Bruno Troublé, Louis
Vuitton event spokesman in Auckland, says the battle
for the America's Cup won't be a truly big event again
until it's back in European hands.
"If the cup stays here, I don't think we will have
more than six to eight challengers," he said. "If
the cup goes to Europe, there will be 12 challengers
at least. Either this time or next time, it will be
a huge deal in Europe."
"The cup left Europe in 1851 and it has never come
back. If it does, I am sure the cup will become a
bigger event. We will reach another level in terms
of owners, media coverage and interest."
However, Troublé is adamant the cup won't go
backwards if there is a third defence here and predicted
there would be new syndicates wherever it was held.
"We have had six to eight teams in the past," he said.
"We will have Oracle and Alinghi coming back. I don't
think we will go backwards. The event is too big."
Troublé continues to advocate important changes
to the structure of the Cup. "She is 152 years old.
She is still a beauty but she needs cosmetic surgery."
He wants racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup to start
in December and finish in February and the successful
challenger to begin racing the defender on March 20.
It started on October 1 last year with The Match starting
on February 15 when the conditions are likely to be
lighter. Because the challengers know they are likely
to face these winds, Troublé said they opted
not to race their series in heavier winds and therefore
imposed the upper starting limit of 19 knots.
"The challengers didn't want to sail in rough conditions
with stiffer masts, smaller sails and stronger boats
and then for the winner to be badly beaten by Team
NZ in light air," he said.
If The Match was delayed till the end of March, Troublé
said it would probably be sailed in stronger winds
and therefore the challengers could lift the limit.
He said the syndicates, through rule changes, could
also be encouraged to sail in the heavier conditions.
"We want to be able to start races up to 25 to 27
knots," he said. "If we had sailed in 23 or 24 knots
of wind, we would have saved two thirds of the lost
days."
Troublé wanted changes which would encourage
smaller syndicate's participation and in some cases
help cut costs. One boost, he said, would be to boost
nationality requirements relating to each syndicate's
sailing team.
"Two thirds of the sailing crew should be from the
nation launching the challenge and I also think we
should limit the number of sailors in each challenge,"
Troublé said.
A ceiling would also help prune costs, with Troublé
suggesting each syndicate have a similar sized compound
as they do in Formula One motor racing.
