The 33rd America's Cup has begun in earnest this week, however the first day of competition was called off due to the poor weather in Spain.
Held in Valencia after several disputes in the New York Supreme Court between America's Cup Defenders, the Société Nautique de Geneve (Alinghi) and the Golden Gate Yacht Club (BMW Oracle Racing) over the venue of the legendary event, the world's oldest race is finally getting underway. See below for the links to our coverage of the farcical legal battles...
To follow the action and get static results of numerous races between Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing, you can check out the official America's Cup website. Or if you have Foxtel pay TV in Australia, you can switch on to Foxsports 3 and watch. Originally Foxtel didn't want to broadcast the Cup into Australia, "but when the Valencia organisers dropped their costs for the coverage on Monday, Foxtel picked up the broadcast...The next race (the first again) will start at 8pm AEST on Wednesday," our source revealed.
But if you're feeling a little more adventurous you can even watch the event online. For free.
In 2010 the entire event will be broadcast digitally across the Internet, as well as on various cable television stations across the globe, meaning that if you have a laptop with wifi or a wireless modem, you could ostensibly watch it anywhere.
Three websites offer streaming footage of the racing action from Spain:
America's Cup official website online coverage
- Commentary by Andy Green, PJ Montgomery and Cam Lewis
- Virtual Eye live animations
BMW Oracle official website online coverage
- Commentary by Peter Lester and Martin Tasker
- Switching between official feed footage for racing and coverage from the dock
ESPN360 online coverage
- ESPN coverage of the race
- At the main page go to 'Channels' at the top of the page then hit 'More sports' to find the sailing action.
We've had a look at all three online broadcasters and though the BMW Oracle page is a bare-bones webpage, it's the easiest to set up and watch. You don't have to register as a member like the ESPN page and we didn't have to download a new video player as is the case for the official America's Cup feed.
That said, the web video on the official America's Cup page is probably the best overall, and well worth downloading the extra software needed.
My personal tip is the Golden Gate Yacht Club (BMW Oracle Racing) taking honours in 2010, but not all of the team is convinced.
33rd America's Cup legal controversies:
1. America's Cup controversy begins...
2. US challenger adds engine power
3. America's Cup quits the Gulf
4. America's Cup hardens up
5. America's Cup still in court
6. New court appeal on America's Cup location
7. America's Cup litigation drags on...
8. America's Cup finally ready to start