2008 iShares Cup season review:10 stunning moments
The 2008 iShares Cup was a true show-stopper, with the competing teams producing one of the most dramatic regatta circuits of all time. It's time to look back on some of the best moments from a thoroughly memorable year.
'Alinghi capsizing - iShares Lake Lugano'
Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events
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Tell us what you think was the best moment of the 2008 iShares Cup by emailing [email protected]and the first 10 respondents will win an iShares Cup baseball cap. Remember to include your full postal address on the return email [offer ends Friday, 31st October].
1. First event, first race and some major drama
The refined Lake Lugano in Switzerland set the scene for the opening event on the iShares Cup circuit, from 30th May - 1st June, but the very first race of the season showed the raw power of the Extreme 40s. A sudden squall of furious black clouds, torrential rain, and bolts of lightning buffeted the mountain lake course, and in a monster gust Alinghi came off worst, with a capsize and broken rig, that put paid to the America's Cup defenders' chances of winning Round 1 - that honour went to the only female skipper on the circuit, double Olympic gold-medalist Shirley Robertson and her crew onboard JPMorgan Asset Management. Watch Alinghi's dramatic capsize herewww.isharescup.com/video.asp?vidid=1581481262>
2. Mistral magic
The second event of the series took place in Hy?res, France (13th - 15th June), in some spectacular sailing conditions - a powerful Mistral breeze and blue Mediterranean gave the Extreme 40s a perfect playground, with an epic 9-race second day packing in the Extreme 40 action just off the breakwater of the Cote d'Azur town. Hy?res may be used to sailing events, but it hadn't seen anything like this before. [image: Image] Day 2 - Hy?res (c) Pierrick Contin/DPPI/OC Events www.theirwebsite.com/
