Remember the America’s Cup? well they’re still in court

What was until the late 80’s the best yacht racing competition in the world (one that many outside the yachting world paid attention to) has continued its form by descending yet again into a court room argument.

America’s Cup rivals Alinghi and BMW Oracle are arguing over the legality of the new Alinghi Swiss catamaran launched last week. BMW Oracle argue that the Alinghi, being the first America’s Cup boat in the 158-year history of the Cup to possess an engine breaches the rules…as opposed to the general disintegration of the event into god knows how many types of boats. Mind you, the “engine” in question doesn’t propel the boat itself, but is installed to trim sails.

The America’s Cup, according to Wikipedia, is still the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The race attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige.

Although the most salient aspect of the regatta is its yacht races, it is also a test of boat design, sail design, fundraising, and management skills. The Cup originally named the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup was changed to the America’s Cup after the first yacht to win the trophy, the schooner America. The trophy remained in the hands of the New York Yacht Club of the United States from 1857 (when the syndicate that won the Cup donated the trophy to the club) until 1983 when the Cup was won by the challenger, Australia II of Australia, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport. The skipper of Australia II, John Bertrand, was quoted as saying,”This puts yacht racing back on the map.”

Let me say that my first, and perhaps only experience with sailing was as a 7 year old child woken up at 3am in the morning to watch Australia II cross to take the America’s Cup in 1983. Our Prime Minister of the day wore an Australia flag motif shirt (or vest) on TV and famously said that any employer who fired a worker that day for calling in sick (as they were up so early) was a “mug.” Sadly the 1987 America’s Cup in Freemantle was the last sane race of the series, as the following time around New Zealand sued for the right to race a catermeran, and it has been down hill ever since.

That we are hear today reporting on this says far too much about the sport of yacht racing than it says anything about sport in general. BTW, where’s the picture of the grave?