Monday, November 22, 2010

Vincenzo Onorato replies to criticism on his role in the 34th America's Cup

Vincenzo Onorato, owner of Mascalzone Latino, Challenger of Record of the 34th America's Cup, has been widely criticized for his silence and the, allegedly, inexistent role his team has in shaping the current edition of the pinnacle event of the sport of sailing. Onorato being Italian received the bulk of the criticism in his home country. As a result, he used Italy's main sailing media, FareVela, to reply to his critics. We would like to thank our friend Michele Tognozzi, editor of FareVela, for allowing us to reproduce Onorato's letter.

Here's what the owner of the Challenger of Record had to say [Note: the translation of the original text in Italian is mine]:

"Dear Michele,

I read Fare Vela Online with interest, every day. I have also read the criticism leveled at my club, seen as a sleeping partner of the Defender rather than a Challenger of Record worthy of its name. I partly feel responsible for these opinions as a direct result of our scant communication on the work we are carrying out. Oracle and Mascalzone, and their respective yachts clubs, inherited a disastrous Cup in terms of image, a result of the long and, I point out, legitimate litigation with Bertarelli. Russell and I meet almost every week and our teams are in daily contact.

All decisions taken are thoroughly discussed and thought through. It is also true we are going through an international economic environment to say the least disastrous and this is a further incentive to act with utmost care and caution. My silence doesn't mean I'm not doing anything but that we are humbly working, among other things, on carrying water to our mill. I'm Italian and my mill is called Italy, I would like to take to our country a series of events of the next Cup, just like I did last summer in La Maddalena.

A Jesuit that taught me in school used to say: Look at the substance of things, not their form. That's what I'm doing.

Your faithful and devoted reader,

Vincenzo Onorato"


Mascalzone Latino is not the "sleeping partner" of BMW Oracle, according to Vincenzo Onorato

Here's what Michele Tognozzi wrote, regarding Onorato's letter [Note: the translation of the original text in Italian is mine]:

We thank Vincenzo Onorato for his prompt reply and for the attention with which he follows us. We would like to point out that FareVela Net has echoed the large number of readers that wrote, replying to our invitation to voice their own opinion on the Cup. Our doubts are simply those of the majority of emails we received.

With two years and a half left until the 34th America's Cup there are still many unknowns and Onorato's very admission of a "difficult international economic environment" can only give rise to questions on the real costs of the event, the potential participating teams and the role of the Challenger of Record, questions to which Onorato has promptly replied. Many of the questions, certainly, derive from the "scant communication on the work we are carrying out", as the owner of Mascalzone Latino Audi Team pointed out.

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28 Comments:

At 9:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

this guy is only looking to grab a lot of bucks from an italian city to hold 35th AC, no serious team is settle around him!Russell will pay the bill. remenber when he was claiming no more than 2 years ago "one more AC in AC version 5!!" now they are heading for "must have" 100M budget??? kidding...

 
At 9:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pierre, why are you posting this guy's crap? Just consider this: Out of all the ports in the world, it turns out Cagliari is the best one to hold the first ever regata of AC34!!!!

Do they also have a real estate deal there?

 
At 10:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

They might call this the 34th Real Estate Cup

 
At 10:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cagliari - Wonderful!!!

 
At 11:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

something stinks around here

 
At 11:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Russell and I meet almost every week and our teams are in daily contact"
According to what Onorato said few month ago, he's probably meeting Coutts to drink wine rather than challengers business.

And if the teams are in daily contact, what more natural as at this stage both teams are only one!

"I'm Italian and my mill is called Italy, I would like to take to our country a series of events of the next Cup, just like I did last summer in La Maddalena."
Are the selfish interests of an Italian what the CoR should be focusing on? Who cares where the WS take place. Just make sure they are an event.

"Look at the substance of things, not their form. That's what I'm doing."
Which substance? BOR is only about blah blah. What substance?

Come on Onorato, you are not what the AC needs. By far not.

 
At 12:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Daer Mr. Ellison, thanks a lot to bring AC to Facebook era. And in the best moment. Thanks RC. Thanks Mr.OnCoRato....

 
At 12:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those left out can always go find something else to do.

The real racers will have a good time in Cagliari. Always great sailing conditions in mid summer.

"Look at the substance of things, not their form. That's what I'm doing."

Pronto e Ciao!

 
At 1:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

vincenzo just want to f... two other italian teams :)

 
At 3:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actions speak louder than words Vincenzo

 
At 8:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:15 PM anon

AC 31 and 32, not to speak of AC 33 all were not winnable with less than 100 Million dollars. So whats the difference in AC34?

 
At 8:36 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lovely marriage... but irresponsible.

 
At 8:43 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

11:58
so whom would you consider a worthy COR? Pussy KM? Fuckup Erne$to? Fakie CNEV?

Perhaps the only "problem" with Mr Onorato is that he has agreed to lead the AC in a direction that you personally do not appreciate (mutihulls ect). But that is not a valid reason to question Mr. Onorato's integrity and credibility. I have yet to see some evidence for any wrongdoing on Mr Onotato's side

 
At 9:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

8:34am Anon

The BIG difference is that Ru$$ell promised to make this Cup much cheaper!!! Well guess what? It turns out it's more expensive.

 
At 9:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

8.43
The only problem with Onerato is he is willing to take the Cup wherever Russell asks him to, that's why he's there.
Concerning KM he's no pussy he had the balls to tell RC he thought his plans were not viable and EB will be remebered as the guy who took the AC to a new level and then got screwed over by BMWOR through the US courts. Looking at the recent media commentary it appears that even they are now beginning to ask some interesting questions, let's hope RC has some credible answers for the sake of the Cup.

 
At 10:42 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:37 Who are asking interesting questions?
It would be very funny if the courts got involved and screwed BMWO now. Not good for the cup of course but great Karma.

 
At 10:43 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

every word we write about VO is too much. he is and will remain the coffee boy of BOR and thats it. No influence - as they have no money; no Opinion - as there was to much red win; no personality - as he is RCs personal ass kisser!

 
At 5:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I STILL have yet to see some evidence for any wrongdoing on Mr Onotato's side.

What I see in this thread instead is hatred and slander

Regarding KM, he realized that he and his team are not competitive and then he bailed out - sounds pretty pussy to me

 
At 5:53 AM, Blogger WetHog said...

Dame Mills showed no balls. He simply pussed out. No other way to explain it.

As for the other bass ackwards comments on here about VO, as always haters gonna hate.

 
At 1:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wethog, you are a BMWO ass-kissing, non-sailing redneck from the Annapolis burbs that doesn't know his ass from his elbow. Piss off and leave the discussion to those who know more about the subject than what they can read on the Internet.

 
At 4:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Before RC announced the multis , the people from Onorato told me they where 100% sure it was going to be a mono hull ...so you can imagine the big involvement this guys have as a challenge of record .....all CRAP

 
At 6:09 PM, Blogger WetHog said...

@1:02 PM

I am a Redneck from Annapolis, but I am not found of kissing anyone's ass and I sailed from the time I was a little kid until I left home for College so I have sailed and I know how to sail.

As for your other comments, well based on the quality of comments on this site I'd say I am one of the better informed regulars on here. Just my opinon though.

In regards to your general tone directed at me, lick the back side of my harry bean bagg douche. :P

 
At 8:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As always, you show a lot of refinement WH!

BB

 
At 8:23 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1:02 PM anon

your comments are pathetic and sound VERY red-neckish to me

Reading them also gives me the impression that there is a serious confidence problem on your side - what could possibly be the reason for that?? SIZE???

 
At 7:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

VO has agreed to a very good scenario. 20 hopeful AC teams flew all the way to Dubai to be part of it. Good job. Actions speak louder than words.. except by some of the idiots around here.

 
At 1:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guys are you kidding ? 20 Teams ....I'm in the circuit and can't count more than 5 , including BOR

 
At 8:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1:49 AM anon,
well, sorry that you are unable to count to more than five. I wonder what kind of job you have "in the circuit"? Trash collector?

 
At 2:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

please , give me a list of the 20 teams , and then we talk about my job . Who care what the fu...I do , only counts that I'm around and can't count more than 5 . If I'm wrong please let us know the big list of possible challengers .
If there would be 20 Teams , there won't be so many professional sailors searching job in the Med Cup , RC-44 , Volvo and Olympic circuits .....

 

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