Americas Cup!!!

[DSRH]

I am an old Americas Cup fan. Long story. This year the USA boat is in the semi-finals and now racing on the Versus channel. Tonight my trusty DVR is showing the 2nd match with Italy. The USA boat is sponsored by BMW!!!:)

Tune in this is great stuff!

Remind me to tell you my Americas Cup stories sometime....


Rock on USA!

http://www.americascup.com/en/

http://blog.bmworacleracing.com/main

[simplygriff]

Versus channel? Is that on Time Warner Cable?
-G

[onefastmini]

Versus channel? Is that on Time Warner Cable?
-G

And I thought it was in France :rolleyes:

[FRNKNSTN]

I'm sorry, but this time the Luna Rossa is going to win. (I hope) And we go all the way to challenge the Alighi. Then for the first time ever the American's Cup will belong to Italy. That's my dream.... In any case it will be fun to watch.

Frnknstn

[DSRH]

Don't know if that channel is on TWC as I have Direct TV...but maybe it is...

http://www.versus.com/

[DSRH]

Hey I am F1 Ferrari tifosi for several decades but I am still pulling for the USA. (Not to mention they are sponsored by my favorite car brand these days) Come by my house sometime and I will show you my Ferrari room...I still have the newspaper clippings where we lost the cup and Dennis Conner tried to get it back. I remember talking to a girl from Australia in 1984 at the worlds fair about the cup. She said they had melted it down and made cutlery from it! We laughed. I told her to take a picture of it as we were going to win it back. Then the Kiwi's won it!

Italy is now up 2-1 in the best of 5/9. Italy is really sailing well....they look to have an advantage to me but the USA boat does have some talented people on it.

Here is an old song written and performed by Jimmy Buffett from the Dennis Conner era when the boys down under won the cup. This one is called "Take it Back." That's what we need to do...

(Jimmy Buffett, Matt Benton)
Open season on the open seas and
Captain says no prisoners please
Skull and crossbones on a background of black
We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back

We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back
Very simple plan of attack
It's our job and a labor of love
Take it home to the up above
We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back
Very simple statement of fact
Call it pillage or call it plunder
We're takin' it back from them boys down under

Hit us hard, took our treasure
That was the worst thing they could do
It will be our great pleasure
To take it back from that captain kangaroo

Yo ho ho, and a bottle of suds
It's a pirates fight we choose
No we don't want a bucket of blood
Just a cup is all we could use
Just a cup

The sails are up and the bets are down
Let's lighten up this harbor town
By hook or crook or new design
We're streakin' for that finish line

We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back
Very simple plan of attack
It's our job and a labor of love
Take it home to the up above
We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back
Very simple statement of fact
Call it pillage or call it plunder
We're takin' it back from them boys down under

We ask ourselves when we get in a fix
What would popeye do in a tight spot like this
He'd race for his true love and easily win it
In an old spinach can with a mast stuck in it

Lift us up, take us high
Time to let our spirits fly
Lift us up, take us high
Let us sail until we die

Lift us up, take us high
Let us float above the foam
Let our sails fill the sky
We are takin' our sweet treasure home

Take it back
We're takin' it back
Take it back!

[FRNKNSTN]

My three favorite sports are soccer, F1, and American's Cup. I've been in the U.S. for 21 years now, I love the U.S., but if there are any Italian teams involved, I pull for them. I'd like to come to your house one day. I own a restaurant so my schedule is never set. You just never know. Just to update you (but you probably already know) Italy is 3-1 now. Pretty sure the final is going to be against New Zealand. And bring on Alighi. I didn't remember the song that you sent, but my wife did. We listen to a clip of it on iTunes. Have you ever watched the movie "Wind" with Matthew Modine (director: Carrol Ballard)? I really like this movie. If you haven't seen it, you should try and watch it. In the meantime, Forza Luna Rossa.

Ps/ I'll give you a hint who is going to win the F1.....Felipe Massa

[DSRH]

Well I have to agree with you about the outcome of this semi-final series. I think Italy will face the Kiwi boat again. If they do I will root for the Prada boat. Both of those teams seem to have the edge right now. It looks like Italy has the best package all around. If they win I will have to get my Italian soccer air horn out and wake up the neighbors...

That is an old Jimmy Buffett song he wrote when he went down to Australia to support the US team. I am very familiar with Jimmy since the 1970's as you can see here: http://www.downsouthradiohour.blogspot.com

...that is another long story! I should be working for him but I prefer to live here in NC for now.

I haven't seen the movie you mentioned but I really like sailing. Once upon a time I did a bunch of it..on my web log you can see some of the folks who have sailed with Jimmy. He just got a new boat a few months ago that is a really cool French design. He keeps it in St. Barts.

Finally..on the who is gonna with the F1 championship? Well time will tell but I'll bet it is team Mclaren or Ferrari. Actually I am still not a big Massa fan. Not sure why as I liked his style when he drove for the old Sauber team. I always liked Prost, Berger, Alesi, and Schumacher. Not sure who the new favorite is yet.

You should join our F1 pool..We have people from everywhere in it. Last year I was leading until the USGP and then faded to 3rd for the final. My wife came in 3rd year before last...I am not doing all that well this year! I am oldf1fan on the Speed TV boards and in the pool. You have to place your picks on the thread on the speed tv forum under F1 discussion each race. It is fun and makes the race more interesting.

http://teamwishbone.com/F1POOL/

Our pal Wayne "wishbone" keeps it up to date right after each race and he does a great job..He lives on the left coast....can't wait till Monaco....that should be real interesting...I think Kimi will show his talent there.:)

[MDK]

Hey, I've found the other people that watch sailing! Too bad about the outcome- I think the Kiwi's are going to be tough to beat this year. Do you think Larry Ellison and his ego got in the way of the US crew? I'd love to see Ellison and Ted Turner going head to head in something like the Swedish Match boats so they could slam eachother around. Those guys really don't liek eachother from way back and are both insane sailers. I had a Sanata 25 (1/4 tonner) in SC that I sold before I moved back to NC-I miss her very much! I also crewed every weekend on either a Merit 25 or a J-90-that was some fun!

[DSRH]

I am not sure about Larry being the problem. I think the main trouble was Chris Dickson. I don't think he should have been ceo and skipper. The team wanted him off the boat before the last race and there was some serious infighting going on in the meetings after the races from what I hear. That must have had an effect on the overall team. He won't be the problem in the next Cup races. :)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=531&objectid=10441720

The boat was good but the Italian team and their skipper just out-sailed them especially in the starts. Chris Dickson had not practiced enough in the last year. He was good in his day but I think maybe he just got over-confident. Who knows...just my speculation. ;)

I do enjoy the sport just as I do the F1 racing. It is all about the team as Michael Schumacher said one time...from the lady that mops the floor to the guy that turns off the lug nuts on the car. They all matter. One goal - to win.