GBR Challenge

Not really. The British establishment have never shown a lot of interest in the AC. Thomas Lipton, who funded more campaigns than anyone else, was a grocer. Hardly establishment material. Peter De Savary - a property developer despite the posh name. Peter Harrison - dot.com millionaire. All up-and-coming types, no old money.

Anyway, there has been no British challenge plenty of times before. If you are worried about losing a tradition, you are 16 years late.

My bad Contender!

AC - British

Fox Hunting - English??

I dunno, may be wrong - but I do feel a bit like we're losing another part of our heritage by not taking part in something we essentially started... perhaps fox hunting was a poor comparison!!!

Sorry Coiler I don't see how the government can encourage the private sector to support our"national team".

Corporate sponsors do like supporting UK sailing - you just need to look at the Vendee Globe for a start. Skandia, Hugo Boss, Ecover, Hellomotto all supporting UK teams.

Then there is B&Q supporting Ellen and let's not forget Volvo's widespread support of sailing in the UK.

So you cannot say corporate sponsors do not like sailing. They obviously do not like the America's Cup. Who want's to throw tens of millions of pounds on a team that may go out in round 1 - I wonder how much that would work out per race in the LV cup.

The AC is hardly in the league of F1 - after all everybody drives a car and could see themselves driving a F1 car. The same cannot be said about sailing.

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!

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.