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No news is not good news for America's Cup

Posted 9 months, 22 days ago

No news is not good news for America's Cup
There is nothing new to report, sadly. Justice Cahn is mulling over the "settlement order," although I have no idea what's taking him so long. It's perfectly clear by now that Bert&Ernie is just playing with his food and has no interest in racing for the Cup anytime soon. My guess is that the judge will order order a Deed of Gift match to be sailed 10 months from the date of the order. Golden Gate Yacht Club has challenged in a 90' multihull, so one assumes Societe Nautique de Geneve will respond in kind, although they are only required to bring a boat between 44 and 90 feet on the waterline. On the other hand, thinking out loud, the deed says the yacht may be up to 115 feet LWL if "of more than one mast," so maybe the next ALINGHI will be a 115' foiling trimaran ketch. It is up to SNG to name the venue for the best two-of-three race contest, and it has to be to hell and gone out in the ocean ("free of headlands") as it was in Sandy Eggo in '88. In any event, it will be horrible for anyone who enjoys match racing and America's Cup activity as we know it. Imagine what pre-start maneuvering will look like in very light boats with beam dimensions close to their overall length. Contemplate a tacking duel in which closing speeds approach 40 knots. Watch as the first boat to the weather mark zooms off downwind, never to be seen by the trailing boat again. Oh well. The Cup will survive, but will anyone's interest in it do the same? Full Story »

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