History – The America’s Cup started in 1851. The USA has won it 28 times, and it wasn’t till 1983 that Australia won it that someone else won the cup. Then the US won again, until 1995 when New Zealand won it, then New Zealand again in 2000, and then Switzerland won it in 2003, with a New Zealander (Russell Coutts) at the helm. I worked on a sail boat in Hawaii during my college years. It was a 59 foot all wood America's Cup prototype boat built in 1928.
On my off days, I would sail on the fastest (at the time) boat in Honolulu. It was fun to race on it, because we would win quite often, even though we started 3 minutes behind the 2nd to last boat. (They handicap boats with time at the start, so that all sail boats are in the same race.)
Due to this sailing, I really enjoy following the America’s Cup races that happen every 2 to 5 years depending on when the defending champion nation decides to host the next race.
The defending champion gets to race in the finals in the America’s Cup.. This year that will start on June 23rd.
All the Challengers, I think there were 13 or 14 boats this year, compete in what is called the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The Louis Vuitton cup has been going for the last couple of months, and finally ended yesterday. The winner of this cup gets to compete against the Cup defender in the Americas Cup in a best of 9 sail off.
On June 23rd, there will be a true clash of the titans. You see, Australia, and New Zealand are two America’s Cup crazed nations. I’d include the US, but they haven’t shown a single result on Sportcenter, and people really don’t give a crap about sailing here, unless you live in New Port Rhode Island, or Seattle, or maybe San Francisco.
But yours truly, has been watching the Louis Vuitton cup, and loves it. It’s on the channel formerly known as OLN, now called Versus. (470 for those of you on Time Warner Austin. ) One race lasts about 2.5 hours. I’d watch about 45 mins worth at lunch, then go home and watch the rest after work. (and no one knew about this, because you’d all think I was weird if I said, “I have to go home and watch Sailing”)
4 years ago, it was held in New Zealand, as New Zealand was the defending champ. Their kickass captain 8 years ago was this dude, Russell Coutts. Coutts is a legend in New Zealand. Or should I say… was a legend. You see, a team from Switzerland paid Coutts a butt load of money, invested millions in boat design, and went down to New Zealand and won the cup! What’s crazy here is that Switzerland is a land locked country!
Team Switzerland - Alinghi
Team Alinghi (ahh-lynne-gee) (gee like geezer), the swiss team is no longer with Coutts, as he is trying to start this other big world sailing race thing, and the reigns now belong to Brad Butterworth. (He was on New Zealand's wining boat with Coutts on both '95 and '00, and on Alighi 4 years ago.) Alinghi chose Valencia, Spain as their preferred location for their defense. Valencia wona highly contest bid, and spent 750 million dollars to spruce up their port and city to make it all cool and stuff. (yes, 750 Million dollars… this is like a mini-olympics!)Team New Zealand - Fly Emirates
Team New Zealand breezed through the Louis Vuitton elimination rounds, and then outclassed the Italian team Luna Rossa (red moon) in the final this last week. In a best of 9 sails, Team New Zealand ( main sponsor – Fly Emirates), won 5 in a row!! Unheard of!!!So now, we wait till June 23rd when Team New Zealand faces Alinghi. I just don’t know who to root for! Can New Zealand gain back what they feel was stolen from them? Usually, I always cheer for New Zealand as I find it fascinating how a country of 4 million humans, and 80+ million sheep can be so good at Sailing and Rugby. But 4 years ago, I picked out team Alinghi from the very start, because I like the Coutts guy. Maybe I’ll just pop some pop corn, and watch and see what happens as 2 boats tack up wind, raise their spinnakers for the downwind legs and look for the strongest puffs of wind to lead them to victory! Sounds corny, but it's freaking fantastically interesting. Almost as exciting as the World Cup, but not quite.
Regardless, I can’t wait till Saturday the 23rd!!
Wanna read more about the America's Cup - Click here Great Pictures too.
2 comments:
Very cool, Wiley. I've always wanted to ride/work on a high seas sailer, so I'm jealous of your time in Hawaii! There's a 19th century tall ship that docks in Galveston that takes applications for folks to be on the working crew. Someday. Someday.
So, are you gonna have a viewing party? Will pirates be allowed?
Who knew you were such a freak for sailing. I don't know anything about it, but it's cool you do. Is that the real reason why you ran off and left us last night, sneaking in a little sailing before beddy-bye? :)
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