Re: [Cal_Boats] Alinghi gets penalized by race committee on second race, future cup boats?

Charlie, I'd second that (using CAL 40s), except they would have to amend the Deed of Gift to allow smaller boats (I think present requirements are for a 40' to 90' LWL). I think the Swiss actually changed that already to require the 90' LOA multihulls be used (STUPID idea!!) for the 2010 Cup. Golden Gate YC should be able to request an amendment to the Deed, but I'm not sure. I realize that the 12 Meter Class had reached the upper limits of technological development, but I could relate to those boats..... even the first series with the "new" America's Cup Class" boats (1992) was interesting and seemed relevant to our boats. I don't think that I could really relate to this latest fiasco of a Cup series even if I was a hot-shot HOBIE Cat sailer. These multihulls were more like iceboats on liquid ice, more like aircraft than boats (no offense meant to hard water sailers!). I actually felt like I learned some good tips on setting a spinnaker and match racing watching the 1987 and 1992 races. Even though I don't compete in any organized racing..... still, I felt like it was worth watching! Funny how the CAL 40 that we look at as a "traditional" boat.......... was seen at the time as being as radical as I view the latest cup "boats". If the GGYC could use "normal" sized boats, like the CAL 40, or Catalina 37 (used for the Congressional Cup at one time, after I guess they felt the Catalina 38 was not fast enough?), or maybe something like a J44....... I would think that would allow a much larger number of challengers from a larger number of countries. Yes, the Deed of Gift would need to be changed to allow all teams to use an American designed/built boat...... but I think it would bring back some of the excitement and team spirit of the old days (well, make that the 12 Meter years, 1987 in Freemantle was one of the BEST!). I think that the BIGGEST reform that needs to be enacted to bring back the Interest in the AC races, is to require that ALL members of a competing boat's crew (owner, skipper, tactician, bowman, winch grinders, etc.) MUST be resident citizens of the country they are sailing for on a permanent basis, not just for the duration of the Cup Campaign. The Swiss NEVER won the Cup in the first place!! The winning crew of the "Swiss" boat in New Zealand were mostly New Zealanders, only the boat's owner (and well, the boat) was Swiss........ to me that was not a fair victory, that was purely a case of winning at all costs and buying the CUP, not winning it. Shame on the Swiss for doing that, and even bigger shame on those New Zealanders who allowed themselves to be "bought", let's bring back keelhauling for any crew member who ever pulls that again! I think that one of the greatest things that I remember from 1987 was when Stars & Stripes had her Genoa rip in 2 and almost before the ripped genny was removed, they already had a new one set and full! I bet the boat hardly slowed down! Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" 1979 O'DAY DS II #10201 former co-owner of "NODROG" 1970 CAL 21 #285 On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:46:28 -0500 "Husar, Charlie [USA]" <hu… [at] bah.com> writes: HI, All. I have a suggestion for the next Cup. CAL 40s! Tests of technology are really ooh-aaah, but tests of sailors are really cool too. That and a 3 boat final, and I'd actually watch. I do recall going to a friend's house in the 80s at midnight to watch the Fremantle Cup. At the time, the teams were more national (the Kiwi skipper on the Japanese boat came later), the boats were more even and not heavy on the technology, and the competition was a lot tighter. It was actually interesting as a tactical sailing event. Cheers Charlie Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=0qgf6fpJfBz5rj9fjwiUSwAAJ1CIixW8vmHn6WPZlsvVErEuAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA=