America's cup going back to monohull

[Scott T-Bird]

The origin of this thread seems to be based on the premise that AC organizers will or should strive to spark interest among a broad audience of sailors and non-sailors alike. But, I think they don't care a rat's ass for broad appeal. They do this event for their own elite circle. Sure, some of us look in with interest, and I'm sure there is broader interest from a more technical audience. But who really cares about it? The participants have billions to throw into the spectacle, but the spectacle is for themselves. They aren't looking for any return and they aren't interested in contributing to the overall interest of sailing. They are just a self-absorbed circle of players. Perhaps they just want to see a monohull AC75 fly and they want to go for a ride. It's not about generating appeal. They move from one design innovation to the next just because it captures their interest. It's a shallow obsession. There isn't anything deeper to look into.

 

[Jackdaw]

Sailing was never a spectator sport but TV coverage and commentaries made it one. The ways to enhance the sport is by improving TV coverage and the competition. Make the sailors and not the boats the stars of the show.

Sailing as a viable TV sport was lost in the USA once we lost a critical mass that actually understood sailing, racing, and rules. Now 1/10 sail, and even less understand it at a level that makes watching a 12m yacht race on TV interesting.

So LE tries to re-invent it as NASCAR on water, geared for people with no understanding of it, and MTV-style attention spans. The fact that it was actually pretty interesting is a credit to their efforts.

 

[Jackdaw]

The origin of this thread seems to be based on the premise that AC organizers will or should strive to spark interest among a broad audience of sailors and non-sailors alike.

USA. New Zealand. Australia. Great Britain. France. Your comment is only valid for the first one. Everywhere else people care, and the local organizers know that. This is a BIG DEAL in New Zealand.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

USA. New Zealand. Australia. Great Britain. France. Your comment is only valid for the first one. Everywhere else people care, and the local organizers know that. This is a BIG DEAL in New Zealand.

Well, I agree that it is a big deal for Australia and New Zealand. Great Britain? Maybe not since the Earl of Wilton (my namesake ) invited the Americans. France? Is there a major French organization that has gone all out in AC and is there an interest in AC in France? I'm not aware. They haven't ever hosted the event, have they? I guess it was hosted in Switzerland once, wasn't it? ... oops hosted by a swiss sponsor in Spain.
You might be missing my point. It's not about the interest in sailboat racing, it's more about the way this particular event has evolved. France has a huge national interest in sailing - such as the Vendee, because it is THEIR event, and they seem to be holding fast to the tradition and the French identity of the event. New Zealand and Australia are similarly crazy about sailing, and perhaps because their nationalities dominate in the athletic participation of the AC event, AC is meaningful to them for nationalistic pride. Americans don't even seem to have any participants, other than a corporate CEO. Why should we care about it? At this point, the only thing American about the event is the name and the interest of corporate elites to bring it back to America ... but then they host it in Bermuda, perhaps because they don't want the riff raff to get anywhere close.

 

[Rick486]

It never ever was a One Design race.

Yes, I agree. The 12 meter "rule", while not a "one design rule" like Snipes or Etchells, drove designs that were quite similar, if not identical, in LOA, beam, draft, sail area, etc. and resulted in some very interesting naval architectural designs, some of which were breakthroughs such as the wing keel, and some not so much, such as Britton Chance's blunt stern. Who can forget Ted Turner's observation after having his ass handed to him in Chance's "revolutionary" design......"..even a turd is pointed at both ends...".

 

[Head Sail]

The origin of this thread seems to be based on the premise that AC organizers will or should strive to spark interest among a broad audience of sailors and non-sailors alike. But, I think they don't care a rat's ass for broad appeal. They do this event for their own elite circle. Sure, some of us look in with interest, and I'm sure there is broader interest from a more technical audience. But who really cares about it? The participants have billions to throw into the spectacle, but the spectacle is for themselves. They aren't looking for any return and they aren't interested in contributing to the overall interest of sailing. They are just a self-absorbed circle of players. Perhaps they just want to see a monohull AC75 fly and they want to go for a ride. It's not about generating appeal. They move from one design innovation to the next just because it captures their interest. It's a shallow obsession. There isn't anything deeper to look into.

Hasn't the AC always been a race for the "elite"? As long as I can remember it has been a race of wealthy dudes spending their millions on a sport they love. I'd have to agree they don't really care about the popularity with the general public, it's more about ego and doing something with their billions other than watching it grow into more billions. They push the envelope with innovation that sometimes can be upsetting for the traditionalist. I see nothing wrong with that and it sounds pretty interesting to me. I'd just like to see a little more trash talking and home team enthusiasm but somehow it's hard to cheer for billionaires. Whether they race a monohull or cat doesn't make much difference to me, as long as USA wins.

 

[Jackdaw]

Well, I agree that it is a big deal for Australia and New Zealand. Great Britain? Maybe not since the Earl of Wilton (my namesake ) invited the Americans. France? Is there a major French organization that has gone all out in AC and is there an interest in AC in France? I'm not aware. They haven't ever hosted the event, have they? I guess it was hosted in Switzerland once, wasn't it? ... oops hosted by a swiss sponsor in Spain.
You might be missing my point. It's not about the interest in sailboat racing, it's more about the way this particular event has evolved. France has a huge national interest in sailing - such as the Vendee, because it is THEIR event, and they seem to be holding fast to the tradition and the French identity of the event. New Zealand and Australia are similarly crazy about sailing, and perhaps because their nationalities dominate in the athletic participation of the AC event, AC is meaningful to them for nationalistic pride. Americans don't even seem to have any participants, other than a corporate CEO. Why should we care about it? At this point, the only thing American about the event is the name and the interest of corporate elites to bring it back to America ... but then they host it in Bermuda, perhaps because they don't want the riff raff to get anywhere close.

I think I get your point. My point was that those countries have a HUGE grass-roots interest in sailing. Kids talk about moves made on the course like they discuss slam-dunks here. Its huge in the UK as well. Make the Olympics in sailing there and you have endorsements for life. Here; can you name ANYONE off the last 2 Olympic teams? Anyone?? ;^)

Oh France was a big player in 12m boats... they had TWO in the challenger cup competition in 1987. They kind of lost interest in at when solo and short handed made its big splash. But came back to win the Vendee with Groupama two races ago.

 

[Benny17441]

Thinking about it, the AC is dead. I think it was killed by the changing times; there is no longer the competitive atmosphere between the rich of the leisure class that their Clubs were willing to support the expenses of an able crew and the building and maintenance of a boat just for their personal pride and that of their country. They try to maintain the event going by commercial promotions and syndicate moneys but national pride is a factor that cannot be bought. Let some sailing club start a new event based on the amateur principles of international racing for the love of the sport. Let them organize an event and invite the different countries to bring a boat and crew to represent them. Issue a challenge based on competing in common production or homemade boats of certain ordinary specifications. The prize will be the prestige for the crew, the country and the sailing club that will host the next event. Do not try to draw fans away from NASCAR or Football but recognize that your appreciative fans will come from the ranks of today's sailors.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It was different in the past when the event seemed to focus on the personalities of the representing captains. It doesn't seem that way anymore. I remember a few friends whom actually crewed for Buddy Melges when the cry was to "bring the cup up". Perhaps it was just more personal then. The captains and crews don't seem as personal now in this event. They are more like cogs in a machine, and it doesn't help that there are few Americans that participate. I think the French have maintained that personality interest for the Vendee. Volvo Open Ocean, not so much, but the coverage does a good job at making the event about the personalities.
Somebody made a good observation about how it appeared that the crew were barely hanging on during the multi-hulled events. The television shots seemed to feature the guys racing back and forth across the trampoline deck. It was hard to relate that to actual sailing. OTOH, watching guys sitting on the rail isn't exactly riveting, either.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

So LE tries to re-invent it as NASCAR on water, geared for people with no understanding of it, and MTV-style attention spans. The fact that it was actually pretty interesting is a credit to their efforts.

The graphics that he introduced for the San Francisco event were amazing. I can't help but think that there should be potential for sailboat racing to gain interest at AC. The speed and athleticism is compelling. The personalities just don't seem as large as they once were. Ted Turner, Dennis Conner and the others seemed to be as large as the event itself. NASCAR is all about the personalities, don't you think? Watching cars go round in circles can't be all that compelling, except that I think it is also about the sound of the engines, which has huge appeal.

 

[Will Gilmore]

don't you think? Watching cars go round in circles can't be all that compelling,

"It looks like they are coming up to another left turn, Bob. What do you think is going through their minds right now?"

"I think they are going to stick to the game plan, Dick. But, that's what makes this sport so exciting. You never know what's going to happen. "

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jackdaw]

The graphics that he introduced for the San Francisco event were amazing. I can't help but think that there should be potential for sailboat racing to gain interest at AC. The speed and athleticism is compelling.

Could be. But I think for most uninitiated, it seems like a made-up sport, kinda like the X-games. Hard to get invested into something that has no history with you.

 

[Jackdaw]

Let some sailing club start a new event based on the amateur principles of international racing for the love of the sport. Let them organize an event and invite the different countries to bring a boat and crew to represent them. Issue a challenge based on competing in common production or homemade boats of certain ordinary specifications.

I'm not sure. When national pride is on the line. I want the sailing equivalent of these guys representing the USA. And they'll want (and deserve) to get paid. USA! USA!

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls, John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks, Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors, David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, and Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Make the Olympics in sailing there and you have endorsements for life. Here; can you name ANYONE off the last 2 Olympic teams? Anyone?? ;^)

This is really where Americans fail in the promotion of sailing as a sport. It has been that way as long as I can remember. In fact, I was in high school, living in northern New Hampshire, before I even knew sailing was an Olympic sport.

National pride, yacht club pride, competitive sailing has forever been the preview of the class elite. At least, that's the impression most of the world has. That needs to change of you really want to promote sailing, which I don't. I like a small elite community, surrounded by the mists of misunderstanding.
- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Rick486]

Could be. But I think for most uninitiated, it seems like a made-up sport, kinda like the X-games. Hard to get invested into something that has no history with you.

That's exactly it. Most people, and even most sailors, haven't had experience racing sailboats, specifically one designs. So people like us have lived our lives at 5-6 knots waiting patiently for 10-15 minutes or more to see if we will get the knock over against the shore so we can take a hitch and cross these guys up to windward. Average folks have no clue and they don't understand the suspense. I remember the 12's and Conner at Freemantle where the coverage was spectacular and there was a breeze so you could see the tactics playing out in real time. To most of us, it was better than sex. But it's really a tough challenge trying to sell sailboat racing to a broad audience.