GBR Challenge

Hasn't Peter Harrison offered to underwrite 50% of GBR challenge? That means corporate sponsors in the UK only have to take up 50%. And they still do NOT want to take up the challenge. Why?

Slots on Grandstand are hardly prime time TV - who watches that? I suspect the die hard football couch potatoe might watch it. Hardly the type of person that will stay watching sailing.

I watched some of the last America's Cup on TV and found it very boring. Once you have seen 1 tack and 1 gybe you had seen it all.

I think some of you are missing the point.

I am suggesting that the Government should put up 'some of the funding' or at the least show they would like to see the team compete at the AC 2007.

this will be seen as a green light to a private sector sponsors.

How do you think some firms obtain Government contracts?

Secondly to say that the AC2007 will not get sufficient media coverage is ridiculous. It will get huge media coverage especially as it is the first time it has been back in Europe since 1851.

Contender,

I respect your point of view but...

Fair enough if you don't want the gov. to spend money on the GBR AC and that you feel that the AC is not 'politically correct' yes the AC is portrayed as being the elite end of the sport.

but whether you like it or not the AC is going to have huge media coverage and that is how the public will view our sport.

The South Africans will be there with a message and that message is we have an acadamy to get kids off the streets and into yachting and here are some of the people we have produced.

Also all of the great yachting nations will be there except Great Britain, how do you feel about that?

As for my real name it is a bit of a mouthfull; Louay Habib.

Coiler is my nickname, I have absolutely no financial interest in the AC whatsoever but I am passionate about yacht racing and promote it through my web site (www.bangthecorner.com)

To save you asking I am an half Iraqi roman catholic grinder (you don't see many of those about do you).

None of which rely on government subsidy.

How do I feel about the probably demise of GBR Challenge? Mildy disappointed, but I don't think the AC presents a positive image for sailing anyway. I am more disappointed there is unlikely to be a British team in the next Volvo.

I totally see Coilers point here. The Americas Cup is the oldest Trophy in Sporting History - it is an old boy British tradition that is supported mainly by the upper classes and the elite - not too disimilar to Fox hunting.

If we're not careful, we're going to lose another great English tradition.

I would probably say that most people who visit this forum are club level weekend racers? Not quite the die hard, professional fanatics that would give their right arm to flight out and watch, let alone take part in the AC2007. That is why I think Coilers request may fall on deaf ears (except mine). I was glued to the Olympics at work via broadband and I probably will be for the AC too because I understand the racing and what it means to lead into the start or not etc. etc. It's very hard for people to get excited about a sport if they don't understand it and match racing can be pretty technical.

That's why few women enjoy football - because we don't understand what the offside rule is!!!!

Just a few more points to debate!