Ray of light

America's Cup guru Bruno Trouble discusses his new Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup

A name synonymous with the America’s Cup, and specifically the Louis Vuitton Cup, is Frenchman Bruno Trouble. Helmsman of a French challenge in the long distance past, Trouble is much better known as the face of Louis Vuitton and up until the 2007 Cup cycle and the subsequent creation of America’s Cup Management, was deeply involved with the organisation of challenger selection series bearing the French luxury goods manufacturer’s name, as well as running the media centre and hosting press conferences. There is nothing like a Bruno Trouble press conference.

With ACM taking over the running of the challenger selection series and the media centre in 2007, so Trouble was sidelined and considering this circumstance, despite 25 years of involvement with the challenge selection series, it came as little surprise when shortly after the present Cup debacle started, so Louis Vuitton announced they were withdrawing their support for the event that bears their name.

But 14 months on, Louis Vuitton are back. Yesterday’s announcement of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup feels like a ray of light in the otherwise desolate landscape of the present day America’s Cup. No smoke and mirrors - finally there will be some definite action on the water, and we even know when and where it is going to happen and what the boats will look like. In short, six to eight former Louis Vuitton Cup challengers sailing Emirates Team New Zealand’s 2007 generation Cup boats, will have the opportunity to match race one another for the right to go up against the Kiwi Cup team in the final.

According to Trouble the event was born after he proposed the idea to Grant Dalton, head of Emirates Team New Zealand (who it should be remembered also have on-going litigation with the present Cup holder). “Louis Vuitton is celebrating with the launch of a nice book in English, German and French about the 25 years of involvement in the America’s Cup,” recounts Trouble. “So we thought we had the responsibility to put some life back to the America’s Cup as the Cup has been ‘dry’ for a very long time. So we came up with this idea of this event, which is called the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series – not for nothing: it is the Pacific Ocean, but also a gesture of peace between the competitors. It is important for the competitors to go back to the water. It’s important for their sponsors as well.”

Understanding that the existing challengers for the America’s Cup are all almost totally wound down, Trouble has attempted to make the path to competition as easy as possible. Accommodation has been sorted out for 22 personnel per team for three week and they are in discussions with airlines for a deal on flights. There is no entry fee although a 10,000 Euro bond must be placed in the event of any damage to the boats. Teams will be able to put their own sponsor logos on spinnakers and mainsails. “They will have to pay for a spinnaker, because we are going to produce 6-8 spinnakers with their branding and logos,” says Trouble. “It is a great opportunity for them for a revival. Some of the teams are supported by sponsors who are a bit upset that there is no coverage of the event. So there will be TV coverage.” At present a deal has still be finalised, but they are in negotiation with two or three networks in New Zealand.

Over the last days Trouble has been on the phone to all the potential contenders. This includes all of the recent Louis Vuitton Cup challengers including both BMW Oracle Racing and Alinghi, but in a conversation between Grant Dalton and Brad Butterworth the word from the Swiss defender was that Alinghi would consider competing only if Emirates Team NZ dropped their lawsuit. “They are all very supportive of the idea and they are all very willing to come. Some will come for sure like Mascalzone Latino, the French, BMW Oracle, the Brits. But we might have to limit the numbers according to the date of entry – it is first come first served.” Only six to eight teams can compete and Trouble reckons he has already got five confirmed including Emirates Team New Zealand. He relishes the idea that Russell Coutts might return on a BMW Oracle Racing boat to take on the team he took to America’s Cup victory in 1995 and 2000.

During the 2007 America’s Cup, ACM took protection of the America’s Cup name and symbol to a whole new level and Trouble says that they will go to great lengths with the Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup to make sure that they don’t get into trouble with the Swiss defender. He says they will certainly remove all America’s Cup logos from the boats and might even go to the extent of taking Emirates Team NZ’s two 2007 generation boats out of class for this reason, but also to ensure they are competitive. “We might remove 300kg from the keels or something like that. It is not our intention to upset Alinghi.”

Obviously Version 5 America’s Cup boat are unique and highly technical bits of kit and even experienced challengers might have a problem just stepping on board one and going yachting. To resolve this Trouble says that teams will have the opportunity for one week’s training prior to the event.

So does this mark a return to the America’s Cup arena for Louis Vuitton or is this just a one-off? “It is a one off,” confirms Trouble. “We are not out of the America’s Cup. We left last time after Alinghi won, but we might come back. It depends upon the future of the America’s Cup. We like to be co-organisers. We have been co-organisers of the America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup for 25 years, not in 2007, but 2003 and running the media centre for the America’s Cup for the last 15-20 years. We didn’t like it last time when we were just the sponsors. But we love this event and if we have the opportunity to come back we will, but, again, this event, the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, is just one shot at the moment.”

As to the America’s Cup debacle itself Trouble says that like everyone he waits, watches and listens. “We are quite surprised by the latest decision, but you never know in court. The sad side is that the America’s Cup will not be held within a couple of years minimum. But like everyone we have no influence. So what we want to do with this event is to bring some peace in this tough America’s Cup world.”

The present litigation between Alinghi and BMW Oracle has without doubt damaged the event at the same time as the global economy is going into meltdown. “The America’s Cup is one of the sports on the front seat being damaged because it is a lot of money for a return on investment which is not obvious in terms of media coverage in some countries. In the US the coverage was not big. So I am afraid that the budget for the next America’s Cup will shrink a bit, which maybe is not bad news. The budgets last time were much bigger than 2003. So there must be a way to go back a little.”

Bravo Bruno…