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| − | Instead of the 72-foot catamarans with crews of 11 sailors that raced in San Francisco last summer, the 35th America鈥檚 Cup will feature 62-footers and crews of eight.
| + | Aside from paying someone to scream "this is <a href=http://www.aec-ist.com/css/Gucci-Belts-Online-Gold-Watch-Black-Purse-Bags.html>Black Gucci Purse</a> a problem" into everyone's faces, there's not much more that the UN can do to tell us that we're . The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization has found more proof of our forthcoming doom, showing that atmospheric rose faster between 2012-2013 than any other year since 1984. If the rate doesn't slow down, then the levels will reach 400 parts per million in the next two years - a figure well in excess of the 350ppm that most climate scientists believe <a href=http://www.aec-ist.com/css/Gucci-Handbags-Outlet-Sukey-Mens-Shirts-Rings.html>Sukey Gucci</a> is "safe." For the first time, the WMO has also looked into the acidification of the oceans, and how this is hampering their ability to . Historically, the oceans would have been able to shoulder some of the burden, but acidification prevents it from doing so, which means atmospheric carbon will increase at an even faster <a href=http://www.aec-ist.com/css/Gucci-Handbags-Outlet-Vintage-Sunglasses-Sample-Sale-Www.html>Gucci Handbags Outlet</a> rate. The advice at the end of the report is the same as ever: unless we , we're going to be in big trouble. UNESCO's Wendy Watson-Wright probably says it best in her closing remarks, bluntly stating that "we are running out of time." |
| − | It鈥檚 clear that foiling multihulls will continue to be the vessels of choice in the pursuit of the oldest trophy in international sports. It鈥檚 also clear that controversies again will surround the next competition.
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| − | For one thing, defending champion Oracle Team USA 鈥?and not the challengers will be able to build a backup boat to use in case of an emergency.
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| − | In a departure from the last America鈥檚 Cup, Oracle will be able <a href=http://www.symbiose.ca/images/christianlouboutin.gwij.php>Christian Louboutin Sale</a> to race against the challengers in early rounds that could give either Oracle or the successful challenger the chance to start the best-of-13 finals with a one-point lead. That challenger would have to reach the Cup finals to take advantage of the bonus.
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| − | 鈥淭his is the first time all of the racing beforehand counts,鈥欌€?Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill told the Associated Press. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful racing. The whole way, there is always something on the line. To me that makes it way more compelling.鈥欌€?
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| − | The 78-page protocol for the next Cup, which will be decided in 2017, was announced Tuesday. The rules were agreed on by Oracle Team USA, the host Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco and the challenger of record, Team Australia鈥檚 Hamilton Island Yacht Club. | + | |
| − | Whether the final rounds will be back in San Francisco remains to be decided. Cup officials have not reached an agreement with city officials and are considering other options, including San Diego and Bermuda, according to Tom Ehman, vice commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club.
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| − | 鈥淗awaii is out, and Newport (R.I.) is out,鈥欌€?Ehman said. He said he鈥檚 鈥渃autiously optimistic鈥欌€?the event will return to San Francisco and added that most of the prospective challengers he has talked to 鈥渉ope and expect鈥?the final rounds to be held here.
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| − | The competition will include a three-year racing program beginning next year. Every race will count toward qualification and/or points in the Cup finals.
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| − | Once again, there will be an America鈥檚 Cup World Series on 45-footers. There will be at least six ACWS events per year in 2015 and 鈥?6. All teams will have an opportunity to host an event in their home countries. The ALCS will be used to seed the America鈥檚 Cup qualifiers, a double-round-robin event.
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| − | No <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/guccioutlet.onlinesalecc.php>Gucci Outlet Store</a> racing dates have been set. The finals were set for 2017 rather than 2016 mainly to avoid a conflict with the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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| − | A qualifiers series will take place in among the challengers in 2017, and the top four teams will compete in the challenger playoffs. The winner of the playoffs will face defender Oracle Team USA in the best-of-13 Cup finals.
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| − | The 34th America鈥檚 Cup was a best-of-17 final. Had it been a best-of-13, Emirates Team New Zealand would have beaten Oracle. Instead, owner Larry Ellison鈥檚 team pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, winning the last eight races.
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| − | 鈥淚t鈥檚 the America鈥檚 Cup, so it鈥檚 not supposed to be easy, but our goal is to make it a three-peat,鈥?said Spithill, who led his team to victories in 2010 and 鈥?3. 鈥淚t was so close last time. Battling back to win from being down 8-1 is something we will never forget, and I expect it will be just as difficult this time.鈥?
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| − | A nationality rule has been adopted that will require at least two members of each crew 鈥?and one of the five on 45-footers to be from the team鈥檚 country.
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| − | 鈥淲e are convinced the 35th America鈥檚 Cup will surpass previous events in almost every way: more challengers, amazing new boats and a competition structure that will engage and enthrall people over a three-year period,鈥?Team Australia skipper Mat Belcher said.
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| − | The entry period for challengers will be open from June 9 to Aug. 8.聽 Organizers hope the smaller boats and crews will make the competition more financially viable for syndicates from around the world.
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| − | Because of the whopping costs of designing, building and sailing the 72-footers, the 34th Cup had just three challengers. One of them, Sweden鈥檚 Artemis Racing, didn鈥檛 compete until the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals after wrecking its boat in a crash that claimed the life of a sailor.
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| − | 鈥淥ur first campaign wasn鈥檛 our greatest campaign,鈥欌€?Artemis skipper Nathan Outteridge said, 鈥渂ut we鈥檙e stronger, hungrier and really looking forward to the challenges ahead. We鈥檙e a team of Olympic champions, and none of us like getting beat.鈥欌€?
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| − | Among the other challengers <a href=http://www.alportico.net/gosoc.php>true religion jeans</a> expect to play the $2 million entrance fee is Great Britain 鈥?with a team skippered by Ben Ainslie, who sailed for Oracle last time around 鈥?New Zealand, Italy, Australia and possibly China and France.
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