Yes the nationalism in the America's Cup is mostly limited to the guy writing the checks. Back in the days of Nat Herreshoff's defenders the skipper was a Scot named Charlie Barr with a crew of crack Squarehead sailors in their white dungarees, conspicuous in their lack of Red Bull advertising. Yumpin yimminy, Barr's sailing master was needed to translate the commands to the crew!

I'm also enthusiastic about this upcoming America's Cup, the new boats are marvels. I envy you guys in SF. My only fear is that the racing, though very fast and most challenging, will be so dominated by one of the designs that a repeat the drag races of the 2010 America's Cup will occur.

Here's a nice article about the different AC 72 designs.

http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Americ...of-2013/105594