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Admiral's Cup Feedback, The choices that the RORC has made regarding the Admiral's Cup are truly amazing: IRC a club racing rule now let lose in snake pit of win at no cost professional sailing, interesting! Then the semi custom one design IMS boats for ammeters to race in. I can't wait to see the works entry Beneteau 40.7, do you think she will be the same as the one for sail at Ancasta's?

Shouldn't it be IMS for Grandprix custom boats raced by professionals and CHS club production boats crewed by amateurs. Having organized a reasonable amount of the ill fated IC45 Barlo Plastics Campaign for the 2001 CMAC, it good to win the IRM class at Cowes Week, this was topped off by then go out 7 days later with the IC45 still in her IRM trim and convincingly beating one of the supposedly top IMS boats in the World Bribon at her own game of IMS racing during the Jubilee Regatta.

Maybe this proves that IRM boats are better than IMS boats anyway? The Jubilee was the most international regatta of 2001, with the best line up of boats and skippers. We have to wonder if any of the committee been anywhere near any international regattas recently and have any of the same committee had to deal with the logistics of operating a racing yacht from the proposed site of the 2003 AC. I have been a done both and I can't recall seeing and of the so called powers to be close by! It will be very interesting to see what happens. This could be the big chance for IRM, at least it won't have the Admiral's Cup curse to hold it back now.

From Frederico Pinheiro de Melo Lisbon, Portugal
Who would be the ideal person to race on your Volvo boat? Chris Dickson. He may be an abrasive personality, but he's a match for anyone in sailing terms and more than a match for Cayard email-wise. Last time around people were so dazzled by Paul Cayard that I doubt anyone noticed that the best literature throughout the first leg was being produced by Chirs Dickson from the back of the fleet. Cayard is the consummate corporate sailor, which makes him predictable and prone to clichés and PC. Dickson is quirky, witty and much the better writer.

From Phil Lawrence
How popular will this event be? The Commodore's Cup should be successful as the choice of IRC means plenty of available boats and the event program is short and attractive. However if RORC want to turn it into a really major event they should: Run it again next year and then alternate years so it does not conflict with Cork Week. It would then take place on Fastnet years attracting more owners to come to Cowes - But at all costs they must resist the temptation to include the Fastnet in the event.

Accept entries from clubs not countries - this is meant to be the more amateur based event so make it more accessible. The Admirals Cup should be for countries - on which subject: Move the Admiral's cup out to 2004: It would then be in Ireland in a Cork week year and give more owners an incentive to travel. It would also give RORC more time to sort out the event, as the present proposal is a political fudge and a complete non runner: I don't imagine many sane people queueing to race 700 miles round Ireland in a production 40 foot IMS boat. I can't readily think of many (any?)modern 50ft IRC racing yachts - Does RORC really want to encourage people to start building 50ft custom IRC boats.

IRC is a great rule, working well - But it won't stand up to an arms race. I'm not a great fan of IRM mainly because I am fed up with the overblown hype from the Ker organisation,but surely RORC need to come off the fence and either back IRM by nominating it for at least one of the Admirals cup boats or admit defeat and drop it. A statement of intent now and moving the event back to 2004, might just give IRM a fighting chance to establish itself.

It may just be that the Admiral's cup is an event that has run it's course and gone past its sell by date. The professional game has moved on to bigger and better things and amateurs & owners are voting with their feet & cheque books - (How many boats at Key West?) But if RORC are going to persist with it then let's at least have a credible proposal.

From Graham Douglas
Will they (GBR Challenge) succeed in getting sponsorship? Yes. To think the opposite is beyond belief. This challenge appears to have all the hallmarks of a well planned campaign. No guarantees of results but even without them it is hard to believe a sponsor won't see a return on their investment. With results it will be a bargain.

From Simon Stonehouse
Will they succeed in getting sponsorship?They should do- but the British mentality is that sailing is a very minor sport. So they might well struggle. Mind you if the hooligan element begins to disrupt football then perhaps companies will be looking to divert sponsorship into other sports. They should and I hope they do- It would be a sad inditement of British Sport if they fail to do so.

From Björn Enbom Lundstedt, Sweden
Will Conner`s team be able to win the Cup back? No, they will not win! Boat, sails, gear, shore crew, rule-knowledge and crew fitness might very well be in top class, but I think that the team will lack slightly in other factors, such as: Skipper capacity when most needed. True team fighting spirit. Keeping the spirit up when it doesn't look to good. True feeling of being a team and not individuals. Trust in individuals.

And technically by gear failure caused by to little love and to much calculations. Each sharp corner needs just that little bit of sanding to be un-harmful and brittle materials needs some extra care by a true craftsman and not be used directly from the machine. Stress concentrations are best avoided by craftsmanship and not by following drawings in every small detail. Calculation and drawings for the big things. Love for the details. And that is not the American way!

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