12 Metre Racing at Newport

[@Brisailer]

As a young Australian in 1983 winning the Cup was a proud and special moment. However when I compare the beauty and the purity of the 12 metres pitting human skills and tactics against other humans in the wonderful waters off Newport with the high tech computer driven boats now racing a simple up and back course with little in the way of sailing tactics and real individual sailing skills I really wish at one level that the races had stayed where they were. Something special has been lost to the sport.

[@fvingerhoed]

Great piece. Old times. WIll never come back. 12M are beautiful

[@jimmyblues59m76]

The good old days! I was with my Family in Newport Rhode Island during the America's Cup trials in 1977. My Dad's company represented some of Ted Turner's TV stations at the time and we were invited by Ted to spend the weekend watching the trials from his Sparkman & Stevens sloop, Tenacious. Ted had us wear Atlanta Braves visors, since he had recently purchased the Braves. We had a wonderful time! Turner would later win the 1979 Fastnet Race with Tenacious, the mostly deadly sailboat race in history, in which 19 sailors were killed. In the late 1970s, my Dad said that Ted was a brilliant visionary who would revolutionize Television, and he was correct.

[@MilesCobbett]

I loved this style of sailboat racing much more than the multi hull vessels of today

[@Lozzie74]

Dennis! The greatest of all time! It must be spooky for him. Wonderful to see him there.