LV Challenge for America's Cup

[77T]

Just a bit over 3 hrs. Before the next head-to-head race between NZL and ITA. anyone going to watch?

Streaming via YouTube in most countries - americascup.com has the info...

[azguy]

I yearn for the days of Dennis Connor and the monohulls and being able to watch the races on ESPN

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by azguy

I yearn for the days of Dennis Connor and the monohulls and being able to watch the races on ESPN

Whish I said that...

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=304890

[SUBversive]

[QUOTE=azguy;4292229]I yearn for the days of Dennis Connor and the monohulls and being able to watch the races on ESPN[/


Dennis Connor ugh. Don't remind me of Newport 1983, please.

[77T]

Originally Posted by azguy

I yearn for the days of Dennis Connor and the monohulls and being able to watch the races on ESPN

IIRC, Dennis' final victory was in a catamaran...

[77T]

BTW, the AC finals races in Sept. will be on NBC Sports in USA - the LV Challenge series is streaming alone.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by 77T

IIRC, Dennis' final victory was in a catamaran...

I know, but most people remember the earlier years in Stars and Stripes, winning and losing the cup, etc.... I always thought ESPN did a great job with the coverage

Plus, I just don't like the course layout at least the way they had it set up when they were doing some exhibitions a few months ago, it was like a NASCAR road course

AC racing was based on hundreds of years of tradition, why mess with that

[azguy]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Whish I said that...

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=304890

We are cut from the same cloth

pretty good game last night with that walk off

[77T]

If you have a chance, read the new book, "The Billionaire and the Mechanic". It explains the changes and reasons for them.

Personally the AC venue is making it exciting for the spectators in SF and doesn't really hurt us remote viewers. But I agree that the course for this LV Challenge is shorter than some used way back when. However it is safer and fits the Deed of Gift requirements.


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[azguy]

Originally Posted by 77T

If you have a chance, read the new book, "The Billionaire and the Mechanic". It explains the changes and reasons for them.

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You're the 2nd person in as many days to recommend that book, will do

[zama]

How times have changed, I have not seen a single piece of coverage in Australia on the America's Cup as we don't have any teams anymore it was very different 30 years ago. When then Millionaire now Billionaires were busy racing it suddenly became a national sport with the winged keel.

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by zama

How times have changed, I have not seen a single piece of coverage in Australia on the America's Cup as we don't have any teams anymore it was very different 30 years ago. When then Millionaire now Billionaires were busy racing it suddenly became a national sport with the winged keel.

So true. 1983 changed so much and New York yacht clubs 130+ years of dominance.

[77T]

The Australian Team filed a Challenge and was accepted. Then 6 months later could not secure sponsor funding to build the AC72 class yachts that were defined by the Artemis Team negotiated as Challenger of Record.

Peter Baker stated that the team was finalizing legal requirements and Adam South, Neville Wittey, Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Chamberlin, Steve Brewin, Taylor Booth, Chris Caldecoat, and Josh McKnight were training on the AC45s in preparation. But when the more expensive AC72s were approved, the costs prolly tripled for a serious challenge.

Some of them may be on other teams now - but it appears to me that Emirates Team New Zealand will emerge as the final LV Challenge Cup winner and then face Team Oracle in September for the America's Cup. NZL is formidable.

But I wish the Australian Team had come - they could have given NZL a serious run...

[zama]

Corporate $'s are now gone from Australia for this rich man's sport, that said there are tons of Aussies and Kiwis filling a lot of the crews. They are amazing boats, but these days I would rather watch a pack of 100ft Maxi's race offshore, big fast mono hulls will always be the pinnacle of yachting for me. It had not occurred to me but looking out the window a can see two of the former previous generation big boat America's Cup yachts, while I am here in Sydney I think they are ex team kiwi ones not ex Aussie ones, they do corporate charter work on Sydney harbour.

[77T]

I have to agree that AC competition should be on designs that can also race on open ocean like the Sydney-Hobart route. If any of these multi-hulls tried such a race, they'd pitch pole or capsize.

The people who drafted the original AC DoG were plainly interested in that type of yacht.

[SUBversive]

According to today's New York Times, sorry link not included, America's cup racing is a bust with frequent one boat races and only 4 teams. Seems like the quest for more and more money has found it's bottom. Sorry to see this and it appears that events set in motion in Newport in 1983 have come full circle.

[77T]

I don't know the article but I know the reason - and perhaps they failed to mention it.

In May, one of the teams (Artemis) experienced a catastrophic failure that sank their AC72 and killed a crew member in testing. They have been building a replacement and missed the current round-robin racing. So every other race date a team is sailing unopposed.

It is not a bust since there has never been such an open spectator Challenger series. The crowds on the weekends have been huge along the course and village.

Now for the reason they slammed the current LV Challenge series. I think the NY Times is taking sides since the NY based yacht clubs were snubbed in the past few Cup challenges and the GGYC has been challenger of record and now defender...

[SUBversive]

They mention the death of the sailor and discuss how once 15 teams were expected and there is just 4. Eight of the the last 11 races had one boat. 3 races had 2 boats.

"Others were more critical. The San Francisco Chronicle called it “perhaps the worst nautical launch since the Titanic set off across the North Atlantic."

What do you mean open spectator?they said the crowds were a couple of hundred. Most fans didnt know what they were watching as boats sail out of view. Ther was talk of canceling the July races altogether. The city feels like its a bad deal.

"Economic forecasts generally fell by a third, to a $900 million boost and 6,000 jobs. Worries escalated that taxpayers would be left to clean up a billionaire’s party."

I don't see the reporting as sour grapes as New York yacht club has been out of the defender role for years now.

[SUBversive]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/sp...?smid=pl-share

I thought this was amusing from the ny times:

Even the competitors found it a bit laughable — the world’s most prestigious sailing race reduced to a glorified scrimmage. Halfway through race 1,” Emirates Team New Zealand posted on Twitter during the event’s first race, on July 7. “No surprises to be leading in a race with ourselves."

[77T]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

What do you mean open spectator?they said the crowds were a couple of hundred. Most fans didnt know what they were watching as boats sail out of view.

Here is the course map. It is in plain view all along the waterfront. Some locations are better viewing than others. It is true that at any spot there may be a hundred or so people, but the reporter could not have gone to every place, pier and area where spectators are welcome.

[azguy]

sadly, the whole things is just plain silly and I'm a huge sailing fan..

[SUBversive]

Sad indeed. Revolting really.

[77T]

The final round robin race is underway and I'm seeing some fantastic sailing. It's like Formula1 got hold of sailing. Never before has the AC been brought inshore for the spectators.

Ultimately NZL is the top team whether 20 other guys showed up or just the few we have for the Challenge Series.

Later this Summer we'll see how NZL does against USA.


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[SUBversive]

Seems like a safe bet that NZL will race for the cup. The two other challengers look pretty weak. Oh ya this is very different sailing formula 1 on the water for sure. Just not traditional competitive sailing. But times have changed.

[77T]

Tom Cruise can even drive the thing. Team NZL video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eznc64I2gkw#at=100

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by 77T

Tom Cruise can even drive the thing. Team NZL video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eznc64I2gkw#at=100

He wishes the team "great success"

[77T]

Maybe he doesn't like Larry


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[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by 77T

Maybe he doesn't like Larry

I swear he's a martian, now we have to add unpatriotic to his list of negatives...

[77T]

A free spirit and citizen of the filmworld - which, by the way, is stranger than Mars!


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[SUBversive]

He's just trying to convert the New Zealand team that's all.