Australia to host Americas Cup on Gold Coast

[Larks]

I'm excited!!! :eek: Alinghi has offered to host the Americas Cup on the Easty Coast of Australia, apparently, and we could be in the right place at the right time here on the Gold Coast.

Yes, it may be a long shot, but hey, we can only hope!!!:)

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/aussies-welcome-chance-to-host-americas-cup-race-20091106-i21c.html

[The Bigfella]

That could be interesting. What chance... 5%?

[Larks]

Oh come on Ian, where's the positivity ??? John Bertram seems to think the offer has a good chance of being accepted, just where on the East Coast it ends up though???

[Larks]

I'm just imagining the work that is going to be suddenly available if they do agree to it:D

[rufustr]

Would be more likely to be in Sydney.:(:(

[RFNK]

Would be more likely to be in Sydney


Seems unlikely to me. Too many waves and too much wind in Sydney. Also true of the Gold Coast, of course! Botany Bay's too ugly and none of the other protected venues in NSW are big enough except Jervis Bay and it seems unlikely that the organisers would ever have heard of that. Probably somewhere inside the reef will get the guernsey if it's East Coast Oz IMHO! Rick

PS Unless, of course, they finally want to make it into a spectacular and interesting race!

SITPTMPO!

[Larks]

They are looking along the coast south of Townsville, so maybe the Whitsundays, though the weather, heat and risk of cyclones my send them further south.

[bamamick]

This gets crazier every day. I do admit that the people on both sides of this argument (the heck with the Kiwis, Italians, Brits, etc. They aren't that important :)) seem to be very resolved, and could care less if there is actually ever another race for this thing unless it is held exactly as they wish it to be held.

Mickey Lake

[Tom Robb]

It was interesting when OZ had off Perth

[Thad]

It was fun watching the 12s work in the seas off Perth. Seamanship, crew work, and equipment made all the difference. How would the cats (or tris, whatever they are) handle those conditions? Might be interesting indeed.

[johnw]

Let me guess. They're looking for a venue where the wind never goes under 9 knots, so Oracle will be dismasted.

[WX]

so maybe the Whitsundays

That was my first thought. Not that I really care, it's just formula one on water and a lot of overpaid lawyers in the background looking for advantage.

[Willin']

I was guessing they'd be looking for a locale with sailing conditions consistant with the Med or Dubai so they don't have to start designing from scratch.

This would be a coup for Hamilton Island!

We'd definitely consider going back to Valencia or coming to Aussie to see the races. Dubai... not so much.

[Chris.]

In the Sydney paper too, with a February date mentioned. They quote Bertrand saying that off the harbour here is just too windy and rough in February. Feb in Queensland is cyclone season, no?
Be great to have it here I guess, given the timezone issues the live TV/web audience and the advertising exposure would be much more limited than anywhere in the US, Europe of the Middle East.
Just another joke in a long running comedy perhaps .....