Sail-World Mailbag- Readers comments from the last week or so

by Sail-World Readers on 9 Mar 2011
Sail-World readers comment on America's Cup and other pressing matters.

We have produced their comments below:

(NB We will only publish letters where the writer is identified, unless there is a a very good reason to maintain confidentiality. )


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Sender: Nis Peter Lorentzen

Message: Yes, foiling Moths with wing masts and kiteboards are part of the answer, but how do we get the 'other' 3 billion people in the developing world interesting in sailing?

Sailing has the advantage over many other sports that spectacular 'equipment' can potentially add a lot to the public image and media attractiveness of the sport. If we go back to the pre-WWII years of the Olympics, the larger keelboats that were used were Skerry Cruisers/Square Meter Yachts and Meter Yachts. At that time these boats were the most advanced, fastest and beautiful yachts ever produced.

I believe that the public image and media attractiveness of Olympic sailing would increase dramatically today if we learned from Olympic sailing a century ago, as well as from the America's Cup, and allowed each country to participate with a 12 Meter yacht again! Our entire Western tradition of recreational sailing was shaped by early sailing heroes like Lipton, Fife, Herreshoff, Vanderbilt, Sparkman & Stevens, etc.

Sailing represents freedom, adventure, heritage, competition, glamor, technology, nature, oceans, wind power, and many other positive attributes.

Would a 12 Meter Olympic keelboat match racing discipline attract the very best sailing heroes in the world (think Conner, Bond, Koch, Bertrand, Melges, Turner, Coutts, etc.)?

Would the size, beauty, majesty, heritage, glamor and inspiration of a 12 Meter Olympic 'flagship' yacht attract millions of potential new sailors to the sport, and thereby indirectly benefit all the less expensive and widespread boat classes, and attract more sponsors than small boats?

Without a doubt!

Furthermore, the America's Cup defender abandoned the 12 Meter Yacht (IACC) just at a time when large developing countries, like China, were finally able to participate. With the ISAF and IOC stepping into this vacuum, and re-introducing the Olympic 12 Meter Yacht (IACC) in 2016, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, etc. will be able, for the first time, to put together their own national 12 Meter Yacht teams, and significantly raise the profile of sailing in these countries representing 3 billion people, and inspiring millions of new sailors!

Combining the greatest sailing heroes of all times AND the most impressive and beautiful Olympic 12 Meter Yacht 'flagship' would not only help sailing in the Western world, but also bring the sport to a whole new world which has never experienced sailing.

Best regards

Nis Peter Lorentzen
Founder
Scandinavian Cruisers


Related News Item: Kiteboarding on the Olympic menu? Here's why...

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=81092

Message sent from : Asia Racing

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Sender: John Teisen

Message: Dear Sir

I happened to discover your last report on the internet and took particular note of your picture of the new Shag Rubble.

My brother-in-law who lives in Christchurch told me that Cave Rock is also damaged. As it is one of my favorite places to visit whenever I am in Christchurch and is the source of many happy memories over the years, I was saddened by his news. Nevertheless, I have searched the web but found no reference to its post-earthquake condition.

Because you are a local resident (Ed: Sorry we live in Devonport, Auckland), I imagine you are aware of its present condition. Accordingly, could you please advise me in a reply to this message whether Cave Rock is damaged and, if possible, send me a photo or refer me to a website that contains a photo of the damage.

Your assistance will be very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

John Teisen

Related News Item: Christchurch Yacht Club report from the Commodore

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=80821

Message sent from : Australia Racing
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Sender: Bruce Spedding

Message: Agree 100% - pitting the two 'board sports' against each other, kiteboarding cannot be ignored just like windsurfing could not be ignored before, and selecting only one will be detrimental to the future of sailing sports at the Olympics. The traditionalists still have the rest of the sailing world stage to play with.

Related News Item: Board or Kite-Board: Why not having both in the Olympics?

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=80792

Message sent from : New Zealand Racing

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Sender: Nick Gray

Message: Absolutely loving this initiative to release 1987 Cup video footage.

my best childhood memories are of the cup in freo, 10 mins from our house when i was about 8 years old

well done and keep it going!

Related News Item: America's Cup: The Freo Files - 'A bunch of Pommy lawyers'

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=80615

Message sent from : Australia Racing

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Sender: Pierre A Varreon (France)

Message:

You know I love your Country, thus our thoughts are going to New Zealand and the beautiful people of this extraordinary Nation and especially to the City of Christchurch in where I spent several wonderful days in 2008.

For the third time in less than 6 months Aotearoa had to cope with one major disaster.

Let's altogether tell your Nation that we are spiritually, mentally, friendly, possibly materialistically standing by you in those dreadful times, our thoughts are directed to all of you New Zealanders. I know that once again you will teach us a magnificent lesson of bravery and courage.

Because of New Zealand is constructed from the origin with the bricks of hard labor, the achievement of pride and the cement of love.

I respect and love you very much People of New Zealand who so many times welcomed me so cheerfully.

God bless all of you and lets brace it up altogether in the world and sailing community you so brilliantly represent.

Pierre A Varreon, Paris, France 02 22 2011

Related Newsletter: Sail-World New Zealand