Manfred

@Priscilla: Many thanks. What a great read. I had been there in 1983 for the semis and the finals. And the final press conference.... Great times though the Coastguard overreacted in keeping the spectator fleet far, far away. The final race had been covered mostly by the blimb and we watched it on TV in a bar in Newport and after that went down to the celebrations. Great moment when Alan B allowed his guys to raise the curtain and to show us the keel. Wish I would have this photo in digital format. Difficult times for a German to root for a specific team. Sometimes wandering why I am still hanging in there and here...

Just coming home and video not ready yet for a replay, even on the App. Therefore many thanks for the very interesting recap!

Great practice races (2) today. Thanks for the linky. Really appreciated. See you here in Sunday.

Thanks for the great video of Race 7. Those were the times.

Is´nt that strip for "emergency plane landing" or had that been elsewhere?

Many thanks to you John N., for contributing.

VDH: What a great home run under the blue spinnaker for all on shore to see from the far distant. Being tired. A storm looming in the back. Than pulling the cloth down after the finish. He really is a hero and he got a heroes welcome by the Frenchies. the outcome of the race showed to me the obvious thing: nothing beats expierence. And VDH had most of it. I cannot believe the clean underwater body but much had been written about that above. Many, many thanks for all the contributors. Very good read and much to learn about.

O Could be his daughter.

Great interview, great sportsman.

Been there, done that, but take a breath and put yourself into AT´s situation. What a stressful situation. First thing to get the boat of the rocks. Totally exhausted. I think he made some good decisions, maybe half asleep, got some luck, did the right thing and kept on going. He will not have taken total control over mind and body before finishing and I think he just kept going on. Did I see the boat a bit low in the water in the vids ? (thanks for the contributors of the direct link) My feelings are with Alex at this moment and I do hope that the jury is out there and takes a wise decision. Whatever it will be, AT, the HB team and we followers have to swallow it.

Just a BIG thank you to everyone contributing here and especially to this anarchist who are putting in the "right" direct links! Much appreciated.

Thanks Brian for bringing up those memories. We might have met... on Chris Bouzaids 53´ footer out on the AC waters, of course way out because the "Coasties" pushed the few spectator boats far off the action. I was out with him some of the days. I remember a day preparing chicken sandwiches for the Hood team being on board to watch the races. But I do not remember how it happened to "get on board" the boat of your great boss and his wife. Nevertheless I had to travel in between the ´83 AC races to the Chicago maritime tradeshow. Nearly missed the comeback of AUS II but could manage to get back for the final and watched it in Newport in a Cafe on TV. Great "blimp" coverage. And DC in tears during the press conference. I kept all the newspaper and magazine coverage for years. Have visited other AC events after that and still being a fan after all those years. By the way, always great to read your column and for the upcoming holiday I take the FAZISI book with me (the joint venture) to read. I had read the DRUM book before. Great yachting history in which you played your part.

Interesting conversation on the soundcloud. Decision helped by „influencers“ looking at the matter from different angles. Appreciate all all the contributions here and being a happy reader without all those „disturbances“, found in the VOR FORUMS.