Coutts' Cup Capers...Gold Medalist at CrossFit...Sliding to Southport

by . on 28 Jul 2014 Welcome to Sail-World.com’s New Zealand e-magazine for July 28, 2014

The America's Cup seems to be never far from the headlines, which is fair enough when there is something to report, but the Joint Statement by the four European Challengers had all the traits of a media beat-up.

Why on Earth would four of the five teams send out the same media release individually to virtually the same media email list?

The release said the four teams wanted to work co-operatively for the good of the America's Cup - which is fair enough. One would hope that every participant would do that for an event in which they intended to compete.

They supported the Venues where ever they may be. Oh really? One got the distinct impression from comments they had made a couple of weeks ago that they wanted to sail in San Francisco, the home waters of the Defending Club.

Now a second Competitor Meeting has been called in two weeks - with a week to run until Entries close for the 35th America's Cup.

And one of the longest standing competitors in the history of the America's Cup is excluded?

Seriously chaps - how can you issue a media statement which talks of lifting the game between the Challengers and the Defenders on the Friday, and the next day this exclusion nonsense appears in the media, and is not denied by the Teams involved?

The whole charade should be seen for what it is - having as much substance as a cup of fluffy coffee.

It is surprising to see that teams which are supposed to be serious about competing in the America's Cup have the time to indulge in these childish antics. One would have thought the hunt for sponsors, the best of design talent and getting on with life would have had a far greater priority.

Harden up, guys.

We have bits of the story in this edition, but to be honest the whole deal is so silly to be hardly worth the reporting, and particularly at the expense of other events which are focussed on sailing, and racing and achievement.

One of the great stories of the last few days has been that of Anna Tunnicliffe.

Previously we have waxed lyrical about the double Olympian, Gold medalist, twice Rolex Sailor of the Year who combines sailing as tactician on the Extreme 40 Alinghi, in the Extreme Sailing Series, with a serious tilt at CrossFit between rounds of the ESS.

This weekend she has been competing at the Reebok Crossfit Games. She had a very good couple of days but was hit by a foot injury right at the end of a sprint. For the rest of the series, she struggled, but it is a very tough event, and looking at the results everyone struggled.

Hers is an inspiring story – not just for what she has achieved, but how she copes with adversity and heartbreaking disappointment.

We feature three reports from Anna in this edition. The first includes a video where she describes the way CrossFit works as a training routine for sailing – and looking at the images of the athletes you can see why.

The other point with Anna Tunnicliffe is that she lifts the bar significantly for women's sailing, in terms of what she can physically achieve, and her competitive toughness and focus.

Next stop is Wales for the Extreme Sailing Series.

Across the Tasman, one of the key events on the offshore calendar has been sailed – the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race has been sailed with an eclectic mix of yachts starting the 380nm race from Sydney to Southport.

55 yachts competed in this years event - down on the 70 to 80 boats that have sailed in the previous editions – but still a very good field all the same.

The race is seen as second only to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race in stature, and some familiar boats were scattered through the fleet.

Leader from start to finish was Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI, which finished third on IRC. Third to finish, and second overall was the Volvo 70 Black Jack. Winner on corrected time was the Rogers 46 Celestial, who was eighth to cross the finish line off Southport.

The race was a downwind slide all the way, after the fleet took 90 minutes to clear Sydney Heads in the calm conditions that prevailed after the start. But thereafter it was an easy sail, but with some position changing. Two Cookson 50’s Pretty Fly III and Sydney Hobart winner Victoire finished in fifth and seventh place overall, separated by a TP52, Balance.

From Southport the fleet will make its way north for Airlie Beach Race Week (8-15 August), Hamilton Island Race Week Aug 16-23) and Magnetic Island Race Week (Aug 28 to Sept 2).

We have full coverage of the Gold Coast Race in this edition and will be carrying full coverage of the other three regattas in August.

Stay tuned to our website www.sail-world.com for the latest news and developments in the sailing world.

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

sailworldnzl@gmail.com

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