Well, that depends.
The rag, tag and bobtail members of Sailing Anarchy (America's Cup division), have organized a yacht club, Sailing Anarchy Yacht Club (SAYC).
OK, you say, fine. So what?
Well, we agree. But the astonishing fact is, SAYC have orchestrated an entry for America's Cup 33. Apparently, they have filed papers in Valencia, and are axiously awaiting a response from The Powers That Be.
Is this serious? Well, apparently, it is.
You are saying that an online community is mounting a challenge for America's Cup? Well, yes, they are. But this isn't your average online community.
Founded by sailor, radio personality and online entrepreneur, Scot Tempestra (USA) of San Diego, Sailing Anarchy is an online home for franchised, enfranchised and disenfranchised sailors, many of whom who have participated, and currently participate, in virtually every competitive class on the water -- and in all classes of watering hole -- and most of whom are united in their passion for the America's Cup As We Know It.
But isn't it ridiculous? Isn't this an absurd undertaking? And if it's not absurd, then isn't it financially impossible?
Well, it's no less impossible than a U.S. presidential contender, Howard Dean, believing that he could fund a presidential campaign from small donations raised from across America (which he did).
And it's no less ridiculous than a successful U.S. presidential contender, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, running the same kind of grassroots campaign, ultimately refusing Federal funding, and raising more money, in a shorter time, than any Presidential candidate in history.
But could SAYC raise the same kind of funds, the same way? Good question.
Knowledgeable souls at AC Anarchy (which is the sub-forum these sailors belong to) admit they need $200 million. They say they have anything from 20,000 to 30,000 members. So put on your grassroots hat. Think creatively. Do the math.
Then add one or two humongously benificent donations from the handful of unruly U.S. sailing magnates who still exist and haven't found an outlet for today's kind of America's Cup. Some of these proud, independent souls would surely value an opportunity to support an American entry in AC33 and would enthusiastically embrace the boasting rights that came with it.
You can name them, just like we can.
Pretty soon, you'd have some real cash.
Pretty soon, you'd have designers taking the challenge seriously.
Pretty soon, you'd have one or two Version 5 boats ready for rehabilitation, or a new class-rule vessel ready to be designed and built.
So it wouldn't be smart to diss the challenge, the math, or the naval architecture.
It's eminently do-able.
The only fly in the ointment is ... well, you guessed it. The Prince and his Chamberlains.
If they decide that this is the kind of challenge up with which they will not put, well, that puts a dent in the sails of SAYC and its team. But frankly, it does not necessarily end the challenge.
To deny SAYC a valid challenge, the House of Alinghi and their cohorts would have to elevate all those old familiar objections -- no yacht club, no boats, no regatta.
Believe me, they wouldn't want to do that. Not with Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) standing under the trees in the rain, shivering in the wind and the shadows.
That, assuredly, would put the cat among the pigeons.
So this is a portentiously serious event.
And there is only one factor that transforms this ambitious idea into a serious effort. And that's money.
Even in challenging times, sponsors know there is always money for ambitious endeavors.
And in a country that has no dog in the hunt -- which is the biggest hunt there is for salty warriors -- you can be sure there are salt water hunters and hounds aslaverin' somewhere.
Stay tuned.
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