davidej
Well-Known Member
Sailing is not and never will be a spectator sport and those who try to jazz it up to try and make it one will always fail.
America's cup... Are you interested?
- Thread starter flaming
- Start date
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Definitely won't watch. The high-tech, the unreal-world-performance and alleged "glamour" of the venue are one long, totally irrelevant snore.
Much rather watch old Flying 15s inching along against the tide in a force 1. In the rain.
Then again, if San Andreas could arrange a tsunami, I'd love to see those big cats surfing past Fisherman's Wharf.
Much rather watch old Flying 15s inching along against the tide in a force 1. In the rain.
Then again, if San Andreas could arrange a tsunami, I'd love to see those big cats surfing past Fisherman's Wharf.
onesea
Well-Known Member
I do not think I have ever watched an Americas Cup race... Occasionally I will get snip-its on the news.
For all they pretend the Old Mug is not about spectators, its a self perpetuating competition that is won by who ever is has the most money or technology at the time.
It does not need to make its self a spectator sport, if no one turns up the cup will still be won by who ever has the most money or technology at the time.
The cup itself and the nature of the competition makes its own publicity which gives the people with the money an excuse to pay more money...
The technology developments can be useful, for our sport does it make any difference? Just make every one think we have that much money to burn too
For all they pretend the Old Mug is not about spectators, its a self perpetuating competition that is won by who ever is has the most money or technology at the time.
It does not need to make its self a spectator sport, if no one turns up the cup will still be won by who ever has the most money or technology at the time.
The cup itself and the nature of the competition makes its own publicity which gives the people with the money an excuse to pay more money...
The technology developments can be useful, for our sport does it make any difference? Just make every one think we have that much money to burn too
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
I agree. The owners should be made to live in their boat for a year and do at least two circumnavigations in it - then they can sail to the IOW and race round it. And the boat has to be designed and built in the owner's country and the designer and the crew have to come from the same country as the owner too.
Babylon
Well-Known Member
Am I interested?
No.
No.
Manuel_Hung
Active Member
You need a good commentator to make sailing watchable.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a76_1344408146
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a76_1344408146
Bosun Higgs
N/A
The Js were racing in Falmouth last year and I was spectating in my own boat. Within 50 yards of them. Sure it was mildly interesting but no more than that - as a poster says , yacht racing isnt a spectator sport.
More interesting on the pontoons afterwards, looking at the people and money involved. Anne came along on one of the mother boats - a surprisingly small woman
laika
Well-Known Member
From what I recall of the weather (they were racing as we were making our way to the Helford) you would have had to be within 50 yards to see them...
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Not forgetting higher fees for the lawers involved after the so called racing is long over & the final decision as to who won what when
Seajet
...
I have never thought sailing is a spectator sport, even for those of us who may appreciate the details.
The only time I enjoyed watching was in the 80's when the Kiwi's stuffed the Americans, now that was sailing !
At a local pub there's a charity ' duck race ' with decoy ducks set off down a mill stream, in the spirit of that Americas' Cup someone brought in a duck with the ' secret keel ' hidden by a skirt.
I am NOT anti-American BTW, just like to see the underdog win.
Having cameras on boats was a good try but doesn't hold my interest for long, the microphone to catch the naughty words is more interesting !
The only time I enjoyed watching was in the 80's when the Kiwi's stuffed the Americans, now that was sailing !
At a local pub there's a charity ' duck race ' with decoy ducks set off down a mill stream, in the spirit of that Americas' Cup someone brought in a duck with the ' secret keel ' hidden by a skirt.
I am NOT anti-American BTW, just like to see the underdog win.
Having cameras on boats was a good try but doesn't hold my interest for long, the microphone to catch the naughty words is more interesting !
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NealB
Well-Known Member
Totally uninterested.
Certainly wouldn't watch it, or even bother to reply to someone asking me if I'm interested.
Certainly wouldn't watch it, or even bother to reply to someone asking me if I'm interested.
flaming
Well-Known Member
That would have been the Aussies.
Seajet
...
I think you'll find it was the New Zealanders, KZ 7 if I remember rightly, later named ' Kiwi Magic '? The Aussies continued the process.
There were some memorable protest battles between the Kiwi Skipper ( Dixon ? ) and the American Dennis Connor who always reffered to himself in the 3rd person.
There were some memorable protest battles between the Kiwi Skipper ( Dixon ? ) and the American Dennis Connor who always reffered to himself in the 3rd person.
flaming
Well-Known Member
Nope, it was the Aussies that beat the Americans for the first time ever in 1983. The Americans won it back in 87, and the Kiwis won it for the first time in 95, defended in 2000, then lost it in 2003 to the Swiss. Who defended it in 2007, then changed the rules and we had the crazy cup of 2010 with the tri vs the cat. Which the Americans won, and now we have 72 foot cats.
But hey, what do I know?
Seajet
...
Not much if you look up the New Zealanders efforts.
Who cares about the America's Cup anyway ?!
Who cares about the America's Cup anyway ?!
flaming
Well-Known Member
You've lost me. You implied the kiwis sailed against the Americans, and beat them, in the 80s. They didn't, it was the Aussies.
You're right that few care though.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
You're right. He's wrong. As normal.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Won't watch. Probably have to pay money to one part or another of Murdoch's evil empire to do so, another disincentive.
My formula might be something like:
Monohull
Max LOA 100'
Max draft 20'
Max beam 20'
Crew numbers 20
Max wt 15 tonnes
Min wt 15 tonnes
Total mast height 150'
Two 'conventional' masts with soft sails. Masts can be equal sizes, but if not big mast cannot be more than 20% bigger than small mast.
Big mast or small mast can be at the front - challengers decision
Total allowable sail area (inc offwind sails) to be divided 60/40 between the two masts.
No instrumentation beyond depth sounder and speed log.
No on-course info, coaching etc to be supplied from off the boat during races
Lots of short legs, plenty of sail setting.
Reasoning - fast, spectacular big boats needing lots of co-ordinated teamwork, and lots of good guessing. All a bit like trying to create - in more modern terms - the spectacle and the challenge that J-Class racing must have been.
My formula might be something like:
Monohull
Max LOA 100'
Max draft 20'
Max beam 20'
Crew numbers 20
Max wt 15 tonnes
Min wt 15 tonnes
Total mast height 150'
Two 'conventional' masts with soft sails. Masts can be equal sizes, but if not big mast cannot be more than 20% bigger than small mast.
Big mast or small mast can be at the front - challengers decision
Total allowable sail area (inc offwind sails) to be divided 60/40 between the two masts.
No instrumentation beyond depth sounder and speed log.
No on-course info, coaching etc to be supplied from off the boat during races
Lots of short legs, plenty of sail setting.
Reasoning - fast, spectacular big boats needing lots of co-ordinated teamwork, and lots of good guessing. All a bit like trying to create - in more modern terms - the spectacle and the challenge that J-Class racing must have been.
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xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
Seajet.....Flaming is the racing oracle on this forum....
You do Anderson 22's.......Flaming does racing. The end!
You do Anderson 22's.......Flaming does racing. The end!
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
I'm sure the Kiwis won something in the 80s...Steinlager II...Blake's big ketch kicked the collective butt, didn't she? The Americans didn't even compete though.
I always found weekly round-ups of Round The World Race news, when it was aboard those big ketches, much more exciting and involving than the America's Cup. Mere short distance speed doesn't cut the mustard.
I always found weekly round-ups of Round The World Race news, when it was aboard those big ketches, much more exciting and involving than the America's Cup. Mere short distance speed doesn't cut the mustard.