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.

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.

RankingCountryTeamClubSkipper/HelmsmanNotes1Team New ZealandRoyal New Zealand Yacht SquadronDean Barker2Team SynergyKarol Jabłoński3ALL4ONECercle de la Voile de ParisJochen Schümann/Sébastien Col4Team ArtemisRoyal Swedish Yacht ClubPaul Cayard/Terry Hutchinson5Mascalzone LatinoClub Nautico di RomaGavin BradyHost6AzzurraYacht Club Costa SmeraldaFrancesco Bruni7Team OriginRoyal Thames Yacht ClubBen Ainslie8Luna RossaYacht Club ItalianoEd Baird9BMW Oracle RacingGolden Gate Yacht ClubJames Spithill10AlephBertrand Pacé

The Races

Round Robin 22 May-3 June Team NameRacesWLPts ALL4ONE9636 Team Artemis9636 Team New Zealand9636 Mascalzone Latino9635* Synergy Russian9545 Azzurra9454 Team Origin9454 Luna Rossa9363 BMW Oracle Racing9363 Aleph927-2*A4OARTAPHAZZTNZMASSYNORGBMWLRSPts A4O1111100016 ART0111001116 APH00DSQ*000110-2* AZZ0010011014TNZ0011111106MAS0*111011015*SYN1110000115ORG1000001 114BMW10010100 03LRS001010001 3 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 their 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. BMW Oracle Racing vs Team New Zealand was originally sailed on the 28 May with BMW Oracle winning the match after Team New Zealand was penalised for not maintaining enough tension on their forestay. Team New Zealand immediately appealed the ruling but the international jury was unable to award them redress. The rule was removed from the book the next day and it was decided to resail the race. BMW Oracle then asked for redress but that was denied by the jury.29 May 2010 'Redress denied' means re-match for BMW Oracle v New Zealand "After a hearing held this evening, a request for redress by BMW Oracle Racing has been denied. Led by navigator Ian Moore, the American team was contesting the decision to hold a re-sail of the match between BMW Oracle Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand which was subsequently abandoned, due to confusion over a technical infringement by the New Zealand team during the match. The Kiwis had been found to be in breach of an amendment which governed the minimum rig load that the sailors were required to maintain during racing, but other race teams agreed that the way the amendment was worded was largely unworkable and unrealistic. Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio felt the fairest conclusion in a very difficult and complicated set of circumstances was to abandon the race. That also was the conclusion of the Jury this evening. Chairman of the Jury Dyer Jones said the Race Committee had not acted improperly and said redress was denied. This means that the match between BMW Oracle Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand will be scheduled for a re-sail. Team New Zealand won the resail on the 30 May.

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.

SeedTeam Name123Total4 Mascalzone Latino01015 Synergy Russian1012 SeedTeam Name123Total3 Team New Zealandabandoned6 Azzurraabandoned SeedTeam Name123Total2 Team Artemisabandoned7 Team Originabandoned SeedTeam Name123Total1 ALL4ONEabandoned8 Luna Rossaabandoned

The Final

Team Name12345T Team New Zealand001113 Synergy Russian110002

2010 Louis Vuitton Trophy La MaddalenaTeam New ZealandSecond Title

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 Bellitti, from Club Nautico Pesaro. He received a place as 18th man in one of the finalists.

References

External links YachtsandYachting.com Thedailysail.com