event. Since then they've been a bit up and down winning again in Oman but placing 4th and 5th in Bermuda and New York respectively. Given the interest and enthusiasm in Britain to #bringthecuphome, Sir Ben will want to deliver again in front of the home crowd.
ORACLE TEAM USA (285 points). While the America's Cup defenders’ overall performance has landed them near the top of the standings they’ve been somewhat inconsistent from race to race. Up until Chicago, where they were 5th, they had notched a series of 2nds and 3rds but haven’t won any of the regattas. They’ve also had some adventures along the way including a capsize in Chicago. But Jimmy Spithill and the boys in #17 are never short on confidence and they'd love nothing better than to quieten the home crowd in Portsmouth. Maybe this is their regatta?
Artemis Racing (262 points). No team has been more unpredictable or spectacular than the team from Sweden (by way of Morgan's Point). Who could forget their dramatic win in Bermuda, after swallowing the pink umpire boat and then wrenching off part of the boat before charging to victory. And don't forget they managed to run aground in their home waters in Gothenburg and get another series victory in Chicago. They certainly keep things interesting, and are at it again in Portsmouth with Francesco Bruni, formerly of the Italian challengers Luna Rossa, taking the helm in place of Nathan Outteridge, who is in Rio getting ready for the Olympics. Lots of talent and fun to watch.
SoftBank Team Japan (259 points). If there is a team on the rise its SBTJ. In Chicago they picked up their first podium finish, with a 3rd, and won their first race. They also notched a win here in a Bermuda at June's Foil Fest, which might not count for points but certainly does allow for bragging rights. Foil Fest was raced in the 'turbo charged' boats that are being used to develop next year's America's Cup Class, so the Japan team will feel good about knowing they are up to speed. None of this should come as any surprise, skipper and CEO Dean Barker knows this game as well as anyone and his team will be one to reckon with.
Groupama Team France (234 points). Despite being at the bottom of the standings, the French have been moving in the right direction recently, picking up two race wins this year and recently launching their new AC45 test boat in France. Their skipper, Franck Cammas, is a sailor with a tremendous track record of success and should not be taken lightly. With the next stop for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series taking place in Toulon, France in August this team will be motivated to put on a good show in Portsmouth and head home with some positive momentum.
