America's Cup Joke!

The races began yesterday.  The boat racing world (and a few others) were on the edge of their seats.  The setting was spectacular – the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge.  The weather was perfect, sunny with a good wind.  And the 72-feet state-of-the-art catamarans were ready to fly over the water.

Oops!  Make that catamaran, singular.  It was a one-boat race.  Emirates New Zealand racing against itself.  Where were the others?  The dozen or so that were promised when Larry Ellison’s drive to stage the Cup races here was launched and approved?  Nowhere to be seen.

It’s a big joke.  They’re arguing about the rules, the boat design, the cost.  Most teams aren’t even competing.  The three challengers are fighting among themselves.  Do it my way or I’ll take my boat and go home.

At this point, who cares?  I can see the boats from my living room window.  Yes, they are impressive.  Indeed, when New Zealand was racing against itself yesterday it was going fast and looked good.  But the thing isn’t generating the income that was promised.  It’s even possible that public funds will be needed to salvage the thing – which as a taxpayer I object to.

The looming bigger joke is that Oracle will probably win.  Ellison can then decide to do this all over again here in four more years.  Gimmee a break!