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| Wednesday, 25 September, 2002, 12:33 GMT 13:33 UK Who will win sailing's ultimate prize? ![]() Just four teams remain in the Louis Vuitton Cup, battling it out for the chance to take on Team New Zealand in the America's Cup. Who are you tipping to take the title? GBR Challenge's quest for Auckland success might be over, but there are still plenty of teams left in the America's Cup challenger series looking for glory. Swiss team Alinghi have lived up to their favourites tag by cruising into the last four, along with American outfit Oracle. But Prada and OneWorld seem determined to make their mark, having put their early setbacks behind them. Who has the talent and technology to go all the way? This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below. Who cares about the LV Cup? The boats are just using old designs from Team NZ last Cup. Team NZ will romp home again with the Cup and prove once again they are the greatest. Maybe we should consider renaming the cup soon? See you all in Auckland for the Cup. Go Team NZ! Oracle will come out like tigers and win the LV Cup against Alinghi. And Team NZ will win the America's Cup 5-0 after sensational developments in boat speed. Alinghi has an Achilles heel down wind. I would like to see Oneworld win it but Oracle will probably win it all. It's difficult to predict a winner when the last four are not completely set in stone. If Prada and Dennis Conner win their appeal, OneWorld could be out before the semis get under way and Conner will have one final chance to prove himself. Always expect the unexpected in the America's Cup! Alinghi will win LV Cup but fall just short of NZ in the America's Cup. But if Alinghi do win it all where will the next event be held? Dennis Connor has always been the epitome of poor sportsmanship and "gamesmanship". I trust that his latest effort will have as little merit as his latest boat. I believe it's going to be Oracle BMW Racing or Prada. The Italians are much better than OneWorld, technically speaking. Oracle BMW Racing have a very tough team who will fight like lions to outmanoeuvre Alinghi. Oracle BMW are extremely determined to win - not even Team New Zealand could stop their aggressiveness! I think they are great! Chris Dickson is my favourite to go ahead and win the Cup. Not only Louis Vuitton but the America's Cup trophy...
I hope Prada make it again through Louis Vuitton, but NZ will take America's Cup. As for comments on Alinghi, they're full of New Zealanders anyway. NZ all the way! I do not understand how the top two boats Alinghi and Oracle can meet in the semi-final and Prada (which lost to Alinghi) faces OneWorld (which lost to Oracle). In any other sport the top two would not be meeting one another in the semis. Alinghi will go through to the America's Cup. New Zealand will be gallant runners-up - as they have been in rugby union of late. Alinghi has the hottest boat and crew. It'll be an all-Kiwi final between von Cootes and Dean Barker, the winner being who has the hottest boat, sharpest crew work, the wiliest start....and the rub of the green. Prediction - next cup will be sailed in the Mediterranean. OneWorld are looking very impressive at the moment but will need to improve if they are to challenge the Kiwis for the America's Cup itself. For me it has to be Alinghi. They seem to have everything going for them and a solid crew.
It will probably be between Alinghi and Oracle in the LV final. OneWorld seem to have come to the end of their improvement curve too early and Prada are in crisis. A shame that that the BBC TV are not meeting their oft-stated promise to cover the event up until the America's Cup final itself. It is time for Conner to step down - feed him to the sharks. Alinghi can't go wrong in my opinion. They've made a great run so far and have shown what they are capable of. Not even New Zealand can stop them I don't think this challenger series will prove much. Prada won the Louis Vuitton Cup last time and got thumped when they took on the defending Kiwis. History is likely to repeat itself this time around too! Don't count out Dennis Conner just yet. If any team knows their America's Cup, it's Stars & Stripes. They've got the experience to come back. And, even if they don't, Oracle and OneWorld will still be flying the flag. Go U-S-A! |
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