Schwabo Loc: Florida

Congratulations, some great sailing.

cdayton

Totally agree with your comments. We raced our 27 out of Annapolis but never had consistent crew and no real foredeck person for setting the chute so at 6'2" and about 200 lbs I would do my best scrambling around up there. Fortunately, my wife was a good helmsman except in heavy weather (she executed our once only broach under chute) so we usually ended up in the middle of the pack. Great memories.

Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.

Do you mean monomarans?

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

I had to look up monomarans. I'm not sure how that configuration would translate to a 48+ meter racing yacht. Ellison's 72's from 2013 are now history. It will all be up to the New Zealand sailing culture to decide....stay tuned!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

How about we change the rules so only sailing frigates can compete. Better yet clipper ships ala "Flying Cloud" and "Sovereign of the Seas".

sandiegosteve Loc: San Diego, CA

Was fun to watch ETNZ win the America's Cup (name of cup not related to country who possess it).

I thought the racing was very good. Much better than some of those odd races we saw after the law suits in the past.

What ever design they choose, I know the venue will be great for photographers.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Works for me , but I'd also be happy to have them go back to the 12 Meters or the AC class that they tried a couple of series back, but the latter only if they force the architects to stiffen them up a bit so they don't break in half like a NZ boat did. They were very lucky that they didn't lose a couple of crewmen just because someone wanted to win so badly they removed some needed structural material from the hull.

At least the average sailor/boat owners' can relate somewhat to them. In the old days, the new gear that was tried out in the Cup racers eventually made its way down to the private pleasure boats--if it worked as advertised, ex--hollow mast and booms, rod rigging, winged keels, nylon and Dacron sails, etc.

PS--I believe the AC trophy was originally called "The Five Ginnie Cup"; it only became the America's cup when it was deeded as such to the NY Yacht Club.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

It was the prize for the Royal Yacht Club's 1851 race around the Isle of Wright (it was a yearly event with a trophy each year). It was originally called the 100 Pound Cup supposedly after it's value in silver. Then this one got engraved the 100 Guineas Cup which was a mistake. Some called it the Queen's Cup for a while. It became known as the America's Cup after the schooner that won it from the Royal Yacht Club in 1851 and it is nicknamed the "Auld Mug". The New York Yacht Club and the original syndicate that built the America made it into an award to be passed off to the winner after each race.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Only the holder of the Cup can change the rules.
Oracle Larry changed the rules so much that it was looking nigh on impossible for any challenger to have a viable chance of winning.
The only thing certain, now that a NZ syndicate own the Mug, is that the rules will change again. From what we read here, tho it's very early days of course, is that crews and vessels will have to be mainly originated in the one country. So no Australians,New Zealanders or English helping a USA syndicate. Regardless of rumours, no decision has been made regarding the class of vessel, mono or multi hull. Although rumour has it that it will be sailed somewhere around Auckland NZ, even that hasn't been confirmed by ETNZ. Lots of speculation that heats may even be held off Bermuda.
The Americas Cup is massive for New Zealand. Whenever it's held here, tourism, industry, retailers, all get a big boost so we are all quite excited, even tho it's maybe 4 years away before the next event.

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

Congratulations!!!

Jack

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Is it me or does this event seem to have become more of a so what??

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Tony, as a long time supporter of the AC race, I have no problem about the winner changing the rules for the next challenge, IF, and it's a big "if", the rules are fair to all who might want to challenge and not designed to make it more difficult for the challengers to qualify than the Host country as has often been done; Ellison is just the latest to demonstrate poor sportsmanship.

I would also much to see like the rules revised back to the original requirements that the boats' design, build, construction, components and crew ALL be from the and challenger's and defender's country. The proposed "...that crews and vessels will have to be mainly originated in the one country...", is great, but I'd prefer the "mainly" eliminated! This is supposed to be one nation's sailing best against the others so in the spirit of the Cup, eliminate the mixed nationality crews. If a nation doesn't have qualified skippers and crew, train them.

As the rules now stand, none of the syndicates can claim to represent their country's sailing best when most everything about the boat has been made and/or purchased "offshore". Is it any surprise that most recreational sailors no longer follow or care about the series?

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

Plus cheating and changing the rules every 5 minutes.Not sport,spoilt moneyed brats,lol

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Yeah, agree with you JCam, but I think the reasoning behind the 'mainly', is to avoid it being seen as another 'country against country' competition.

As regards your comment "most recreational sailors no longer follow or care about the series": I guess it depends on the country. Here in New Zealand, where Rugby Union is seen as our No1 sport, surveys showed that while the Cup was being fought over, more people were up watching the heats on TV (and at 5am -7.30am) than have watched our All Blacks at that time when they've been touring.
Flags have been flying outside homes (including ours, but we fly the flag every day anyway) and out the windows of cars. TV and Radio full of it, talking about what happens IF we win the Mug etc.
Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, home to the majority of NZ's yachts and yachties, rang loud to sirens and horns every time we won a heat and the team are getting a ticker tape type parade, I think, next week.