Date 22 May - 6 June 2010 Location La Maddalena, Italy | Winner Team New Zealand | |
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The Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena was the third in a scheduled series of regattas that compete for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. The regatta occurred in La Maddalena between 22 May - 6 June 2010. The Louis Vuitton Trophy format uses existing International America's Cup Class yachts loaned to the regatta by various America's Cup racing syndicates, keeping costs relatively low for the competing teams.
Contents
The Louis Vuitton Trophy was organised after the success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and the continued legal battle surrounding the America's Cup yachting competition at the time. Because of the long delays from the legal action, and the fact that the 2010 America's Cup became a Deed of Gift match without a defender or challenger selection series, the Louis Vuitton Trophy series was established as a competition for other America's Cup racing syndicates.
The La Maddalena event was hosted by Mascalzone Latino and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia.
The Yachts
The event used International America's Cup Class yachts loaned specifically for the event. For La Maddalena, the boats were supplied by BMW Oracle Racing (USA 87 and USA 98) and Mascalzone Latino Audi Team (ITA 90 and ITA 99).
USA 87 and 98 were damaged on day four when they collided. They were unavailable for the rest of the regatta.
Teams
La Maddalena attracted ten racing syndicates, increasing from the eight teams that appeared in the earlier Nice Côte d’Azur and Auckland Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas.
Round Robin
22 May-3 June
* Mascalzone Latino deducted a point for a 'hard contact' incident in their race against All4One.
* Aleph was immediately deducted a point for 'hard contact' when there boat collided with Azzura causing serious damage on day four. The international jury then deducted Aleph three further points for failing to avoid contact. The jury absolved Azzurra fully for the incident.
Elimination Finals
3–6 June
The final series was originally scheduled to use the McIntyre Final Eight System, as in Auckland. However due to the loss of several days of racing, due to weather and the collision between USA 87 and USA 98, the finals were rescheduled to consist of knock out semi finals and a final. One quarterfinal was raced before the format was changed. The higher ranked team from each quarterfinal that was abandoned automatically advanced into the semifinals. The petit finale to decide third place was also canceled.
Junior Trophy
The junior trophy was sailed in O’Pen Bic dinghies off the mouth of the Marina Arsenale. The series was won by Giulio Belliti, from Club Nautico Pesaro. He received a place as 18th man in one of the finalists.