America's Cup Headlines

Good points all Chris, what interests me is the very different dynamic that operates here in the UK (compared to say...Germany or Denmark). Looking at the UK AC entry, it was built around the individual, hugely talented and successful he may be. Even that has a taste of 'our way' of doing things - go back to the football and the World Cup in 2006 and our talisman then was Wayne Rooney. He breaks a bone in his foot and the whole campaign stutters and ultimately fails. Ditto many other sports - look at how Jonnie Wilkinson was a similar talisman in the Rugby. But back to the mainstream of sailing and the potential for 'pull through' from the high profile stadium events (which is the  golden dream for those who run the sport here.....expect another glitzy away day soon to discuss just this topic, except for the fact that only a selected, friendly audience will get an invite). In the past the rapid and hard driven evolution of dinghy racing in the UK has  given us 'world leader' credentials but these  are now from yesteryear - what is more important is one what happens next. That constant evolution was fine back in the days when classes were counting new boats each year in the 100s, but like a Ponzi scheme, the bubble will burst and here at home it has. Some of the superb boats now made in FRP by builders such as Dave Winder can still be front of the fleet competitive at 10 years old, yet behind them there is a continuing proliferation - and therefore fragmentation of what used to be a stable club scene. Take this, then apply that rather jingoistic 'Brits are best' approach (an example: the selection Trials for the Women's skiff at Santander.....and the howls of disbelief when the 49erfx was chosen, though most of the comment from outside the UK had taken this almost for granted) and then add on top the demographic time bomb, an organisation that is focused on success at the Olympics and Youth Worlds and you have a tricky scene with an uncertain future. I'll now get flamed for saying these many heretical comments 'out loud' BUT.....it will be one thing losing to Denmark, another when it is an emergent third world country that pushes us back another place.

D

Totally agree with everything you said Dougal, apart from Jonny. The World Cup winning team in 2003 was genuinely, man for man, arguably the best in every position. They had made winning a habit in a way that English football could only dream of in the build up to that event. I believe that Jonny was important, but not crucial to their success, and as with Dan Carter and the All Blacks in 2011, they might have been triumphant even if he had been injured.

...anyway...diversion over, back to sailing!