One day to go to the 33rd America’s Cup, the biggest question is how do I watch? Matthew Sheahan provides a guide
With one day to go there are still as many questions surrounding the outcome of the 33rd America’s Cup as there were at the beginning of the week.
Some questions, like will there be a race on Monday or, will Russell Coutts and/or Larry Ellison be aboard USA-17 for the racing, and is Alinghi really that fast and manoeuvrable in the light, appear to have been answered, (see later in today’s piece). But other questions have sprung up to fill the gaps in the list. The biggest of which seems to be, how do I watch the America’s Cup?
Online will provide the most up to date coverage of an event that has and will continue to present some serious logistical problems. The main web streaming activities that we currently know about are below along with a list of the TV companies that will be covering the 33rd America’s Cup in some way.
LINKS
LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE
OFFICIAL AMERICA’S CUP ONLINE COVERAGE
PJ Montgomery, Andy Green and Cam Lewis will provide live commentary on the racing which will include Virtual Eye live animations.
BMW ORACLE
BMW Oracle Racing Live
Will be streaming live coverage with expert commentators Martin Tasker and Peter Lester, starting with the preparations for docking out. The coverage will then switch to the official feed for the racing. After racing BMW Oracle will switch to their live coverage back to the dock.
ESPN360
ESPN360 Free online coverage
TV STATIONS & PROGRAMMES
Not all of the stations below will necessarily be broadcasting live, check with the individual station to find out.
PAN REGIONAL BRIOADCASTERS
Asia – ESPN – Asia
Europe – EUROSPORT
Asia / Pacific – EUROSPORT
Middle east – SHOWTIME
Malaysia, China, India – STAR Sports
Scandinavia – Sweden, Norway and Denmark – Viasat
Yugoslavia and Poland – SportKlub – Hungary, Romania, Ex
Holland and ME – Wannahaves/RTL7
USA – CNN mainsail
NATIONAL BROADCASTERS
Australia – Fox Australia
Brazil – BANSPORT Brazil
France – Canal + France / BETV
Greece – Netmed / Nova (Greece)
Hong Kong – STAR Sports
Hungary – IKO / Sport Klub
Italy – Filmmaster, Interactive SPA, La7, RAI , Yacht & Sail (sailing chnl digicast), RCS Digital
New Zealand – SKY NZ, TVNZ
Poland – Orange Sport
Portugal – Sport TV
Russia – NTV (Russia)
Spain – Canal + Spain, Cuatro, TVE, Teledeporte (SOCIEDAD / RTVE), Canal Nou (9)
Switzerland – SRG – SF, SRG – TSR, SRG – RSI
Taiwan – STAR Sports
Turkey – NTV
UK – BSKYB
US – Universal
So, with one day to go, what is the latest gossip? The most talked about issue at present is the weather. Will it or won’t it?
Starting with what seems most likely first, the current range of weather conditions for Monday suggests that the breeze will be within the limits set for racing ie. Sub 15 knots with a sea state of less than 1m.
The finer detail is less certain. The wind speed itself starts light at around 5knots and builds to around 15knots over 12 hours but the issue of precisely when the build takes place, be it in the morning or afternoon is less certain. Word coming through from some of the team weather experts suggests that they expect it to be light in the morning.
If gossip’s all you’re after, the latest snippet is that BMW Oracle Racing CEO Russell Coutts and team principal Larry Ellison will be aboard USA-17 during the racing if there is sufficient wind. If it’s light they won’t be aboard.
During the last day before the Cup starts, I took a ride out onto the water to follow Alinghi V in her latest trim and whether she really is the light weather weapon that’s been suggested. To find out how she shaped up and see video of the Defender see my blog.
MATT’S BLOG
CLICK HERE to check out my blog for additional, Cup comment, analysis, video snippets and audio.
LINKS & INFORMATION
YW PREVIEW SPECIAL
Check out our previews to the Cup as published in the January and February 2010 issues of Yachting World now available in pdf format and available free online.
CLICK HERE -AC33 PREVIEW – THE BOATS
CLICK HERE – AC33 PREVIEW PART 2 – TEAM TALK
CLICK HERE – AC33 PREVIEW PART 3 – COURSES AND CONDITIONS
YW VIDEO CLIPS
**NEW VIDEO** See BMW Oracle from astern
See BMW Oracle hit 25 knots in 6-8 knots of wind
Take a video tour around Alinghi
Russell Coutts gives a guided tour of the giant wing
OFFICIAL SITE
Official 33rd America’s Cup Site
AERIAL VIEW OF THE HARBOUR
Aerial view of Darsena and commercial harbours
FOLLOWING THE CUP – TV & ONLINE
More news on this as it comes to us but at present:
ESPN 360 has acquired the internet rights for the free live online coverage.
ESPN360 Free online coverage
WEATHER – FORECASTS
Wind and Waves Valencia – Puertos del Estado
CURRENT WEATHER
XC>Weather Spain – Current National conditions
HOW TO GET TO AMERICA’S CUP VENUE
To Valencia by Air:
The easiest way is to fly to Valencia and then take a taxi. Approx cost of taxi to harbour, €20
See www.valenciaport.com for more information
Unfortunately, at this time of year there are fewer direct flights to Valencia than during the summer season. Therefore an alternative route is to fly to Alicante and either take the train or hire a car. Driving takes approx 2 hours and car rental is cheap.
To harbour from Valencia train station:
A taxi from the train station is about a 20-minute ride.
By car:
Heading to Valencia on the A7 toll motorway, connect to the V-15 or V-30 to the port, which is signposted.