Ciao Fabio, ma hai letto l'edizione di lunedì scorso di Scuttlebutt, che peraltro riprendeva un articolo del New Zealand Herald? Sicuramente non si può accusare la più autorevole newsletter di vela del mondo e per giunta americana di essere di parte (dell'una o dell'altra). Eppure sono stati molto critici e non me la sento di dare loro torto. Ormai è LA STAMPA INTERNAZIONALE che avanza dubbi sulla consistenza dell'evento Riporto a seguire quanto ha scritto Scuttlebutt a beneficio di tutti: COUTTS PROMISES EIGHT TEAMS The 34th America's Cup should be exhilarating, with its high-speed, on-the-edge catamarans - as long as everybody turns up. While Oracle Racing CEO Sir Russell Coutts says he is certain the event will attract at least eight entries, the deadline is now only two months away and yachting circles are busily speculating about whether the holders will attract enough challengers to the starting line. That is the backdrop to Coutts' presence in Auckland to sail the new AC45 wing-sail cat (the 45-footer designed to race in the pre-Cup 'World Series') which will give teams multi-hull experience before graduating to the full 72-foot version in the America's Cup in San Francisco in 2013. Coutts took time out to promote the catamaran racing, opposed by many old salts who do not agree with ditching the old monohull Cup-class yachts. Some also say Oracle's multi-hull experience, courtesy of last year's demolition of previous holders Alinghi, is too big an advantage. While America's Cup organisers are claiming there are already six entries, and Coutts predicts 8-10, not all are guaranteed of making it to the start line at this stage. Counting Oracle, entries so far include challenger of record Mascalzone Latino (Italy), Aleph Team France, Artemis Racing (Sweden), YuuZoo (Australia) and one who is yet to be named - but whom most assume is Emirates Team New Zealand. However, YuuZoo are a long way yet from getting the financial backing to get them to San Francisco and America's Cup insiders say even Mascalzone Latino is feeling the financial pinch. Among the rumours are: - That ETNZ are finding it hard raising the cash. Certainly team boss Grant Dalton is not talking yet, although few have a better track record in fundraising. - That Mascalzone could even drop out and resign as chall-engers of record, meaning Artemis will take over. - That Coutts is under some pressure to get entries up. "I am sure Artemis would like that [becoming challenger of record] and there is no doubt that Mascalzone, like everybody, have had a tough few years,” said Coutts. “But I will tell you this - I am positive about there being eight teams and there could be up to 10." -- Read on: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10703053 TIME WILL TELL: Amid the legal dispute after the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007, Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli said in 2008 that he had 18 challengers willing to enter. At the time Scuttlebutt questioned how many of those entries would actually make it to the start line, and of those, how many would be legitimate competitors. Looking toward the 34th America’s Cup, these questioned have not changed. Ciao Max