Events

America ’s Cup – It’s a whole new game! And for the first time in 24 years, there will be no American team in the Louis Vuitton Final.

The action in the Louis Vuitton Cup punctuates a long road to the Cup that alot of folks around the world had a chance to taste.

Breaking news: Luna Rossa knocks Larry Ellison's bid in BMW Oracle on this sad Sunday, May 20, 2007. Luna Rossa will be up against Emirates Team NZ in the Louis Vuitton finals.

This America’s Cup this year presents quite an interesting evolution.  Ernesto Bertarelli’s Swiss syndicate, Alinghi, has put forth a heck of a defense proposition.  But it’s not just about one event this time.  It’s about the journey to the Cup.  The Acts that led the way to more and more challengers placing their bets on winning, placing, and showing up!  Millions have watched – in person - the breathtaking skirmishes that match racing produces between these majestic technological marvels in this newly conceived series of match races in venues around the world.  In this period between Cups, they brought the experience to more people than ever before, taking the boats and the competition to just about every continent.  They built it and the people came. Now we are in the midst of the Louis Vuitton Cup. June 23, the Cup contest iteself begins.

Now, America ’s Cup enthusiasts will have any number of options for following the action through the finals.  The TV channel VERSUS has exclusive rights for both the Louis Vuitton Cup and America ’s Cup Match. Starting with the first race of the LV semifinals and continuing through the entire AC series, VERSUS will provide live daily coverage.  Let’s hope that the winds will cooperate. You can also access their coverage on demand online through sailtv.com.

The Cup will also get major network coverage with two one-hour specials scheduled to air on CBS.  The final of the LV Cup is tentatively scheduled for June 17 while the wrap up for the America ’s Cup finals could take place on July 8.  Check the official website and local schedules.

On the Web, the official site (www.americascup.com) will have regular news updates, features and live audio commentary. Meanwhile, Alcatel-Lucent will provide live 3D animation through an advanced version of Virtual Spectator.  There’s no software program to download and it’s accessible directly on the web for $39.95 at americascupanywhere.com. Any number of other sites will capture all the news that fits including the cup info site.

Finally, Gary Jobson and Walter Cronkite teamed up to co-narrate a film documenting the history of the America’s Cup 1851-2007.  It will air on ESPN on June 16 at 10:00 am EST and June 22 at 11:00 pm EST.   It aired first on April 13 and contains rare previously unseen film footage.

Follow all the action of the challenger teams:

Emirates Team New Zealand

BMW Oracle Racing

Luna Rossa

Desafio Espanol

Mascalzone

Vicotry Challenge

Team Shosholoza

Areva

+39 Challenge

United Internet Team Germany

China Team

Did you know? Ernesto Bertarelli’s fortune was derived from the pharmaceutical industry. He inherited Serono from his father and sold it to Merck AG in 2006. He graduated from Babson College and Harvard University Business School. He served as navigator aboard Alinghi during the successful 2000 bid for the Cup.