No passing lanes in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series..

..or so it seems.

In round 2 of the regatta, the boat which won the start won the race - in every single of the 21 races.

(*this factors in those who crossed the line slightly behind the other but had the preferred side of the course which would still be deemed as winning the start)

http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/No-passing-lanes-in-the-Louis-Vuitton-Pacific-Series/53755

Wow!... What an exciting sport huh!

Sounds like Formula 1.

Ha ha.. for sure..

(altho only 7 of 18 races in 2008 were won by the car on pole and in it was 12/17 in 2007 and 8/18 in 2006 so they're really not doing too badly as of late)

I read a funny commentary re the upcoming court case between Alinghi and Oracle - which hinges basically on the interpretation of the word "having" as in "having an annual regatta" in reference to the challenger of record...

The comment went something like Alinghi are essentially arguing that you can walk up to a bar aged 15 and get in on the expectation that you will turn 18 at some stage and therefore be legally allowed.

Yachting humour - not that funny huh!

well despite that, I really thing the America's Cup series should be an annual event... it should also be administered by an international body, not the holder (like every other sport in the world)... the AC should only go on the line every 4 years, but there should be some big money available (as well as seedings, etc.) for the other years.

People might say that'll lose some of the magic of the AC, but if they don't do that, we're going to keep ending up in court every few years...

And..... Alinghi go home empty handed.