Ellison sailed on board USA today, his first America’s Cup Match race proving a winning one.

BMW ORACLE Racing become the first American team to win the America’s Cup since 1992 when America3 defeated Il Moro de Venezia off San Diego.

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club become the 28th American Defender of the America’s Cup.

Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, has now won the America’s Cup four times, twice with his native New Zealand, once at the helm of the Swiss Alinghi team and now masterminding the success of Ellison’s American team.

The American team, sailing under the flag of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, were quickly able to overturn an early mistake when they were caught flat footed on the wrong side of the start line.

Despite an initial deficit when they crossed the start line of 1 minute and 27 seconds, the trimaran USA, with its massive 68 metres wing sail were able to pass the Defender’s catamaran Alinghi 5 after around 15 minutes of the 20 miles windward leg.

BMW ORACLE Racing Team’s final Race 1 winning margin of 15 minutes and 28 seconds is the biggest in the history of the America’s Cup since the 27th edition in 1988, the last Deed of Gift match, when the USA’s catamaran Stars & Stripes won successive matches against New Zealand’s KZ 1 monohull by 18 mins 15 secs and 21 mins 10 secs.

It is the first time that double America’s Cup winners Alinghi have lost an America’s Cup match race since they were defeated by Emirates Team New Zealand on Monday 25th June 2007.

Then Alinghi went on to win three successive matches to retain the America’s Cup, but now Sunday’s scheduled second race, around the 39 miles Deed of Gift triangle course, of three 13 miles legs, becomes a ‘must win’ for the Defender’s crew.

Principal Race officer Harold Bennett (NZL) and his team on the water had made continuous attempts to seek out a breeze which was of sufficient strength and settled enough in direction across the proposed 20 miles windward Leg 1 to allow a fair race to be started.

But, despite their best efforts, the variance at times was over 100 degrees between the gentle breeze at the committee boat some 25 miles offshore, and the planned position of the turning buoy where there was a breeze of around 10-11 knots sometimes.

Race 1 will now be scheduled for Wednesday 10th with the time gun due at 1000hrs.

© Chris Schmid

I just arrived in Valencia today before the start of the 33rd America’s Cup scheduled for tomorrow February 8th 2010 between Alinghi and BMW Oracle.
You’ll find my latest images in live on my agency Eyemage Media (www.eyemage.ch, on my blog and also in KOS Pictures agency (www.kospictures.com. The first match of the 33rd AC is scheduled for tomorrow 10:00 AM with 6-10 knots of wind. Second race should be on Wednesday.

First photos available tonight from the docks
So stay in touch for the latest news and photos!
Chris

© Chris Schmid / Eyemage Media

Yesterday February 22nd 2010, the America’s Cup left to Valencia from the Société Nautique de Genève in a cloudy weather.  So the cup will be in the right place for the start of the cup on the February 8th 2010 in Valencia, Spain. You can check below the photos about the events.

Luca Butto'/ Alinghi

Hi guys! I’ll be in Valencia, Spain, from February 7th to 15th to cover the 33rd America’s Cup between Alinghi and BMW Oracle teams. So you’ll get the latest photos available online each day on my website and on Eyemage Media. I’m  just a little bit worried about my weight for the baggages but hopefully everything will feed inside.

Keep in touch for the latest news about the 33rd AC