Americas Cup
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a good video with background, a trip down memory lane for many of us...I also note Coutts in the video mention the NZ offer was the best he had on the table at the time-the way he phrased it showed me how he was willing to take Allinghi's offer to sail against NZ only a few years later. Very mercenary.
Also, I read a bit more on Coutts-over the years, around the Americas Cup sailing, he has continued racing and winning all sorts of different races...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Coutts -
The protocol for the next Cup has been released (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8BTnNO2cz5Dc1Jfb25DazRyM2s/view)
The media may be a bit slow reading and summarising it but here is my quick attempt- March 2021 for the Cup races
- December 2020 has a compulsory round of the Challenger Selection Series at the venue for the Cup (presumed Auckland but see below)
- clause in protocol to allow the Cup to be held in Italy if NZ can't get organised.
- challenging clubs can't be made up entities. They must be existing yacht clubs (minimum 5 years) and carry at least 200 members
- yacht (hull) must be made in challenging country
- all crew members to hold nationality of challenging clubs country although up to 3 can be 'residents' with permanent place of abode there and physical presence for 380 days out of 2 years leading into cup.
- maximum 2 hulls to be made
- no wind tunnel/fluid testing. Only open water. This is in an effort to keep costs down and even the playing field/attract entries
- no coordinated practice between teams
All in all an attempt to bring the cup back to the pre Larry days and create a more even contest that will hopefully attract more challengers.
The big problem (and the one the door has been left open for) is the venue. Auckland actually has nowhere as a base anymore as the Viaduct has been turned into a commercial area. Dalton is basically challenging Auckland and the Govt to act quickly and sort this out or the Cup will go to Italy. Given Auckland's track record on procrastination/red tape/ poor decisions (Eden Park) I have no idea how this will pan out.
A good write up on the situation is here
If Team NZ sail away, we won't welcome them back
'Whatever the commercial justifications, if Team NZ does turn its back on the nation it purports to represent, we will not forgive or forget.'
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The boat builders up in Warkworth won’t be happy, I mean do they have to suppprt NZ now rather that help another team take it off us?
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@virgil said in Americas Cup:
The boat builders up in Warkworth won’t be happy, I mean do they have to suppprt NZ now rather that help another team take it off us?
I guess that kiwi boat builders can still design and fit but if they want to make hulls they need to do so overseas.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12007543
The issue of the bases is dragging on. I wonder how long TNZ waits and watches NZ fuck around before they seriously consider offshore venues?
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@canefan said in Americas Cup:
The issue of the bases is dragging on. I wonder how long TNZ waits and watches NZ fuck around before they seriously consider offshore venues?
I think they are probably seriously looking at it.
Fark, we can destroy anything up here by bitterness, naysaying and infighting. Street motor races. America's Cups (FFS). Waterfront stadia. Anything in a 10 jersey.
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@nzzp said in Americas Cup:
@canefan said in Americas Cup:
The issue of the bases is dragging on. I wonder how long TNZ waits and watches NZ fuck around before they seriously consider offshore venues?
I think they are probably seriously looking at it.
Fark, we can destroy anything up here by bitterness, naysaying and infighting. Street motor races. America's Cups (FFS). Waterfront stadia. Anything in a 10 jersey.
Western Springs Speedway, Eden Park, Waterfront stadium...... The list goes on
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@nzzp said in Americas Cup:
@canefan said in Americas Cup:
The issue of the bases is dragging on. I wonder how long TNZ waits and watches NZ fuck around before they seriously consider offshore venues?
I think they are probably seriously looking at it.
Fark, we can destroy anything up here by bitterness, naysaying and infighting. Street motor races. America's Cups (FFS). Waterfront stadia. Anything in a 10 jersey.
This AC situation is like modern 'parenting'.
'What biscuits would you like Sebastian?'
'These ones'
'How about you choose something else?'
'No, I want these ones'
'But those aren't healthy and they cost too much'
'But I want them!'
'Let's put them back and take these instead, look they have raisins in them'
'I HATE raisins!'
'No you don't, you love them'
'You said I could choose!!!!!! You are the worst parent in the world'
'OK, just this time then' -
@canefan said in Americas Cup:
The issue of the bases is dragging on. I wonder how long TNZ waits and watches NZ fuck around before they seriously consider offshore venues?
Isn't it already written into the challenge - that there's a deadline for Auckland to sort it's shit out, or it's automatically moved to Valencia, or similar?
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TNZ wanted to extend Halsey and Hobson wharves out into the Harbour so that they protruded as far as Wynyard and Princes.
This was rigorously opposed by a number of interested groups who have traction with Council because of the flak relating to Ports of Akl Bledisloe container terminal plans
Council signed off slightly modified version of this
Govt stepped in with alternatives that intruded into the Harbour less but that TNZ baulked at. Govt then managed to buy out lease(s) of chemical storage units in Halsey St. This is iteration 3 of govt plan
All takes time I guess. I'm a bit disappointed TNZ will get the Events Centre as their base and that Halsey St is going to be closed. Balance that against early exit of the chemical tanks and more open water and I think its a reasonable outcome.
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@dogmeat said in Americas Cup:
I'd be thoroughly pissed off though if I was a commercial fisherman. This will be the third time they will be forced to move their berths so absentee owners can moor their super yachts
IMO they shouldn't be there anyway, nor should they be allowed to fish the inner gulf. I know one of them and they are so short sighted about their own business, it's really blinkered thinking. There must be a far more sensible place for them to go that isn't inner city?
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@bovidae said in Americas Cup:
The GBI ferry mooring will have to move also looking at that plan.
Float planes too I think.
It isn't a bad compromise and there will always be parties affected. New motorways are the same and the city will be better for it.
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@dogmeat Good response, thanks. But given they won it nine months ago, it seems to me poorly administered thus far - almost as if they meet monthly like a footy club committee.
