NY Court Rules Against Alinghi

[TaoJones]

I posted this information earlier on the "Spanish club will be America's Cup challenger" thread, but I imagine it is lost there. Since the breaking story now has had much more detail added, here's a link to the story on the 6-0 Court of Appeals ruling currently running in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/sp...%20club&st=cse

TaoJones

[David M]

Looks to me like the Americas Cup competition comes down to who wins in the courts, not who wins on the water. Perhaps they should forget about building boats and start building teams of lawyers? Rename it the Litigation Cup. The Americas Cup has become a big joke because of the continuous court battles.

Its no longer a gentleman's sport where relatively equal boats compete against relatively equal crews. One side or the other is always looking for some legal advantage which gives their side an unequal advantage over the other. That's not what I consider true competition. When are these people ever going to learn that the public wants to watch true competition where any boat could win?...not some concocted race where one team has a clear advantage over the other. There are no bragging rights for boats or crews that are not close to being equal.

What if they held the Americas Cup but nobody watched because it was predicted to be a blowout from the beginning? It could happen if they don't get their act together.

[cdennyb]

maybe they should all build the best boat they can and then right before the race starts, numbers are drawn to see who gets which boat! That'll level the playing field.
LoL

[James S]

Originally Posted by cdennyb

maybe they should all build the best boat they can and then right before the race starts, numbers are drawn to see who gets which boat! That'll level the playing field.
LoL

Finally....the voice of reason.

[markpj23]

Sounds like the mono guys are just trying to keep those cats down.....

[Abaco]

I wish they would pick a box rule like the TP52's and race with no computers or lasers. Wind speed and speedo only (if that). It would make the event much more interesting.

[Marinheiro]

America's Cup a gentlemen's sport, equal boats competing against each other, never been in court before.
Memories are a little short i think.

[Reefmagnet]

America's Cup a gentlemen's sport, equal boats competing against each other, never been in court before.

Ya think?

YouTube - New Zealand Takes The Americas Cup (1989)

[MarkJ]

I think there should be a 'Beauty' rule.
Since the 1960's they have all looked like dogs.

The original America, apart from the name, was fantastic!
But I could settle for J Boats!!!!!!!!

[TaoJones]

From today's 'Lectronic Latitude, their report contains the following response to their loss in court from La Société Nautique de Genève (SNG):

* * *

“It has consistently been our view that the America’s Cup should be fought on the water. Today the American courts and the Golden Gate Yacht Club has won the right to challenge (SNG). We will now discuss the terms of the regatta with them and will prepare our defense of the America’s Cup.”

* * *

For the full story in 'Lectronic Latitude, go to:

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine

To access the SNG website, go to:

SNG - Société Nautique de Genève (sorry, French language only)

To access the Golden Gate Yacht Club website, go to:

Golden Gate Yacht Club

TaoJones

[Chief Engineer]

Since Dennis Conner, I have never followed those blowhards.......I have enough to do with Lawyers....working on their boats......Oh. that's right....I DON'T work on lawyers boats.

[speedoo]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Since Dennis Conner, I have never followed those blowhards.......I have enough to do with Lawyers....working on their boats......Oh. that's right....I DON'T work on lawyers boats.

Yup Dennis is by all accounts a great sailor and fierce competitor, but that does not mean I have to agree with his tactics, or like him.

I used to feel like "regular sailors" like most of us should respect the current state of affairs with the Cup because we benefit from the technological advances. But I really can't recall anything that has come out of the Cup to our benefit in a long, long time. Would anyone disagree?

[Caribsailors]

Let them sail Bite's

Aren't they one design?

Cheers

[TaoJones]

Here's the latest report from 'Lectronic Latitude in the wake of yesterday's meeting between Golden Gate Yacht Club and La Société Nautique de Genève (SNG).

* * *

"America's Cup - Onward Through the Fog

"April 24, 2009 – Geneva

(Click on the photo to enlarge it.)
BMW Oracle Racing's 90x90-ft trimaran is a spectacular creation by any measure. But could it beat a 115-ft tri . . . with a yawl rig?
© 2009 Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing

"What almost appeared yesterday to be a 'final decision' now looks like the bell for just one more round of America’s Cup legal boxing."

* * *

For the rest of the story, go to:

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine

TaoJones

[Pblais]

But I really can't recall anything that has come out of the Cup to our benefit in a long, long time. Would anyone disagree?

I'm not sure anything ever did. Carbon fiber got a big workout over the years but it really wasn't sailing that pushed it foreword. Sailing has gained the most over the long years from materials science and that technology has advance enough that there isn't anything coming out that first breaks loose with sailing. Sailing is not the driving force for much of anything. Even the lawsuits are variations on the normal stuff we see.

It can still be fun to watch on TV.