What I'd like to see is a return to the nationality rule. I don't really care what they sail in but I'd be a whole lot more excited about rooting for an American owned and crewed boat. Of course, that would probably mean the cup would stay in NZ for quite a while. :cry:
I also like the idea of a national crew. Here is some info on a Scot who crewed on a british challoenger and later became the skipper for NYYC defenders.
Early life
Charlie Barr was born in
Gourock,
Scotland in 1864 and first apprenticed as a grocer before working as a commercial fisherman. In 1884, he took a job with his older brother John, delivering a sailing yacht,
Clara, to America.
Clara's racing success was such that in 1887, John was selected to skipper the British challenger,
Thistle, the representative of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club; Charlie served as a member of the crew. Thistle was soundly defeated by
Volunteer. In the process, however, the brothers Barr were introduced to
Nathanael Herreshoff, and Charlie Barr's yachting career was launched. Charlie Barr would sail Herreshoff designs for much of the rest of his professional sailing life.
America's Cup success
Captain Charles Barr was skipper of the yacht
Columbia in 1899 and defeated
Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock. Two years later, in 1901, Charlie Barr was again at the helm against a Lipton sponsored racing machine, Shamrock II, a 137 ft
Watson-designed cutter. In 1903, Barr was the captain of the winning yacht
Reliance, one of the most famous racing yachts to be designed by Nathanael Herreshoff. Barr was inducted into the
America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993.