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Match 1 Preview: C'est la vie!

Posted 1 year, 2 months ago

Match 1 Preview: C'est la vie!
It's 0630 here in VLC on Day 1 of the 32nd Defense of the Auld Mug. It is a beaut, cool morning with a nice breeze out of the hills. Again last evening and night it was unusually cool. Many were wearing sweaters (jumpers) at outdoors cafes, and you are still sleeping with more than just a sheet over you and no real need yet for fans or aircon, Experience shows that does not bode well for the seabreeze. The predicted high today is only 27 deg. C (80F). We have been waiting for this day for a long four years, and once again it hits home that we (BMWOR) are sitting on the sidelines after working so hard for so long and having such high expectations. C'est la vie! Well, that's life! Not sure what the equivalent phrase is in Spanish. And it seems like only yesterday, not March of 2003, that we were in Auckland and, together with Alinghi announcing the agreement of the protocol for AC 32. It spelled out the year of the next Cup, but not venue or other details. The venue was not announced until November. Many of us involved in the Cup have been living here at least part time since April of 2004, full time since early 2005. Is that all about to come to an end? Will ETNZ win and take the Cup to Auckland in 2010-2011 with a global circuit of pre-regattas (please don't call them "Acts" again) in the meantime? Maybe one in Valencia, but otherwise turning the Port AC over to development by the City and Region for other purposes? Or Will Alinghi win and keep the Cup here? Or win and put the venue out to bid again, moving it to another place in Europe? If Alinghi do win, many are betting on the latter. An article in this morning's Valencia Life newsletter appears to confirm that, either way, the Cup is outta here: Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera yesterday revealed that at the end of this year, the future plans for the Port area would be finally revealed. She made this statement after meeting with representatives of the winning project - French architect Jean Nouvel, Valencian architect Jose Maria Tomas and members of the German company GMP. In addition the project for the future of the port will take into consideration the necessities of creating a Formula 1 circuit in the area, and that this would be perfectly compatible with other aspects of the plan. Mr Nouvel stated that the integration of the F1 circuit would be somewhat complex, but quite doable, whilst Volwing Marg for GMP stated his company?s participation in the project was based on the thirteen years that it had been in charge of the development of Hamburg as a major port. Hamburg? Port?? That also confirms what a number of the local media have been reporting -- that the Port AC will largely be taken over by the booming commercial port, which has all along made no bones about its expansive intentions. Speaking of the port AC, will the locals come out today to cheer on the two combatants? Quite a show is scheduled for the 1300 dockout of both teams. Are there many Swiss here to support their "home" team? For sure there are a lot of Kiwis, and a few press reports and grumblings out of the Alinghi camp to the contrary, the Kiwis fans we have seen and heard here have been great. Certainly not abusive. Bring them on. The Port AC and the event needs all the boisterous cheering fans it can get. If you have live TV, great. Reports of other available live "coverage" available on the internet have been mixed. Most say the ACM internet radio coverage (free) has been excellent, so check that out if you do not have (or want) TV to watch. Otherwise, probably your best bet for up-to-the minute coverage online is live-blogger Mark Chisnell's Tack by Tack blog. We have 350+ VIP guests today in our base -- the biggest day yet -- including a number of VVIPs from our various sponsor-partners and the world of sport, fashion and media. Am told by our marketing department that we will do three "Morning Shows," two in English and the third in Spanish (hopefully! -- as our colleague Cristina Gomez does the Spanish shows, giving me a break before we go afloat and do commentary all afternoon). Then we will take them afloat on our five spectator boats, the same number Alinghi has. So things at our base remain in full swing today, at least on the top floor. If only it was the same throughout the base. Enjoy the racing, and here's a cheer for both teams who have so worked so hard for this moment and richly deserve to be fighting it out on the water today. Can't wait -- and go the seabreeze! Four years ago in AKL after announcing the AC 32 Protocol: Michel Bonnefous (then Alinghi GM, now ACM CEO), Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi's owner), your Ed. (representing GGYC as Challenger of Record), and Russell Coutts (then Alinghi skipper). Yes, BMWOR will be afloat today, but with five VIP spectator boats such as the beautiful 35m Alcor, which is our race-day commentary command post. All five boats are wired together, as well as have live TV and the "Virtual Eye" 3D graphical race viewer. Full Story »

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