America’s Cup snub stings as Chicago Mack race begins

By Brian Mulloy

July 18, 2014 at 5:31 pm

Chicago Yacht Club — Boats moored in the Harbor near the Chicago Yacht Club Monroe Station. Taken on 4th of July while sailing on Jay Doherty’s Swan 44' MKII, ‘Kilkenny’. [Credit: Sailing Nomad, flickr]

Great Lakes sailors often carry a chip on their shoulder when it comes to comparisons with the salty sort. As we head into the start of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, it’s worth noting the most recent snub to the pond sailors: The America’s Cup passed over the Windy City citing poor wind conditions.

The variability of the wind was quite a major uncertainty for us. -Russell Coutts, CEO of Oracle Team USA

“Russell Coutts, CEO of defending champion Oracle Team USA, said it was a tough decision to eliminate Chicago.

“Despite Chicago’s nickname, ‘the variability of the wind was quite a major uncertainty for us,’ Coutts told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday from his home in New Zealand.

“Chicago will be offered the chance to host a stop on the America’s Cup World Series, a set of warmup regattas that will begin next year.”

Read the AP’s full story.