America's Cup. Its all over....or is it?

What's the point?

The technology is the point. The AC isn't about one design racing, or extreme condition sailing - it's about investing absolute shed loads of money to push the technology. It isn't about exciting matches (except for the participants) or accessibility for anyone. And actually - although I can think of better ways to spend the money, I can also think of plenty worse.

And I'm delighted Ellison won. Alinghi/Bertorelli had tried to fix it so no-one could ever really challenge them again and Ellison appears to take on anyone who's got the shedloads.
 
I can't think why the Golden Gate Yacht Club would host the cup anywhere other than San Francisco, after all it is them that has won the cup. BOR challenged on their behalf. SNG lost because their representitive, Bertarelli tried to tilt the pitch in his favour as we all know. And it serves them right!
To say this racing was boring was probably true. Ceratinly the TV pictures could have been better and the commentary on Eurosport was laghable. I have never heard a trimaran being described as having three skids before! Watching a boat doing 30+ knots in 8 knots of breeze was truly amazing. Its a shame the boat will probably never be used again. Its probably way too dangerous for corporate entertainment, but a true pinnacle of yacht design, even if it is probably a cul de sac
What of the future?
I hope the momentum can be built again. A multi challenger, and defender, series is more likely now that USA has the cup. Its probably the only country that could afford multiple defence syndicates. Mulithulls are not suitable for match racing as they are simply not manoeverable enough. I though that there would be no clean starts this time as the boat entering the start zone on port tack would almost have no chance of keeping clear. This is what happened to Alinghi in the first race. In teh second race they just didn't enter the zone at all.
I just hope all the syndicates that have been put on ice such as the Kiwis can get up and running again now. Louis Vuitton may well come back and sponsoerthe Challenger series if a sensible cup is run.
 
Plenty of techdev in Open 60s (or 70s, 80s, 90s or 100s if Ellison and the challenger of record prefer).

And boats that can race in any conditions, need big crews, lots of expertise, are manoeuvrable, can be parked in 'normal' venues, have a second use.
 
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The problem with the open classes for the Americas Cup is that they are really not designed for match racing. Sure they are awesome in a breeze off the wind, but if you want to go beating to a windward mark, then they would really suck.

I think that the next class of americas cup boat will look more like the 100 foot maxi's than the VO70's. Purely because they need to go round cans quickly, not across oceans.

Basically, my monies on a 90 foot, slim monohull class for the next cup. But we shall wait and see.
 
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