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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I'm nationalistic enough to be hoping that ANY US team brings the cup home,
but I have to say that I'd love for it to be one of the San Francisco
syndicates. Having the Cup here in the Bay would lend itself to some very
interesting Pottering. Watching the damage being done to these lightly built
boats in 15-20 kt winds makes me think that they would have to build
considerably tougher vessels to compete here (Prada's was the third mast to
break since racing began, and Young America buckled her hull and almost
sank.) Sounds like they would need something a bit more seaworthy... Perhaps
the gang at IM should start drafting a Potter 75.
Chris Sayer
As yet unannounced contender for America's Cup 2003
P15, #2380, Akala
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Johnson [mailto:etj@nwlink.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 8:13 AM
To: Thos. Westerman
Cc: West Wight Potter Mail List
Subject: RE: SAILING!! America's Cup 2000, going on NOW in New Zealand
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> A little late night insomnia last night, so watched the ESPN coverage of
> the America's Cup 2000. The event is going on NOW! 13 miles off of
> Auckland, New Zealand. And let me tell you, its *exciting*.
yes, i watched it to. very cool. This isn't the actual cup, AFAIK, but its
the series to determine who gets to go for it.
> These boats are amazing. They are long and sleek, with 16 person crews.
> And very high masts. There has been some "carnage" as they call it.
> Yesterday I watched in amazement as the carbon fiber mast of the Italian
> boat "Prada" snapped in 1/2 in the middle of a race run.
Prada was an early favorite too, very well financed.
> Another highlight showed a huge spinnaker that ripped horizontally in 1/2
> under stress. It was amazing. Winds were running about 12-15 knts with 1
> foot seas--realatively calm. Still another, the Italians (or was it the
> french) rammed into the stern of the USA's "Stars and Stripes" during a
> race as they approaced the turning buoy. They put sticky back fabric over
> the rip crack to patch it in race while underway.
I want some of that stuff! i wonder what exactly it was? A tube of that
under a quarterberth would be handy in an emergency.
> One thing I haven't figured out is how they get these boats to the race
> course from around the world. do they ship them there (theyre very long,
> and with 15 foot deep keels) do they manufacture them there, tow them
> there? Fly them in in parts and assemble them there???
I presume they ship 'em on container ships or something like that. I can't
imagine they'd risk towing 'em.
> Stars and Stripes is based in NYC yacht club. San Francisco has two USA
> entries "America One" and "America True" with the St. Francis yacht club.
> Japan "Nippon", France, and Italy "Prada" have formidible entries. Also
> does Australia.
I was a little surprised (and thrilled) to see Dennis Connor's single-boat
program "Stars and stripes" kicking everyone's butt, while most other teams
are two-boat programs. Sure would be cool if he won the cup a fourth time.
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