I agree that the gravitational pull of the AC trumps the Olympics by a huge distance...

I have been thinking about how to leverage the AC machine. I agree that technology and match racing are not the proper hooks.

I think the AC has given us the path... The "junior boat program"... is their way of building a feeder system of cup star sailors for their Reality tv show called the America's Cup.

I think of it as following players in the minor leagues of baseball or college BBall and football.... When you are attached to a star minor league player from your home town, school, club ... you feel that you share the success when they make the big leagues and do well.

Seems to me... the idea is to figure out how to build a regatta structure that steps young sailors up the sailing ladder through the OD classes AND gives them some fame and glory along the way to ultimately getting a shot at the junior AC programs

Maybe the way to start is for the OD classes to offer stipends to top sailors in an age bracket with the idea that they campaign in the class for a year..
Say Hobie 16's... raced by helms of 14 to 18.... F18's... 18 to 24. You can win the stipend once.

Couple it with some coaching from the old crazy guys ....

plus... access mentors in the Cup programs that sailed the beach cats ...

Couple this with lots of in class PR plus PR around the national class events and you have a structure that starts to create some stars in a pipeline towards the AC.

Thoughts?