tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60303945129754764202011-08-18T23:25:48.999-07:00Your Blogster takes on the weighty task of commenting on America's Cup 33, from the Masthead in Stamford, CT.Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.comBlogger851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-17906763578160626202009-09-04T12:32:00.000-07:002009-09-04T12:35:56.843-07:00

When in doubt sue. CEO Larry Ellison may be carrying this too far. Today, the Americans are launching their 6th court action against current America's Cup holder Ernesto Berterelli from Swizerland. This one's concerning the precise length of the monster tri and catamaran. Yawn.

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-15235191608473252522009-08-24T12:34:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:43:36.673-07:00

It's official: The two leading actors in the stage play called the America's Cup have official gone insane.One has build a gigantic catamaran to compete in a traditionally mono-hulled race.The other has built a gigantic trimaran.Is this a race of just a gigantic embarrassment?Let's look at the pros and cons:1. Larry Ellison finally gets a chance to compete (albeit on an un-level playing field)

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-32541213480099329552008-12-22T10:51:00.000-08:002008-12-22T10:59:14.144-08:00

There are 9 new teams and 9 old ones.If SNG/Alinghi prevails in court, and this version of the next America's Cup goes forward, this will become the first time an American team has not been involved in the 157 year history of the America's Cup. In other words, Alinghi wins; BMW/Oracle loses. Exit the only viable American Team previously in contention.Meanwhile, the U.S. team headed by BMW/Oracle

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-10696764862980827662008-12-22T06:09:00.000-08:002008-12-22T06:26:53.308-08:00

According to ValenciaLife.net, Americas Cup Management has announced that 19 teams from 12 countries have entered the 33rd Americas Cup (2010), including eight new entries and each of the teams previously participating.Three other teams were denied entry for improper documentation. One syndicate - Carbon Challenge - withdrew.There will be two PRE-regattas in Valencia, Spain, next year - - one in

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-72214149328124794592008-08-06T12:51:00.000-07:002008-08-06T12:52:02.024-07:00

According to BMW/Oracle, America’s Cup Sailors Carl Williams and Hamish Pepper of have flown to Qingdao, China to compete in the Olympic Games. Interestingly, they will be representing not the U.S. their home country of New Zealand.They will travel to Beijing to attend the Opening Ceremony on August 8th, before returning to Qingdao. The Olympic Star Class Regatta will start one week later, on

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-61895190008392098692008-08-06T12:38:00.000-07:002008-08-06T12:41:16.317-07:00

Here’s what some of the key players say about the recent NY Court (non-sailors’) ruling, knocking down BMW/ORACLE’s Larry Ellison and propping up Alinghi’s Enesto Bertarelli. As noted below, the paper Spanish yacht club is back in as the so-called Challenger of Record (you’ve heard of Man Without a Country, this is Club Without Any Boats….). Anyway….Alinghi’s Skipper Brad Butterworth (four-time

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-61321486042193637172008-07-30T08:50:00.001-07:002008-07-30T08:53:51.890-07:00

With the latest court ruling, some immediate quesitons come to mind:1. Will the catamaran challenge by BMW/Oracle be scrapped along with these hot boats?2. Will Alinghi and its far-flung advertisers get "back aboard" for the next Cup event?3. Will it be possible for the Alinghi folks to tread that fine line between gloating ("Told you so. Told you so!") and being just plain happy, to get

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-29581945609767691822008-07-30T08:45:00.000-07:002008-07-30T08:49:07.884-07:00

The New York Supreme Court has reinstated Club Náutico Español de Vela as the Challenger of Record, which had been challenged as "unfair" by BMW/Oracle in a legal challege last year.The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), declaring Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) the rightful Challenger of Record for the 33rd America’s Cup

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-18108588347760371442008-07-25T11:22:00.000-07:002008-07-25T11:39:46.074-07:00

Michel Hodara, who just resigned as the CEO of America's Cup Management, the Cup's governing body, was just interviewed in Adonnante.com (click on headline for story), which asked:Does your former organization have any sponsorship at this point:"You have two different sides to this question: The event and the team.The Event: At the moment, we do not have a product. No date, no venue, no event.

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-78770160826190372008-07-21T14:40:00.000-07:002008-07-21T14:48:07.939-07:00

Rumor has it that Alinghi's chief executive,m Michel Hodara, is quitting.He has played a critical role in the successful Alinghi battle to win the Cup.Part of the problem for Mr. Hodara remains the lack of focus on the next Cup activites: No firm dates, no firm boats, etc. How do you manage a race this way?Alinghi has not named his replacement (not a lot of people want to work under these

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-21519242563063449252008-06-27T08:25:00.000-07:002008-06-27T08:28:54.883-07:00

According to BMW Oracle Racing's web site, they are now working with North Sails in the USA to develop the huge new sails required for the 33rd America's Cup.The sail design team is headed by BMW ORACLE Racing sail trimmer Ross Halcrow, and includes designers Laurent Delage, Robert Hook, and Juan Meseguer. Delage brings valuable multihull experience from North Sails France. Hook, another North

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-24012313750192767672008-06-27T08:17:00.000-07:002008-06-27T08:21:10.224-07:00

Alinghi, Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup, begins the next phase of training towards a possible multi-hull Deed of Gift Match in 2009 (is this weird - - no one knows what the boats will be?) and steps it up a notch, to two-boat training, with the ORMA60s Foncia and Banque Populaire IV in Lorient, France, from 30 June until 5 July.The Swiss team intends to continue its big boat and multi-hull

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-61796168971079755152008-06-05T12:53:00.000-07:002008-06-05T13:01:18.832-07:00

The Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the America’s Cup Defender, June 5, 2008, put its case to the five judges sitting in the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. The Swiss (paper) yacht club successfully consolidated its appeal from Justice Cahn’s May 12, 2008, order with the previously expedited April 14, 2008 appeal. Now it hopes for a speedy resolution and to conclude the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-65146244091617581802008-03-18T13:36:00.000-07:002008-03-18T13:47:44.076-07:00

Your Blogster wouldn't normally run a direct, word-for-word report from ANYONE, but this one is so perfectly worded, so bland yet threatening, and classy, it bares repeating in toto (but your Blogster can't resist commenting, in capitals, on certain phrases):New York, 18 March 2008) In response to New York Supreme Court Justice Herman Cahn’s order today designating Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC)

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-19279486395271414472008-02-27T13:30:00.000-08:002008-02-27T13:32:02.288-08:00

Ernesto Bertarelli was recently honored as Audi Sailor of the for “his successes in promoting the sport of sailing through his recent America’s Cup victory.”Bianca Gropallo, widow of Paolo Venanzangeli, an Italian America's Cup journalist, presented the award.According to Mr. Bertarelli: “I was born in Rome and started sailing in Civitavecchia with my father, a sailing fan, so I am particularly

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-75387300278283779682008-02-27T13:06:00.000-08:002008-02-27T13:13:06.253-08:00

Your blogster hears that Team Alinghi is out on the water again practicing intensely in Valencia, Spain, but this time it's on 40-foot catamarans. They’re also racing on Far 40 speedsters to keep their “small” monohull skills sharp (they just finished racing at Key West Race Week, finishing a distant 9th, after having won the Far 40 division the previous year.). Hey, you can’t win them all!

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-64601711171139957182008-02-11T13:35:00.000-08:002008-02-11T13:47:26.690-08:00

It’s official. Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEV), one-time America’s Cup 33 Challenger of Record, is apparently NOT scheduled to host a follow-up regatta of any sort in 2008, following its hastily thrown-together race back in Nov. 2007 to “satisfy” (partially and fleetingly) one of the Deed of Gift’s requirements for the Challenger of Record to be a “real” yacht club - - one that hosts

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-86016321840132573822008-02-05T11:20:00.000-08:002008-02-05T11:27:40.966-08:00

If you haven't seen or experienced "Alinghi TV," you've missed something special.Click on the "Cup TV" headline and it'll take you right there. They have captured a series of vignettes or "best of" moments of the past America's Cup campaign (AC32 in July 2007) and tried to offer some of the color and flavor of the event.This should be required watching for ALL of the officials, lawyers, judges

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-82837751307120738772008-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:002008-02-04T16:09:58.399-08:00

Finally, some sex, drugs and rock 'n roll in the America's Club - - the stuff of news media interest!Daringly, according to SwissInfo.ch, the International Sailing Federation has CLEARED NZ's Simon Daubney of charges that he tested positive for cocaine metabolites (not cocaine itself). The Swiss Olympic Association had ALREADY CLEARED HIS NAME ("not infringed the anti-doping rules...."), hence

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-39318099492938640212008-01-31T13:15:00.000-08:002008-01-31T13:22:33.183-08:00

In the interest of time, Judge Herman J. Cahn, let’s just declare the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s challenging certificate under the Deed of Gift for the next America’s Cup - - or for a regatta they’ve invented between just them and the Defender (for who knows what reason) - - as NULL and VOID and USELESS as one of Marilyn Monroe’s bra’s.Let’s look at the facts, as clearly outlined by Barry R.

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-41368346537941845542008-01-25T13:15:00.001-08:002008-01-25T13:38:08.951-08:00

It’s official. This is the Silly Season, totally.Let’s review this week’s “excitement:”First, we have the specter of Larry Ellison’s BMW/Oracle guys trying to defend their challenge against Ernesto Bertarelli and his Alinghi guys in something the Ellison folks described (accidentally, one supposes) as a 90 by 90 foot keelboat. It's like an Indy 500 car with an anchor dragging behind the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-27483570045226118852008-01-16T15:43:00.000-08:002008-01-16T15:49:38.899-08:00

Yawn.Ka-ching, in the coffers of the lawyer non-sailors.Obviously, if you follow the America’s Cup saga at all, you’ve heard (maybe not?) that the Alinghi and America’s Cup Management guys have tossed the ball back to the New York judge and cried: “You didn’t get it. You didn’t understand us guys and the larger issues at stake. You….need to hear it from a local law firm’s aces! We're

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-59449876938389172322008-01-16T15:25:00.000-08:002008-01-16T15:30:49.094-08:00

When it comes to the America’s Cup, who exactly does one cheer for?There are the Swiss, the current champs, but who has the time to read Swiss newspapers or is in the area (Switzerland) to catch up on team gossip? They're a non-entity for foreigners. Neutrals, bankers, watch-makers, whose Army has great knives, but no nukes.There are the USA guys, winners from times gone by, but how does one

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-91271286080035086672008-01-02T06:34:00.000-08:002008-01-02T06:57:01.559-08:00

AC33 Helm-to-Lee’s Spoilsport of the Year: Larry Ellison & BMW/Oracle who, despite losing in the early rounds of the past America’s Cup, initiated a (winning) legal challenge in New York City that even yet has failed to resolve much of ANYTHING. Close second: Ernesto Bertarelli et al, who are going on to “appeal” this negative New York verdict. (It’s still a USA court folks. Is it a shock its

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-52953414588927806542008-01-02T06:25:00.000-08:002008-01-02T06:33:34.585-08:00

Continue to report and comment about America’s Cup 33 activities, providing substantive and relevant information with an eye toward contributing to the fun and joy of sailing.Analyze each activity in the context of common sense and practicality, then comment accordingly on an ongoing basis.Help to build a global audience for this splendid, somewhat misunderstood, sailboat racing, especially in

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-65057764335372094702007-12-17T05:05:00.000-08:002007-12-17T05:19:00.670-08:00

The former Alinghi skipper and current Number One for Larry Ellison’s USA America’s Cup effort, has just told the Reuters news service regarding the next America’s Cup event: "All the different stakeholders should be consulted - the teams, the sponsors, the television companies. We are not against discussing change. But this should involve everyone."Translation: The race is bigger than one man (

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-88321543576222855212007-12-13T07:53:00.000-08:002007-12-13T07:58:35.926-08:00

Your Blogster is sitting here with a gorgeous new coffee-table book entitled Alinghi (actually it’s called alinghi, with a small “a,” which just doesn’t seem quite right, somehow) from Favre Publishing. The oversized book details in about 170 pages of magnificent color photographs the prelude, racing and post-race parties in this past year’s America’s Cup. The first few pages consist of a

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-44286543713991459132007-12-10T09:54:00.000-08:002007-12-10T10:03:56.821-08:00

Concerned that the America's Cup event is going nowhere FAST, it seems, Ernesto Bertarelli, who heads up the two-time America's Cup Defense, has offered a remarkable public letter clarifying his feelings about the next contest.You'll notice the logic and the concern, as well as the importance of "doing the right thing," as he defines it. Finally, you'll notice that he has already met with the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-4148724851486843072007-12-05T13:07:00.000-08:002007-12-05T13:12:48.333-08:00

For those of you who follow the stock market, as noted above, Oracle's stock has faired quite nicely in recent years (maybe not as much as its potential, but nice). In fact, Larry Ellison, as Chief Executive Officer has sold more than $800 million in the past few months, one can only guess why (besides the fact CEO's must sell some of their stock on a regular and automatic basis for various Wall

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-51366618160717035682007-12-05T12:43:00.000-08:002007-12-05T12:57:12.839-08:00

The legal wrangling is wrangled. The posturing and posing, postured and posed.Now, it’s time for some sailboat racing, right?Wrong. Now we wait some more, as the Big Boys make up their minds -- out of the spotlight of truth and beyond the scope of the average (non-billionaire) sailor.On the one hand (Alinghi), the current and the two-time America’s Cup winner, considers appealing the recent

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-26261257941771061402007-11-29T14:51:00.000-08:002007-11-29T15:04:15.224-08:00

Your Blogster has to totally disagree with the spoilsport at the Rule 69 Blog regarding the recent America’s Cup ruling that went against the Alinghi team. (Gee, a European who loses against a US team in a US court. Your Blogster is shocked.)Anyway, his self-proclaimed “hand-grenade journalism” (Magnus Wheatley) claims that Ernesto Bertarelli has taken the low road on preparing for the next

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-28262467559624109512007-11-27T15:11:00.000-08:002007-11-27T15:15:13.044-08:00

In a decision that roils the international sailing community, Judge Herman Cahn of the New York Supreme Court ruled today, Nov. 27, against the current holder and defender of the America’s Cup trophy, Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), sponsor of the winning Alinghi sailing yacht. The Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco, sponsor of the challenging yacht BMW-Oracle Racing, filed the suit and

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-42159529118504842212007-11-27T13:16:00.000-08:002007-11-27T14:34:21.445-08:00

New York Supreme Court Judge Herman Cahn has ruled against Alinghi and the America's Cup Management Committee, noting that sponsoring club Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) erred in accepting Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) as the Challenger of Record over previous leading challenger, BWM Oracle. CNEV’s acceptance violated the spirit of the 19th century America’s Cup Deed of Gift, the judge

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-1336221061874248322007-11-26T05:13:00.000-08:002007-11-26T05:15:46.767-08:00

The lawyers win, and we know what that means: The America’s Cup Management organization (ACM) has just announced that the 2009 regatta will be delayed due to ongoing legal activities by a potential Challenger (a.k.a., BMW/Oracle/Larry Ellison). When lawyers win, events come to a grinding halt, possibly indefinitely.ACM put it best: "During the past months, AC Management (ACM), the Société

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-36127227904834443952007-11-21T11:26:00.000-08:002007-11-21T12:37:24.512-08:00

Two more Cup Challengers, having gathered wheelbarrows of money, have tipped their captain’s hats to the America’s Cup Management Committee and officially entered the next America’s Cup regatta - - whenever and whenever it may be held. This seems to take both faith and nerve, one might postulate. One Challenger's from Italy and one’s from Spain, homeport venue for the next event.The new

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-72346830306868104102007-11-20T09:57:00.000-08:002007-11-20T09:59:47.144-08:00

Your Blogster thought he’d take a closer look at the 47-page “Rule” book (AC90 Rule of Oct. 31, 2007), issued by AC Management SA, for the next America’s Cup. (To review see: http://www.americascup.com/multimedia/docs/2007/10/071031-ac90_rule_final.pdf)The rule is supposed to be creating high performance racing yachts using commercial available materials and technology. It’s be raced by crews

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-28147541682813967612007-11-20T08:31:00.000-08:002007-11-20T08:41:19.580-08:00

Much about the next America’s Cup remains in limbo, neither fish nor fowl....There’s the court battle between Alinghi and BMW/Oracle concerning the legitimacy of the Challenger or Record for the next event. Yawn. (BMW/Oracle: Enter the danged race and get on with it already.)There’s the ever-popular speculation regarding the two possible outcomes in the New York Supreme Court battle. On the one

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-66092811020070747152007-11-19T10:02:00.000-08:002007-11-19T10:04:26.951-08:00

The America’s Cup is dead. Long live the King. End of story…perhaps.It has been pronounced dead - - in the United States of America - - where the world’s largest number of sailors resides. Not in Switzerland, not in Spain, not Australia, not New Zealand or Lapland. The good ol’ U. S. of A. They’re here. They spent $50 million at the (Sen.) Jacob K, Javits Convention Center during a ONE-WEEK

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-90861066600518906572007-11-13T16:19:00.000-08:002007-11-13T16:22:29.780-08:00

Let’s listen to American Ed Baird, Alinghi’s winning skipper, in this year’s America’s Cup."The America's Cup was by far the most difficult event to win. It was also the most exciting. I'm lucky that there have been many special moments in my career, but it's also been great to see all three of my sons sail their first regattas and start to enjoy the sport."He made these comments at the awards

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-64182295355772761932007-11-07T11:46:00.000-08:002007-11-07T12:11:10.485-08:00

Sailing master (his trophy case probably takes up his entire living room) Paul Cayard has moved to Valencia, Spain, as sports Director of Desafio Espanol. From here, he’s pulling together another Cup Challenger. One recalls he’s sailed on a number of previous Challenger boats, including on both American and Italian Challenger teams and, of course, for BMW/Oracle itself at one point. He seems

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-36667385971979870292007-11-07T11:33:00.001-08:002007-11-07T11:35:06.297-08:00

Back in July, the six Challengers had “team signed,” that is, they signed and sent the same exact letter to Societe Nautique de Genevo (SNG - - Alinghi) complaining that the newly formed Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEW), now the Challenger of Record, was selected based on only one vague paragraph of the ancient Deed of Gift - - that famous “mutual consent” clause.Doing so, they claimed,

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-10350260370332857782007-11-07T10:42:00.000-08:002007-11-07T10:52:07.715-08:00

It’s official. Whew. The America’s Management Chief Michel Hodara has released the full version of the 2009 rule for America’s Cup 33 to Cup Challengers, as well as to the public (read: BMW/Oracle, Mascalzone Latino and Victory Challenge - - previous major Challengers who have not, as yet, officially entered the AC33 event and, going forward, would have been at a distinct disadvantage without

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-47944208407977394142007-11-01T15:36:00.000-07:002007-11-01T15:45:07.388-07:00

One of the critical “jabs” being taken at the America’s Cup Defender, Ernesto Bertarelli/Alinghi et al, involves the involvement of the involved Challengers, at least those who have signed up.Are they really involved, to repeat, to repeat? Has the Challenger of Record managed to pull together the team of Challengers as "an effective resource" when addressing such basic issues as the TYPE OF BOAT

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-75611120278682935132007-10-29T15:23:00.000-07:002007-10-29T15:31:21.847-07:00

Of late, the Detroit Free Press ran a purported “news story” regarding the BMW/Oracle vs. Alinghi et al hearing in New York Supreme Court in New York City. There are so many errors in “Reporter” Eric Sharp’s short article, one wonders if he wrote this on the way home from an all-night binge, or just likes to make things up as he goes along.He attempted to “frame” Larry Ellison’s lawsuit (BMW/

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-40716604150802143462007-10-27T07:47:00.001-07:002007-10-27T07:50:00.020-07:00

Earlier this week, a small California yacht club brought suit against the holder - - the two-time Defender - - of the America’s Cup (the “literal” defender: home club Societe Nautique de Geneve, Ernesto Bertarelli, Team Alinghi et al/). That’s their right (it’s America; you can anyone, anytime, for just about anything, including a scalding cup of coffee). This tiny club’s astonishing membership

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-53487833445946785272007-10-23T06:08:00.000-07:002007-10-23T06:18:47.478-07:00

This past weekend your Blogster taught an American Sailing Association course on Coastal Cruising aboard one of Dennis Connor’s 50-foot America’s Cup-type boats called Formula 1’s. (No fools we didn’t sleep aboard, we over-nighted in a local club.) We sailed UP Manhattan's East River, right in front of the United Nations (!), through Hell Gate, and on into Long Island Sound. We managed to hit

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-61733317292315851472007-10-23T05:44:00.000-07:002007-10-23T05:46:05.427-07:00

“Let’s get on with it. We’ve only got two years. Let’s go yachting. We can’t wait much longer,” says Hamish Ross, General Counsel for Alinghi/Ernesto Bertarelli, out on the front steps of the New York Supreme Court in downtown New York City, following the much-anticipated Day in Court.Forty-five minutes before, he and an army of lawyers in gray suits, packed into a musty, wood-paneled courtroom,

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-76360757423119374592007-10-16T05:45:00.000-07:002007-10-16T05:58:33.835-07:00

It’s like no sailing I’d ever done before, sailing aboard America II last week, one of Dennis Connor’s “12 meter” yachts built in the 1980s. Obviously, it’s fast, long, low, can be wet and powerful. Less obvious: It’s also extremely sensitive to tiny changes in steering from one of the two wheels and just a blast to sail. I was sailing with Michael Fortenbaugh, head of the Manhattan Sailing

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-75933281274886008812007-10-15T15:56:00.000-07:002007-10-15T16:06:24.573-07:00

Few have clue one about the background of the current America’s Cup holder (not Alinghi, the boat, but Ernesto Bertarelli, the Swiss billionaire). He’s actually an avid sailor, businessman, philanthropist and family man. He himself served as navigator aboard Alinghi during his first America’s Cup win in 2003, then as afterguard runner and grinder - - GRINDER (!) - - aboard Alinghi in 2007, when

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-66085869510439827162007-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:002007-10-11T10:04:54.404-07:00

Without fanfare or public announcement, Ernesto Bertarelli, 42 (!), two-time America’s Cup winner (Alinghi) hopped into his jet this past week and zoomed over to New York and San Francisco to “drop in” on two famous local yacht club venues - - you guessed it - - the New York Yacht Club on Manhattan’s West 44th Street and then the famed St. Francis YC. American-born Ed Baird (Alinghi helmsman and

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-64401650346217327072007-10-03T09:07:00.000-07:002007-10-03T09:08:38.356-07:00

If you look back at America’s Cup races since 1851, you’ll notice that a significant number of these match racing events (more than 20) were totally one-sided affairs. The DEFENDER won ALL of the races; the CHALLENGER didn’t win a single one. None.How can this be? Were the Challenger boats THAT AWFUL, or were the winning boats so much better?It could be argued either way, but let’s consider:

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-26050490425845637762007-10-03T06:51:00.000-07:002007-10-03T07:07:10.088-07:00

Part of the legal battle being waged by Larry Ellison’s BMW/Oracle Racing team regarding the next America’s Cup event concerns the matter of the definition of a yacht club.By some measures, it’s said to be a group that sponsors major sailing events and appears to offer the many functions of a typical yacht club: Holds meetings, operates a marina for members' boats, sponsors regattas, offers a

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-68568399604026604422007-10-02T13:17:00.001-07:002007-10-03T07:10:29.562-07:00

Date - - Yacht, Skipper, Country Representing2009 -- Alinghi, Brad Butterworth, Switzerland.2007 -- Alinghi, Brad Butterworth, Switzerland.2003 -- Alinghi, Russell Coutts, Switzerland.2000 -- NZL-60, Russell Coutts, New Zealand.1995 -- Black Magic, Russell Coutts, New Zealand.1992 -- America3, Bill Koch and Buddy Melges, United States.1988 -- Stars & Stripes, Dennis Conner, United States.1987 --

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-3368322966708361222007-09-28T07:22:00.000-07:002007-09-28T07:26:58.667-07:00

Let’s hear what JUST ONE of the five Challenger teams is saying about the way it intends to compete for this trophy in 2009:“The modern European America’s Cup competition has created an opportunity that hasn’t existed before. It is now possible to run a commercially viable team at this level. We have the best design, sailing, financial and management talent of a generation available to us. Never

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-8922843311885862682007-09-28T06:51:00.001-07:002007-09-28T06:59:26.911-07:00

Chris Caswell, a columnist for “Sailing” magazine asks: “what if they held a Cup and no one came?A valid, if not interesting, question these days.For starters, FIVE countries have ALREADY entered the next match-up in 2009.Second, the winning America’s Cup Management folks have just distributed more than $37,341,911.30 to the winning Alinghi team from Switzerland, more than E$9 million (Euros) to

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-84416883436844954172007-09-24T16:27:00.000-07:002007-09-24T16:34:11.336-07:00

Word has it that world-renowned sailor Russell Coutts has been likening himself to no less than Elvis Presley, The King of Rock’N Roll (Maybe he’s the new King Neptune, the top Shellback, as Skipper, Head, CEO, Top Daug of BWM/Oracle soon-to-be Racing syndicate?).He’s been seen, some say, on World Tour in Memphis (at Graceland - - hey, they have a little yacht club and plastic trophies), that’s

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-1526331549000640752007-09-20T16:18:00.000-07:002007-09-20T16:23:13.539-07:00

Appealing to what could be described as Larry Ellison’s “common sense,” Ernesto Bertarelli - - America’s Cup Holder and two-time Defender who’s spearheading Team Alinghi - - today made a personal plea to BMW/Oracle Racing to “come about,” in sailing parlance, specifically:Get your ENTRY PAPERS IN right away for the next America’s Cup challenge. You’re missing all the fun. It’s less than two years

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-32318366858944010582007-09-19T15:38:00.000-07:002007-09-19T15:42:56.158-07:00

Let’s listen to a statement this past month by Captain Salvatore Sarno, in distant South Africa, regarding his Team ShoSholoza’s early entry into the America’s Cup 33 match. They were the second Challenger, right after the official Challenger of Record (Spain). This becomes the second time he’ll be going after the famed Ol’ Mug. They placed 7th.Why early entry: “…We need time to explore the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-83414080741187702082007-09-17T09:56:00.000-07:002007-09-17T10:30:28.021-07:00

Bailing buckets and wheelbarrows of it! The America’s Cup Management (ACM) organization, overseers of the business side of these match races, has announced they will share the “surplus funds” generated by America’s Cup 32 about SIX MONTHS EARLIER than anticipated and required to do so. Heard from the Challengers: “Hip, Hip, Hurrah! Hip, Hip, Hurrah, Ernesto! You go, guy!”ACM raked in E

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-30702660437820972802007-09-17T08:50:00.000-07:002007-09-17T08:56:20.937-07:00

TIME WAS that a 65-foot America’s Cup yacht got a spectator’s adrenalin going. Less so today, it appears. The Alinghi guys are going to fix this.TIME WAS when going into a typical international marina, boats over 50 feet were unusual, even few and far between. Now, yachts over 100 (!) feet raise only a few eyebrows, and mostly from those who pay scant attention to goings-on around them. The

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-64967083364114351302007-09-12T13:12:00.001-07:002007-09-12T13:14:43.587-07:00

Justice Herman Cahn of the NY State Supreme Court (the first level court for lawsuits in that state) navigated the fog of legal-speak this week that the preliminary injunction sought by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (representing Larry Ellison/BMW/Oracle Racing) against Defender Alinghi Ernesto Bertarelli et al) WILL NOT BE UPHELD. There will be no speed-up of the countdown to trial, no pre-trial

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-55200872754671825232007-09-10T09:54:00.000-07:002007-09-10T10:02:04.905-07:00

Newport, RI, home to the America's Cup Races for over 50 years, now boasts an America’s Cup fleet, albeit one’s from the past and all made from WOOD. Imagine!Companies and individuals may charter these wonderful yachts or just come and stare at them.They are located in the marina at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina, located at 49 America's Cup Avenue. It's directly across from Trinity Church

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-74974342808473505842007-09-10T09:35:00.000-07:002007-09-10T09:37:44.187-07:00

Michael Scheeren’s United Internet Team Germany throws its hopes into the ring of the four other America’s Cup Challengers. Rolf Bahr, Presdent of the German Sailing Association notes: “This is great - - great for Germany and great for the sailing sport.”Hear, hear! The more the merrier! Hu – ha!New skipper Karol Jablonski, formerly of the Desafio Espanol team, which led right into the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-25850680167362283512007-09-10T08:26:00.000-07:002007-09-10T08:27:47.179-07:00

It’s critical for followers of the America’s Cup not to get distracted from the big prize in the accumulating fog of stories, rumors and innuendo by so-called cup commentators, both in print and on-line.First, the winner et al of the America’s Cup sets the bulk of the rules for the next party, always has, always will. These are the rules that count - - the next venue, the boats for the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-50362700686841463522007-09-06T11:21:00.000-07:002007-09-06T11:30:32.157-07:00

Be afraid. The next America’s Cup may, in fact, be sailed on reasonably similar boats with the views of the Challengers well represented . . . early and often.Be afraid. The Defender, Alinghi, announced this week a “progress report” of sorts that addresses several Challenger and Challenger-to-Be (BMW/Oracle) issues, including the relatively short boat-design period of only approximately a year

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-1887322203788709012007-09-05T15:17:00.000-07:002007-09-05T15:56:36.184-07:00

Perhaps with stiff upper lip and heavy doses of lager and lime, England's oldest yacht club, the one that was challenged for the ORIGINAL America's Cup in the 19th century, will be announcing, publicly, its views regarding America's Cup 32 in July and the subsequent issuance of the new Protocol governing the next one. They had a great time and support Alinghi in the next one.Regarding the Golden

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-67772374885817968542007-09-05T08:35:00.000-07:002007-09-05T08:51:48.573-07:00

Apparently, there’s nothing new about a “losing” America’s Cup Challenger trying to seek redress against the winning club. Back in 1868 - - that's 1 8 6 8 - - Mr. James Ashbury issued the first America’s Cup challenge on behalf of England. Following his loss in Cambria to the USA in 1871, the New York Yacht Club is said to have issued a letter to his host club, regarding Mr. Ashbury's whining

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-72648305812647124702007-09-04T08:43:00.000-07:002007-09-04T08:53:09.692-07:00

“All other things being equal” receives much over- and under-thinking back at the clubhouse. What things? When are they equal? Who says and who’s judging them?When you win, all things definitely WERE EQUAL; when you lose, it was your competitor’s rare combination of unbelievable hull-speeds, lucky wind shifts and masterful sail trim, and uncanny ability (i.e., luck) in reading course variables.

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-36864806930351065652007-09-04T08:40:00.000-07:002007-09-04T08:42:36.182-07:00

Answer: It’s both physical and mental, with a foundation of advanced technologies and a dose of invention and daring-do thrown in. Watching it on TV, however, won’t capture these two pillars of sailing’s attraction, only the RESULTS. There’s a lot more to it, say all.Some “for-instances:”The sailing waters venue (such as in this past one, the actual FICKLE waters of Valentia, Spain, not the

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-84080056751577448692007-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:002007-08-31T11:24:00.711-07:00

It’s said that in September Judge Herman Cahn in New York (not THE Herman Kahn of On Thermonuclear War year's ago's block-buster book fame) will be ruling and educating us all on trust law regarding BMW/Oracle’s challenge to Alinghi, covered in an article below.Some key dates: Sept. 5 and Sept. 10 - - deposition delivery dates to the Judge to see if the case falls within his jurisdiction and

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-12928092615349005172007-08-31T10:46:00.000-07:002007-08-31T10:51:52.632-07:00

Editor-at-Large Herb McCormick reminds us in a Sailing World article about America’s Cup 1988. That's 1 9 8 8. You recall . . . this one was the one that somehow Kiwi Michael Fay’s 90-foot monster-speedster got snookered into a match against Dennis Connor’s absurd (but really fast) catamaran.Unless one was brain-dead, even non-sailors figured out in one glance that this so-called race was a

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-62978468874698556702007-08-31T10:27:00.000-07:002007-08-31T10:33:39.876-07:00

Just an opinion: I miss Herb McCormick’s free-lance articles in The New York Times. I know he’s apparently still an editor-at-large for Sailing World, but over the years, he’s had a lot of interesting things to report in this newspaper. Somehow they just don’t include his pieces any more. Tragedy. Sailing: The nonexistent sport, according to The Times. Not enough controversy, I suppose, or

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-87274342046414655272007-08-29T10:33:00.000-07:002007-08-29T10:35:21.193-07:00

And why not sue, Biff asks > >Here’s a summary of the pending suits:http://33rd.americascup.com/en/index.php?idContent=10&idPage=1There’s an Arbitration Panel underway.There’s also the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s (a.k.a. Larry Ellison/BMW/ORACLE et al) suit against the Challenger of Record for America’s Cup 33 (in 2009). We wanna be the Challenger of Record, GGYC says. Let’s keep things fair. Ok,

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-49107612253108052492007-08-28T08:20:00.000-07:002007-08-28T08:22:52.512-07:00

FROM THE MASTHEAD: Biff HalyardI’ve said it. This little sleeper movie, WIND, usually gathering dust in the $5 bin at your local DVD shop, takes the cake, in fact, the whole party as maybe the best sailing movie EVER MADE. The sailing seems authentic, and the drama touches on critical themes campaigns faced, in recent years.It’s a must-see for sailors all. Action, drama, technology and a

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-60339355811920443922007-08-23T10:12:00.000-07:002007-08-23T10:23:38.970-07:00

Biff Slogs Through the Tedious Legal Stuff:Lawsuits and the America’s Cup go hand-in-sailing glove, it seems, with no end in sight. Who’s doing the suing? Hint: It ain’t the winners!Now, we have the spectacle of another USA suit against the winning America’s Cup team. Since suing and the USA also go hand-in-hand (sailing glove to sailing glove), it isn’t all that surprising. Ample supplies of

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-82333674499486148572007-08-21T14:30:00.000-07:002007-08-21T14:34:14.175-07:00

Isn’t it just swell how everyone is an “instant” expert these days on WHAT the winning Alinghi Defender SHOULD BE DOING about the NEXT America’s Cup.Hello: Doesn’t anyone remember the standoffish way that the New York Yacht Club conducted its “winning defenses” way back when when they where kings of the Cup? They pretty much did whatever they wanted to stack the deck in their favor before each

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-88216197193097969932007-08-21T13:33:00.000-07:002007-08-21T13:47:43.709-07:00

Biff from the Masthead - - Heard on the streets of Valencia:Can it be that three-time America’s Cup Winner Russell Coutts, newly minted Chief Executive Officer of the BMW/ORACLE Team (Larry Ellison’s USA hopefuls), sees the handwriting on the wall and is out scouting crew for the Alinghi-preferred 90-foot MONOHULLS -- while Larry is out talking up having the preliminary elimination heats sailed

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-33037529661643976882007-08-20T06:31:00.000-07:002007-08-20T06:37:49.941-07:00

All right. Let me put this on the table. Way back when, the United States of America took the winning cannon shot for the America’s Cup 25 times more or less in a row since 1851. They had bested all comers in this the world’s third largest sporting event, time and time again.Along the way, they also had rigged the rules of the game so that every conceivable thing was tilted in their favor –

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-2666175133382178562007-08-19T10:36:00.000-07:002007-08-19T10:41:09.997-07:00

Let me ask: Why would the Defender, the winning team, decide to change two of the key rules, even if they seem to “penalize” them in no small way?By specifying in the Protocol for America’s Cup 33 (AC33) that the next regatta should be conducted in 90 footers, the Alinghi champs are saying: “Hey, we’re willing to toss out our winning design and winning boat to EVEN UP the odds, guys. We can

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-86426143081800940792007-08-17T15:06:00.000-07:002007-08-19T10:17:46.608-07:00

America’s Cup 33 - - Helm to Lee: From Biff at the MastheadIn case you haven’t heard, the Defender recently announced TWO new tacks (huge changes) for upcoming America’s Cup 33, both without much fanfare in the mainstream news media. THESE ARE BIG. BIGGER THAN BIG. REALLY, REALLY BIG items. Jibe ho, slam-tack and more.FIRST and foremost, the next event will be conducted only TWO years away, not

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-83590998286570432242007-08-17T05:23:00.000-07:002007-08-17T05:32:12.486-07:00

Interestingly, when all was said and done - - the sails were perfected and tweaked, the hulls were laid up, the rigging was customized, the crews were trained - - America’s Cup 32 this year was won by an average of just 24 seconds.Here’s how the seconds played out each race:Race One: Won by Alinghi by 35 secondsRace Two: Won by Emerates Team New Zealand by 28 secondsRace Three: Won by Emerates

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-11701659240480608662007-08-15T07:33:00.000-07:002007-08-15T07:35:57.925-07:00

Which skipper can boast winning the America’s Cup the most times?These FOUR skippers won it THREE TIMES each since 1851:- C. Barr in 1899 on Columbia (USA) for J.P. Morgan/C.O. Iselin/E.D. Morgan against Shamrock (UK) – owner Sr. Thomas Lipton- C. Barr in 1901 on Columbia (USA) for J.P. Morgan/E.D. Morgan against Shamrock II (UK) – owner Sr. Thomas Lipton)- C. Barr in

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-6374077139990538012007-08-14T11:08:00.000-07:002007-08-16T11:49:20.199-07:00

It’s hard to know where to even begin when counting the number of ironies and oddities associated with the America’s Cup. Here are just a few:For starters, the so-called “neutral” country, Switzerland, once again successfully competed in this global challenge. So much for their passivity and even-handed stance on life. They sponsored some tough competitors, played hardball and won.There was only

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-64372461394757661642007-08-09T16:41:00.000-07:002007-08-14T08:22:25.005-07:00

There you have it. I've said it.The major TV networks won't cover it. The Cup event is filled with its own jargon. Sailing itself has its own mumbo-jumbo. The rules, both for racing and for this specific event, require armchair lawyers to interpret. What's a guy got to do to build an audience for this fabulous sport!Seems to me America's Cup 33 guys (teams, managers, etc.) could use a hand

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030394512975476420.post-79429671848537068262007-08-09T11:30:00.000-07:002007-08-14T08:23:10.294-07:00

Blogger Hoar:Biff HalyardThe 'Swiss' WinProtocol LivesMug Survives33rd Looms . . .. . . Biff Says:"All Hail. We are not worthy!"For 99% of the participants, it's time to slink home and wonder what happened. What did happen, anyway? We had new sails. We practiced and practiced. We bought the best skipper and crews money could buy. And our designer--What a guy! We had everything. We spent a few

Stephen Bornethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245643145512964663noreply@blogger.com0