America's Cup: The countdown starts for Cascais - Coutts to skipper

4:57 AM Sat 2 Jul 2011 GMT

'ORACLE Racing - at Golden Gate Yacht Club' Guilain Grenier/Oracle Racing Click Here to view large photo

The first competition of the new multihull America's Cup era begins with the inaugural America's Cup World Series in Cascais, Portugal, on August 6. Nine teams from eight different countries will race identical AC45 wing-sailed catamarans directly off the coast. Designed for extreme speed, the AC45 has proven to be a handful in strong conditions, which predict a strenuous, physical event in windy Cascais. For the first time, teams entered in the 34th America's Cup will compete together, including the current champions, ORACLE Racing of the United States. Among the teams will be newcomers in the America's Cup's 160 year ...

Click here for full story.

by Jane Eagleson