NZ putting America's cup on the right track

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

While watching the cup I had that same thought... why are these guys on board at all?

Wether it's grinder turning cranks, or guys'll on bikes, or even just 20 guys pulling a rope, a huge percentage of the AC crews have historically just been there to provide power. You could replace all the grinders (8 I think) on the IACC's with a 4hp gass motor as well.

[barnakiel]

And Grant Dalton saying most sailors nationals.

Did he care to mention some sort of sex parity? Or are there no good female sailors in NZ?

There is always something that smells like an old church around institutions that are royal and national.

GD vision of the cup: All white males sailing an "all blacks" boat. Elsewhere know as hypocrisy.

Disappointing, really.

b.

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I
If NZ are so very nation oriented then I insist their next AC boat is sailed by a 100% Maori crew.

you dont really wanna go there right ?

[Jim Cate]

If NZ are so very nation oriented then I insist their next AC boat is sailed by a 100% Maori crew.

So you think the US boat should be crewed by Native Americans? Kinda silly, Barny...

If these international crews are permitted to continue (and I don't much care about this) all would be ok if they dropped the idea of a New Zealand, USA, French... whatever title for the team and just used the sponsor's names (which is what almost happens already in the popular coverage).

Jim

[billgewater]

Zulu 40 and barnakiel. I can see we are onto something here. The man with the biggest cash horde has usually underwritten the AC. Some were heroes and some just insane egos.
So what I suggest is that the host nation really does make up its own rules, with such conditions as 50% females with a smattering of trans genders or those who bat for the same side, docking success with a totally drunk crew, after race barbecue competitions, poetry reading sessions and best new innovation that can be used by us mere mortals on thirty year old cruising boats. We could also happily accept the inclusion of refrigeration repairs while under way as some breakthroughs are really needed here. At least one pet cat, dog and budgerigar and a backpacker called Helga. All crews must include a near dysfunctional retired couple.
There needs to be genuine appeal to the real sailing fraternity.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

We all speak the language of sailing, that's the whole point.
.

Except for the Frenchman that races with us. He's a very good sailor, but hasn't sailed before with English speaking crew.

A few weeks ago, he came across "barber haul". The next race, he had forgotten the name, but had the idea in his mind in French. The nearest he could come up with when he tried to translate it back was "moustache down"

[Xpress]

Hairy and green? Old joke. Is that why Larry Ellison had a Kiwi team boss and built the boats in New Zealand? Kiwis have punched way above their weight for years in Olympic sailing, round the world and the America's Cup. Interestingly, one of the US-owned J boats in the spectator fleet this year was skippered by a Kiwi and was full of Kiwi former crew from the AC and round-the-world past campaigns. Just desserts...and now control of the rules, just as the US has had for most of the Cup life.

[Xpress]

Love it Billgewater. But as Denis Conner would say, there have always been plenty of dogs.

[David B]

Originally Posted by Polux

It will be again a Cup between Nations, the boats will have to be built on the country of the participant and all the sailors have to be nationals of that country.

I had said on some forum that it should be like that long ago. It is good to see that somebody agrees with me LOL.

Agreed - I have confidence the Kiwis will bring back the spirit of the event, and hopefully ensure there are no more loopholes to be exploited for 'win at any cost' teams, that are tempted, such as the pathetic multihull against a monohull farce we saw a few years ago that cost the Kiwis a certain victory.

[jkindredpdx]

I was thinking it would be fun to have the foiling flying class and then a "more traditional" mono hull class.

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by jkindredpdx

I was thinking it would be fun to have the foiling flying class and then a "more traditional" mono hull class.

its not about fun
its supposed to be a premier race
its about someone losing their pants and someone else's money

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ZULU40

its not about fun
its supposed to be a premier race
its about someone losing their pants and someone else's money

Wasn't it Ted Turner that was losing his "own" money years ago?

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Wasn't it Ted Turner that was losing his "own" money years ago?

I remember him more as a winner

my feeling is most racing seems to be syndicated, do you think I am wrong?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ZULU40

I remember him more as a winner

my feeling is most racing seems to be syndicated, do you think I am wrong?

You're right on the syndications, that was the reason for the "own". You maybe right. I think he did win. Actually I would give the tactician the credit.

It seemed more like sailing even then. Today it seems like technology and still has the aspect of national pride.

[KiwiKen]

Originally Posted by David M

I certainly understand romanticizing the 12 meters, they were pretty and graceful. These races were also sailed offshore a ways where very few could watch the races.

The realities of this economically driven world is that the more eyeballs that watch something the better, because of advertising revenue. That helps to pay for the cost of the sport.

If only those who truly understood yacht racing were watching large monohulls race around a traditional course, then that would indeed be a pretty small audience.

Put some speed, a little danger and craziness into a yacht race and the people who know little to nothing about yacht racing, increases the size of the audience exponentially.

I think the best thing for the sport overall is for there to be more people who become interested in the sport. People who understand yacht racing are already interested.

The other problem with the sport is that it is only for wealthy snobs, "snotty yachties". You and I know that is mostly incorrect, but the perception still exists. Expose the sport to mass audiences and at least some of that mostly false perception goes away.

I don't consider America's Cup Racing to be sport, a sailing spectacle yes, sport no.
It is far too much about wealthy men with king sized egos bank rolling a hi tech on water sailing spectacle. Traditional yacht racing is not a spectator sport, and doesn't have much to attract the interest of non yachtsmen.

I noted a comment on similar vein in an Australian Yachting mag about the obsession with the heavily sponsored super maxis in the Sydney to Hobart race, and have to agree with it. Enter commercialism stage right, exit sport stage left. Excessive commercialisation merely removes amateurs from top level competition.

I recall listening years ago, attending a presentation by Gary Mull at the RORC in London, and he made a couple of very pointed comments about commercialisation in sport:

The relationship between commerce and sport is similar to the relationship between prostitution and true love, with one difference - prostitution is more honest.
and
To those who say there is no harm in a little commercialisation of sport, I say, there is no such thing as being slightly pregnant.

Sport should be a contest of skill and ability, and not determined by the size of a bankroll.