Sunday, July 01, 2007

PART TWO: WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA

















Yeah, yeah, I know. Accentuate the positives and forget about the negatives. That said, here's Part 2 of What's Wrong with America. I'll try to be positive.

Okay, Thing Wrong #3: America's Cup is not in America. It's in Switzerland. Funny thing - a country winning America's Cup that's landlocked.

America's Cup sailing competition began in 1851 with American holding the Cup in every competition until 1983 when it was lost to Australia.

The Cup was won back in 1987 by Dennis Connor and lost again to New Zealand in 1995.

The Swiss took the Cup in 2003 by beating the Kiwi's 5 zip.

Here we are in 2007 and the first competition since 2003. If you count on your fingers you'll figure out that competition for the America's Cup is every four years. Duh!

The America's Cup competition is in Valencia Spain. America did not have a boat fast enough to make it to the final two. Or maybe it was our sailing skills or lack of that once again aced us out of even trying to get the Cup back.

Currently, the Swiss are sailing against New Zealand for the Cup. Today, the Swiss are up 4 races to 2 in the best of a best of 9 series. It's not looking very good for New Zealand. Race 7 was to be sailed today but was cancelled due to light winds.

On Monday television the competition the sailing continues and will be carried live on the VS network or DirectTV channel 608 at 5:30 a.m. and then rerun about 3:00 p.m. PDT.























This is Alinghi - the Swiss boat.
















A view from the top of New Zealand's boat.


















And New Zealand's boat flying its spinnaker as it heads toward the finish line.

I'd rather see America's Cup in New Zealand. I'll have to wait another four years to see what happens.

Time marches on.

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3 comments:

twilite said...

Hi Bob! I follow America's Cup and did wonder...Cool post.

Sexy Duet said...

I was only 12 when we won the America's Cup but I still remember it. It is always high on the list of our nations proudest sporting moments.

Ms SD

Bob said...

It was a thrilling event for those of you down under. You definitely outsailed the USA and deserved the win.

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