Land Rover BAR Supporter News
by Land Rover BAR 27 Oct 2016 18:39 BST
29 October 2016
T3 training session on the Solent © Harry KH / Land Rover BAR
The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series (ACWS) event in Toulon went very well for the team, and going into the final ACWS event in Fukuoka we have a 14 point lead.
To lead at this stage is a tremendous achievement for a first generation team – we're up against competition that has been racing for the Cup for a decade or two.
However, 14 points sounds better than it is. Super Sunday racing counts double and the difference between first and last in just one race is ten points. So a 14 point lead can be overturned in two bad races. We need to keep focused and treat this event like any other.
Just as important as the racing in Japan is our last period of training and testing in the Solent. We have had two boats – T3 and T4 – in the water since May, and this final testing session is critical ahead of our move to Bermuda, and preparations for the America's Cup in June next year.
This is another very busy period for the team, as we conclude testing in the Solent, prepare for Japan, and pack for Bermuda. And with the schedule for the America's Cup now announced (click here) the countdown is really on to the day when we will meet our first opponent, Artemis Racing, on May 26th 2017.
Once again, thank you for all your support as we continue our quest to bring the Cup home.
Sir Ben Ainslie
Team Principal and Skipper, Land Rover BAR
Land Rover BAR win Sport for Environment Award
The team's achievement in working with 11th Hour Racing and becoming the most sustainable professional sports team in Britain was recently recognised by 'The Beyond Sport Awards' which promote, support and reward the best projects across the globe that are using sport to make positive environmental changes.
Read more
It was also great to see support for our sustainability programme from no less an authority than the President of the United States. The White House approved our project with @Team11thHourRacing to raise awareness of invasive species.
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We now have all the other America's Cup teams on board as well, with the publication of the America's Cup Event Authority Sustainability Charter. It's great to have this broad support from the Cup community.
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1851 Trust launch STEM Crew
Alongside the team's Official Charity, the 1851 Trust we have just launched BT STEM Crew – a free online STEM learning programme – at a live event hosted at the British Museum. The programme is designed for secondary school students, and uses the excitement of Land Rover BAR's quest to win the America's Cup as a unique way to support teachers when bringing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and careers to life.
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Speed with Guy Martin
If you haven't already seen Guy Martin's brilliant Channel 4 documentary – Speed with Guy Martin – then you can still watch it on C4's catch-up until the end of October. Guy enlists the help of the team in his attempt to beat the speed record for a human-powered boat.
Watch on C4 Catch-up
Next up - America's Cup World Series Japan
Japan will host the sixth and final 2016 Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series event in November. It will bring America's Cup racing to Asia for the first time in history as the World Series lands in Fukuoka from 18-20th November 2016.
The city is the most populous on Kyushu Island, is situated on the northern shore and is famous for the ancient 17th-century Fukuoka Castle, Fukuoka Art Museum, its beaches, shopping and egg noodles!
The three days of racing will open on Friday 18th November with the usual practice session, followed by three opening races on Saturday and then Super 'double-points' Sunday to settle who stands atop the podium and gets the two bonus points to carry into the racing in Bermuda in May 2017.