Oracle Challenge Needs a Tune Up

I haven’t been following the America’s Cup trials closely but it’s nice to know that even billionaire bad boys have a rough day on the course once in a while. The San Francisco Chronicle moved a story today about Larry Ellison’s kite mishap during a tune-up regatta in the Med on Sunday. Larry’s BMW Oracle Racing was in 4^th place out of the twelve or so competitors on the course when, on a downwind set, their spinnaker was snagged on a spreader pole and tore in half. It took them a minute and a half to get the replacement up – too late to hold their position. It’s too early to be making sideline calls but worth noting that Larry’s challenge is the only American entry to date. The ongoing fleet matches, billed as Luis Vuitton “Acts” count towards initial points needed to win the Louis Vuitton Cup - which determines the team that will challenge America's Cup defender Alinghi in Valencia, Spain in 2007. I hardly need to point out the importance of the 150 plus years of the America’s Cup to sailing culture – but for those who want a review you can find one here and here.