Latitude 38 April 2010

ment that it's divorced the crews from the boats and the natural forces of nature, thereby making the racing less human and less fun. If they are going to allow the use of engines on America's Cup boats again, perhaps each team should have to restart the engine at least once on every downwind leg by jibing the main with the line-from-the-boom-to-the-fl ywheel method. That would certainly reintroduce a human element.

⇑⇓LET 'EM EARN IT! The city of Newport, Rhode Island, wants the America's Cup to return there. If that's the case, I suggest they enter a boat in the next America's Cup, win it, and thus have the right to defend the Cup in their venue!

Howard Spruit Mokuakalana, Jar Cat Santa Cruz

Howard — That would be the proper way to do it. Based on everything that's been said, the America's Cup is San Francisco Bay's to lose. Unfortunately, San Francisco is fully capable of doing just that. As for Newport and San Diego — and everywhere else that wants to host the Cup — we agree that they ought to get that right the old way — by earning it!

⇑⇓HAVE A 'CUP'-HALF-FULL ATTITUDE I beg to disagree with Dick Enerson's letter — and Latitude's editorial agreement — to the effect that it would not be possible to host a successful America's Cup on San Francisco Bay. I believe it is not only possible, but it could be the best Cup match ever. Here is a point-by-point rebuttal to Enerson's arguments, and the reasons that San Francisco Bay would be a great place to host the next Cup.

The Bay is too small with too much ship traffi c. There are two parts to every America's Cup event. First, there is the challenger selection process which, prior to the last match, was known as the Louis Vuitton Cup racing. Second is the Cup match itself. The Louis Vuitton Cup could not be held in the Central Bay because there is not enough room and there is too much commercial traffi c. But, it could be held in the wide water between the Bay Bridge and Candlestick Point. There is plenty of deep water and good breeze, and the cross currents would not affect the quality of the racing. Windward/leeward legs would be about 2-3 miles long, which would make for good racing with plenty of action and mark roundings. Commercial traffi c is minimal in that part of the Bay. It is used now as an anchorage for ships waiting for berth assignments in the Port of Oakland. With a little cooperation from Vessel Traffi c Service, these ships could be anchored away from the race courses and there would still be plenty of room left over. The Central Bay is the only place to hold the match itself, and there could be windward/leeward courses from the middle part of the Golden Gate Bridge to a spot between Alcatraz and Angel Island. These legs would be a little shorter than what has been traditional, but shorter legs would be good for the racing and good for the Cup. The public gets bored with long legs that turn into drag races. Shorter legs with more mark roundings and more action would be good for television and spectator viewing. Of course, the backdrops around the Bay are superb for television, superior to the venues of any of the previous America's Cup events. Because the course would be in the dead center of the Bay, the currents would essentially be the same all over the course, and heading to the beach for current relief would not be an option. It would be pure match racing for the purists in the crowd. As we all know, the summer winds in the Central Bay are as reliable as Old Faithful,

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