The Defender's advantage
"The concern has always been about the defender having several months lead-time ahead of challengers to design and build a new boat, without anyone else knowing what the design rules were."Who made the above statement regarding the alleged design advantage the Defender of the America's Cup might have? Was it Ben Ainslie, Grant Simmer, Grant Dalton, Paul Cayard or Sir Keith Mills?
Well, it was none of the aforementioned representatives of the potential 34th America's Cup challengers. The quoted text was part of a statement made on November 1st, 2007, by Tom Ehman, spokesperson of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, later challenger of the 33rd America's Cup. The Defender then was Alinghi and the design rule concerned the AC90, the monohull yacht the Swiss had chosen in order to substitute the IACC.
However, this is the America's Cup and the Defender will always have an advantage, like it always has. Sailing's pinnacle event was never meant to be fair and that's part of its attraction, to challenge the Defender and try to win, knowing the cards are stacked against you (to some extent at least).
Don't get me wrong, just as I praised the Valencia TV Trials, Valencia Sailing will be the first to praise the AC72's and the new direction of the Cup if in the second quarter of 2012 we get great and exciting races. It's only normal though for the Defender to be scrutinized more than the challengers. They set the game. Is there any reason to scrutinize Synergy, Artemis or Team Origin? They will be judged by their performance (if and when they formally enter the Cup).
Labels: 34th America's Cup, BMW Oracle, Russell Coutts, Valencia, Vincenzo Onorato
21 Comments:
None of the above. It was Tom Ehman. He also said:
"When our designers can verify that we are all starting from the same point we hope to see all other issues resolved quickly as agreed recently with the challengers,"
This is where we are now, all the challengers having participated in the discussions to chose the next type of boat, and of course BOR has an advantage because they already sailed an AC on a multi hull. And that is where their advantage ends. If you listen to Grand Dalton, he is not a bit concerned that they are going to race on multis. His concern is the date, but that is because they took on a lot, betting on a 2014 race and now they have too much on their dish. Pierre, lay off, or we will start calling your blog Valencia Sailing Anarchy.
'Scheming Ehman' from BMW Oracle Racing.?
How much are you bored?
Russell Coutts July 2007
Tom Ehman, AC 33.
Well pointed out and indeed rather hypocritical.
The design rule is (still) being written up by parties independent of Oracle. This is the correct way to do things.
6:35
Without any input from any challenger. Yeah that's the way to do it.
At last someone is calling these guys for what they are. Keep it up Pierre we need some balance in this discussion.
"all the challengers having participated to chose the next type of boat..."
ARE YOU KIDDING US ????
anonymous 5:05pm = Tom Ehman??
keep it up Pierre. No one else is calling BMOR on what they are doing... I bet you get blackballed for it...
Yes, without any input from any challenger and written by future Oracle employees.
«this is the America's Cup and the Defender will always have an advantage, like it always has. Sailing's pinnacle event was never meant to be fair»
Yeah! That seems to be fine when Oracle is the defender.
Oracle didn't accept it that way when they were challenging...
The design rule is being written up by Pete Melvin, who I assume will join the BMWO design team as soon as the rule is finished.
Cat & Mouse...
I dont think the fact that the defender has a clear advantage is an issue. I think it is the lack of integrity being shown by RC, his team and supporters. It is truly disgraceful the blatant way they have tried and ironically succeeded to discredit the likes of Ernesto Bertarelli and then clearly implimented rules that they apparently were fighting against. It is nothing new for the defender to have an advantage, but please BOR do not pretend to be holier than thou. RC you are a disgrace to your old friends that once considered you a man of morals. You discredit those old friends with your underhand remarks. Try and take a leaf from the book of some of your old buddies and show a little integrity again. The pretentious blabbering of a once revered Kiwi is just so humiliating. This is not about who deserves the "CUP" or who did what etc etc. This is simply a request to stop the pretentious BS and show a little honesty. It is clear that the unerlying motivs for RC´s actions are based purely on a shallow revenge against his former employer. Anyone who cannot see that is truly blind. It is my belief that one person can become bigger than the sport they pretend to support. This is obviously the case with RC. Larry and Ernesto are small egos compared to the over inflated self opinionated RC. Lets see how the future pans out.
1:19
well said!
@1.19
Honest and well said, Hear hear.
1:19. Very well written. Its good to hear someone put the words together that reflect so many peoples opinion. No BS just honest. Good on you... I wonder if this came from Pierre???
Good on you !
That's what a lot of people think but no one has the balls to speak it out!
We hnow him very well and that's exactly how he is and how he behaves
To 1:19 PM anon
It is fine and well to critisize RC. IT would be nicer to also provide some facts. However in this context, it is extremely cowardly to claim to be one of his former buddies and not even dare to sign your post with your name.
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