Organisers of the 33rd America’s Cup which is due to start on the 8 Feb have announced that live race coverage will be available free of charge and broadcast via the internet.

A statement by Consorcio Valencia 2007, the group that was in charge of the infrastructure of the 32nd America’s Cup and that is now making arrangements for the 33rd event read:

‘For the first time in history, the races will be broadcast live and free of charge through www.americascup.com to reach the biggest, widest possible audience, including all the fans who will not be able to be in Valencia to witness live this historic competition
The on-shore action will be concentrated at the Veles e Vents, the landmark building central to Port America’s Cup. A giant screen will be installed for fans and spectators to follow the races live as well as enjoying a host of complementary activities around the Port area.’

The event kicks off on the 7 February. Those visiting Valencia, will be able to watch the races live on a giant outdoor screen where a combination of live video and sophisticated computer animations will bring the racing back to the shore. The spectator area will also include official merchandising stalls, a range of activities for kids, youngsters and families. Along with food and beverage points.

Yachting World will be setting up camp in Valencia for the duration of the event and be reporting daily on the event from the 4 Feb. Watch out for racing editor Matthew Sheahan’s news postings and daily analysis on his blog.

In other America’s Cup news, ISAF has announced the Umpire team for the match.

The four man team will follow the racing on the water and immediately adjudicate in a racing rule infringement raised by one of the teams.

The four-person International Umpire Team will be:

Bill Edgerton (GBR) – Chief Umpire

Bill has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1997 and an ISAF International Judge since 2001. He was an Umpire at both the 2007 and 2000 America’s Cup.

Bill grew up and started sailing in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Great Britain where his focus turned to coaching and umpiring. He was National Keelboat Coach for Britain at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and during this time also became increasingly involved in Umpiring at the top level, becoming an ISAF International Umpire in 1997. He now splits his time between his farm in France and officiating at the top sailing events around the world.

Bill has been a Chief Umpire on the World Match Racing Tour, the annual series which decides the winner of the ISAF Match Racing World Championship, since 2006 and last year was appointed as the Tour Umpire responsible for overseeing the umpiring across all nine of the annual World Tour events. In addition he has been heavily involved with the Volvo Ocean Race, acted as an Umpire at editions of ISAF Match Racing World Championship from 1999-2005 and as Chief Umpire at the 2007 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, 2008 iShares Cup and at the Auckland and Nice editions of the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Gerard Bosse (FRA)

Gerard has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1990 and an ISAF International Judge since 1989. He was a member of the International Jury at the 1992 America’s Cup and has been an Umpire at 1992, 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2007 Cups.

Now retired, Gerard was formerly the National Sailing Training Centre Director for the French Sports Ministry. As well as his involved with the America’s Cup, Gerard was a member of both the International Jury and the Umpire team at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. He was Chief Umpire at the 1999 and 2005 ISAF Match Racing World Championship.

John Standley (AUS)

John has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1997 and an ISAF International Judge since 1999. He was a member of the International Jury and Umpire team at the 2000 and 2003 America’s Cup and was an Umpire throughout the entire 32nd America’s Cup cycle, including the Louis Vuitton Acts, Louis Vuitton Cup and 32nd America’s Cup Match.

A construction manager based in Perth, Australia, John has acted on the Umpire teams and International Juries across a wide-range of the sailing world’s top events. This includes the World Match Racing Tour (appointments as both Umpire and Chief Umpire), the ISAF Match Racing World Championship, the Louis Vuitton Trophy, the ISAF Team Racing World Championship, the Volvo Ocean Race and the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

Roger Wood (NZL)

Roger has been an ISAF International Umpire since 2003. He was a member of the Umpire team at the 2007 Louis Vuttion Cup and 32nd America’s Cup Match in Valencia.

A member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Roger has been Chief Umpire at numerous top match racing events in New Zealand. He has been an Umpire on the World Match Racing Tour since 2006 and was also a member of the Umpire team at the 2009 Louis Vuitton Trophy events.

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Official America’s Cup Website
Matthew Sheahan’s Blog
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