Some Guys Just Can't Let Go Of The Past

Dean Barker's Bad Day.

Ever since this unfortunate (for the Kiwi's) day, it's been all down hill, according to Herb McCormick


Some guys just can't let go of the past. Dean Barker can; he's moved on from this black day, but aparently Herb McCormick can't.

There has been an excess of bitching about the America's Cup for as long as I can remember, actually. So the recent complaints are nothing new. But Herb's reminiscences turn ugly in this cruising world piece. According to Herb, it was all great in the good old days, and the people doing it now can’t do anything that pleases him.

He says, to summarize:

"the money become so obscene"

"Bertarelli and Ellison are two, well, loathsome individuals"

"they conspired to change the rules to suit their needs"

"...the next running of the event, in Valencia, Spain, in 2007: I couldn't possibly care less."


I think if the organizers did everything Herb asks for, he’d still bitch.

Zepher posted some of it in his blog (Friday August 26), which elicted some sympathetic comments.

Ok, here's my (contrary) opinion:

I still love the whole AC circus. I don't think the acts are a bore, I think they have been interesting and have been fun to follow. No, they don't mean that much, with old boats and little impact on the eventual cup competition. They are just sailboat races, but with the neatest big boats and heaps of talent. It's the big time buoy racing, folks, why be so down on it?

The cost?
I don't care where these fat cats blow their money, it's their money. Is the cost keeping out entries? Doesn't look like it to me. There are twelve teams sailing and four with a real chance is pretty good.

Coutts and Cayard out?
Yeah, that's too bad, but we'll live through it. These two and the others who couldn’t get along with the owners, and now can't sail, well, they are big boys, they can cut it, and I can still enjoy AC racing without them because there is still plenty of talent sailing these boats.

Nationality?
For every bad aspect (I too would enjoy national teams) there is a good point to be made. The change has opened it up for more teams to compete from more countries. This has leveled the playing field. Without it the Kiwis would simply own the cup for the next 151 years or so.

Valencia?
You don’t like their choice of venue. Well, opinions, are like assholes; everyone has one. It’s a venue. It’s got water and some wind, and I’m giving the guys who selected it the benefit of the doubt.

Ellison and Bertarelli?
Yeah they are slime balls and arrogant. So what, you’d rather have a crook like Bond or a mouth like Ted Turner? Conner is gone; so lots of guys from the past have burned out. Besides, Conner wasn't such a sweetheart when he was in it. Remember his cracks about the women's team in 1995, was it? Or his accusation that the Kiwi's were cheaters with their glass boat in '87. And you think the big wigs today are changing the rules to suit themselves? Do you know how to spell New York Yacht Club?

You know what? For all you guys who are bored, they aren’t holding this event for you, or for the elitist’s in the media, nor are they doing to make a buck. They are doing it to feed their egos and to try to win or keep the big prize. I like to watch them do it. We all like to root against Ellison and Bertarelli, don't we? And it is sure paying the salaries for a lot of sailors, designers, builders, etc. If you all don’t like it, switch the channel.

And Herb, maybe you need to change with the times. Things don’t stay the same, and there is no going back. It’s OK.

Fred Roswold