America's Cup declining?

How about close racing?

Some of us have always thought the Americas Cup was the pinnacle of match racing. It isn't that any more. Designs may have changed from schooners to J to 12m to IACC but the AC has always been match racing at heart. No sign of that so far this time round

Richard Woods

 

Americas Cup Ascending!

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You know as well as I do that close racing was extremely rare in the AC throughout history(at least my history)-from the twelves on. And I believe I've watched every race of every Cup that was televised. As to close racing-did you watch the 45's racing? Lots of close racing. In my opinion, as the disparities in the programs start to evaporate the racing will be much closer than it is now. The prestarts with TNZ and LR had some good moments.
It's way too early in the development of the 72 to say there will be no close racing.

 

Americas Cup Ascending!

A post from Brian Eiland in 2006:

 

Doug, youre making logical errors, its called arguing from authority and special pleading. The AC is a monohull race that has been usurped for the first time in history by multis. Let me paraphrase that;

"The Isle of Man senior TT has been run in F1 cars for the first time in over a hundred years. Proponents are thrilled that the cars can go around the course so much faster in the pinnacle of motorcyle racing."

Within this AC framework it is simply impossible for the beautiful game of nautical chess to be played. These boat are pornstars, brazen liposuction, silicon and botox designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Thrilling technology for awhile, but hard to live with in the longterm.

 

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In my opinion, you couldn't be more wrong!

 

But they aren't AC boats are they? That's like saying the 6m raced in the AC in the 12m days. Unlike the 6m and 12m, which were designed to the same rule, the AC45 has little in common with the AC72 apart from the wing sail and number of hulls

I watched the Freemantle AC in 1987 as it was on national TV in the UK on Sunday nights. I missed the 83 event as I was working at the Southampton Boat Show, but I remember the cheer when Australia 2 won. So why did you watch the 12m racing? Was it because they were slow and boring boats, or because the racing was close and competitive? Back in 1987, and even 1983, no one could predict who was going to be in the finals either as defender or challenger. This time we had a pretty good idea 2 years ago.

I also watched all the AC45 events on youtube and I agree they give good racing. Unfortunately I missed seeing them in person as I was in S Ca when they were in Plymouth and in Plymouth when they were in S Ca

Richard Woods

 

America's Cup Ascending!

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Because somebody I respected told me they represented the pinnacle of sailboat design.
In '83 I predicted Aussie II would win-wings and all. I wanted her to win so badly I took time off work to watch.
In '87, I hoped DC would win to bring it home-and damned if he didn't do it. I'll never forget the recovery from the torn jib or the sea at Fremantle.
But nothing I've ever seen in the AC compares with what I've seen this go round and it will only get better........

 

No, it cannot be anything that resembles a past-AC tactical close racing because the speeds are too high and boats are a potential death trap. A close tactical racing presents risks of collision even on displacement monohulls. In case of 30-40 kts hydroplanes any collision could have potentially mortal consequences. Hence, close racing as we know it is not possible with current boats. And even if it theoretically was, the crew (those guys who would risk their lives in a similar situation) would probably avoid it as much as they could.

Question: why don't we have views on TV from on-board cameras, as we used to have in all the previous recent AC events?

 

In my opinion, Motorbike is perfectly spot-on. Just like Earl Boebert is, when he says:

Brute force - a perfect description. We don't even see human beings on board, with their faces and voices, laughs and angers. All we see are these huge sterile machines going up and down the course with a digital speed indicator suspended in the mid-air above the wing. So high-tech, so sterile, so odorless. So Silicon-valley style.
I guess only Japanese robot-makers could be able to make it even less human experience.

 

Perhaps its best to totally eliminate crew from the boats. Go Fly by wire with Mega rich owners camped out behind terminals in a Blimp, tactician at hand, hovering on top of the race course, initiating pre programed, close in, 40knot maneuvers .

STARBOARD !!! Opps.... indiscretions could be vacuumed up via harbor craft while boat number two is sent out for the next " ACT".

 

So none of the qualities of the modern high performance boats attract you ... so f*****g what?
Go watch something else or better still, participate in some other activity - anything else besides endlessly moaning your biased negativity here.
Troll off, begone.
There are others here who really enjoy, are fascinated with, what is occurring AC.

 

... like, for example?

 

Gary...you are the Troll.

This thread is titled " Americas Cup Declining ".

one more time, just in case youre thick.... thread title " AMERICAS CUP DECLINING
"
Daiquiri is telling you, in clear, polite terms why the present America Cup has lost his interest.

 

A whisper in your shell-like ears - this cup is not declining.

 

Tell you what - I'll stop "moaning" here about this AC if you stop moaning about monohulls (including heavy slow ones) and monohull racing.

Deal?