Only nice to look at

In the early days of motoring, fierce competition between brands took place. The point of competition was to improve the brands and sell to the public.

Today that is still the case. The machines we see used in motorcycle trials, enduro, motocross and road racing are directly related to the motorcycles we see on the road every day. The same applies to car competition.

The techniques and technology developed and learned on the track, from tyres, suspension, frames, engines, to wind resistance and ergonomics, are clearly applied to the motorcycle we ride or the car we drive to work.

However, when I look at the yachts in Evans Bay, Chaffers or Mana marinas I can see no connection, apart from floating, to the yachts I saw compete for the America’s Cup. The yachts I watched racing could not sail around Matiu/Somes Island on a gusty day. They were certainly not capable of crossing Cook Strait.

That leads me to put three questions to the yachting fraternity. 1) What is the point? 2) Has America’s Cup yachting become like good jewellery, very expensive, nice to look at but no practical use? 3) Will New Zealand take this golden opportunity to make the next America’s Cup yachts relevant to this great yachting nation? REG FOWLES Waikanae