The first Louis Vuitton World Series
event will be held in Nice, France on Louis Vuitton World Series
the 7-22 November 2009. The WSTA
and Louis Vuitton believe Nice is the
Event in Nice Launches Top
ideal venue to launch the Series. Professional Sailing Circuit
The Louis Vuitton World Series,
is an outgrowth of the successful and over the next two years alongside the arrived in Nice under tow, following a
highly-competitive Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, but will not compete 400-plus nautical mile journey up the
Pacific Series that took place in with the pinnacle of sailing. The format Mediterranean coast.
Auckland in February earlier this year. is cost-effective – teams don’t have to Nic Bice, head boat captain, said:
The launch of the LVWS is positive build boats – accessible, and turnkey “It was certainly a relief to arrive in
news for top-tier professional sailors for the participants. Yves Carcelle, Nice unscathed. Our weather window
as it guarantees a global world series Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO, is was extremely small but due to the
aboard high-tech version 5 ACC delighted with this new chapter, which hard work of all the guys and girls
monohull racing boats. The series will complements but is separate from their involved we were able to leave when
feature a 10-team field competing in 25 year association with the Cup: “In the time was right and arrive with the
shared ACC yachts in a round robin, the wake of the Louis Vuitton Pacific boats 100% and ready to go.”
one-on-one match racing format where Series, which brought a breath of fresh The other two boats, ITA 90 and
the two finalists go head-to-head to air to the sailing world, this Series will ITA 99, supplied by the Mascalzone
determine the winner. Points will be allow, once again, the teams to come Latino team (who won’t be competing
accumulated throughout the series to together in a competitive but friendly in Nice) will be shipped to the venue
determine the ranking of the season. atmosphere.” later this month (October).
The Italian boats from Malcazone Grant Dalton, CEO of ETNZ and a “We have a very hard-working
Latino will be used by WSTA in Nice. WSTA founding team explains: “The team already on site in Nice, preparing
The second Louis Vuitton World Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was a great the race village and the logistics for the
Series event is scheduled for March 2010 success. It seemed logical to try and regatta, and everything is running to
in Auckland, New Zealand followed by build on this and that is what we have schedule,” Esquier confirmed. “We look
a Series in La Maddalena (Italy) in May done. It is a win-win situation for Louis forward to welcoming the eight teams
2010. Organizers are also evaluating Vuitton, the teams and the host cities.” here at the beginning of November for
interest from other international cities Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW some practice ahead of the racing.”
to complete the racing calendar for ORACLE Racing, a WSTA founding The confirmed line-up of eight
2010 and 2011. Bruno Troublé, creator team, explains: “Sailing teams at the world-class sailing teams for the Louis
of the Louis Vuitton Cup and LVWS top of the sport require sponsorship. Vuitton Trophy - Nice, which runs from
spokesperson, comments: “We have Sponsors require an annual global the 7th to 22nd November, includes:
received serious interest from cities calendar of compelling events. And the
like Athens, Greece; Valencia, Spain; sailors seek a highly-competitive series ALL4ONE (FRA/GER)
Newport, RI, USA; Cape Town, South where they can face their toughest Azzurra (ITA)
Africa; Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi to opponents on a fair playing field. We BMW ORACLE Racing (USA)
host future events. “ see this Series as addressing all of Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)
The WSTA and Louis Vuitton will those elements and are excited by the Swedish Challenge Artemis (SWE)
announce more events (2010/2011) potential.” Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS)
during the Nice regatta this year. All TeamOrigin (GBR)
the LVWS events will be sanctioned ACC Boat’s Arrive Team French Spirit (FRA)
by ISAF, the international sailing The facilities in Nice are being
governing body and will take place readied, the race boats are being tested, BMW ORACLE Racing, Emirates
equalized and prepared for racing, and Team New Zealand and ALL4ONE
About WSTA some of the teams spent time on ACC (as K-Challenge) each competed in the
World Sailing Teams Association yachts last week (Oct. 12), working out last America’s Cup and TeamOrigin
(WSTA) was founded in 2009 by a the kinks ahead of the first race day, competed in the Louis Vuitton Pacific
group of professional yacht racing November 7. Series earlier this year. While the other
teams to develop a regular series In Valencia, the site of the last four teams are new to ACC racing,
of high-level competitive racing America’s Cup where several teams experienced Cup sailors are sprinkled
events. The WSTA is jointly owned still maintain a base of operations, the throughout their crew rosters. The
by its preferred shareholders and four ACC boats that will be used for the Synergy Russian Sailing Team and
represents the interests of the teams racing in Nice have been set-up for the Azzurra had an ACC familiarisation
for fair and highly-competitive November regatta. session using boats belonging to
racing. The WSTA, in conjunction On October 20, two of the boats, Victory Challenge, while ALL4ONE
with title partner Louis Vuitton, co- GBR 75 (provided by TeamOrigin) sea-trialled with FRA 93.
organizes the Louis Vuitton Trophy. and FRA 93 (provided by ALL4ONE
www.louisvuittontrophy.com/
- previously known as K-Challenge)
48° No r t h , No v e m b e r 2009 Pa g e 27
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