Team UK

[Barnyb]

Looks like BA is well down the path to developing a strong UK Team for the next cup.

- BA Skipper, head of sailing team
- Grant Simmer? - CEO?
- Strong UK team with a chance to win not just compete
- Funding - looks like they have had some initial talks.
- Funding may change for a NZ campaign where there will be more reliance on private backers (NZ based campaign would not be as easy to put together a corporate sponsorship package.



Extremely interesting and insightful interview.

Again - well done to the guys at Sailracing magazine



Sail Racing Magazine Podcast Episode 26 - Oracle Team USA tactician Sir Ben Ainslie
September 13, 2013
The day after British Olympic hero Sir Ben Ainslie got the call up to sub in as tactician for Oracle Team USA in the America's Cup Final series, we sat down with him at the American syndicate's team base at San Francisco's Pier 80.

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/blog/sail-racing-magazine-podcast-episode-26-oracle-team-usa-tactician-sir-ben-ainslie

 

[sumpin]

who pays BA? sponsor? he will be an mericun next lap

 

[Sailbydate]

Bout time the Poms were back in this thing. But they won't be good enough to take out AC35.

 

[aucklander]

Does the UK have a strong fast performance boat building industry now? The talent they have in F1 (mentioned before in posts) for engineering and teamwork would stand them in very good stead. Their specialist auto engineering talent is the finest in the world.

 

[Brian Weslake]

Why is everyone so keen to have Simmer?

You really don't have a clue do you?

 

[dogwatch]

who pays BA? sponsor?

That's the key question, to which there isn't an answer right now.

He's suggested mostly private "investors" i.e. not primarily sponsorship.

There are a lot of very wealthy individuals from all over the world with homes in and around London. Most however seem more interested in horses or football than sailing.

 

[dogwatch]

Does the UK have a strong fast performance boat building industry now?

For boats powered by a couple of throbbing marine diesels, absolutely.

It's a solvable problem if the ££££ is there. Funding is the key question.

 

[jaysper]

Bout time the Poms were back in this thing. But they won't be good enough to take out AC35.

Unlikely the first time, but at least they will be heading in the right direction

 

[FinnFish]

If any country and "team" could ever surpass NZ it would be the Brits. Why is everyone so keen to have Simmer?

You're dreaming. The Brits are so far down the list they're irrelevant.

What was their last high tech big boat campaign? The Bounty?

1. NZL

2. AUS

3= FRA

3= USA

3= SWE

 

[Brian Weslake]

More than a clue pal, and you? Lets face it aside from A2 he has managed all the LOSING teams. Go figure, and yes I do know the guy Bri

Why is everyone so keen to have Simmer?

You really don't have a clue do you?

errrm... have you forgotten that he managed Alinghi to two cup wins?

 

[Sailbydate]

Actually, the Poms have the longest losing streak in the history of The Cup, don't they?

Still, a couple of good challenges (AC35 and AC36) could well see them back in contention.

Here's hoping.

 

[Barnyb]

Hey the poms are on a roll:

- Cricket - thumped the Aussies

- Tennis - actually won their own tournament (even tho it was a guy from Scotland which wants independence)

- Olympics - excellent London event. Good results in sailing for UK

- Rugby - actually won the world cup (back a few years)

- Football - actually won the world cup (back a few years- well actually before I was born) but hey they are still talking about it!

- war - actually won one in the 40's

Maybe it is their time for the oldest trophy in sports

 

[dogwatch]

(even tho it was a guy from Scotland which wants independence)

Probably doesn't actually. That's what polls indicate at present. Like many in England, I don't much care which way they eventually vote.

 

[Supervox]

Money will always be an issue whilst sailing remains an elitist sport in the eyes of the uk population.

From a sponsor's point of view, where will they get the most exposure / better return for their money - by throwing a hell of a lot of money at a sport that gets no coverage on mainstream television (satellite & cable do have the odd programme) & extremely limited print media space (outside the yachting press of course) or by spending considerably less & putting their name on 11 football shirts? Sad I know, but pretty accurate I think

As there is a snowball's chance in hell of getting any government money to back a campaign, what the UK needs is it's own version of LE or EB & the only 2 names that currently spring to mind for me are Bernie Ecclestone (aka The Poison Dwarf) & Richard Branson.

Personally I wouldn't want BE anywhere near the sport of sailing, so I guess someone needs to persuade RB to open up his wallet again and we'll have to put up with the 'Virgin' jokes (most transferred from F1) if we want a decent campaign.

Of course - as has been alluded to above - the chances of winning first time out are very slim so it's going to take an awful lot of money (unless costs are drastically reduced for AC35+) spent over multiple campaigns to bring 'The Auld Mug' home. I just hope that it's achieved in my lifetime

 

[dogwatch]

Personally I wouldn't want BE anywhere near the sport of sailing, so I guess someone needs to persuade RB to open up his wallet again and we'll have to put up with the 'Virgin' jokes (most transferred from F1) if we want a decent campaign.

I don't know RB but I know people who know him quite well and from what I've heard, I'd prefer he kept a few 1000 miles away from British sailing. Fortunately, I think there's every probability that's precisely what he's going to do.

Btw does anyone think the likes of JP Morgan want to be co-branded with Virgin?

 

[I are mostly be sailing my Laser]

Hey the poms are on a roll:

- Cricket - thumped the Aussies

- Tennis - actually won their own tournament (even tho it was a guy from Scotland which wants independence)

- Olympics - excellent London event. Good results in sailing for UK

- Rugby - actually won the world cup (back a few years)

- Football - actually won the world cup (back a few years- well actually before I was born) but hey they are still talking about it!

- war - actually won one in the 40's

Maybe it is their time for the oldest trophy in sports

You're forgetting 2 Tour de France's in a row, and, amazingly for a kiwi, a record win over the All Blacks last Autumn and a Lions series victory over the Aussies. We have a new attitude in the UK. If we want it enough, it's ours. Question is, how much do we want it? Ainslie's biggest problem is getting enough people who give a fuck to stump up the dosh, in the absence of a billionaire backer or a government that actually thinks its a good idea to put public money into sport. But he wants it and he wants it bad and he's enough of a proven winner to make it a bit more feasible.

 

[Supervox]

Personally I wouldn't want BE anywhere near the sport of sailing, so I guess someone needs to persuade RB to open up his wallet again and we'll have to put up with the 'Virgin' jokes (most transferred from F1) if we want a decent campaign.

I don't know RB but I know people who know him quite well and from what I've heard, I'd prefer he kept a few 1000 miles away from British sailing. Fortunately, I think there's every probability that's precisely what he's going to do.

Btw does anyone think the likes of JP Morgan want to be co-branded with Virgin?

I don't think co-branding would appeal to Branson anymore than it would to JPM (for different reasons of course) !!

I was working under the assumption that although JPM are BE's personal sponsors, they wouldn't finance/sponsor an entire campaign - if I'm wrong & they would - YAY !!!

 

[dantnz]

If any country and "team" could ever surpass NZ it would be the Brits. Why is everyone so keen to have Simmer?

You're dreaming. The Brits are so far down the list they're irrelevant.

What was their last high tech big boat campaign? The Bounty?

1. NZL

2. AUS

3= FRA

3= USA

3= SWE

I think thats a bit harsh on the brits, there is the money and the facilities for big campaigns here. As for expertise, that can be bought quite easily. Could take a few attempts for them to do it, but if they get their best sailors onboard they could suprise. Not even the kiwis made the AC in their 1st attempt.

To me your list should be 1st tier: NZ, USA, 2nd tier: SUI, ITA, FRA, AUS, SWE, 3rd tier: KOR, UK, ESP. Hard to pick between some but NZ and USA clear ahead of the pack.

 

[nav]

who pays BA? sponsor? he will be an mericun next lap

Hey he already has a nice jacket, 2 RIBS and some accountants, almost there!

But the idea that every Pom or Ozzie involved this time will be magically freed to compete elsewhere by the teams that have given them a start seems a bit farcical.

One of the best is already under contract to a nominally Swedish team