Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
Encyclopedia
The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was a match race regatta in America's Cup Class yachts in Auckland
, New Zealand
during January and February 2009. Racing started on 30 January. The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates
Team New Zealand
, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
, Auckland City
and Skycity Entertainment Group
. Bruno Troublé was Louis Vuitton's organizer and spokesperson for the Series.
The creation of the event was in response to the legal battle
surrounding the America's Cup
yachting competition at the time. Ten syndicates participated in the event. All ten teams used four boats loaned for the regatta from Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing
. This made participation more affordable for the teams.
Described by its creators as a "fun and friendly event", the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series relied on the concept of loaned boats and quick and short races with an abbreviated schedule to pack 53 match races into a three week period. Racing was held every day except on one scheduled lay day.
Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Pacific Trophy, beating Alinghi 3-1 in the Cup Final.
In September 2009 it was announced that the Series would be followed by a Louis Vuitton Trophy.
, between Rangitoto Island
and the city foreshore. Four different courses were used depending on weather patterns.
Emirates Team New Zealand, as hosts, earnt direct entry into the Louis Vuitton final. However, the team was also allocated to a pool and raced in the preliminary qualifying rounds. Points won by Team New Zealand in pool play were disregarded when the rankings were determined after the qualifying rounds.
The 10 teams were divided into two qualifying groups of five, with the top three teams in each pool proceeding to the Gold Fleet and the remaining two teams proceeding to the Silver Fleet. The winner of the Gold Fleet earnt direct entry into the Challenger's Final, with the remaining teams in the Gold Fleet, and the two winners of the Silver Fleet, proceeding to the Third Round. The winner of the Third Round then met the winner of the Gold Fleet in the Challenger's Final; the winner of which proceeded to the final to race against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The winner of final was presented with the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy.
and NZL-84 for the event and BMW Oracle Racing shipped USA-87 and USA-98 from Valencia for the event. The boats arrived in Auckland in mid-December. All four boats were extensively redesigned and worked on by onshore crew before the event. The boats were simplified and as a result did not completely meet IACC standards. The changes were made to make the boats easier to operate and make the races as even as possible.
Number in brackets is winning delta.
Number in brackets is the winning delta.
* deducted a point for damaging the boats
The top three teams from each pool competed in the Gold Fleet. The winner advanced directly to the Challenger final. As host, Team New Zealand advanced directly to Cup Final. A team that wins a race against Team New Zealand does not gain a point. The seeding position determines where a team appears in the third round.
* Both boats were deducted points for contact in the BMW Oracle vs Team Origin race: BMW Oracle -1, Team Origin -0.5
** Team Origin retired after failing to raise a headsail at second mark. The headsail foil was damaged from the earlier collision.
*** Team New Zealand completed the prestart without Alinghi after the Swiss boat forfeited the race. The race was then abandoned. Alinghi conceded because they saw no point in sailing the race when there were no points to be gained for them, while they risked losing points in the event of contact between the boats.
The remaining four teams competed in the Silver Fleet.
The challengers ranked 2-7 sailed off with the winner advancing to the Challenger final. Seeds 8 and 9 also sailed off for a final ranking.
The winner of the Gold Fleet competed against the winner of the Third Round.
Due to poor weather the Challenger series was reduced to a best of three series.
As host, Team New Zealand qualified automatically for the Cup Final. They met the winner of the Challenger final in the Cup Final.
Due to poor weather the Final series was reduced to a best of five series.
A ONE Sport
highlights package was also broadcast each night on TV ONE. A modified version of this highlights programme, as well as selected footage for news stories, was distributed nightly via satellite to international broadcasters by Dominique Curchod Communication.
Sailing 103.0 FM.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
during January and February 2009. Racing started on 30 January. The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates
Emirates Airline
Emirates is the airline based in the Emirate of Dubai part of the United Arab Emirates . Based at Dubai International Airport it is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 2,400 flights per week, from its hub at Terminal 3, to 111 cities in 62 countries across six continents...
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of New Zealand's more prestigious yacht clubs, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guise of Team New Zealand....
, Auckland City
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
and Skycity Entertainment Group
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Skycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand corporation whose core business is owning and operating casinos in Australasia. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market....
. Bruno Troublé was Louis Vuitton's organizer and spokesperson for the Series.
The creation of the event was in response to the legal battle
America's Cup (33rd edition)
The 33rd America's Cup between Société Nautique de Genève defending with team Alinghi against Golden Gate Yacht Club, and their racing team BMW Oracle Racing was the subject of extensive court action and litigation, surpassing in acrimony even the controversial 1988 America's Cup...
surrounding the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
yachting competition at the time. Ten syndicates participated in the event. All ten teams used four boats loaned for the regatta from Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle Racing
Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....
. This made participation more affordable for the teams.
Described by its creators as a "fun and friendly event", the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series relied on the concept of loaned boats and quick and short races with an abbreviated schedule to pack 53 match races into a three week period. Racing was held every day except on one scheduled lay day.
Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Pacific Trophy, beating Alinghi 3-1 in the Cup Final.
In September 2009 it was announced that the Series would be followed by a Louis Vuitton Trophy.
Course/Schedule
Up to six match races were held each day on a short windward-leeward course laid at the entrance to Auckland's Waitemata HarbourWaitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
, between Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. The 5.5 km wide island is an iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland with its distinctive symmetrical shield volcano cone rising 260 metres high over the Hauraki Gulf...
and the city foreshore. Four different courses were used depending on weather patterns.
Emirates Team New Zealand, as hosts, earnt direct entry into the Louis Vuitton final. However, the team was also allocated to a pool and raced in the preliminary qualifying rounds. Points won by Team New Zealand in pool play were disregarded when the rankings were determined after the qualifying rounds.
The 10 teams were divided into two qualifying groups of five, with the top three teams in each pool proceeding to the Gold Fleet and the remaining two teams proceeding to the Silver Fleet. The winner of the Gold Fleet earnt direct entry into the Challenger's Final, with the remaining teams in the Gold Fleet, and the two winners of the Silver Fleet, proceeding to the Third Round. The winner of the Third Round then met the winner of the Gold Fleet in the Challenger's Final; the winner of which proceeded to the final to race against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The winner of final was presented with the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy.
The Yachts
Team New Zealand provided NZL-92NZL-92
NZL-92 is an International America's Cup Class racing boat sailed by Emirates Team New Zealand that won the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 but was beaten in the 2007 America's Cup by the defender Alinghi team sailing SUI-100.-A short history:...
and NZL-84 for the event and BMW Oracle Racing shipped USA-87 and USA-98 from Valencia for the event. The boats arrived in Auckland in mid-December. All four boats were extensively redesigned and worked on by onshore crew before the event. The boats were simplified and as a result did not completely meet IACC standards. The changes were made to make the boats easier to operate and make the races as even as possible.
Pool A (USA 87 & 98)
30 January - 3 FebruaryEWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
Number in brackets is winning delta.
Pool B (NZL 84 & 92)
30 January - 3 FebruaryEWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
Number in brackets is the winning delta.
Gold Fleet
5 February - 9 FebruaryThe top three teams from each pool competed in the Gold Fleet. The winner advanced directly to the Challenger final. As host, Team New Zealand advanced directly to Cup Final. A team that wins a race against Team New Zealand does not gain a point. The seeding position determines where a team appears in the third round.
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
Silver Fleet
5 February - 9 FebruaryThe remaining four teams competed in the Silver Fleet.
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
Third Round
10–11 FebruaryThe challengers ranked 2-7 sailed off with the winner advancing to the Challenger final. Seeds 8 and 9 also sailed off for a final ranking.
| Seed | Team Name | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 |  Greek Challenge |
W (0:31) |
| 9 |  Team Shosholoza |
L |
Challenger Final
11–12 FebruaryThe winner of the Gold Fleet competed against the winner of the Third Round.
| Seed | Team Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alinghi |
W (0:01) | W (1:07) | ||||
| |X | X | 2 | |||||
| L | L | ||||||
| |X | X | 0 |
Due to poor weather the Challenger series was reduced to a best of three series.
Cup Final
13 February - 14 FebruaryAs host, Team New Zealand qualified automatically for the Cup Final. They met the winner of the Challenger final in the Cup Final.
| Team Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Team New Zealand |
L | W(0:28) | W(0:34) | W(0:19) | ||||
| X | X | 3 | ||||||
| Alinghi |
W (0:12) | L | L | L | ||||
| X | X | 1 |
Due to poor weather the Final series was reduced to a best of five series.
| 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series |
|---|
 Team New Zealand First Title |
Confirmed Teams
Twelve teams were originally confirmed - however after two withdrawals the field contracted to ten teams. The teams arrived in Auckland on 23 January.| Country | Team | Club | Skipper | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team New Zealand Team New Zealand Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000... |
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of New Zealand's more prestigious yacht clubs, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guise of Team New Zealand.... |
Dean Barker | Host | |
| BMW Oracle Racing BMW Oracle Racing Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club.... |
Golden Gate Yacht Club Golden Gate Yacht Club The Golden Gate Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in 1939 and is the current holder of the America's Cup won by its racing team BMW Oracle Racing.In 1939 the first members built a clubhouse on a barge in the San Francisco Marina... |
Russell Coutts Russell Coutts Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and... |
||
| K-Challenge | Cercle de la Voile de Paris | Sébastien Col | ||
| Team Shosholoza Team Shosholoza Team Shosholoza is a yacht racing team representing Royal Cape Yacht Club of Cape Town, South Africa competing in the 2007 America's Cup.The name Shosholoza refers to a popular South African song and is used in an attempt to encompass the African spirit of the team.-History:The team's history goes... |
Royal Cape Yacht Club | Paolo Cian | ||
| Luna Rossa | Yacht Club Italiano Yacht Club Italiano The Yacht Club Italiano is a yacht club in Genoa, Italy. It was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest sailing clubs in the Mediterranean. This club was bestowed Royal Patronage by HRH King Umberto I of Italy since its inception.... |
Peter Holmberg Peter Holmberg Peter Holmberg is a sailor from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who won a silver medal in Men's Finn Class in the 1988 Summer Olympics, his country's only Olympic medal so far. He was born on Saint Thomas.-External links:*... |
||
| Team Origin Team Origin Team Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid... |
Royal Thames Yacht Club Royal Thames Yacht Club The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park.... |
Ben Ainslie Ben Ainslie Charles Benedict Ainslie, CBE is an English sailor and three-times Olympic gold medalist. He started sailing at the age of 8 and first competed at the age of 10... |
||
| China Team China Team China Team is a yacht racing team formed in 2005. China Team first appeared in competition in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007, the challenger series held prior to the America's Cup... |
Qingdao International Yacht Club Qingdao International Yacht Club Qingdao International Yacht Club is a yacht club located in Qingdao, Shandong, China. The yacht club is home to China Team which competed in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup to challenge for the America's Cup.... |
Ian Williams Ian Williams (sailor) Ian specialises in match racing competing in the World Match Racing Tour. In 2008 following winning the tour and therefore the World Championship title he was shortlisted by the International Sailing Federation for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards... |
||
| Damiani Italia | Circolo Canottieri Aniene and Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria | Vasco Vascotto | ||
| Greek Challenge | Nautical Club of Kalamata | Sotiris Buseas | ||
| Alinghi Alinghi Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup... |
Société Nautique de Genève Société Nautique de Genève The Société Nautique de Genève is a yacht club based in Geneva . It was founded in 1872 with the goal of developing nautical sports and high level sailors... |
Brad Butterworth Brad Butterworth Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959... |
America's Cup America's Cup The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging... Defender |
Withdrawn Teams
The following teams were scheduled to participate or were on the waiting list but did not take part in the event.| Country | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Italia Francesco De Angelis | Originally on Waiting List - Were contacted to see if they could make the event. | |
| Mascalzone Latino Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Mascalzone Latino is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Club Nautico di Roma.-2007:Known as Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and at that time also representing Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, the team first competed at the Louis Vuitton Cup... |
Withdrew due to financial concerns, citing Global financial crisis. | |
| Team Germany United Internet Team Germany United Internet Team Germany is a yacht racing team that competed for the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007, the challenger series held prior to the America's Cup.... |
Withdrew due to financial concerns after losing main sponsor Audi Audi Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group.... . |
|
| Team French Spirit Marc Pajot Marc Pajot Yves Pajot is a French sailor. He won a silver medal in the Flying Dutchman Class with his brother Yves at the 1972 Summer Olympics. From 1987 to 2000 he competed four times at the Louis Vuitton Cup .-References:... |
Originally on Waiting List - Was unable to find the funds to participate. |
Television
TVNZ carried live coverage on TVNZ Sport Extra on the Freeview platform. The coverage consisted of in-studio presenters and commentators, with the race coverage provided using Virtual Eye and a single live camera. The broadcast was also be streamed live on tvnz.co.nz. The broadcast was promoted as a world first, due to the event being broadcast predominantly with Virtual Eye animation.A ONE Sport
ONE Sport
One Sport is a division of TVNZ which airs many of the sports telecasts in New Zealand.One Sport broadcasts programs like the ASB Classic, Heineken Open, Commonwealth Games and the America's Cup...
highlights package was also broadcast each night on TV ONE. A modified version of this highlights programme, as well as selected footage for news stories, was distributed nightly via satellite to international broadcasters by Dominique Curchod Communication.
Radio
The event was also broadcasted in New Zealand on a special radio station, BSportBSport
LiveSPORT is a nationwide New Zealand sports talk and horse racing commentary radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Nathan Rarere, Ian Smith and Dean Lonergan present the network's breakfast programme, James McConie and Richard Loe present morning talk programmes and New Zealand Racing...
Sailing 103.0 FM.
Junior Series
A Junior series for under-16's was run at the same time as the senior series. Competitors were selected by Auckland yacht clubs and competed in a series of races using O'pen Bic yachts around a short course in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour. Twenty O'pen Bic boats were bought over for the event by Series organiser Bruno Trouble. The event was won by Chris Steele, who received an O'pen Bic yacht and the opportunity to be 18th man on the Alinghi boat during the Cup Final races.External links
- Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Official Site
- Virtual Eye LVPS09 Official Site
- Team New Zealand Official Site
See also
- Louis Vuitton CupLouis Vuitton CupThe Louis Vuitton Cup is a yachting competition connected with the America's Cup. The Louis Vuitton Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the America's Cup...
- Louis Vuitton Trophy