In a previous life I was paid to pay attention to this event. I even grew up an avid spectator and remember fondly the time my mother drove me to Newport so I could see the Twelves.
But my interest has waned for a whole host of reasons I won't go into.
Each season seems to always bring out a few article poking fun at the event. Most are somewhat unfair but hold a grain of truth.
The latest, by Taki, was published in The Spectator. (I can't find an online copy.)
One of the gems:
(Larry) Ellison got very close to winning it last time. It takes big bucks and
he sure has them. The only thing I have against him — except for his inane
vulgarity — is the fact the rules have been changed. Once upon a time, when my
daddy was hoping to challenge the New York Yacht Club for the cup, one could use
only indigenous boats and crews. No longer. The winning Alinghi team of the last
cup four years ago were mostly New Zealanders, including the skipper. The
winner, Ernesto Bertarelli, is Swiss — with a very cute English wife — and won
it for good old Helvetia. But did he really? I'd say New Zealand was the true
winner.
On this one I agree. Nationalism is what made the Cup great. Watching sailboat racing, even for fans, is a bit of a bore. Add some nationalism and you've got a compelling story. Not any more.
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