Two of the best… racing at the 2000 Kenwood Cup in Hawaii (left) and the French team (above) celebrate their first and only Admiral’s Cup victory in Plymouth after the 1991 Fastnet Race. The Kenwood Cup – and the Clipper Cup before it – was always under pressure because of the investment of time and money needed to compete at a venue that hosted no other big event; however, the sailing conditions kept the negatives in check until the rating rule hiatus at the end of the 1990s made the racing less competitive and the prize less prestigious. Similarly the Admiral’s Cup, less shorts and T-shirts but more prestigious to win for your country. Contrary to wider perceptions, the Cowes event was not nailed through cost but primarily by the focus on offshore racing on handicap shifting in favour of a more inshore oriented regatta in level-rating classes. No longer could ‘run what you brung’ handicap entries be attracted to the event by the glimmer of an occasional left field success, now it was bring a full pro crew and even more importantly an absolute top of the game level-rating boat or just stay at home. There were no ‘dogs having their day’ any more and international interest crashed spectacularly. A perfect example of forgetting who pays for it all
quickly. They know it can be lonely at the top. As a theory it is a bit chicken and egg – the events I refer to did cease to exist for a reason, although that reason was not just lack of interest. However, a sailing world solely relying on niche classes like the Maxi72 and TP52, or possibly further into the future the Fast40, to provide second-hand racers and equipment for handicap racing cannot be seen as healthy. So what type of event could bring back a good balance between cost and pleasure, triggering the wish to plan for and build new… and enjoy?
For sure it has to be an international event, possibly with a component of representing one’s country. Straightaway you then add the costs of travelling and lodging but I feel it will continue to be hard to create enough motivation and quality within any existing local fleets.
Such an event will have a better chance if it travels itself too, like our other sailing world championship events generally do. In the 1970s and ’80s we had both travelling events (the Ton Cups) as well as a number of stationary events, where the ‘locals’ committed to visiting each other; for example, an Australian team would travel to the Solent for the Admiral’s Cup and a British team to Australia for the Southern Cross.
To recreate this you would need at least three international high- level stationary events, probably in Australia, the Med and the USA, which right now seems as if we are aiming too high. The alternative, an event travelling between three or why not four or five continents, I feel has a better chance. Then of course there is a lot more to discuss and decide – but where there is a will there’s a way. The idea should be to up the fun, up the prestige if you wish, as in the end building and racing new boats is not about saving money. At least if I look at the luxury market it is not… Rob Weiland, TP52 and Maxi72 class manager
SEAHORSE 29
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