Today Sailing Daily looks at the America's Cup.   We cover both the past as 12 meters race again and the present as Aloha Racing launches a boat and America One works with a sponsor to win the Cup.

12 Meters Race Again

Currently underway is the The Saint-Tropez Rolex Cup.   The Rolex Cup is hosting the 5th World Championship for 12 meter yachts.  This is the first world championship for 12 meters since 1988.  12 meters are a blast from past America's Cups.  From 1958 to 1987 12 meters were the class for Cup racing.

Fittingly 12 12 meter yachts are racing.  12 meters that once raced for Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are in Saint-Tropez.   I 7 Italia has won 3 of  the 4 races sailed.  The famous fiberglass 12 meter that New Zealand raced in 1987 is 4th.  'KZD7's' scores include a race 4 win.

Some of the 12 meters date from 1936 (Tomahawk) and 1937 (Trivia of Gosport).  The most recent boats are Kiwi Magic (1987) and South Australia (1987). 

The 12 meters will continue racing through Sunday in both fleet and match racing action. 

For more see: http://www.eurovirtuel.com/rolexcup/rolexcup.html

America One/Hewlett Packard Contest

San Francisco based America's Cup syndicate America One recently announced an interesting project.  In conjunction with their sponsor Hewlett Packard America One is sponsoring a design competition.  The subject to be designed is a jib halyard lock.  The contest began Monday and ends 1 September. 

Contest organizers say, "Your task is to design a headsail halyard lock
that is 100% reliable, weighs nothing,  and withstands enormous load."   Further America One explains why they are looking to spec their IACC boat with a jib halyard lock: "Well, halyard locks have been used on mainsails for a long time. However, mainsails are never changed during a race, whereas the headsail (jib) might be changed four or five times. Delays attributable to the lock cannot be tolerated. Therefore, the added risk of the lock is weighed against the benefit. It is only now that the sailmakers have agreed that the benefit to the headsail shape outweighs the risk of a faulty change."  Among the design peramaters are: the jib halyard lock must last 1000 cycles and have a deck level release.

Complete contest rules, regulations and prize information is available at http://www.americaonedesign.org.  

If you design the winning halyard lock you get a round trip to New Zealand plus the chance to sail as America One's 17th man during a round 1 Louis Vitton Cup race.

Aloha Racing splashes Boat 1

June 12th saw the Hawaii based Aloha Racing launch and dedicate Abracadabra 2000 the America's Cup team their first IACC boat.  The sail number is USA 50.  Along with sailing director John Kolius the construction crew was on hand. 

Aloha Racing has a 2nd boat building.  Until departing for the actual America's Cup racing in New Zealand Aloha Racing will train in the waters of Hawaii.

Unlike other syndicates Aloha Racing's boat was in the water for the dedication.  The Aloha Racing website includes photos of the boat so you can glimpse what we will see racing for the Cup later this year.