Louis Vuitton Trophy, Nice, Côte d'Azur

The Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d’Azur was the first in a series of regattas that compete for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. The regatta was held in Nice between 7 and 22 November 2009. The Louis Vuitton Trophy format uses existing International America's Cup Class yachts loaned to the regatta by various America's Cup racing syndicates, keeping costs relatively low for the competing teams.

Louis Vuitton Trophy

Nice Côte d’Azur
Date 7–22 November 2009
Winner Italy Azzurra
Location Nice

The Louis Vuitton Trophy was organised after the success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and the continued legal battle surrounding the America's Cup yachting competition at the time. Because of the long delays from the legal action, and the fact that the 2010 America's Cup became a Deed of Gift match without a defender or challenger selection series, the Louis Vuitton Trophy series was established as a competition for other America's Cup racing syndicates.

The Nice event was hosted by ALL4ONE Challenge and Club Nautique de Nice.

The Yachts
See also: List of IACC yachts

For the event Mascalzone Latino provided ITA-90 and ITA-99 while All4One and Team Origin loaned FRA-93 and GBR-75 respectively.[1][2]

Teams

Eight teams participated in the Nice event. Despite loaning two boats to the event, Mascalzone Latino did not participate.

Ranking Country Team Club Skipper Notes
1 ItalyAzzurraYacht Club Costa SmeraldaFrancesco Bruni, Tommaso Chieffi
2 New ZealandTeam New ZealandRoyal New Zealand Yacht SquadronDean Barker
3 RussiaSynergy Russian Sailing TeamKarol Jabłoński
4 United KingdomTeam OriginRoyal Thames Yacht ClubBen Ainslie
5 France/ GermanyALL4ONE ChallengeCercle de la Voile de Paris/Kieler Yacht-ClubSébastien Col, Jochen SchümannHost
6 United StatesBMW Oracle RacingGolden Gate Yacht ClubGavin Brady, Hamish Pepper
7 SwedenTeam ArtemisRoyal Swedish Yacht ClubPaul Cayard
8 FranceTFS - Pages JaunesBertrand Pacé

The Races

Round Robin One

7 November - 14 November
Up to four flights per day were scheduled through the conclusion of the round robin and lasted no longer than one hour in duration. The first three days were characterised by light winds and only two races were completed each day. However, on day four the race organisers completed four full flights (eight races) to get the regatta back on schedule.

Team Name Races W L
New Zealand Team New Zealand 761
Italy Azzurra 761
United Kingdom Team Origin 751
Sweden Team Artemis 734
Russia Synergy Russian Sailing 734
United States BMW Oracle Racing 734
FranceGermany ALL4ONE Challenge 725
France TFS - Pages Jaunes 707
TNZ BOR ART A4O TFS SYN AZZ ORG Total
TNZ 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 6
BOR 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3
ART 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 3
A4O R 0 1 1 0 0 0 2
TFS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SYN 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3
AZZ 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
ORG 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 5

A = Abandoned, P = Postponed, R = Retired

Round Robin Two

14 November-18 November
Stage 2 was a half round robin where the top four teams raced the bottom four teams. As the half round robin was not completed, teams received half points for matches sailed twice.

Team Name Races W L RR1 Total Points
New Zealand Team New Zealand 330696
Russia Synergy Russian Sailing 330364.5
Italy Azzurra 413674.5
United Kingdom Team Origin 431584.5
United States BMW Oracle Racing 413343
Sweden Team Artemis 422353
FranceGermany ALL4ONE Challenge 413232
France TFS - Pages Jaunes 413010.5
SYN BOR A4O TFS Total
TNZ 1 1 1 A 3
AZZ 0 1 0 0 1
ORG 0 1 1 1 3
ART 0 0 1 1 2
TNZ AZZ ORG ART Total
SYN A 1 1 1 3
BOR 0 0 0 1 1
A4O 0 1 0 0 1
TFS 0 1 0 0 1

A = Abandoned, P = Postponed, R = Retired

Knock-Out Series

19 November-22 November
Stage 3 is the knockout semifinals and final.

Ranking Phase

Teams in the bottom half of the Round Robin will sail off for places 5-8.

Semifinals Finals
      
1 BMW Oracle Racing 1
4 TFS - Pages Jaunes 0
BMW Oracle Racing 0
ALL4ONE Challenge 1
3 Team Artemis 0
2 ALL4ONE Challenge 1 Third place
TFS - Pages Jaunes 0
Team Artemis 1

Finals

As Team New Zealand won the Round Robin, they got to choose their Semi Final opponents from the top four. The first to score two wins will win each series.

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Team New Zealand 1*
4 Synergy 0*
Team New Zealand 0
Azzurra 2
3 Azzurra 2
2 Team Origin 1 Third place
Synergy 1
Team Origin 0

*Team New Zealand were penalised a point and Synergy was penalised half a point for failing to avoid a collision. Synergy were then further penalised half a point for not doing everything to keep clear in the same incident.[3]

2009 Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice

Azzurra
First Title

Junior Series

During the regatta forty junior French sailors competed in Open Bic boats. The winner received an Open Bic boat and a chance to be 18th man during the Trophy finals.[4]

References
  1. Preparations gather pace for Louis Vuitton Trophy - Nice WSTA, October 21st 2009
  2. After the arrival of the two Mascalzone Latino ACC boats the four boats to be raced in Nice are now all present WSTA, October 26th 2009
  3. International jury finds against Synergy in protest hearing LTV, 20 November 2009
  4. Future champions of the Louis Vuitton Trophy LVT, 17 November 2009
  • cupinfo.com
  • www.louisvuittontrophy.com/home/ - Official Website
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