It’s the Format not the Boats
- Thread starter Perpetual Toil
- Start date
Jean-Baptiste
Member
If Americans in final more viewers I suspect and covered on news in US. If NZ vs. ITA, I enjoy but in France or US not on tv or in papers.
My 6 year old grand daughter followed Vendée daily at school (a geography lesson). My three daughters all very talented sailors, none have watched 1 minute of cup.
When your global event has less viewers than a Ligue 1 football match between teams that are set to be relegated you have a problem.
Steve Clark
Super Anarchist
Nathan pointed out that so far Port Entry significantly advantages your start and the likelihood of winning the race. The worst case would be that the boat which, by draw, had the most Port Entries won the Cup.
I think there is too little time in the box before the start, and 5 or even 10 minutes of Mano a Mano with boats this volatile would enhance the event. I also think the artificially narrow racetrack is problematic, at once keeping the boats close together but making it very hard to pass.
I also think the races are too short. I would target races that were closer to an hour in length. The 18’s seem to be able to keep the audiences attention for that long, I expect the AC should be able to do the same.
SHC
I think there is too little time in the box before the start, and 5 or even 10 minutes of Mano a Mano with boats this volatile would enhance the event. I also think the artificially narrow racetrack is problematic, at once keeping the boats close together but making it very hard to pass.
I also think the races are too short. I would target races that were closer to an hour in length. The 18’s seem to be able to keep the audiences attention for that long, I expect the AC should be able to do the same.
SHC
kenergy
Super Anarchist
It has always been a niche event, when there are more national teams in the event then interest is higher but as they get knocked out, interest falls, nothing new or surprising about it.
The boundaries just make it to easy to stay ahead and they are too good at sailing the boats. Options could be:
- Include some legs at the death angle so there might be an element of excitement and capsize is always on the cards
- Sack off match racing and just have a series of fleet races. Faster boat would still win but at least you can't cover everyone
- Make the foil span shorter in the rule. Make the boats harder to sail so they still make mistakes.
Blitzkrieg9
Member
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A3A
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On my TV screen, 40 knots doesn't look that different than 8 knots after awhile. It's hard to tell whether they are going upwind or down since the AWA only varies by a few degrees. Mark roundings are hardly different than any other turn with the sails hardly moving in or out. At super high speeds, a tiny miscue (missing a button push) ends the race.
Sport is about the people pushing themselves to the max. Out of the 22 sailors racing, we only see maybe 6 actually do anything and for the most part, we only see them sitting there, holding the wheel, turning a knob or pressing a button. Yes, the others are grinding their little hearts out, but it's invisible and even if we could see them, what their grinding achieves isn't visible to us. Most of the cool technology is hidden and we are not allowed to see it and understand how it works or where teams have taken different approaches.
Yes, the competitors seem evenly matched for the first time since the IACC in Valencia. But that regatta was far more interesting to watch on TV than this one has been so far.
Sport is about the people pushing themselves to the max. Out of the 22 sailors racing, we only see maybe 6 actually do anything and for the most part, we only see them sitting there, holding the wheel, turning a knob or pressing a button. Yes, the others are grinding their little hearts out, but it's invisible and even if we could see them, what their grinding achieves isn't visible to us. Most of the cool technology is hidden and we are not allowed to see it and understand how it works or where teams have taken different approaches.
Yes, the competitors seem evenly matched for the first time since the IACC in Valencia. But that regatta was far more interesting to watch on TV than this one has been so far.
Jean-Baptiste
Member
Sailbydate
Super Anarchist
Rennmaus
Super Anarchist
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Jean-Baptiste
Member
For me is no problem, for rights holder attempting to monetize event I imagine significant issue.
G
Guest
Guest
The crews are like hamsters, the skippers may as well be driving a car. Ok I’m vaguely into it because its a competition but its still as boring as fuck. Win the start = win the race so far and I cant see that changing much. You are right, once the ooh aah look at their speed and foils gets old (about 5 minutes) just like the emperors new clothes there isn’t much going on, just some really dull racing at high speed. I would much rather watch the concup.
People seem to be culturally seduced into more is better, new is better. I dont think that foiling is an improvement in sailing skill as far as the relationship between crew work, playing on the chess board of water and wind. Everyone is focused on the platform, when really it should be about the sailors. They say its a technology race, really? If thats so, go and build a rocket or something. It just goes to show that most people dont sail, dont understand the sport and prefer silicone tits to the real McCoy. That’s all these boats are 75ft silicone titties, nice to look at but the thinking behind them is questionable
There are plenty of other regattas and yacht races in other formats to watch for anyone who's interested.
The thing about the AC is that it's the AC - that thing with the 'Deed of Gift' always looming on the horizon of people who want stadium racing with giant beach balls being fired randomly across the course, and tear out hatches in the bottoms of the boats that open when enough people vote for it, and stupid hats at $50 a time, ...
But, no we have this things called the 'America's Cup' which involves stupidly wealthy people throwing their money at a really ugly piece of silverware, and using every technological, muscle powered and legal trick they can get away with to win. As long as what is on the water is driven by sails and floats.
Don't like it, other foolishness is available.
The thing about the AC is that it's the AC - that thing with the 'Deed of Gift' always looming on the horizon of people who want stadium racing with giant beach balls being fired randomly across the course, and tear out hatches in the bottoms of the boats that open when enough people vote for it, and stupid hats at $50 a time, ...
But, no we have this things called the 'America's Cup' which involves stupidly wealthy people throwing their money at a really ugly piece of silverware, and using every technological, muscle powered and legal trick they can get away with to win. As long as what is on the water is driven by sails and floats.
Don't like it, other foolishness is available.
dogwatch
Super Anarchist
Yes. I don't understand why the period is so short. It is, obviously, by far the most interesting part of the race, at least for anyone who understands what is happening.
I don't agree that the races are too short, at least not while they mostly consist of the leading boat stretching their lead.
G
Guest
Guest
Sure, but thats not how it’s marketed to the masses.
Would be fine if it was just billionaires playing games but in our case our govt and council (i.e me the taxpayer) are also mesmerised by it and they are trying to sell it as the pinnacle of sailing. Why not have a two vestas sailrockets on a straight course, first to the end wins? Maybe I’m a Luddite who thinks sailing should involve more crew work than pumping oil but its still dull racing
Meat Wad
Super Anarchist
I think it is mostly the boats that are the issue.
If you do not win the start and still lead at the first top mark, the race is over. These boats are so fast, relatively speaking, and always going up wind it is impossible to come from behind unless there is a major mistake. In the race #4 NZ were 9 seconds behind ITA at the top mark. In non foiling boats this would been so close that Crew work and Spins would have mad a huge difference. But as I have seen in Land sailing, the first boat around accelerates to such a high speed that 9 seconds grew to 30sec and that was the race. No coming from behind because the wind is always forward.
Which is why I have my book with me while watching the races. I'm almost done with the Clive Cussler Dirk Pitt series and I can say his antics are far more exciting than the AC racing.
Foililng is cool but not ready for primetime
If you do not win the start and still lead at the first top mark, the race is over. These boats are so fast, relatively speaking, and always going up wind it is impossible to come from behind unless there is a major mistake. In the race #4 NZ were 9 seconds behind ITA at the top mark. In non foiling boats this would been so close that Crew work and Spins would have mad a huge difference. But as I have seen in Land sailing, the first boat around accelerates to such a high speed that 9 seconds grew to 30sec and that was the race. No coming from behind because the wind is always forward.
Which is why I have my book with me while watching the races. I'm almost done with the Clive Cussler Dirk Pitt series and I can say his antics are far more exciting than the AC racing.
Foililng is cool but not ready for primetime
G
Guest
Guest
Yes this ^ one of my mates who is an Olympic level sailor said as much, in Bermuda the reading start gave passing lanes. He said it was a big mistake with foilers to not do it.
