Triumphrat

iceman · 06-24-2007

Well we're into the Americas Cup final.

Its a yacht race being held off Valencia.A Swiss team is the defender and NZ has seen off all other challengers to be the challenger for the cup.Match racing.

Budgets of US$100-250 million per team so its a big budget regatta.

Best of 9 races and Alinghi (Swiss) won the 1st race and NZ has just won the 2nd.

Its huge in NZ - but racing starts at 1am so a lot of us are becoming seriously sleep deprived.

Is anyone else watching it? I was in Australia last week and it was only getting a brief mention in the morning news reports.

Grant

Wombat · 06-24-2007

I was watching the replay of the first race on TV yesterdy and was interested to learn that a goodly number of the crew on Alinghi are Kiwis.

Tbirdnz · 06-24-2007

Yes Ice, I was totally jaded Sunday after virtually no sleep Saturday night with both the yachting and rugby.

I was up early watching the highlights of the America's Cup to see Team NZ pull off a stunning victory after winning the start but rounding the 1st mark behind then reeling Alinghi in and rounding the 3rd mark 15 seconds ahead.

Very close racing this, it's anyone's guess but as they have just said the Alinghi jinx has been beaten and we are all very optimistic.

Yep, Wombat, there are over 250 Kiwi's in this race being the most predominant among most of the challenger crew and Alinghi's skipper is Brad Butterworth, a Kiwi and his team have a substantial number of Kiwi's. But even Team NZ have about 3 'foreigners' onboard, it's very multi national.

I'm not sure I am going to survive the best of 9 races if it goes to the wire.

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Ride on !

KingBear · 06-24-2007

My wife and I (well, my first wide and I) honeymooned at the America's Cup in San Diego in 1992. Now when I turn it on all I get is groans from the family.

Great sport. Go Kiwis!

kdrake · 06-24-2007

I am an avid fan, except somewhat $ short. It doesn't seem to be on TV here, unless you subscribe to to a channel that usually shows all sorts of sports, including the hunting/fishing *****.

vonbonds · 06-24-2007

I love the America's Cup and have been watching it since 87 when it was back in Perth, Australia. I am hoping the Kiwi's on TNZ bring the cup home to their country. I can't decide if it is bad that there are so many Kiwi's on Alinghi because it hurts TNZ or if it is good that there are so many great sailors that they all get a chance to try and win it.

tba-golfer · 06-24-2007

I am all over the Kiwis, even though you have that Emirates tag in front... what's that all about, other than $$$?

The Swiss have a major sponsor, which happens to be the bank/brokerage that I work for currently (they bought out my lovely midwest, family firm last year, and I suspect they are actually a firm with German 1940's roots... :hammer: )

Go Arab/Kiwis!

:-D

Catenaccio · 06-24-2007

There's something a bit ironic when a Swiss team (landlocked country, remember) leads the Americas Cup. Too cool! Where do the Swiss practice, Lake Lugano?

Sorry, it just struck me funny.

tba-golfer · 06-24-2007

Must be the small holes in the sails!
:hammer: On myself for such a cheesy joke. :hammer:
Yet again!

Tbirdnz · 06-24-2007

Well Cat they practice alongside the Swiss Navy ! :-D

The Swiss bought the whole winning Black Magic NZ team after NZ won the cup and then beat the new Black Magic team in NZ in 2003 but later ditched the skipper Russel Coutts after a management dispute. I hear he is now looking to go into a new USA team after this event. A lot of NZ'ers were not too over joyed in those guys jumping ship for money and going to the Swiss but it's old history now

Oracle the USA team had a Kiwi skipper Rod Dixon but he got thrashed by the Italians, Prada, who in turn got beaten by Team NZ. They were considered a top team and it was a bit of a shock to see them eliminated. Team NZ considered them their number 1 opposition. Rod Dixon is a world class sailor who has won numerous worldwide titles but his future doesn't look good at the moment.

Emirates were the only major sponsor to put money into Team NZ after Telecom NZ pulled out. The NZ Government put in over $30 million. Emirates have said if Team NZ win the cup they will pay NZ $1.2 billion to host the challenger series with the cup series to be held in Auckland. NZ have not responded to that. Don't plan in counting their chickens yet, Alinghi is a very good team and they will come back.

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Ride on !