COOL PEOPLE Aug 30, 06:07
The following essay, which appears in today's popular sailing email newsletter, Scuttlebutt, is clear proof that Bruno Trouble richly deserves being blogged here in our select group of Cool People....
WE LOVE THE CUP - by Bruno Troublé
(Scuttlebutt received the following comments from Bruno Troublé, whose
involvement in the America's Cup includes over twenty years of both
skippering and behind the scenes roles. His remarks are a follow-up to
those made by Herb McCormick in Scuttlebutt 1911:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/archived_Detail.asp?key=3164)
I was shocked and surprised in Malmö reading Herb's column and the Angus
article he inspired. They are good friends, excellent journalists, and they
have followed the America's Cup a lot until last year.
How can they be so aggressive and bitter? Are they seriously pretending
that the Cup was in a better shape in San Diego? In my opinion, Herb and
Angus don't know what they are talking about. They should first come and
see 12 America's Cup boats starting together on a short line - like nearly
1000 accredited journalists in 2005 already have - before writing anything!
The racing in the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts has been fantastic with
South Africa earning its first ever America's Cup win, and a new Italian
team upsetting the Kiwis. Nearly 30,000 people came to the America's Cup
Park here on the weekend to catch the spirit of the Cup a full two years
before the America's Cup proper!! My friend Pelle Pettersson, a legend
here, was so thrilled he was breathless!
I have been involved with the America's Cup for more years than Herb. I was
in Newport in 1974 and have not missed any America's Cup single day since
then. In 1983, I was even closer to the action than Herb, being the
sparring skipper for Australia II after my boat France 3 was eliminated.
Since then, I have been among the small group of individuals who
transformed the America's Cup to make it a world-renowned sporting event.
Whatever Herb may believe, the America's Cup is not empty!
What about 3000 hours of television worldwide in 2003 and 55,000 articles?
What about 800 sailors employed full time for three years? What about the
300 million television viewers who watched the Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004,
before many of the teams had even challenged, or many of the television
agreements were concluded this year?
The comments on the "obscene'' budgets are not serious. What about Formula
One, Soccer, NASCAR and many other sports? Are they pretending that we
should go back to the old days? Do they want to bring back this famous
"Corinthian'' spirit which means only amateurs, no professionals, no
sponsors, no media coverage, and no television? Would it be a "FULL CUP???"
We can certainly make improvements of course and AC Management is working
on new ideas all the time, but whatever they pretend, the old Lady is still
a beauty. All of us are just working hard to adapt her life to the present
time. There is no other event in the world of sailing that can be compared
to the Cup. This event is ten times bigger than ANY other sailing event.
Please be more serious and fair! I would love to personally invite Herb and
grumpy Angus to fly over to Europe to attend the Louis Vuitton Acts in
Trapani. They will be very surprised - the Cup is alive and well!! - Bruno
Troublé
* * * * *
The Cup needs more people with Bruno's passion and vision; indeed, more of Bruno. Right on my friend.
Bruno Trouble.
WE LOVE THE CUP - by Bruno Troublé
(Scuttlebutt received the following comments from Bruno Troublé, whose
involvement in the America's Cup includes over twenty years of both
skippering and behind the scenes roles. His remarks are a follow-up to
those made by Herb McCormick in Scuttlebutt 1911:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/archived_Detail.asp?key=3164)
I was shocked and surprised in Malmö reading Herb's column and the Angus
article he inspired. They are good friends, excellent journalists, and they
have followed the America's Cup a lot until last year.
How can they be so aggressive and bitter? Are they seriously pretending
that the Cup was in a better shape in San Diego? In my opinion, Herb and
Angus don't know what they are talking about. They should first come and
see 12 America's Cup boats starting together on a short line - like nearly
1000 accredited journalists in 2005 already have - before writing anything!
The racing in the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts has been fantastic with
South Africa earning its first ever America's Cup win, and a new Italian
team upsetting the Kiwis. Nearly 30,000 people came to the America's Cup
Park here on the weekend to catch the spirit of the Cup a full two years
before the America's Cup proper!! My friend Pelle Pettersson, a legend
here, was so thrilled he was breathless!
I have been involved with the America's Cup for more years than Herb. I was
in Newport in 1974 and have not missed any America's Cup single day since
then. In 1983, I was even closer to the action than Herb, being the
sparring skipper for Australia II after my boat France 3 was eliminated.
Since then, I have been among the small group of individuals who
transformed the America's Cup to make it a world-renowned sporting event.
Whatever Herb may believe, the America's Cup is not empty!
What about 3000 hours of television worldwide in 2003 and 55,000 articles?
What about 800 sailors employed full time for three years? What about the
300 million television viewers who watched the Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004,
before many of the teams had even challenged, or many of the television
agreements were concluded this year?
The comments on the "obscene'' budgets are not serious. What about Formula
One, Soccer, NASCAR and many other sports? Are they pretending that we
should go back to the old days? Do they want to bring back this famous
"Corinthian'' spirit which means only amateurs, no professionals, no
sponsors, no media coverage, and no television? Would it be a "FULL CUP???"
We can certainly make improvements of course and AC Management is working
on new ideas all the time, but whatever they pretend, the old Lady is still
a beauty. All of us are just working hard to adapt her life to the present
time. There is no other event in the world of sailing that can be compared
to the Cup. This event is ten times bigger than ANY other sailing event.
Please be more serious and fair! I would love to personally invite Herb and
grumpy Angus to fly over to Europe to attend the Louis Vuitton Acts in
Trapani. They will be very surprised - the Cup is alive and well!! - Bruno
Troublé
* * * * *
The Cup needs more people with Bruno's passion and vision; indeed, more of Bruno. Right on my friend.
Bruno Trouble.
Cool People | by TFE
