The America's Cup team United Internet Team Germany (UITG) has completed a three-week training camp in Valencia and is now heading off on its Christmas holidays.
In training regattas against the Italian +39 team, the season came to a successful conclusion. "We won 70 per cent of the races," Head of Technology Eberhard Magg told YACHT online.
However, the partnership was subsequently cancelled by the Italians. In 2006, further joint training sessions had been contractually agreed. This withdrawal confirms rumours that the Italians are not doing particularly well financially either.
They now want to endeavour to establish partnerships with other teams. There are still good relations with Mascalzone Latino, from whom the German boat GER 72 originates.
While the German sailors take a well-deserved holiday at the end of the year, the technical department is still working at full speed. There are important development phases ahead, particularly in rig design.
The mast builders at British manufacturer Formula Spars need data before they can start construction. Formula has little experience in building masts for cup yachts, but is responsible for the rig of the Volvo 70 "Ericsson", which has already completed one Atlantic leg.
An important step has been taken with the appointment of the young New Zealander Luke McAllum, who is responsible for the standing crop alongside Hasso Hoffmeister in Hamburg.
McAllum comes from mast manufacturer Southern Spars, who produced all but one mast for the Cuppers at the last Cup. The Kiwi's appointment was therefore preceded by a lengthy jury process.
Because McAllum was involved in work for BMW Oracle and K-Challenge, the jury had to authorise the commitment. As both teams had no objections, the transfer was approved. The cost of the unscheduled meeting of the jury was 5,000 euros.
However, the enquiry as to whether the Germans were allowed to use used sails from other teams was rejected. This would constitute an unlawful design transfer.
Active on another front was foreship man Wolf Dietz, who, in addition to his job in the sailing team, also has expertise as a legal advisor and team representative. In this role, he took part in the Challenger Commission (CC) meeting in San Francisco.
All eleven challenger teams are represented in the CC. They draw up proposals that the Challenger of Record (BMW Oracle) submits to the Americas Cup Management (ACM), which sets the framework conditions for the Cup regattas.
In San Francisco, the discussion centred on the limitation of sails for the next Acts in 2006, the definitive abandonment of daggerboards or movable keels, additional advertising space on the mast and spinnaker pole, displeasure with the ACM's poor TV policy and the question of whether match race opponents should receive their opponent's GPS data during the race. Alinghi suggested that laser pistols could then be dispensed with.
"There was a lot of discussion about the pumping rule," says Dietz. Alinghi had suggested significantly relaxing rule 42 (unauthorised propulsion) in order to ease the burden on the referees. "But the small teams didn't want that." New winches would then have to be developed and even more power brought on board. Both factors tend to favour the big teams.
During the act in Trapani, Alinghi stood out because the team tore violently at the spinnaker sheets in strong winds of more than 20 knots and made up a lot of ground.
The final UITG sailing team must be finalised by the end of the year. Most of the contracts have now been signed, but there is still room for improvement. This is because applications from other team members are currently piling up. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Swedish team is falling apart. Their professionals are looking for a job.
