3:26 AM Wed 19 Nov 2008 GMT
Bruno Trouble, Director of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series announced further detail on the three week series which begins in Auckland on 30 January 2009.
Twelve teams have been invited for the series with a further two on a waiting list.
While much of the cost is covered by sponsorship, the teams will still have to fund a substantial part of the cost themselves. This may be too much for some of the new teams, and coupled with the effects of the current financial situation, the field may drop to 10 or 11 of the maximum of 12 that can be run in the Series.
Practice racing gets underway a week before the start of the series proper, and the teams will be split into two pools of six boats each. Emirates Team New Zealand will race in the qualifying rounds before dropping out to race in the Finals.
The Qualifying rounds are scheduled to finish on 10th February.
Trouble believes there will be tremendous local and international interest in the series which is assuming the proportions of a very major international regatta.
Racing will be staged on one of three courses in the Waitemata and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Project Director, Colin Carran representative confirmed to Sail-World that there had been extensive discussions with the Port Authorities and Police regarding port and spectator operations.
 | The competitors at the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series assemble at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris for the announcement of the entries in the event. Series organiser, Bruno Trouble, is at the far right. - Louis Vuitton Click Here to view large photo |
Because the racing will be staged on the inner and outer Waitemata harbour it is expected that there will be little delay due to sea conditions or rough weather, with shelter coming from the harbour itself and Rangitoto Island at the eastern end of the course.
It would seem likely that the port will have to be closed at certain times of the day to allow racing to take place on a tight schedule. There will be traffic lanes established to allow commuter ferry operation during the series.
When questioned on Emirates Team New Zealand being given a free ride to the final, Trouble responded saying 'Local interest would be much lower if Team New Zealand were not in the Final', and it is clear that organisers are keen to maximise the local and international impact.
A Louis Vuitton village will be established running from the Luna Rossa base to the Team New Zealand base and this will be open to the public.
Media will be accommodated on a large media boat close to the race course, and this will be used to accomodate crew during the racing, as well as being one of two working bases for the media. There will be plenty of opportunity for media interviews with crews between races.
 | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, established in 1859, host club of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Sail-World.com/NZ © Click Here to view large photo |
A media conference will be held each evening ashore, and this will be open to the public, with the working media in the front row.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will be presenting a special trophy to the Qualification Finalist, with the winner of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series being presented with a new trophy donated by Louis Vuitton.
Trouble explained that he chose the name 'pacific' for the series as it means peace in troubled times and is also named after the ocean on which the series will be sailed.
'In the current situation, the professional racing teams have nothing to offer sponsors, and one of the purposes of this series is to address that situation, and keep them alive', said Trouble.
The mainsails of the four yachts being used in the series will be fitted with a large transparent pocket into which will be slid the team identification and their sponsor logos.
Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle racing have donated the use of four yachts which will be equalised, however the pair from each team will be used ie NZL-84 and NZL-92 will race in the same group.
All four yachts will be re-liveried retaining their owners' decals on the bow, with the body of the hull being emblazoned with Louis Vuitton logos, the stern sections are believed to be allocated for the event sponsors including Auckland City, Sky City and NZ Events.
 | Pietro Beccari Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications for Louis Vuitton, Her Excellency Mrs Sarah Dennis, NZ Ambassador, Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, and Bruno Trouble, organizer of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. - Louis Vuitton Click Here to view large photo |
It is likely that all four yachts will feature Louis Vuitton logos on their mainsails as the sail emblem.
Louis Vuitton will provide two jibs per boat, and which is to be used will be specified by the race management. Competing teams will have their own gennaker, which will be one-design and will carry their national flag and their sponsor recognition.
Auckland City will establish a connecting bridge linking the downtown Auckland with the Louis Vuitton regatta village. the village will also carry full television coverage of the racing and graphics produced by Animation Research Ltd.
Additionally there will be the opportunity for the public to predict race winners and times and receive prizes.
Another feature will be racing in O'pen Bic, an Optimist sized yacht and 20 clubs will be asked to send teams which will compete in racing in the Louis Vuitton Village area.
After the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series these will be donated to yacht clubs and learn to sail programs.
The timing of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has been set to work around the Volvo Ocean race stopover in Qingdao, however there is a small overlap of dates at the beginning and end of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
A full website is currently under development by the Louis Vuitton team, details of its functionality have not yet been announced.
Turning to future events, Trouble would not comment at this stage except to say that they had approaches from several cities outside Europe. One of the attractions of the event is clearly that it provides a means for fledgling professional racing teams to get form, get established with sponsors and develop a performance record, providing a platform to move to other events.
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World
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