New Americas Cup Format

[MUS]

Just read the proposed new format for the Americas Cup on this site. The ideas include:-

Some fleet racing.
Qualification through annual regattas.
Defender fights it out with the rest of the challengers.

I am sure there are some 'stick in the muds' out there, but reckon these changes will be brilliant and open up sailing to a far wider audience. I applaud Alinghi for these proposals, especially as it will make it more difficult for them to defend it.

Who knows, Britain may get to host an ACC regatta yet.

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[davidhand]

I generally agree with the proposed changes, and your comments. But I'm not sure I like the bit about relaxing the nationality requirements, it seems to they should be more stringent, like all Brits on a brit boat etc. Incidentally I believe the Brit effort was the only one where all the team was from the country of the challenging club.

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[MUS]

Stongly insisting on keeping strict nationality rules can only deter sponsors (who, due to the sums involved are likely to to global companies) from funding teams.

It will also restrict the job opportunities for all the talented British sailors we keep hearing about.

I am sure that teams will still want to align themselves with their country in the same way that Formula 1 teams do.

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[Twister_Ken]

Fleet racing, yes please

Having seen fleet racing of 12's during AC150, the fleet racing idea gets my vote. And maybe, they could let some of the older non-competitive boats race as well.

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[snooks]

But the sailing coach was an Aussi and the General manager was a Kiwi..there was also a few others on board

The problem with restricting the nationalities is where to draw the line...

The crew play a great role to the performance, but so do the designers and sailmakers would thay have to be from the same nationality...and what about the place of manufacture? do all the workers from the yard have to be from the entering nationality?

It could get a bit confusing =-/



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[snooks]

Eh?

Ferrari are Italian, their drivers are German and Brazilian, their racing director is French, and they have American and British main sponsors

I'm confused even more now

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[davidhand]

Re: Eh?

Didn't I hear the Ferrari F1 cars are built near Guildford.

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[MUS]

Yes, exactly, but they still play the Italian national anthem and wave the Italian flag for the constructor.

Beneton even changed from a British team to an Italian one over night!

Perhaps nationality should be based on the location of the team's base.

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