Before we all get too carried away...
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Keelboat classes
Forum Name: America's Cup
Forum Discription: Your thoughts on challenges to win the 'Auld Mug'
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6447
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 10:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Before we all get too carried away...
Posted By: Phil eltringham
Subject: Before we all get too carried away...
Date Posted: 13 Feb 10 at 7:53pm
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Let us just remember that IF BMWO win overall, that this will mean that Larry Ellison now has the Americas Cup. Let us not forget that he is not innocent in all the legal mess that has been the run up to this cup, and he reputation in business is not competely clean (explaining the AC mess to a friend working in IT, he commented that Ernesto must be the only person on earth to make Larry look like the good guy!) and although he appears to be the lesser of two evils for now, this does not mean that the AC will be out of the woods. Realistically, what do you think will be the format of the next cup, monos (IACC or AC90), multis (cats, tris) how many teams will be able to find sponsors prepared to risk association with what we have just seen? ------------- FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen |
Replies:
Posted By: JMC_DK
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10 at 10:02am
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Does that mean that the US cup holder alone will decide the next challenge? What will happen to the America's cup "waiting in the wings"? Can the US cup holder just cancel it? I think Larry Ellison is a disgrace to sailing. Why can't Bill Gates challenge? Or Steve Jobs? Or Ted Turner? |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10 at 11:37am
So far it hasn't been worse than 1988, and the AC survived that. The 1988 press conference probably still stands as an all time low... But yes, EB managing to convincingly make LE look like the good guy, especially in the eyes of the SA forum participants, is a pretty impressive achievement. |
Posted By: BarnsieB14768
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10 at 12:02pm
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With Lousie Vitton backing the World series in ACs (monohulls), hopefully we'll see sense and the powers that be will bring about a series to rivel Auckland and Fremantle. Failing that the big backers will stay away as the America's Cup has not generated good value for money since 2005. Alas it is, at the end of the day, a case of return for buck input unless you are a very very rich person like Ernesto or Larry. Sad thing is these people's personalities get in the way and corrupt the heart of the sport. What is the answer, good question as the current situation is not good for sailing as a whole. Personally, I'd like to see it in monohulls of 60 - 70 ft length max. and bring it back to the boat on boat racing. Going bigger is not the answer as the wind hole/shadow gets bigger and closeness of the races less interesting. So 60 ft. boats and 10 - 15 teams with bidget caps would be my preference. However, Larry would never agree to the last one. Bye for now |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10 at 2:22pm
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I appreciate they aren't optimised as match racing boats- but most of the syndicates that were going to enter have TP52s. Much smaller than an IACC V5, yes, but surely it wouldn't be an idiotic way to go? Or would that be too sensible? ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10 at 7:40pm
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Larry apparently has an ego every bit as mazziv as Ernesto's - OK, but the difference I think is that Larry will be influenced by wanting to be seen to do the right thing ( a very endearing trait of our american friends) and also by the entrenched cup fervour of the west coast US sailing scene - it's still deeply embedded in the fabric out there - I got the distinct impression from talking with folks involved that EB just get's want he wants and his team was full of 'yes' men & women, specifcally to just "hang-on" and try and soak up some glory - end of the day, money don't buy you class so we'll just have to see, but based on history (recent and more 'ancient') I'll take the "gentle" cheating of the American-owned AC over the agreessive, legalese of the short-lived Swiss-owned AC, any day!
------------- Feeling sorry for vegans since it became the latest fad to claim you are one |