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More amusing observations on the Swiss AC win, less amusing on the Little America's Cup

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Little America's Cup veteran Dave Hubbard writes:

It was a shock to learn of the proposal to hold the next ICCT event in eighteen foot One Design beach catamarans. I have been involved in C Class development since the very beginning, starting with the first match at the Seacliff YC in 1962 and most recently at the McCrae YC in Australia in 1996, I feel betrayed. Having spent considerable time and effort designing, researching, building and campaigning C Class Catamarans and, among others, bringing their performance to their unequaled high level I feel betrayed by the lowering of the standards of the event.

Those dedicated to Class C have, through international competition and through many design and testing iterations, produced a type of craft that is fast, exciting to sail and interesting to watch. Port-starboard tack closing rates are well above 30 knots. Their efficiency and light weight makes the boats very responsive . The wind shadows are too small to be used as a serious tactical tool thus making for more open racing.

Little America's Cup campaigns involve most of the elements of the full size America's Cup ones at a small fraction of the cost (and with fewer legal acrimonies). The design constraints are minimal and the rules are easy to interpret and there is still room for performance increases. Winning a Challenge is the recognition of a successful combination of the ingredients of design, construction, campaigning and sailing over a two to three year period. Seacliff YC's decision reduces the magnitude of the trophy to a one week event for sailors barely indistinguishable from any other regatta. Dumbing down is indeed an appropriate word for it.

I am heartened that there is an Australian Class C Challenge to be sailed in Newport in 2004. May the yachting world of sailors and journalists recognise it for what it is and give it the continued support as it has in the past.

Mark Howell, head of marketing for the Volvo Ocean Race is an avid cat sailor with personal ties to the Little America's Cup. Mark writes:

It is amazing that the Little America's Cup has been downgraded below the level of the best available production cat sailing in the market today.

My father sailed on Manta C with John Mazzotti in the 1960s when the UK had a thriving C class community with the likes of Thunder, Emma Hamilton, Lady Helmsman and others all capturing the imagination with the speeds they were doing and the developments that were taking place in the UK multihull market. Many of these developments are common practice both inshore and offshore today in a variety of classes. Add to that the Patient Lady and Gamecock challenges alongside those from Scandinavian countries and you had a great competition running into the next decades. The C class was always the highpoint of competition although D class existed but never really took off in the eyes of multihull sailors.

Having sailed on a variety of small cats over the years, I have met many sailors in development and one-design classes who were also inspired as youngsters by the racing in the 60s - we really are getting old now ! - but also by the likes of Miss Nylex and Yellow Pages in later years.

The point of this note is simple.

C class has to be the top end of small cat sailing and whilst one design sailing in boats such as the Dart 18, Olympic class Tornado racing and multi-class F18 competition is brilliant, I know having been lucky enough to race all three, the Little America's Cup must be in the fastest boats which every cat sailor holds in a certain amount of awe.

The budgets for the America's Cup are now so large that it a difficult cost/benefit equation even with a level of television coverage. The Little America's Cup has no television coverage to speak of and therefore huge R&D budgets and campaign expenses are really unrealistic as there is little opportunity to provide a return unless a media/sponsorship person is appointed.

Therefore it must surely be the aim of the Trustees to do two things to provide a healthy platform for the future and perhaps a return to something akin to the original concept.

1. Ensure that the boat, whether one-design or not is the fastest sports cat on the water and capable of defeating a Tornado around the course. (I am assuming there is no Tornado eater around now the kite/twin wire aspect is part of the class rule) This boat might even be based around the original measurements.

2. Look at costs to ensure campaigns can be mounted to provide multiple entries from different countries. The format to provide great racing in spectator accessible areas which media could attend from different countries and the public can enjoy. How good would it be to have people being "wowed" by these speed machines!

Things have to change but surely they can do so without sailing any slower than the rule intended.


On the choice of an America's Cup venue, you can forget Cascais or Palma, the Whortonsville Yacht and Tractor Club is where it is at! Click here to read all about this exciting proposal.

On the America's Cup this release about Switzerland's new rugby team has been doing the rounds...

Ernesto Bertarelli has announced the entrance of his new team into the forthcoming Rugby World cup this year.

"I have been interested in rugby ever since my childhood," The Swiss billionaire stated " As a child I slept with a rugby ball in my cot, and trained on the greatest rugby fields in Switzerland. I want to follow my interest by entering the Swiss rugby team this year".

Bertarelli's announcement was embraced by the Swiss president who stated, "Switzerland has a long and proud rugby history. I think that we can teach the world about tolerance and optimism in rugby instead of the nationalism and backbiting that exists now in the antipodes". He added, "Gaining the Rugby World Cup will be a great achievement for the Swiss nation and show the world our true sporting prowess"

The Alinghi Team have welcomed 27 new Immigrants to their Rugby team from New Zealand recently. Jona Lomu, the latest Swiss citizen was rumored to be heavily reimbursed for his switch to Alinghi. Lomu evasively answered the question on money saying only "they gave me MTV". Andrew Mehrtens was happy captaining his new team. "I feel that us Swiss will be able to match any team in the world and bring out the strong Swiss heritage we all possess", Mehrtens stated. It is rumored that Mehrtens has been given Lichtenstein as payment for his efforts. Tana Umunga agreed with his captain "As Swiss citizens we are proud of our rugby and are not just in it for the money" he added. "We are honourable professionals just trying to further our sport".

Ernesto Bertarelli stated that upon winning the World cup they would be happy to host the next cup in Switzerland. "As the new holders we can raise the cup to new levels of professionalism and integrity, and really make some money out of it."

A poll of Swiss citizens underscored the enthusiasm of the average Swiss for the team. "I am looking very much to seeing the next world cup" Mr. Swartznager said " We have been underrated for too long, now we can take our true place in the Rugby world".

Other people interviewed believed Rugby to be a new fashion store or fast food "Whatever it is we are happy to buy it". Stated Mrs Bicknekkle: "We love shiny cups, and have bought a lot of them recently".

The team members names have been released to the media with many familiar players making up their imported side however in other news Canterbury will be unable to field a Super 12 team this year as players have left the country and are unavailable for the season.

Andrew Besheer writes:

Here's one colonial's feedback on the "Old World" in general....
The difference between heaven and hell can be boiled down thusly:

Heaven is:
English Policemen,
Swiss Administrators,
German Engineers,
Italian Lovers and
French Chefs

Hell on the other hand is:
English Chefs,
Swiss Lovers,
French Engineers,
Italian Administrators and of course
German Policemen

If you have any comments to make about any of these issues, send us an email - click here to open Outlook or here to contact us through a direct message box.