Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Jules Verne

It's an interesting debate, which will run and run! As a sailing nut I've followed the America's Cup since the days of the 12 metres, which were, in my view, the last serious AC yachts - beautiful and not impossibly expensive. (Sceptre has been up in Gloucester dock recently for a refit, and still looks the part). Since then it has got crazily expensive, and often very tedious to watch. At least the foiling cats give a good spectacle, and the last series was the most exciting yacht racing I've ever seen.
However, it has always been fought for between super rich people, so I doubt we'll see much change.
It would however be good if Ainslie could pull the next one off, and then defend it in a 40 or 50ft monohull. Some proper close quarters match racing

Sadly I think you are right. I would travel a distance to see the J Class yachts racing

Pete

I understand that the Americas cup lot want to make the event more akin to F1, to pull in viewers who are not interested in sailing per se, but I far preferred the 12 metre era. Match racing in 12 metres was as much akin to a game of chess as a sport.

As to the J class yachts, having had the pleasure of racing on a course which overlapped theirs at the voiles de st tropez in 2013, I can tell you that the magnificent spectacle of being overtaken on either side by racing J class yachts at very close quarters is one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I've sailed 50 years and high performance multihulls the last 20. I'd never go back. I'm not a huge fan of the Americas Cup and even I would prefer match racing to be in slow equally matched monos. Even the world match racing circuit is now in foiling cats which is weird. I'd rather see a NZ entry in the VOR than the Americas Cup

My particular beef with the Sydney Hobart is that they are practically the only major yacht race that doesn't allow multis. They pander to the billionaires with their maxi monos which are slow and no more robust than the multis they exclude.

The ORMA 60's, Mod70's and Open Multis of France are amazing machines, as are the crews that sail them. If they raced the Sydney Hobart, they would show the mono's up just like they do in the Atlantic.

You are very fortunate , by any chance did you take any photographs at the time you could share?

Pete

But that is not the point is it. As I said before we have moved away from the origins but the Sydney Hobart is still a race for monos. Once you let multis in you may as well make it a race for multis and that would be the same loss of tradition as the AC.

Flip back to the Sydney Hobart. 88 year old Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin 100 is fighting it out with Rambler for 2nd place right now. They are about 100 metres from each other 7 miles from the finish.

Peter - one can never have one too many of good Irish Whiskey!!!

Cheers!

Just back from an early morning sail upriver to Berkeley Pill for breakfast, and a brisk beat home. That blew the cobwebs away - end of December, and still not wearing gloves!
Talking of Js, http://youtu.be/irmfc3uDGTs
Beautiful!

Chaps,
I'm so pleased to find that there other sailors on the forum. I was beginning to think it was only Howard and myself. More please with pictures if poss.
Reg