In a recent interview, Oracle BMW Racing skipper Chris Dickson was asked just what Oracle boss Larry Ellison was saying to him in that famous photo (above) which ran on the front page of the New Zealand Herald on January 14 during the final of the Louis Vuitton challenger series.
In the photo Ellison has both hands out and appears to be lecturing Dickson, who does not look happy.
"We were all depressed after losing a race and didn't want to dwell on it," Dickson said. "Larry was trying to get us onto other subjects and started on this fishing story. He was up to the bit about 'the fish was this big' ... "
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According to the Alinghi website one of the most popular exhibitions at the team's interactive plaza is the bulb from the keel of the syndicate's training boat SUI59 (the old Swiss boat Be Happy from the last America's Cup). While most who visit Italy have a snapshot of themselves trying to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, many visitors to the Alinghi base have decided they need a picture of themselves trying to lift the bulb. It weighs around 19 tonnes, so the likelihood of anyone actually lifting it is zero. However, just to be on the safe side, Alinghi have plastered a label on the side of the bulb that reads: "Please do not remove."
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Loyal? The ASB has sold about a third of the Team New Zealand flags it is promoting to help prod the country into black boat fever. The bank reported sales of 7000 of the 22,000 flags in less than two weeks. Each flag sells for $10 and $5 goes to Team NZ. So far the team would have collected $35,000 from the flags and stand to make $110,000 if all of the flags sell. ASB spokeswoman Barbara Chapman said if the flags did sell out and demand was high enough the ASB would produce more.
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And the cup goes to: Team New Zealand. GBR Challenge skipper Ian Walker has backed the locals to hold the cup. "I think both teams are superb and it will come down to who has a speed advantage. I suspect largely because of the hula [hull appendage] that could be Team New Zealand, but it may depend on the conditions." His prediction? 5-2.
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nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
In a recent interview, Oracle BMW Racing skipper Chris Dickson was asked just what Oracle boss Larry Ellison was saying to him in that famous photo (above) which ran on the front page of the New Zealand Herald on January 14 during the final of the Louis Vuitton challenger series.
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