America's Cup

[rbgarr]

Some pointed thoughts about the upcoming (2024) series: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2...-down-the-loo/

[Rich Jones]

Re: America's Cup

Why in the world wouldn't New Zealand want the Cup races to be held anywhere but in NZ?
Having one of the lead-up regattas in Saudi Arabia is one of the dumbest moves ever.

God meant the America's Cup to be held in the light, boring winds off Newport R.I. !!

[bamamick]

Re: America's Cup

It's essentially a non-event now. It used to be a battle between millionaires (in the metre boat era). Now it's a matter of corporations and fairly unlikeable billionaires. The sailors are just sailors. Just like you and I, though in my case a lot better at it. That's not changed and never will. And of course, I hold no grudge against those men and women who are just trying to make a living doing something that I wish I could have done back in the day. But the politics, sheesh.

Hell with it. I don't care who wins it or where it's held or any of that rot. Let them have it in Saudi Arabia or Dubai or wherever. The event has no more bearing on the common sailor than does what's happening on the moon.

I will say this and then jump down off of my soapbox: the world, the whole world, has to get off of this fascination with sport. Untold billions of dollars is spent each year on paying athletes, building facilities (in some cases with tax dollars), and on gambling and placing wagers on the outcome of the contests. I realize the market is there and the market dictates the money spent, but damnation, we ARE the market, and 'we' need to start thinking about backing away from dependency on fossil fuels so that we can turn a shoulder to places like Saudi Arabia, who are about to pay Lionel Messi over four hundred million dollars to play futbol. Who bought an entire golf tour, guaranteeing money so that the guys participating don't really care how they play. Qatar bought the World Cup and how many construction workers died in building those facilities? And now the Saudis want to start hosting major sailing events?

Russian and Belorussian athletes are banned from participating in world-class sporting events under their own flag, and in many cases, at all, and while I think it's a bit unfair to punish individuals for the actions of their government, I think that it has to be done. Yet Saudi Arabia uses advanced technology sold to them by my country and bombs the living hell out of Yemen and no one says a word. Probably 95% of my countrymen don't even know this is going on. Ah well, I need to take my dog for a walk. Thank goodness.

Mickey Lake

[John Meachen]

Re: America's Cup

I read the link and it seems to be somewhere between a lament and getting some excuses in early.The whole AC business has never,ever had much relevance to the world at large,even though it came closer in 1983 than was usual.For pure sailing,as opposed to "Yachting" I have a higher regard for the Finn Gold Cup of the International Challenge of the 10 sq metre canoe.

[bamamick]

Re: America's Cup

Yeah, guys who can win at big Laser and Sunfish events are the ones I hold in awe. As a young sailor growing up I held guys like Paul Elvstrom in such high regard, and even as an older sailor, I still think that what Sir Ben has accomplished is just...incredible. Now I couldn't even tell you what classes are in the Olympic Games. So, a serious question: to what do our young racing sailors aspire? Class championships are still really freakin' awesome, but dang, we used to look forward to the Olympics the way soccer fans look forward to the World Cup. I think that the world has lost some of what it once was, and was better for, than what it is now.

Mickey Lake

[kbowen]

Re: America's Cup

[QUOTE=bamamick;6850471
I will say this and then jump down off of my soapbox: the world, the whole world, has to get off of this fascination with sport.
Mickey Lake[/QUOTE]


Yes, and especially wrt sailing and the sea. The competitors boil it all down to who won and who lost, not who payed a certain wind shift beautifully. It is because the current human mind has become too small, unable to highly value art and nuance. It is part of our national trauma, people take refuge in digital black and white, when we need to be appreciating the spectrum.

Ken

[rbgarr]

Re: America's Cup

I may have posted this before, but IMO the contests from 1898 to 1937 were the golden years of The Cup:

https://cruisingclub.org/article/sherman-hoyt-command

[skuthorp]

Re: America's Cup

Sorry about the thread drift but I couldn't help myself………..

"Yet Saudi Arabia uses advanced technology sold to them by my country and bombs the living hell out of Yemen and no one says a word."
Bamamick, they used the WTC disaster as an excuse to go on another (failed) OS adventure, and made sure the Saudis were out of the country before they could be fingered.
And you expect something different for the Yemeni's?

and I'll leave it there, unless someone wants to start another big thread.

[bamamick]

Re: America's Cup

I probably killed this thread with my stupid political rant. I sincerely apologize.

In more positive news, the American team is finalizing plans to make Pensacola their permanent training home. iirc the city just approved an $8.3 million dollar sum to aid them in setting it up.

Mickey Lake

[Bruce Brown]

Re: America's Cup

Don't apologize. The only way you get humans (or governments) to rise above their own self-interest is to keep poking them in the eye.

[schoonerpacket]

Re: America's Cup

This floated across my feed and I thought it was worthy of a share. I'm looking forward to watching the event, going to try to get a watch party going. Also for the Olympics but that will be another thread.

https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2023/05/16/americas-cup-closeness-changes-perception/?fbclid=IwAR0J_Q6miqESiJVGdid6A5W8IOOeJgw_or3gbZnJf9qhTtj_aO5Fsf4h4Co

[rbgarr]

Re: America's Cup

This floated across my feed and I thought it was worthy of a share...
https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2...tj_aO5Fsf4h4Co

That's kind of what I imagined the experience would be like from watching it live. But it's great to hear it so well described 'from the horse's mouth'. Thanks.

Meanwhile, re the Olympics there's this : https://vimeo.com/48636114

[bamamick]

Re: America's Cup

Classic!

Mickey Lake

[David Satter]

Re: America's Cup

No interest , I'd rather watch Golden Globe Race - The race returns · Sailing like it's 1968 That's racing.

[John Meachen]

Re: America's Cup

No interest , I'd rather watch Golden Globe Race - The race returns · Sailing like it's 1968 That's racing.

I like the expansion of the range of activities that can be described as racing.Somewhere within the spectrum there is probably a form of racing for each taste.I've enjoyed following IMOCA's of late.