America’s Cup- The best is yet to come!

by Gerald New on 13 Apr 2007 Monday will see the start of the final series of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The sparring Acts are over, now it is put-up or shut-up time.

The recent fleet racing introduced the challenger’s new boats to Alinghi, the Defender, and were found wanting. That was in a fleet racing format, where at least the presence of all eleven challengers plus the defender made for an interesting spectacle - can we hope for as much in the match racing format that will prevail from now through the America’s Cup itself ?

The number of boats engendered the excitement of the fleet racing, twelve of these highly stressed greyhounds coming off the same start line making for great drama. Plus, the covering and interaction of fleet racing kept the interest and gave the commentators plenty to talk about, switching focus as the action, or lack of, demanded.

Now we return to the match racing format, rarely a thrilling spectacle when identical boats are contesting, with the variation of the IAAC designs, the likelihood of close jousting round the course is not something expected in the America’s Cup.

The start sequence is all-important, although the superiority shown by Alinghi so far may put that in doubt. Once the circling and sailing backwards has been completed the winner is normally settled and then has only to cover in textbook style to the finish.

With this close covering there is not much likelihood of the dramatic changes of fortune that featured in the fleet racing where boats were able to breakaway into different weather patterns.

The only variation to this is if the slower boat wins the start and it takes some time for the faster to wriggle free or if there is gear failure, preferably of the leading boat. It is most likely this inevitability of circumstances that makes reading about the various clashes over the years so much more interesting than viewing them.

The most languid drifting match can be spiced with drama in the descriptive licence of a skilful author or filmmaker. Not so when the facts are there for all to see, and no matter how it is talked up, the result is inevitable - time to retire to the bar and wait for the next start.

I wonder if any of the TV stations has a copy of 'Wind' ready to run if the wind deserts Valencia again - just the International-14 bits will do!

America’s Cup Facts & highlights:

Total number of challenges: 31 in 154 years

Number of whitewash scores to nil: 21

Last four America’s Cup scores : 5-0 to challenger, 5-0 to defender, 5-0 to challenger, 4-1 to defender.

Closest matches :

In 1983 John Bertrand (AUS) made famous comeback against Dennis Conner (USA) when he recovered from 3-1 down to win 4-3.

In 1920 Sir Thomas Lipton’s challenger Shamrock IV was beaten 3-2 by Resolute.

Valencia Programme 2007 :

Louis Vuitton Cup round robin series takes place 16 April to 7 May.

Louis Vuitton Cup knock out rounds and challenger final between 14 May and 12 June.

The 32nd America’s Cup match takes place 23 June to 7 July.