Louis Vuitton Pacific Series- Measuring success

by Sail-World on 19 Feb 2009
So how do we measure the success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series?

(To watch the video http://tvnz.co.nz/louis-vuitton-pacific-series-news/martin-taskers-louis-vuitton-review-2490134/video!click_here )

Well, given that it is the America's Cup in microcosm, maybe the best analysis would be via the mantra of Mr America's Cup Dennis Conner who always referred to the quest for the world's oldest international sporting trophy as 'a game of life.'

What constitutes a game of life? It must surely have drama, intrigue, high emotion, low emotion, brain power, technology, personalities, controversy, back-stabbing, front-stabbing, creativity, courage, endurance, sporting excellence, pain, laughter, tears, outrage, theatre, the list is endless.

Looking at it word by word, there was certainly no lack of drama. Any race that hangs on the execution of a penalty turn on the finish line and ends with victory by a one second margin could not have a more dramatic end.

Then on the final day, the heroic hosts, one down in the final and coming off a string of defeats, reel off three in a row against Alinghi in the most testing, potentially boat-breaking conditions of the whole regatta. Drama with style; Dean Barker and his Emirates Team New Zealand crew had their critics searching for superlatives, the doubters converted by a rare hat-trick that defined sporting excellence.

What made it particularly sweet was the fact that this regatta turned out to be a significant event that really did mean something. With their controversial refusal to sail ETNZ earlier in the regatta, Alinghi had ensured that the Kiwis had their backs up and were more determined than ever to avenge Valencia.

Equally, Alinghi made it abundantly clear that as a champion team and the America's Cup holders they wanted to win and maintain their superiority.

The manner of the win was most telling; three zip in the most testing conditions against the toughest opposition. At the back of the boat TVNZ cameraman Bruce Adams, a lifelong sailor and a New Zealand representative, marvelled at the tight cohesion of the Kiwi crew and waxed lyrical about the whole experience.

Much was made of the fact that the conclusion to the regatta was so full of Hollywood scripting cliches it beggared belief. It's the stuff of outrageous dreams which sees home-town underdogs emerge from a four race losing streak to topple the top team in the business.

Alinghi were gracious in defeat, turning to humour to fend off the hecklers, and in the end the friendly spirit of the friendly regatta prevailed.

It almost didn't. In a couple of rare one-on-one interviews BMW Oracle Racing boss Larry Ellison pulled no punches in his view of Alinghi's America's Cup antics, and his counterpart, Ernesto Bertarelli, was equally obdurate in defending Alinghi's stance.

The difference was that Ellison embraced the Louis Vuitton regatta and raced on board in the afterguard of his yacht. Bertarelli's visit was fleeting and the absence of the Alinghi logo on the sails spoke volumes.

It was a shame Beratrelli wasn't there longer to witness some of the real spirit of the event. The over achieving of the Damiani Italia Challenge was special, matched by the on-camera responses of skipper Vasco Vascotto and his helmsman Francesco Bruni, who were articulate, frank, amusing and above all passionate.

Similarly, the Greek Challenge - albeit loaded with Kiwis - brought the same sort of attitude, revelling in their underdog status but determined to prove their potential as a contender.

The images of the Greek flag flying off the back of an America's Cup yacht may have taken a little getting used to, but at the same time hopefully waved a signal to the America's Cup protagonists that such scenarios are what the America's Cup is all about.

For more Louis Vuitton Pacific Series stories and video see www.tvnz.co.nz/sailing