America's Cup- Bruno Troublé - Organiser mistakes are killing the Cup

by Sail-World.com on 5 Apr 2015 Bruno Troublé is the creator and face of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the highly successful America's Cup Challenger Series he created in 1983, and which continued as a mainstay of the America's Cup until 2013.

At the bottom of the story are links to interviews on NewstalkZB where Tony Veitch talks with Peter Montgomery, Brad Butterworth and Grant Dalton.

Dalton says they believe the Japanese AC45 boat is already being built. Also says the cost of teams coming to Auckland for the Qualifier would be cost neutral to the competing teams.

At its peak the Louis Vuitton Cup drove the America's Cup, largely through the vision of Troublé - who combined the very rare talents of a sailor and successful event organiser. He ably supported by the late Yves Carcelle, CEO of Louis Vuitton and Christine Belanger.

Bruno Troublé comments on the latest attempts to 'improve' the America's Cup which has seen entries dwindle to just for for the 2017 event, with the exit of four time Challenger Luna Rossa, two days ago.

Troublé told Sail-World that in the 34th America's Cup a change was also made to reduce the size of the boat : 'we had the same move in 2012. Looking at the shrinking challenger list, Russell tried to convince us to go back to AC 45s.

'We (LV, Main partner and Bertelli ) said NO THANKS !

'The event would have been so different with small boats in San Francisco!!'

He wrote earlier on the latest moves:

'I am away on my boat in Venice, enjoying spring in La Serenissima, far from the boiling controversy of the America’s Cup. All those witches and sorcerers trying to do good to the America’s Cup are instead slowly killing her. There have been so many mistakes over the last couple years!

Golden Gate Yacht Club, and their Oracle Team USA, are great sailors but hopeless guards of the Myth. They managed to kill the style and elegance which prevailed for decades, those unique aspects of the America’s Cup for which was our main aim at Louis Vuitton for 30 years.

They have discouraged the high level partners and put an end to the exclusive positioning of THE Cup. They have betrayed the long saga of incredible personalities who made the Cup so special. And they are now organizing a one design catamaran contest with no style and anonymous people beyond the sailing circles.

What we have now is a vulgar beach event smelling of sunscreen and french fries. This is definitely NOT the Cup.

To hear multiple America's Cup winner, Brad Butterworth and the Voice of the America's Cup, Peter Montgomery, discuss the latest moves in the Cup on NewstalkZB click here (starts at 7.49) and click here for the second part.

Dalton claims the Japanese AC45 is already being built click here starts at 09.40 and continues here