TALKING HEADS Jun 23, 21:05
Valencia, 20:30 Thursday
The Syndicate Heads press conference at noon today was by far the most entertaining and informative of any so far in this 32nd America's Cup.
Unfortunately ACM have gone away from the formal press conference format of past Cups in favor of informal "mixed zone" interviews with smaller groups of media. This in part to help meet European deadlines and to accommodate languages other than English.
Cup vets prefer the former format, which was used today, with the players all at one table together with live mics because it is often livelier. On more than a few occasions, this has led to famous or even infamous exchanges ("Dennis, I don't think you should have said that!" -- the late, great Tom Blackaller in 1986 scolding DC after he questioned the motives of the New Zealand Challenge for building fibreglass 12s).
While I have not read all the stories from today's press conference, the mainstream journos can only get so much space and much goes unreported. I have a little more freedom. :-) So here are some of the more interesting comments, or at least the gist of what was said (I didn't have a tape recorder):
Stephan Kandler (K Challenge) -- "We have not one but often two women racing on our boat."
Augustin Zulueta (Desafio Espanol) -- "We are feeling the pressure to perform better from the strong presence of Spanish media."
Patrizio Bertelli (Luna Rossa) -- "Yes, this is our third challenge and we have experience, but look at all the experience of the other Challengers, like Chris Dickson, even if their team has not been together as long as ours. Besides the new wind and sea conditions here present a new challenge for everyone, so in many ways we are all starting over."
Salvatore Sarno (Shosholoza) -- "These America's Cup boats are like women; it takes some time to get to know them."
Cesare Pasotti (+39) -- "It will be very windy when you come to Trapani."
Hugo Stenback (Victory Challenge) -- With an accent more American than mine, "We have our boatbuilders standing by in case there is carnage out there [in the crowded pre-starts]. Stay tuned...."
Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi) -- "We are waiting to complete our base to see what Luna Rossa builds." A subtle and clever comment that went over the heads of many, since Alinghi will be watching from the sidelines while all the other teams race their new boats in the Challenger Selection Series.
Uwe Sasse (United Internet Team Germany) -- "We come with hopes not expectations. We have been warmly welcomed by the America's Cup family, and appreciate the three teams that let us get by them for wins in Act 4."
Grant Dalton (Emirates Team New Zealand) -- "The new format is great. We are a corporately-funded team and without the Acts we wouldn't have sponsors."
Xavier de Lesquin (China Team) -- "Fleet racing will bring a lot of attention and excitement, but we are happy to have two boats." This was in reference to the possible pre-start "carnage."
Grant Dalton (ETNZ) -- "We're getting used to having holes in our boat, but there's not time to fly another one up here!"
Chris Dickson (BMW ORACLE Racing) -- "Larry is not here because he is on his boat in Palma. Like the rest of the sailing team, I gave him the afternoon off."
Dicko (right) with PR manager Jane "Red Bull" Eagleson
on the way to today's interesting press conference.
ACM's media maven and press conference host Marcus
Hutchinson (FRA) with legendary AC yacht designer Olin
Stephens (USA) at today's press conference.
The Syndicate Heads press conference at noon today was by far the most entertaining and informative of any so far in this 32nd America's Cup.
Unfortunately ACM have gone away from the formal press conference format of past Cups in favor of informal "mixed zone" interviews with smaller groups of media. This in part to help meet European deadlines and to accommodate languages other than English.
Cup vets prefer the former format, which was used today, with the players all at one table together with live mics because it is often livelier. On more than a few occasions, this has led to famous or even infamous exchanges ("Dennis, I don't think you should have said that!" -- the late, great Tom Blackaller in 1986 scolding DC after he questioned the motives of the New Zealand Challenge for building fibreglass 12s).
While I have not read all the stories from today's press conference, the mainstream journos can only get so much space and much goes unreported. I have a little more freedom. :-) So here are some of the more interesting comments, or at least the gist of what was said (I didn't have a tape recorder):
Stephan Kandler (K Challenge) -- "We have not one but often two women racing on our boat."
Augustin Zulueta (Desafio Espanol) -- "We are feeling the pressure to perform better from the strong presence of Spanish media."
Patrizio Bertelli (Luna Rossa) -- "Yes, this is our third challenge and we have experience, but look at all the experience of the other Challengers, like Chris Dickson, even if their team has not been together as long as ours. Besides the new wind and sea conditions here present a new challenge for everyone, so in many ways we are all starting over."
Salvatore Sarno (Shosholoza) -- "These America's Cup boats are like women; it takes some time to get to know them."
Cesare Pasotti (+39) -- "It will be very windy when you come to Trapani."
Hugo Stenback (Victory Challenge) -- With an accent more American than mine, "We have our boatbuilders standing by in case there is carnage out there [in the crowded pre-starts]. Stay tuned...."
Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi) -- "We are waiting to complete our base to see what Luna Rossa builds." A subtle and clever comment that went over the heads of many, since Alinghi will be watching from the sidelines while all the other teams race their new boats in the Challenger Selection Series.
Uwe Sasse (United Internet Team Germany) -- "We come with hopes not expectations. We have been warmly welcomed by the America's Cup family, and appreciate the three teams that let us get by them for wins in Act 4."
Grant Dalton (Emirates Team New Zealand) -- "The new format is great. We are a corporately-funded team and without the Acts we wouldn't have sponsors."
Xavier de Lesquin (China Team) -- "Fleet racing will bring a lot of attention and excitement, but we are happy to have two boats." This was in reference to the possible pre-start "carnage."
Grant Dalton (ETNZ) -- "We're getting used to having holes in our boat, but there's not time to fly another one up here!"
Chris Dickson (BMW ORACLE Racing) -- "Larry is not here because he is on his boat in Palma. Like the rest of the sailing team, I gave him the afternoon off."
on the way to today's interesting press conference.
Hutchinson (FRA) with legendary AC yacht designer Olin
Stephens (USA) at today's press conference.
by TFE
