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sirbates -> RE: America's Cup race underway (2/16/2010 4:37:43 AM)
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Many sports have become more about money than sportsmanship and the ideals of past generations. Formula 1 and America.s Cup have always been criticized for the huge mountains of cash involved, but they are far not alone. The Vancouver winter Winter Olympics lasts only 2 weeks and just the cost for security for the games is estimated to over $1 billion. What is the combined total of the player NHL contracts on the Canadian Hockey Team, or the payroll of the NY Yankees, or some NFL teams. Professional sports teams and Formula 1 generate enough revenue to be profitable, Olympics are paid for with tax dollars, but where is the revenue in America's Cup?
Its true Americas Cup boats have become basically disposable since they are designed specifically for this event and are completely unusable for anything else and because the rules change so often and technology has become such factor that the boats either do not conform or (just like Formula 1 cars) are no longer competitive with newer boats designed around newer technology. in fact there are some boats from the last 2 or 3 competitions that been advertised for sale at prices in the low six figures which is a tiny fraction if what they cost to build. It was not that long ago that some boats were able to compete in 2 or more America's Cups.
The America's Cups where the 12 meter mono-hull boats were used were more about seamanship and the advances in technology were much more relevant since they could be applied in the design of racing and pleasure sailboats. In this America's Cups the boats did not even look like boats and most of the vessel was airborne not in the water.
For anyone who is a fan of the 12 meter boats there is a company that purchased several of the 12 meter boats that compered in America's Cups in the 1980'a and 90's including winners and famous boats with names you will remember. The company located on Caribbean island of St. Maarten offers the opportunity to participate as a crew member on one of 2 boats selected from their 12 meter in traditional friendly America's Cup style race over a triangular course. Anyone can purchase a ticket to participate as part of the crew even if they have never been on any kind of boat before. A professional captain and first mate employed by the company are assigned to command each boat. The crews of 10 to 20 people go through 45 minute information session where the rules, crew positions and race course are all briefly explained. The participants are split into 2 crews and each assigned to a boat. The crews board their assigned 12 meter were the captain and first mate give an orientation and safety demonstration then assign and explain crew positions to each participant. The positions all very simple involve operating a winch , a grinder, or pulling a rope as the captain's commands. The boats detach from their moorings, the sails are raised and a short training session where the captain tacks the boat a couple of times giving the crew a couple of opportunities to practice the task to which they have been assigned. The boats then sail over to the course and the race is held. The whole experience lasts about 4 or 5 hours with the race bring a little over an hour. We were backstay grinder and tailer (not very demanding), our boat a Canadian challenger called "True North" raced against a former America's Cup winner from the USA called "Stars and Stripes" It was a very exciting and memorable experience especially the manoeuvering in close quarters before the start. It is a great experience for a fan because you get to not only see a real live 12 meter competition boat up close , you get to race on it. Its an auto racing fan getting to drive a formula 1 racing car from the 80's in a short race.
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