Luna Rossa kicks BMW Oracle out of the Cup
by Volker Weber
Luna Rossa makes it to the finals. From today on there is no American team left in the Cup.
Desafío Español is still holding out against Emirates Team New Zealand 2:4. They would have to win the remaining three matches in a row to make it to the finals, which is rather unlikely.
Comments
I expect a very very tight AC match between Alinghi and the Emirates Team New Zealand. I believe Alinghi probably will defend the cup.
Btw, as I said a couple of months ago here at vowe's, the United Internet Team Germany had no chances at all in the LV races of the challengers. They simply lacked about 50 million in budget. Sad but true.
With a tiny bit of inside information I can say that UITG did not lack money. They lacked time. At least 12 months. They were actually running under budget because there was no good cause to spend it on.
But yes, short of a miracle they did not stand a chance.
Cem, you are ruling out any chances ITA94 beats the Kiwis as she did with BMW Oracle?
Not to talk about the Spaniards which I have found exceeding most people's expectations.
Let's hope at least the AC remains in Europe.
Nobody really want's to travel again all the way to NZ for watching next edition...
Volker, if you spend 40-50 mio under budget and you lack 12 month of time you know you are not going to make it then it bad planning or cheap marketing (for UI) - but it is definitely bad sportsmanship.
I would like to see another German team and sponsor next time. There are some good & serious folks in Germany.
Pieter, if Emirates Team New Zealand wins, it is unlikely the next challenge goes to New Zealand. I'd put my money on Dubai.
Cem, the race against time was lost when building the boat.
Poor Larry, so much money but no success...
Hi Volker, just found your site and find the comments very interesting.
I'm hoping very much that NZ will be the ultimate challenger and take the cup back to Kiwi land. Perhaps, as marketing goes these days the NZ team
will sell the event to an other European venue, perhaps Croatia... or????
I really did not want NZ to lose the last race but, it certainly makes the
race more interesting. The visiting spectators are getting their monies
worth and they deserve it !!!
We here on the west coast of Canada have absolutely no TV coverage of
the event at all, which is a shame. How is it else where, Germany or ???
Vielen Dank und Aufwiedersehen cheers, Wilf
Cem, I tend to agree with Pieter, I wouldn't be writing off the Italians just yet. They have looked very impressive in sending the US boat back home, leading them round every mark in the six matches!
I'd love to see the local team make it through, though I agree with Volker that it's a tough ask.
@ Volker:
Any location is okay as long as I don't have to get up in the middle of the night again. ;-) My heart wishes it would be Lake Geneva, but that's a different story.
@Volker - I believe the NZ government have signed a contract with Team NZ to make sure the cup DOES come to NZ should we actually win.
