America's Cup - dull ?

rogerroger

rogerroger

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Jul 2001
Messages
863
Location
West Sussex
www.myboatdetails.com
America\'s Cup - dull ?

Is it just me - or is anyone else finding what limited coverage there is of the America's cup rather dull ?

I can't imagine any non-sailor would be the slightest bit interested in this "world class" event.

Does anyone know if there's better coverage on Sky Sports (which I don't have...) ?


/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>
 
Like watching paint dry

is the trad description of trying to make yacht racing into a spectator sport.

The only compelling bit of televised sailing I've ever seen was Ben Ainslie winning his gold by sitting on his one rival and sailing him back down the fleet. Otherwise, yawnsville.
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

There is coverage on Sky/Eurosport. Its slightly better than drying paint as the modern graphics actually let you know whats going on. Tuned in the other night though and we had to watch three races all get abandonded due to light airs and not completing the leg within 45 minutes. This does not make for good TV.
 
oh good... not just me then!

Phew.

I do feel that being a sailor I should be interested - so glad to know others share my apathy for it.

Perhaps if we actually start winning it'll help...

/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

Watch it on Virtual Spectator at fast forward speed - seems quite exciting then - and you've only wasted a couple of minutes.
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

chances of it working on a Mac ?


/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>
 
Re: Like watching paint dry

Best bit of saling footage I've ever seen was in a movie called "Wind" made about 10 years ago.

Story starts with a young aggressive (sorry, assertive) dinghy sailor attempting to win some competition or other. Fantastic close quaters camera work made the sailing look really exciting. Story then goes loopy as said young sailor decides he has to win the Americas Cup and heads off into the desert (???) to build a sooper dooper, hi-tech, winged keel monster all by himself.

Of course he comes back after 2 years in the wilderness and..... oh no I'd better not spoil the tension by giving away the ending!

Daft film but the opening 20 mins or so are breathtaking.

Dave L.
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

I think it would help if it didn't feel like at the end the team that has spent the most money wasn't going to win.

Maybe, just once, someone will call me sir without adding, you're making a scene.
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

But Thursday night is pub quiz night - I'll come back, switch on the telly and there'll be about a hundred boats charging around!

(Maybe I'll set the vid and watch it tomorrow!)

/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

Peter Snows programme tonight was very good.Excellent coverage and explanations of tactics etc.

Is he a bit the Murray Walker of yacht racing, so enthusiastic
 
Re: America\'s Cup - dull ?

That's what I thought.. who cares abt millionaires racing each other. After 10 mins of P Snow I was hooked. And I hate racing.
 
RR - have a go!!

One of the problems with yacht racing as a spectator sport is that the really interesting bit requires a good understanding of the rules and tactics, I've done many races over the years and still find the rules around the start complex to apply, albeit simple to understand. The VS model really advances the ability to understand what is going on.

In this respect it is a bit like F1 in that the majority of the action is at the start, so understand this and the rest will slot into place and become interesting.

The beauty of sailing is that with all this newly learned knowledge, unlike F1, you can have a go yourself. There is no reason why, with the right tactics etc, you can't be first away from the line at your local club and the excitement of it will have you gripped, almost guarantee it. The rest of the race is more about boat speed and skipper crew skills etc, this takes a bit more learning and a little humble pie eating especially when you see your (not yours as such Rog) ace expensive cruiser racer being given a good run for it's money by the well tuned and sailed 20 year old Pandora/Hunter Sonata.

I would imagine that your First 27 would have good enough boat spead and windward ability to be competitive, have fun:-))
 
Re: RR - have a go!!

In today's Louis Vuitton race the Brits provided some good racing by taking out one of the hot favourites,Oracle.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by chippie on 12/10/2002 08:51 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
The same Peter Snow?

I thought he was dreadful - trying to inject false excitement into a process that is inherently unexciting for those not involved. And his guests for whom the GBR team could seem to do no wrong, despite having had only one win, and that over a boat that fouled them twice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top