Nice Ink: China Aims for the Cup

Excellent AP wire story appearing in papers and on websites all over the world the last couple days....

China Aims to Make Run for America's Cup
By SCOTT NEUMAN Associated Press Writer
December 13, 2006, 3:42 PM CST

PHUKET, Thailand -- Standing astride the dual helms of the Jelik, Pierre Mas and skipper Frank Pong confer on how to squeeze out another quarter-knot of their 75-foot maxi yacht.

On this day, Mas is playing the role of tactician in the Andaman Sea, where Asia's fastest yachts compete in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta. In a few weeks, he'll be back at the wheel in the Mediterranean getting boat and crew ready for China's first try at sailing's most prestigious trophy, the America's Cup.

Despite its nearly 11,000 miles of coastline, China has virtually no tradition of big boat racing, making it necessary to recruit Olympic dinghy sailors and give them a quick course in crewing at the top international level. The 49-year-old Mas is a veteran of the last three French Cup challenges, as well as the arduous Whitbread Round the World Race. Putting together China Team's inaugural America's Cup effort, however, has presented its share of obstacles.

"We trained them on bigger boats in Hong Kong," Mas said. "We have tried the same thing in France, and we always have the same problem: These guys are used to sailing by themselves, not as part of a crew. You have to have timing, you have to have team spirit."

China Team, which represents the Qingdao International Yacht Club in the city that will host sailing events at the 2008 Olympics, has gotten a boost by allying itself with the experienced French syndicate Le Defi. The multinational effort has translated into a major issue on deck. In most America's Cup syndicates, English is the working language of the boat, but many of the China Team crew speak only Mandarin.

The solution? An interpreter. "Luckily, we have a guy from Singapore who speaks both English and Mandarin, and just happens to be a very good sailor," Mas said.

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