|
|
|
Ted Turner reflects on his youth and sailing
14:03 p.m. EST Mar 31, 2004
And guess what? It has been colorized! 25 years ago, when yachts were made of aluminum and not the space-age materials used today, Ted Turner told America he was the sport sailor to watch and ESPN was airing on UHF bands at 3am in only three cities.
A quarter century later ESPN Classic, one of several ESPN spin-offs, will premiere 25 Years of Sailing. The one-hour program will cover 25 years of history in the sport of sailing, because as we all know sailing didn’t really start until Ted came onto the scene. Gary Jobson, the face of sailing on ESPN since 1986 and himself a member of the 1977 America's Cup-winning team, produced the program and serves as host.
The show will examine how the sport of sailing has seen dramatic technological advances, a host of larger-than-life personalities, historic races and shifts in dominance.
Some of the key historical events to be covered?
There will be the powerful frontal system over the Irish Sea during the1979 Fastnet Race, tragically taking 15 lives; the 1983 America's Cup Race 7, when Australia II defeated Liberty; the San Diego Yacht Club's successful defense of the cup in 1992 and its loss to New Zealand in 1995; and the victory in 2003 by Switzerland's Alinghi, piloted by the same core crew that led New Zealand to victory in 2000, among other important historical events.
Additionally the show will attempt to clear up the history of Around-the-world racing; Sailing records; the disasters that have affected competitive sailing; Grand Prix racing and Polar sailing.
25 Years of Sailing, presented by Rolex will be re-aired at 9 p.m. PT on ESPN Classic
Image of sailboats in Maine ExWeb files
|
