By HELEN TUNNAH
A revised format for the Louis Vuitton challenger series will be debated after the America's Cup amid unrest at a lack of racing during New Zealand's peak holiday period.
Challengers' management head Luca Birindelli said he and regatta director Dyer Jones had ideas about the event's format, and an
assessment of the current schedule and any recommendations for change would be included in a formal report once racing ends.
The new-style racing format for the challenger series has caused some concern, with no racing during the main New Year holiday period. There are only two teams left, and they do not race again until January 11.
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker this year described the format as a shame and said the Viaduct Harbour, bristling with crew activity until now, may end up a ghost town over New Year.
Even the elder statesman of skippers, Dennis Conner, has questioned the racing schedule. "How does that make sense? To have everybody gone by Christmas, when the holidays come and you've got all the good weather."
Racing, which finished on Monday, does not resume for another two weeks when Alinghi of Switzerland and Oracle BMW Racing from San Francisco race in a best-of-nine challenger finals for the Louis Vuitton Cup - which could be over in just five racing days. The winner will challenge Team New Zealand for the America's Cup from mid-February.
The format is significantly different to the last event, and was agreed by the nine challengers.
During the last America's Cup, racing began in late October with the first of three round robins, before a six-boat semifinals competition which started on January 2, and then a finals series later that month. But this time the challengers, led by the bigger and wealthier campaigns, wanted to ensure there was a significant break between the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup match, so crew were rested and boats properly prepared.
With Team New Zealand stipulating the time for the defence, the challengers began their series earlier in October, and the knockout-repechage system means the teams which keep winning have raced far less.
Alinghi has reached the challenger finals after just 22 races, and could reach the match in 27 races. Prada won the challenger finals three years ago after 49 races.
Birindelli said this week there would be talk about the format after the event, and a report prepared - "Whether it will be listened to is a totally different story."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By HELEN TUNNAH
A revised format for the Louis Vuitton challenger series will be debated after the America's Cup amid unrest at a lack of racing during New Zealand's peak holiday period.
Challengers' management head Luca Birindelli said he and regatta director Dyer Jones had ideas about the event's format, and an
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