In the current race for the 2007 America’s Cup there have been 11 challengers – now, at last, down to the two finalists: Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi.
The top three teams, including the two above and BMW Oracle Racing, each spent around $A160 million on this campaign. Test yourself. Name one boat in the current series other than the three just mentioned. In case you think the other syndicates got away cheap, the bottom team, Areva Challenge spent a niggardly $A37 million, against the general mid-range spend of a lazy $A100 million for syndicates like Desafio Espanol and Maslcalzone Latino.
All but the two finalists are out of contention now and on the way home, and there is nothing more useless than a slow America’s Cup boat. Rides around the harbour in Nice or a Middle East live sheep carrier perhaps? If they were in it for the advertising these syndicates would be better off with their names on the rounding buoys. At least they would still have exposure in the last race of the final.
Did they ever have a chance? Well, even if they had reached the final, not much. Since the war there have been 14 America’s Cup challenges and out of the 64 races raced in the final series, the eventual winner has won 55 of them and the losers have won just 9, and that includes the 3 won by Dennis Connor against Australia 2 in the latter’s historic series wining event in 1983. No other losing finalist has won more than 1 race. Most haven’t won any.
Since the current IACC rules were introduced in 1992 the losing finalists have only won a single race.
The reasons are pretty clear. In a two boat yacht race the yacht that looses the start, unless it has overwhelmingly superior speed (unlikely) has virtually no chance unless the leading yacht makes a tactical error, much like Connors in the last race of the 1983 series. It could be the case for the final about to start that the yachts are so evenly matched we get a nail biter, but sadly history suggests that half way up the beat on the first race we will probably know who is going to win the series.
So why did the ‘tail enders’ do it? Well, for the crews, they are professional sailors and what professional sailor wouldn’t give his eye teeth to be in it, especially as they are being paid? For the companies sponsoring the yachts, the America’s Cup definitely plays right to the demographic of Emirates passengers (those that turn left anyway), or BMW buyers and is better than a couple of ad breaks on Wheel of Fortune. But, hey, golf’s cheaper. Perhaps the Chinese are going to make thousands of cheap America’s Cup yachts out of plastic in a factory in Shang-hai. But really, when push comes to shove, the America’s Cup is the ultimate case of rich boys and their toys. If you’ve got buckets of it, (no, make that swimming pools full of it) what better way to flaunt it? For the rest of us, just sit back and enjoy it and be happy you’re not paying the bills. Any of them.
Dan
Guest
I have to admit, before this Louis Vuitton series I couldn't keep an eye open either, and that was during the day. However, although the sailing is based on pretty much the same principles as most motorsports , namely going around in circles all day, the way that it is now broadcast with graphics (better than the last challenge) makes it 100 times more interesting. Not just that but it also gives you an insight to how and why things are happening and that is something the next generation of sailors can take on board. Excuse the pun. It seems that this is almost the only sport (that I can think of)which has such in depth technical explanations and graphic guides. Its a very nice change to the constant bow to bow television shot with which, I think, even the most experienced helmsmen had difficulties seeing what boat was in front..
jimma
Guest
Spiro: Elements of truth in both. A) It's about as interesting as formula 1 which I can't even keep my eyes open for anymore (unless I am actually there as the sound, booze and pretty girls keep me from nodding off) B) Australia are now crap at it If you want to watch exciting racing watch the Moto GP. I stayed up to watch the last race live and I was glad I did, one of the best for a very long time (I was actually at the island when the doctor pipped Biaggi by 0.0001 of a second which is probably the best) The race is an ode to coorporate excess, and doesn't even have hot chicks, booze or a lot of noise so as boring as F1 is, it's streets ahead of yacht racing. The 18 foot skiffs are miles better
Paul Cotton
Guest
It was not quite the last Australian challenger that sank. That was off San Diego and I was skiing at the time and watched the yacht sink 100 times that afternoon. As a New Zealander I was thrilled. Since then there was an Australian challenge once in Auckland when Syd Fischer put in an old boat and a team of Australian youngsters. They won every start, with James Shithill at the helm and lost eevery race. Spithill and maybe some of the others have gone on to fame and fortune, well certainly fortune, but there's not been an Australian challenge since. I believe Auckland /New Zealand benefitted to the tune of $60 million or more from the last aseries there. So no wonder we want to get it back again. In the series before
spiro zavos
Guest
At first glance, watching the America's Cup is about as interesting as watching paint dry and grass grow - at the same time. This is true with the live watching. Supporters pay tens of thousands of dollars to go out to sea with the racing yachts and at best they catch the occasional glimpses of the contestants, the tip of mast perhaps, over the ceaseless swells of the waves. But in New Zealand, the land of grass growing, they've developed television formats that make the racing as exciting as - as Formula One racing. You do get hooked on the race, even though as Paul says the yacht that wins the start will generally win the race. This isn't very much different from the Monaco Grand Prix where the starting car is virtually unpassable (is this a word? you know what I mean) in the narrow streets that make up the circuit on the principality. Is it too conspiratorial to have the suspicion that the bagging of the America's Cup and its virtual neglect in the Australian sports media has something to do with the disastrous attempt by the last Australian challenger when the boat sank?
Sven Goatis
Guest
I think this bloke should stick to something like goat farming, why would'nt you go and blow $A 100m so that you can park up at the yaght club and boast that your in the big race. Who cares about winning (O'h maybe shareholders in some of these companies).