Pacific Cup Names 12 Entrants.

Louis Vuitton have announced the names of the 12 teams that will compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Mr Yves Carcelle, Chairman & CEO of Louis Vuitton, welcomed the participation of all the teams at an event at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris. 

When the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was announced last September, 23 teams expressed their interest. Fourteen teams have confirmed they want to compete. With the number of participants being limited to 12, the last two entries have been placed on a waiting list. If, in the next month, one or more teams drop out, the teams in waiting will have the opportunity to fill the vacancy.

“The success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has exceeded our expectations. We are pleasantly surprised that the announcement of this event has created a sense of excitement and conciliation in the world of the America’s Cup,” said Yves Carcelle.

The teams will now start their preparations. They will arrive in Auckland on January 23rd in order to familiarise themselves with the boats.

Bruno Troublé, spokesperson for Louis Vuitton, said that the gathering of international teams and sailors which will convene in Auckland for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is one of the most impressive ever brought together.

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is being organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland City and Sky City Entertainment Group.

Alinghi, winner and defender of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup is one of the confirmed participants.
Six daily match races are planned on short windward-leeward courses laid at the entrance to Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, between Rangitoto Island and the city foreshore. There will be a daily draw to decide which yacht competing teams will sail that day.

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Grows

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has doubled in size, with the addition of two race boats loaned by the BMW Oracle Racing team permitting an entry of 12 teams. Eleven teams have already entered the international match racing event and all but two have already paid entry fees. There is only one racing slot remaining.

“Thanks to the kind offer of BMW Oracle to lend two fully-equipped race boats we are able to expand the entry list to 12 boats,” said Louis Vuitton spokesman Bruno Troublé.

The two yachts, USA 87 and USA 98 will be shipped from Valencia, Spain to Auckland, New Zealand where the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will take place from January 31 to February 14, 2009. The American boats will join the Emirates Team New Zealand yachts NZL 92 and NZL 84 to provide two pairs of boats for match racing. Troublé said that the Italian team Mascalzone Latino had also spontaneously offered its boats for the series but the organizers had chosen the American boats because of similarities in their design.

“We’ve had very strong interest for this friendly event,” said Yves Carcelle, president of Louis Vuitton. “Within a week of its announcement, 23 teams expressed interest – and eight teams registered and paid their fees while three more completed their entry form.”

“It will be exciting to see Russell Coutts back at the helm at this level of competition against Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand,” added Carcelle.

The following teams have officially entered:
Emirates Team New Zealand
K Challenge (France)
Mascalzone Latino (Italy)
BMW Oracle Racing (USA)
China Team (China)
Team French Spirit (France)
Australia First (Australia)
Team Shosholoza (Republic of South Africa)

Three more teams have entered, but will announce their participation at a later date.

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is being held in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), Auckland City and Sky City Entertainment Group.

Three daily match races are planned on a two-mile windward-leeward course laid at the entrance to Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, between Rangitoto Island and the city foreshore. There will be a daily draw to decide which yacht competing teams will sail that day.

BMW Oracle Back Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup

There is hope yet for the America’s Cup. One of the legal combatants at least is backing the newly announced Pacific Cup in New Zealand.

BMW ORACLE Racing has welcomed the announcement of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to be run in Auckland, New Zealand early next year and confirmed that it will be entering a team. The involvement of the luxury goods company and long time cup supporter seems to have added real credibility to the venture.

“It is really good to see Louis Vuitton leading this initiative, and we are really looking forward to coming to Auckland to join in what I’m sure will be a great competition,”

Russell Coutts, the team’s CEO said.

“Congratulations are also due to the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand and the other partners to the event in coming up with this format. This is a great way to get everyone back on the water.

“Auckland is always a great place to sail. And with a race format aimed at close competition this will be an event that sailors and fans will really enjoy.”
Coutts said the team would be in touch with Louis Vuitton shortly to confirm its entry.