Young US team seeks additional funds for Am Cup bid
by Sail-World.com/nz 27 Apr 2018 19:02 PDT
28 April 2018
Final Day, 2018 Congressional Cup, Long Beach, April 21, 2018 © Bronny Daniels
Leading America's Cup correspondent, Bernie Wilson (AP) has revealed a second US based America's Cup Challenge is being formed.
Writing in the Charlotte Observer, Wilson reported that the as yet unnamed group hoped to sign 2018 Congressional Cup winner Taylor Canfield (USA) as helmsman. Canfield would not comment on the formation of the new team or any role he may have in it.
"The all American effort gained traction last weekend when some of its principals helped crew US One Sailing Team, skippered by Taylor Canfield, to victory over the New York Yacht Club's Team American Magic in the prestigious Congressional Cup in Long Beach.
"US One tactician Mike Buckley said he started the initiative for a team of American sailors, engineers and innovators a year ago. "Our initiative is not about individuals, it's about creating a winning culture in American sailing," Buckley said in a phone interview Friday. "We believe that it's kind of been a long time coming since there's been a team of Americans that has challenged for the America's Cup. My main goal is to change that. It wasn't to change it for myself. It was to change it for American sailing."
Buckley, who is a New York Yacht Club member, said his group respects the NYYC team and has friends among that crew.
"We believe we're selling a different product," said Buckley, who lives in New York. "Our focus is on us. It's not us-versus-them. Our focus is on a group of Americans trying to win the America's Cup."
With just two months left before the close of entries for America's Cup 36, Buckley declined to divulge his team's budget but said it has "a significant amount committed." He said the group needs one or two more partners.
"We certainly have enough to get started," said Buckley, 35, who was an All-American sailor at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.
He believes a team can "give a fantastic effort" with a budget of $80 million to $100 million.
Buckley believes the all American concept will work.
"When you look back at the history of it and see Dennis Conner on the cover of Time magazine and a parade in downtown Manhattan, that's what we want to get back to," he said. "It's not about one person. It's about getting back to the America's Cup roots and traditions in the modern day. ... We believe that the time is now. For us it's not about the next generation, it's about today and what we can do to advance American sailing and also to advance American technology."
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