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News from XSRacing
Monday - December 17 2007 - 0845 PST - America's Cup Update: Report by GGYC and Americascup.com - It seems that all is right in the world again...Larry Ellison of the GGYC and Ernesto Bertarelli of the Alinghi Camp have finally agreed on new terms of the 33rd America's Cup. This new venue will take the America's Cup to a new level of interest and excitement finally worthy of being touted as the Sport of Sailing's 'premiere event'. This new outline, just posted by the GGYC and Americascup.com, will add spectacular spectator appeal and help promote the sport of sailing to all countries. But enough rhetoric...here is the new outline...it is surprisingly very simple:
1) The Boat - 80 foot catamarans - New rule with a max length, beam and sail area. Hulls and rigs must be built in the country of challenge. Hydro-Foils are legal. One boat per team. Rule co-developed by Morrelli Melvin Design, Sebschmidt Architects, Nigel Irens Designs and VPLP. Details will be viewed by the defender and all challengers at the same time. Details of the new AC Design Rule to be presented on Jan 15 2008.
2) Crew - a minimum of 10 crew with an 11th man position for sponsors. Nine of ten crew or 90% must be born in country of challenge.
3) Place - The America's Cup will be held in waters that must have adequate wind conditions to meet the new minimum wind requirement. Instead of a wind maximum that can cancel the race, there is now only a wind minimum - a 12 knot wind average at the start of the race. This will provide plenty of action for both the crews and spectators. Places being considered: Hawaii, New Zealand, San Francisco USA, Australia, Windy Bay England and others. Place will be determined by the defender. Place to be announced on Jan 15th 2008.
4) Three Boat Racing - As the original America's Cup was NOT a match racing venue, the 33rd Americas Cup Finals will be sailed by three boats instead of two. An elimination series will determine the top three boats with the best race record in the elimination series. Those 3 boats from 3 different countries will compete in a best 5 out of 9 series for the Americas Cup. The three boat venue will force the leading boat to cover two boats instead of one, making it more challenging for the leading boat to retain a lead than in two-boat match racing. It will make the racing more exciting and the race outcome less predictable for both the crew and spectators.
5) The Course - The course will be a start, windward leg, random reaching leg and downwind finish twice around. Wind start - minimum to be 12 knot average at the start. Once started, the race can not be cancelled due to high winds, thus promoting strong boats that can be used for racing other than the America's Cup.
6) Date - America's Cup Elimination series to start April 1st 2009 and the America's Cup Final to start June 1st 2009 and repeat every year. With the America's Cup held each year like the Super Bowl, World Series or soccer's World Cup, it will promote the sport of sailing and will force teams to keep the boats simple, fast to build and affordable.
7) Marketing - A budget will be set up that will take portions of the entry fees and apply it to purchase TV and internet time worldwide. Also, a partnership of five primary America's Cup sponsors, Rolex, Mount Gay Rum, Yamaha. Microsoft and You Tube, is currently being negotiated. The revenue from these sponsors will allow the AC organizers to purchase primetime on the Fox Network. This will allow all sailors from around the world to view the America's Cup on their local TV. It is hoped that the fast paced, high wind sailing with a national pride theme will generate great sailing that has not been seen on TV since the 1987 America's Cup, when over 100 million viewers worldwide were glued to their TV sets as they watched Dennis Conner win back the America's Cup.
That's it! A 7-point plan that addresses all concerns while making the America's Cup a great new spectator sport for all. So simple yet borders on genius. The new venue will make the America's Cup more exciting in all forms of media as spectators, new and old to sailing, watch 80 foot speed machines, sailed by their loyal countrymen and women, challenge to win the America's Cup for national glory. Thank you Larry and Ernesto!
One last thing...in the spirit of Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" XS Racing has presented the above 'mock' solution to the ugly America's Cup status that continues to get worse. Although the above story is completely untrue, it offers a better solution than what is currently going on with the America's Cup. Feel free to email us with modifications and/or comments or send in your own fantasy AC scenario and we'll put it to the public. Forward our
www.xsracing.org link to your friends for their opinion. Who knows, maybe Larry and Ernesto will listen to what the sailing community has to say and make the next America's Cup the best it has ever been. Email us today at [email]
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