From the Feedback - 28/11/00

We'll be publishing the choicest moments from the stuff you send us - but each contribution may or may not be subjected to a rigorous process of editing for language, taste and imparted wisdom. And of course, as they so famously say at the start of anything like this, the opinions expressed in From the Feedback do not necessarily reflect those of the management, staff or investors of madforsport.com. Instead, and much more importantly, they reflect your views.

From Marina Johnson
Which would you rather have, the America`s Cup or the Olympics? You can't compare them. The Olympics is what every good sportsman aspires to and the event sets goals and aspirations for youngsters all over the world. Gold medal wins push yachting - sadly, maybe only briefly - into the front line of media coverage. The America's Cup is what only a few can dream of taking part in, but the event sets standards at the pinnacle of sailing in terms of development and technology where there is enough money to push barriers forward. The knock-on effect of the America's Cup in economic terms for the yachting industry is huge - and for the spectators and followers the excitement gained from the hype and glamour is incomparable. I've been there a few times!

From Rwhaye,
Are the sceptics being proved wrong? Too early to say, but time will tell. Team Philips has not experienced any of the conditions Club Med and PlayStation have encountered during their trans-Atlantic crossings - or even those of Code 1 during its first week's sailing. Team Philip's problem all occurred in relatively light weather. Personally I am not yet convinced, especially after Barry Noble's remarks that due to their limited budget they could not do all the computer simulations necessary. TP is riding under a lot of assumptions, which should be properly tested, also in view of the radical course of its design. But if they enter The Race, they can only find out then and there, and that could be very costly.

From Magnus Gravare,
Regarding the "new" 505 World Champion. Krister Bergström is now unique in the 505 class, having won 5 World Championships. How many other multiple world champions are there? One that comes to mind is Kenny Read in the J-24s who has won at least a handful, anyone else?

From Simon Smith,
Where have all the Volvo boats gone? Big mistake turning it into a Swedish race, the Whitbread had a history that has been lost by changing its name. This is basic MBA marketing stuff ... don't trash a successful marketing identity and expect people to follow. If they had any sense they would have called the next race the Whitbread Volvo race and then maybe the one after that could have been the "Volvo".

Editor's Note; I've heard it said (unofficially) that even if Volvo had wanted to go down that route, Whitbread wouldn't have let them.

From Marty,
Will the Brits make it? Why bother. If I was doing that kind of sailing I would look for a long running sailing team and not a stop-start lack-of-funds team. The RYA seem keen to do the America's Cup, but I believe they should not go to NZ for 2003, instead do the next one and train the crews on the match racing program in the meantime. Then, when the time arrives for the next AC, the crews should have good experience match racing. And the RYA - or whoever - should have competitive new boats ready for war six months or more before the event, for boat tuning and the final run down of the crews.

Editor's Note; Is Marty swimming against the tide on this one? Our Poll had it 85% in favour of a British entry in the 2003 Cup.

From Mike A,
As I understand, Ellen is in good spirits. I do hope that everything goes as planned - for everybody involved. But especially for Ellen, as she is a girl with guts as well as vits. If she gets it right I think she will be in a podium place. To all of the competitors I hope for good speed, as the sea is no kindergarten.

From Caroline Bews,
Will Coutts get the go-ahead? If Peter Taylor is disappointed that the Swiss entry 'Watch Out' have withdrawn due to lack of funds it implies that they were prepared to accept that entry - in conforming with the requirement under the protocol that a challenging yacht club must hold an annual regatta on an arm of the sea. So what makes the 'Watch Out' syndicate challenge legitimate and not Russell Coutt's Swiss entry?

Editor's Note; The Kiwi's have referred the Coutts Swiss challenge to arbitration because of doubts about the 'when and where' of the regatta on an arm of the sea - personally, I think it's all about tweaking Russell ...

From cobutter,
Dickson seems pretty cool in a crisis, doesn`t he? I wonder if Mr Dickson will call on assistance from John Bertrand and the old Fluid Thinking team who were treated in such a Corinthian manner by "Mr Cool" when their AC boat did the now familiar "Banana Double Dance" in San Diego. This correspondent is willing to bet a schooner of Victor Bravo that Larry E and Chris the Cool will not be together when the starting pennant is raised for the first race of the next AC. Dickson has the sensitivity of an iceberg so we guess you could call him cool in a submerged manner of speaking.