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July 19, 2017 By Jack Griffin

Rolling Stones’ Advice on Protocol for 36th America’s Cup

"You Can't Always Get What You Want"

The Rolling Stones must have been singing about the America's Cup. Opinions are flying about what the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia should put into the protocol for the 36th defense.  It's easy to say, "We should go back to monohulls," or "There should be strict nationality rules for the crew," or "Yacht clubs should be in charge, like the Deed of Gift says," or "We need to keep the great LiveLine graphics." But it's a lot harder to come up with a complete Protocol, since some apparent desiderata are mutually exclusive. And there is the small matter of how to fund the event.

What's the Objective?

Before diving into details, let's think about what we want to achieve. 

  • Do we want to build the America's Cup into a profitable sports entertainment business?
  • Should we return to a "traditional" America's Cup? What does "traditional" mean? The traditions of the Herreshoff era, with tycoon-funded American yachts with a Scottish skipper and a crew of Scandinavian fishermen? Or the traditions of the 12m era, sailed in the smallest yachts ever, until the AC Class catamarans of 2017? Or the traditions of the 1930's with huge, elegant J Class yachts helmed by their owners?

Tradition?

America's Cup Trophy - Photo: Royal Yacht Squadron website

Photo: Royal Yacht Squadron website

From the Royal Yacht Squadron website

America's Cup - Royal Yacht Squadron 1851 poster

America's Cup - Royal Yacht Squadron 1851 poster

RYS Annual Regatta - 1851

J Class racing during 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda

J Class racing during 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda

Popular Topics

  • ​Monohulls or multihulls?
  • The fastest boats (apparent wind always forward) or boats with downwind sails and sail changes?
  • Stadium racing or racing in big waves and strong winds? (NYC ACWS or Freemantle Doctor?)
  • Build a linear TV audience big enough to attract broadcast rights fees equivalent to, say, the Tour de France (about $50M)? Or use a "digital-first" strategy on a freemium model?
  • Help owners build their teams into long lasting, financially valuable "sports franchise" assets? Or continue with varying mixes of patronage and sponsorship?
  • Establish a permanent governing authority? Or give more authority back to yacht clubs? (What staff and funding does a yacht club need to run the America's Cup?)
  • Provide visibility by defining the dates, venues and boats for multiple future editions? Or follow the Deed of Gift and have the defender and challenger issue a Protocol months after the conclusion of each Match?
  • Encourage additional nations to enter?  Or institute 80-100% nationality requirement for the crew? 
  • No racing among the teams before the Challenger Selection Series? No sailing with the Defender before the America's Cup Match?
  • Frequency? Every two years? Every four years? Random, decided by the Challenger in the case of a DoG match; or by the Challenger and Defender under mutual consent? 
  • Branding. (OK, I have not seen any discussion of this - as a businessman it is a special interest of mine.) Stop diluting the brand by holding "America's Cup This or That." America's Cup World Series. Red Bull Youth America's Cup. America's Cup Qualifiers. America's Cup Challenger Playoffs. America's Cup Superyacht Regatta.  Stop it! The America's Cup is the Match, between the Defender and the Challenger. Find other names for all those other events. Go back and look at the 1851 RYS. There was only one event called "The R.Y.S. £100 Cup." All those other events were great, but each had its own name.

What's the Revenue Model?

How much will it cost to run the event? Regatta management, security, an international media center, broadcast production, the LiveLine graphics which require helicopters and a team of engineers to operate the system - who pays for all this? 

Sailing is unlikely to generate much revenue from big sources that some other sports have: TV broadcast rights and ticket sales. As with Formula 1 venues, Valencia and Bermuda paid significant venue fees. Sailing is highly dependent on sponsorship. Merchandise, licensing and commercial hospitality provide additional revenue sources. How much revenue can be generated? Will it cover the cost of producing the event? If not, who makes up the shortfall?

Will We See a New Framework Agreement?​

The RNZYS did not sign the "Framework Agreement." At the time, Team New Zealand said "Emirates Team New Zealand believe the future America’s Cup format should be decided by the Defender and Challenger of Record as it has historically been."

But might RNZYS and CdVS agree to a protocol that requires additional challengers to commit themselves to conditions imposed by the defender and the challenger of record?  

July 10, 2017 By Jack Griffin

America’s Cup Brand Identity

When ACEA persuaded Louis Vuitton to return as a sponsor they attached the luxury brand's name to all phases of the competition:

  • Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series
  • Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers
  • Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs
  • America's Cup Match Presented by Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton designed their own logo for the event, which ACEA was not allowed to use on clothing or merchandise, or in association with any other sponsor. 

Louis Vuitton America's Cup logo
ACEA America's Cup logo
America's Cup logo conflict - clothing / backdrop

America's Cup logo conflict - clothing / backdrop

Brand Integrity

Most marketing experts insist on protecting how a logo can be used. Brand identity guidelines specify "clearspace" around a logo to protect its integrity and impact. Hybrid logos with other companies are strictly forbidden, in order to strengthen the value of a brand's identity.

ACEA America's Cup logo integrity & impact

Clearspace spec for the America's Cup logo

It appears the "logo police" at ACEA had a pretty loose idea of brand integrity.

Why anyone thought Snapchat was a good way to build the audience is a separate topic.

America's Cup Jam logo - Oct'15

America's Cup Jam logo

Vineyard Vines America's Cup logo

Vineyard Vines America's Cup logo

Snapchat America's Cup logo

Snapchat America's Cup logo

Presenting Sponsor or Title Sponsor

Who gets top billing - the event or the sponsor?

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifier Logo

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifier Logo

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match logo

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match logo

Vuitton's LV symbol was used on the wingsails instead of the traditional America's Cup symbol. Compare the AC72 yachts in San Francisco in 2013 with the America's Cup Class yachts in 2017.

America's Cup 2013 San Francisco - Photo: Abner Kingman

America's Cup 2013 San Francisco - Photo: Abner Kingman

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Yachts

Louis Vuitton America's Cup Yachts - Image: ACTV

June 30, 2017 By Jack Griffin

How Good Were Jack’s America’s Cup Predictions?

Before the Match began, I made some predictions. Some were better than others...

  • Neither team will sweep the other - it will be a back and forth battle.
    Not so good. Oracle managed to win one race out of nine - hardly a back and forth battle.
  • The racing will be intense, with frequent lead changes after the first downwind leg. The first boat to Mark 1 - the end of the short blast reach after the start - will almost always be leading at Gate 2, since there are few passing opportunities on the short first downwind leg.
    On target.
  • It will come down to sailing - how well the teams execute their maneuvers.
  • Neither team will have an overwhelming speed advantage.
    Mostly right. New Zealand was faster in the first four races, but Oracle made their boat faster between the two weekends of racing. Oracle's errors - starting, tactics and boat handling - made things easier for the Kiwis.
  • Oracle's Jimmy Spithill will be very aggressive, especially in the pre-starts.
    Wrong. Spithill won only two starts in nine races. He was over early in the Race 1 and Race 5. He gave away the start in Race 7 by slowing unnecessarily. In Race 8 Burling hooked Spithill and forced him head to wind.
  • Very light air will favor the Kiwis.
    On target.
Jack Griffin - Editor, interviewed by Bermuda Broadcasting Company - America's Cup 2017

Jack Griffin - Editor

June 26, 2017 By Jack Griffin

Kiwis Dominate Oracle to Reclaim America’s Cup

Kiwis Celebrate Winning the 2017 America's Cup

Kiwis Celebrate Winning the 2017 America's Cup - Photo: Gregory Bull -AP

If the 2013 America's Cup seemed like "The Empire Strikes Back," 2017 gave us "Return of the Kiwis." Peter Burling's Luke Skywalker vanquished Larry Ellison's Darth Vader by racking up eight race wins while Oracle could manage only one. Jimmy Spithill and the Oracle crew seemed to succumb to Jedi mind tricks, losing seven of the nine starts, going OCS in two races, sailing out of bounds once, misjudging laylines both upwind and down and falling off their foils in several tacks and gybes.

Starts

The Match started out badly for Oracle when they were over the start line early in the first race.

America's Cup Match - USA OCS in Race 1 - Image: ACTV Video

America's Cup Match - USA OCS in Race 1 - Image: ACTV Video

The following Saturday, Oracle was again OCS, in Race 5.

Oracle is over early again, in Race 5 of the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle is over early again, in Race 5 of the 2017 America's Cup Match

​

Oracle is over early again, in Race 5 of the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle is over early again, in Race 5 of the 2017 America's Cup Match

The Kiwis won the first five races. Oracle got their only win in the second race on Saturday 24 June.  

Errors 

On Sunday, in Race 7 Oracle had good speed to weather of the Kiwis, but after an inexplicable turn upwind by Spithill, they crossed the line over a boat length behind and slower than the Kiwis.

Oracle Team USA faster and to windward in pre-start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle Team USA faster and to windward in pre-start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle helmsman Jimmy Spithill loses speed turning upwind in pre-start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle helmsman Jimmy Spithill loses speed turning upwind in pre-start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle is late and slow at the start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Oracle is late and slow at the start of Race 7 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

In the pre-start of Race 8 New Zealand's Peter Burling manage "to hook" Jimmy Spithill and force Oracle almost head to wind. Burling's protest was green-flagged by the umpires, but Burling was able to speed off to lead at Mark 1.

New Zealand's Peter Burling hitting the

New Zealand's Peter Burling hitting the "protest" button in the pre-start of Race 8 of the 2017 America's Cup Match

ORACLE TEAM USA picks up a penalty with unforced error going out of bounds on leg 3 of Race 8 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

ORACLE TEAM USA picks up a penalty with unforced error going out of bounds on leg 3 of Race 8 in the 2017 America's Cup Match

Speed and Boat Handling

The Kiwis closed out the Match in Race 9 with a demonstration of the boat speed and good handling that had brought them to match point. Oracle managed to win the start and led at Mark 1. The first gybe on leg 2 spelled the end for Oracle. New Zealand's gybe was crisper and they edged ahead, gassing Oracle with turbulence off their wing. They extended their lead and were never threatened, speeding to win the race and claim the America's Cup.

USA leads NZL on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

USA leads NZL on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

NZL and USA gybe together on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

NZL and USA gybe together on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

NZL leads USA on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

NZL leads USA on leg 2 of Race 9 - 2017 America's Cup Match

June 13, 2017 By Jack Griffin

America’s Cup Challenger Finals: Team New Zealand Defeats Artemis

Team New Zealand vs Artemis in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Team New Zealand vs Artemis in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Emirates Team New Zealand used sharp crew work to defeat Artemis Racing and become the Challenger against Oracle in the America's Cup Match. Artemis continued to be plagued by bad luck, losing helmsman Nathan Outerridge overboard at a crucial moment in Race 3 on Saturday 10 June.

America's Cup Challenger Finals Results

America's Cup Challenger Finals Results

Team New Zealand crew work in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Team New Zealand crew work in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Artemis crew work in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Artemis crew work in America's Cup Challenger Finals - Image: Ricardo Pinto

Nathan Outerridge lost his footing and slid overboard during a tack near the windward gate on Leg 5 in Race 3 on the first day of the America's Cup Challenger Playoffs. Artemis had led down the previous downwind leg, and then traded the lead on the last upwind leg. After losing Outerridge overboard, Iain Percy steered for a while before calling to Luke Parkinson to take the helm. Parkinson steered through the gate rounding and the first gybe, but it was clear Artemis would have no chance to catch the Kiwis.

America's Cup Challenger Finals - Outerridge MOB in Race 3 - Image ACTV Video

America's Cup Challenger Finals - Outerridge MOB in Race 3 - Image ACTV Video

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