Silicon Valley Pursues Sailing’s Holy Grail
By: Ruth Carlson
The top contender for the oldest international sports trophy is from Silicon Valley and if BMW ORACLE Racing wins, the Bay Area could host the next America’s Cup, providing a much-needed boost to the region’s economy. The U.S. held the Cup for 132 years; the longest winning streak in sports history, and Larry Ellison wants to bring it back home. The founder and CEO of Oracle software company is a member of the crew, in the after guard position, who sometimes takes the wheel. When he’s not racing, Ellison is strategizing from aboard his yacht in Valencia, Spain, site of the 2007 Americas Cup.
Traditionally, the race is held in the defender’s country, but the last America’s Cup winner, Alinghi, represents Switzerland, a land-locked nation. For the first time the European community was invited to bid on the right to hold this sailing event. Valencia, Spain, home of the Holy Grail, the chalice Christ used in the last supper, was selected to host the contest for sailing’s "Auld Mug,” sometimes referred to as the Holy Grail of sailboat racing.
The fastest growing city in Europe, Valencia has transformed an old commercial port into a canal and created an America’s Cup Village. On March 27, 2006, BMW ORACLE Racing is scheduled to unveil its new 8000 square foot headquarters including an Oracle Sailing Experience Center open to the public.
With sailors from 15 different countries, Ellison has been accused of “outsourcing the team.” He’s merely assembling the best professional team possible, argues Karen Webb, Senior Program Manager for Oracle. “Larry is known for being number one in every facet of his life,” she explains. “This competition is no different.” “The race is all about egos--national and individual,” says Marcus Hutchinson, Media Relations Director for the America’s Cup. “ Ellison can buy almost anything he wants, but he can’t buy the America’s Cup, he has to win it.”
Ellison’s deep pockets, however, are a definite advantage. Reportedly Ellison has invested $80 million of his own money in the challenge. Contenders must pay for two yachts, salaries for crew members, and transporting boats and team members all over the world.
Before BMW ORACLE Racing can challenge Alinghi, it must first eliminate ten other boats representing eight countries. For the novice, the America’s Cup racing system can be confusing. Here’s a cheat sheet. All of the boats, including Alinghi, compete in 13 Louis Vuitton Acts that began two years ago and end in April 2007. Normally these regattas are just a way to rank competitors, but this time winners are earning “bonus points” toward the Louis Vuitton Cup held April-June, 2007. “It’s not just a pillow fight anymore,” says Hutchinson.
From June to July of next year, the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge the defender, Alinghi in the Americas Cup races. Although they can’t receive points in the Louis Vuitton Acts, Alinghi is also racing to size up the competition. “The good news is we are the number one challenger at the moment, at the top of the leader boards,” says Ian Burns, BMW ORACLE Racing design coordinator. “The bad news is that Alinghi is dominating every race.”
Oracle is hoping technology will give them an edge. “It wasn’t that long ago that we had to rely on spreadsheets,” says Burns. Now BMW ORACLE Racing says it has developed a position measuring system, which can determine how long it will take the boat to reach the start line within a fraction of a second. This is important because the first boat to cross the starting line wins 90% of the races. Burns says new Oracle database and software products allow the team to perform an analysis of 150 variables per second on conditions such as changes in the weather and the shape of the sails. “Our helmsman is equipped with an Ipac connected to shore via Wifi so he can communicate with the strategist on land regarding split-second decisions,” says Burns. “The key thing we learned from our last (America’s Cup) challenge is not just how to use technology in the races, but how to interpret the information quickly.” BMW ORACLE Racing is only allowed to use this technology during practice however. No communication is allowed between the sailors and the support team beginning five minutes before the start of a race.
According to Burns, a collaboration with the Stanford University engineering school has resulted in revolutionary gadgets for BMW ORACLE Racing, but don’t expect to learn any details. The America’s Cup stakes are high and secrecy is the norm. The BMW ORACLE Racing crew even places a modesty “skirt” around the bottom of the boat as soon as it comes out of the water to hide the keel from competitors.
At their technical research center in Palo Alto, BMW is experimenting with lightweight materials for cars that can also work on boats. BMW ORACLE Racing strategist Eric Doyle says, “BMW is transferring technological expertise from Formula 1 racing to sailing.” Americas’ Cup organizers, hoping to attract some of those NASCAR fans, are reducing race times from three hours down to one. They are also “turbo charging” the yachts by requiring teams to use more sail area and a deeper draft. Those who can’t visit Spain can watch the races live from anywhere in the world on their cell phone with the “Live Sailing” technology developed by Alcatel.
In addition to intrigue, money, history and egos, the races also have a romantic side. San Jose Resident Karen Brodie Webb, an Oracle Senior Program Manager for all sporting events, met her husband Brad Webb, a bowman with BMW ORACLE Racing, during the last America’s Cup held in New Zealand. “We wouldn’t have gotten together, living on opposite sides of the world, if not for Americas Cup,” smiles Webb, who lives in Silicon Valley with Brad when he’s not racing.
Like most wives of professional athletes, Karen has to deal with groupies called “racer chasers” in the America’s Cup. In general, though, she says the fans are terrific and the growing interest is creating an exciting environment in Valencia. “During the Louis Vuitton Acts, we have autograph signing sessions, and herds of people come out of the woodwork, to meet the sailors, or "stars," face to face.”
If BMW ORACLE Racing does capture the America’s Cup, Ellison will get to choose the location of the next competition, most likely giving an economic boost to the Bay Area.
-END-
www.americascup.com
www.bmworacleracing.com
SCHEDULE
2006 SEASON
LOUIS VUITTON ACT 10
May 11 to 16, 2006
LOUIS VUITTON ACT 11
May 19 to 21, 2006
LOUIS VUITTON ACT 12
June 22 to July 3, 2006
2007 SEASON
LOUIS VUITTON ACT 13
April 3 to 7, 2007
LOUIS VUITTON Selection Series
April to June, 2007
America’s Cup Match
June 23, 2007
Visiting Valencia
By: Ruth Carlson
BMW ORACLE Racing will need all the help it can get to take the wind out of the sails of Alinghi, the America’s Cup defender. If you’re wondering whether to visit Spain to cheer on the hometown team, don’t hesitate. How often can you see the Holy Grail in the same city as the Auld Mug, the America’s Cup trophy?
Valencia (pronounced Vah-len-thee-ah by the locals) is full of contradictions. A medieval town, it’s known for futuristic architecture. The birthplace of the saffron rice dish paella, it’s gaining a reputation for trendy fusion dishes. An industrial town; it’s now a popular tourist destination.
“The Da Vinci Code” book has increased the number of tourists trekking to the Cathedral of Valencia located in the historical section of Valencia. Here in a tiny chapel, you can see the Holy Grail, reputedly the chalice Jesus used in the last supper.
At the other end of town, visitors line up to see another cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. For the first time, the huge silver America’s Cup is on display to the public. Built just for these sailing races, the America’s Cup Village is truly a city of it’s own with outposts of popular Valencia restaurants and activities for all budgets.
Freebies include:
1-You can skipper an America’s Cup yacht--on a radio remote controlled boat, that is. Kids of all ages will enjoy racing the boats representing the 12 contenders for the ultimate sailing prize.
2-Send an electronic postcard of yourself superimposed in front of one of Valencia’s famous tourist spots. The photo is also projected onto a huge screen in the America’s Cup Village.
3-Tour the America’s Cup 3d museum. Put on headphones and walk around the museum to learn the history of the Cup.
4. Thanks to a new canal you can watch the sailing races from shore.
Each of the syndicates offers hats, shirts etc with their logo for sale. Follow the crowds to the Luna Rossa store….they are backed by Prada. The America’s Cup stores sell everything from Lalique glass sculptures of boats to fans with America’s Cup illustrations. Fans are a popular accessory during the humid summers in Valencia. This area gets plenty of sunshine and rarely snows.
There are many centrally located hotels near the America’s Cup and new ones, including a Hilton, are scheduled to open this year. The most popular spot right now is the beachfront Balneario de Las Arenas, the only 5 star resort in Valencia. Other rooms with a view can be had at Hotel Neptuno, and Solvasa. The hotel Valencia Center is centrally located, close to Corte Ingles, the largest store in the city, and the City of Arts and Sciences or Ciudad De Las Artes Y Las Ciencias.
The City is a futuristic architectural marvel that's fun for the whole family. Inspired by the bright Mediterranean light, famed architect Santiago Calatrava, who is from Valencia, worked with only concrete, steel, glass, ceramics and the colors white and blue to create this complex. Huge reflecting pools mirror the white buildings whose design reflects their purpose; the science museum looks like a dinosaur, the opera house resembles a warrior helmet, the planetarium is an eye that opens and closes and the aquarium is shaped like a whale. After touring the aquarium, the largest in Europe, dine at the circular underground submarine restaurant, Restaurante Submarino, where shoals of silver fish swim past diners, comfortable knowing they’re not on the menu.
You’ll have to adjust your eating times in Spain. Tapas were invented to stave off hunger pangs between lunch, which starts at 2, and dinner, which takes place at 10 pm! It’s worth staying up late for dinner since Valencia is on the foodie fast track. Chefs are having fun creating Mediterranean dishes with a twist, such as cherry gazpacho with prosciutto on top and foie gras with banana and everyone is serving small plates, copying Napa’s famed French Laundry restaurant. La Lola, named after a famous Spanish flamenco dancer, offers Basque fusion cuisine served in an Andy Warhol-like interior. Bamboo is worth a visit for the location alone: the Mercado Colon, an old farmers market that has been restored. Don’t miss seeing the huge murals of workers next to gargoyles reportedly used as the model for the “Batman” movie set.
Valencia is the birthplace of Paella, so you must order this saffron rice dish for lunch. Only tourists have paella for dinner. For a traditional experience, visit Port Albufhera where a chef in a traditional costume prepares paella on an outdoor fire while you drink sangria on the river bank and watch the old fashioned wood boats glide past.
Some of the traditional restaurants offer the best values and best food. At Vinatea, a four course fixed price meal, including caviar over mashed potatoes and a chocolate dessert that explodes in your mouth like pop rocks candy, is about $25.00 dollars, excluding wine.
If you have time, catch a tour bus or rent a car to visit Gandia or Denia, two beach towns about 45 minutes from Valencia. In Gandia you can tour the Duke of Borgia’s castle. Several books have recently been released about the Borgia’s, the only family to produce two popes.
Tips
Cabs are inexpensive and drivers all have gps.
Phone numbers are listed on plaques in front of most historic sites. Call this number with your cell phone for a self-guided tour in English.
Insider Tips from Karen and Brad Webb of BMW ORACLE Racing
Favorite Restaurants:
Burdeos in Love-located next to Plaza de la Reina (modern cuisine)
El Alto De Colon- located in the higher part of the Mercado Colon (great wine list)
Bodega Casa Montana- (original Spanish tapas) located near the America's Cup bases, area is called Cabanal
La Dehesa Jose Luis-located in El Saler (great for paella on the beach)
Shops:
El Corte Ingles.... the biggest shop in Valencia. It's got everything, including groceries.
The Carmen district… eclectic stores, with original merchandise
Mercado Central (indoor market with 959 stalls...fresh fruit, veggies, meats, fish, wines.)
Sales, (rebajas), happen twice a year, Jan.10-end of February and August 1-middle of September. Most shops are closed are Sunday, when everyone heads to the park of the beach with their families.
Grab the HELLO magazine, this has everything you will need to know in Valencia...restaurants, shops, museums, spas, hotels, etc.
Things to Do:
Palau de la Musica: Attend a conert in a glass enclosed room and watch the outside fountains spout to the beat of the music.
-END-
Official government tourism sites:
www.spain.info
www.comunitatvalenciana.com
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