Australians out of next America's Cup

[IslandHopper]

Why has Team Australia withdrawn from the next Cup and what does it mean for the event and the other Challengers?

News that Team Australia has pulled out of the running for the next America's Cup will have come as a blow to the organisers but the decision will have implications for the remaining teams as well.

Losing a team, (technically Hamilton Island Yacht Club, represented by Team Australia), at such an early stage doesn't bode well however you dress it up. And when it's the Challenger of Record that that makes an exit the alarm bells really start to ring. In their position as chief negotiators on behalf of the other challengers, if this team of all teams sees a reason not to continue, shockwaves are bound to spread through the broader Cup camp.

Read more here >> http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/m...-america-s-cup

[charliehows]

yeah, we've had a sudden unexpected shortage of stupid rich guys with money to burn - damn shame

[roverhi]

There is a lot of fun going on in the America Cup world. Apparently teams want the race sailed in SF Bay. It's a venue that affords down and dirty wind conditions with relatively smooth water and a spectator crowd that is almost in the race waters.

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

[Stonefloat]

As a late arrival to the last party ( NZ up 8-1) and watching spectacular sailing including a comeback for the ages I would say the venue has all the atributes that racers and fans alike share. Only hope the city can iron out differences with AC

[Ex-Calif]

Americas Cup racing is a month of interesting high tech racing preceded by years of legal fighting and media posturing.

Don't pay any attention unless you like watching super rich guys comparing testosterone and bank account levels.

[roverhi]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Americas Cup racing is a month of interesting high tech racing preceded by years of legal fighting and media posturing.

Don't pay any attention unless you like watching super rich guys comparing testosterone and bank account levels.

Gee, isn't that what sailboat racing is all about, just on a local scale??

[beneteau-500]

I really enjoy the Americas cup racing but one thing that really P... Me of is it's not team USA or team Switzerland every yacht has different nationalities from different countries one rule that should change is the crew if it is a New Zealand yacht/entry then only kiwis should be on board

[Cheechako]

Last I read three more challengers have signed up. Prelim races on the 45's and finals on the 62's.

[Khagan1227]

I vote to go back to identical J class boats (circa 1980s). Lottery system for the boat you will sail, drawing the boat the day before the race, race head to head.

Best sailor wins.

[onestepcsy37]

J class yachts were raced in the 1930's. In the 1980's they were racing 12 meter yachts - my all time favorite boat.

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[Factor]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

J class yachts were raced in the 1930's. In the 1980's they were racing 12 meter yachts - my all time favorite boat.

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I vote for gaff rigged schooners just like the original America. BTW the 12metre boats were, in the strange world that is yachting, anywhere from 20 to 24 metres long, it was a 12 metre rule rather than 12 metre yachts.

[Jim Cate]

Hey guys, why in the world should the guys who are putting up the money give a damn what ANYONE else thinks about their choice of vehicles for racing? The America's cup isn't democratic, it isn't about who represents what country, and it has always been the arena of the ultra rich to show off their dollars and their testosterone levels... oh, and their skills in the courtroom.

And lets face it: racing the super fast cats must be a hell of a lot more fun than plodding around the racecourse in 12 metres... boats not as fast as many modern ocean racers, and supremely boring to watch in a match race. No testosterone boost there!

I personally dislike the posturing and political ramifications that surround the event, and had stopped being even vaguely interested years ago... until the San Francisco cup. My take is that if it goes to Bermuda no one will come, and if it goes to San Diego it will not be interesting enough to bother with watching, but that's just my view.

Seems a pity, but I'll just go back to being a disinterested cruiser in a far off land.

Jim

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Factor

I vote for gaff rigged schooners just like the original America. BTW the 12metre boats were, in the strange world that is yachting, anywhere from 20 to 24 metres long, it was a 12 metre rule rather than 12 metre yachts.

I don't know how much stock you place in capsize ratio, but I once saw a list of several hundred boats with their number, and a 12 meter had the best of any boat on the list - 120 I think.

And yes, just like the old IOR rules, 1 ton, 1/2 ton, and 1/4 ton classes had little to do with the boats actual weight.

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[gonesail]

unless somebody steps up that has more money than the oracle guy i guess it is a moot point

[Steve1944]

People should give Larry Elleson his own Cup and let him kiss his own ass goodbye out of the yacht racing game. Pronounce him a winner by purchase. His peers from grammar school through today did.


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