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Anchoring the Cup in a New Era -- Then What?

Posted 1 year, 4 months ago

Anchoring the Cup in a New Era -- Then What?
"We made big changes this time round. We're looking to build and consolidate on that, not make massive changes." -- Alinghi's General Counsel, Hamish Ross (NZL), in a Reuters story by Jane Barrett that has been running in various papers around the world over the weekend. Key excerpts with comments by your Ed. [in brackets]: + "I think everyone would like to see the cycle be quicker this time and two years is the cycle people are talking about." [Everyone except ETNZ and a couple of the smaller teams.] + Timing partly depends on bigger sporting events which will compete for sponsorship and viewers, particularly the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 soccer World Cup. [2009 anyone?] + It also depends on whether the Cup stays in Valencia or moves to a new venue where teams would need to build new bases, study new weather patterns and so create new boats and crews. [If so, 2011 not 2009?] + Alinghi, based in the Alps, cannot defend the America's Cup at home because it must be raced at sea. [Not true, and this is one of the media's most widely repeated AC fallacies -- by mutual consent with the Challenger of Record the AC can be raced anywhere; only absent mutual consent must the races be held "on ocean courses, free from headlands."*] + Their decision to sail off Valencia has put Spain's third largest city on the map and authorities here are desperate to host the Cup again although the rumour mill suggests Alinghi could move to Dubai or Lisbon if they win. [or France, or Greece or Italy -- unless, of course, Valencia comes to the table with a proper offer. And, yes, France is a distinct possibility.] + "Valencia is a fantastic venue and in fact exceeded our expectations. Is it a hot prospect for next time? Absolutely," Ross said, looking out over Valencia's swish new port. "But (we) have a duty to look at other possibilities," he added, suggesting a final decision could take some months. [It does not take a rocket scientist, or nine-time Cup vet, to read those tea leaves -- "Valencia, get your act (no pun intended) together or we're outta here, and that probably means 2011.] Alinghi's Hamish Ross in an Alinghi p.r. photo -- we have some better snaps.+ Ross said costs could be cut by stopping two-boat campaigns, limiting the number of people per team or capping training and testing time so sailors do not have to move to the host city. [OK, so these long-since discussed possibilities are now openly on the table, and more than just trial balloons.] + This time, Alinghi worked with BMW Oracle, who Ross said had helped anchor the Cup in a new era. Many Cup insiders expect the Swiss will choose new British challenger Team Origin as their partner next time as the two already have close relations. [Such as selling them SUI 75 -- but who in their right minds would want to be Challenger of Record? It is a poisoned chalice. No COR has ever won the LVC let alone the AC. That's grist for another post, but just think about how the last three fared: 2000, Young America, almost sank; 2003, Prada, heavily touted but didn't even make the LVC finals; 2007, BMWOR, well, heavily touted but didn't even make the LVC finals.] ___________ *Relevant excerpt from the Deed of Gift, emphasis added by your Ed.: In case the parties cannot mutually agree upon the terms of a match, then three races shall be sailed, and the winner of two of such races shall be entitled to the Cup. All such races shall be on ocean courses, free from headlands, as follows: The first race, twenty nautical miles to windward and return; the second race an equilateral triangular race of thirty-nine nautical miles, the first side of which shall be a beat to windward; the third race (if necessary) twenty nautical miles to windward and return; and one week day shall intervene between the conclusion of one race and the starting of the next race. Full Story »

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