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I know there isn't too much respect given to rag-boats...

But does anyone think there's something odd about calling off an America's Cup race because of three-foot seas? Those are 90 foot boats! Now tomorrow will be a rest day because they didn't race today!

Three foot seas! (shakes his head)

John

If that's really the case, my theory about the deterioration of the gene pool is further verified.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100210/B ... ericas-Cup

I read it in the NYT, but here's someone who agrees with me...

Truely a lost opportunity to see the next Darwin award winner in action.

Most of you know that I was an active offshore sailboat racer for many years. I lost interest in America's Cup racing quite a few years ago when a catamaran was pitted against a multihull. I realized that the competitors were taking advantage of every little point in the rules to play oneupsmanship with each other, very much like a bunch of spoiled kids. It seems like from that point on an entrant had to have top level designers, top level builders, top level crewmembers, an out of this world budget, and a top level law firm to make up a competitive syndicate. These boats bear no more resembelance to the average joe's sailboat use than does a sailboat racing against a powerboat.

I believe the original Deed of Gift specified that the challenger boat had to be sailed on her own bottom from her home country to the country where the race was held. When that changed the race became a rich guys ego trip. Today's boats are designed for a very narrow range of wind and sea conditions, and with such narrow ranges the designs have almost no safety margins since extra strength is sacrificed in the name of saving weight.

I might watch a race on TV occasionally, but have no interest in who wins, or who has the biggest ego afterwards. It is just a bunch of rich guys showing off.

Correction..

I should have said "when a catamaran was pitted against a MONOhull"

IRGuy wrote:Correction..

I should have said "when a catamaran was pitted against a MONOhull"

My take is that it's less about two guys that sail boats well - more about how good their respective attorneys are on interpreting the rules.

I raced sailboats for years too - great fun and really had more of a good time on the smaller boats.

Sounds like it has just become another Professional Sport.

There was a guy on our dock like this A.C. crowd. Either too rough or not enough wind. Boat sat in it's slip for four years until it nearly sank because the zincs went and then a through hull blew out.
His was an old Charlie Morgan design, fabulous sailing boat. What a waste, kind of like the current Cup crowd..

Sir Thomas (Lipton) must be spinning in his grave. Multihulls in America's Cup racing is just wrong. What's next, hydrofoils? The J-boats, the 12-meters--that's yacht racing!

i agree...should have stayed with the original hull formula and refined it with modern materials. the race should be as much about the helmsman and the tactician as the boat.

The Swiss winning it took the cake. I still think they shoulda had it on Lake Geneva.

UV

When men were men:

Now:

Still, you have to love a boat that will do 33 knots in 10.5 knots of wind...

Why does this not turn me on? It's more a race of who can spend more money to make a faster boat with seemingly no rules as to number of hulls, sail area, size and weight of hull and crew. Tactics and sailing skill seem to come second. Horse racing seems to be more honest.

which boat would you rather own? remember the tri isnt much good in seas above five foot. and soul.....no contest.

bertram31.com

I think there's a problem...

I think there's a problem...