The Larry Cup

What would you do if you wanted to amp up the drama surrounding the America’s Cup? More lawsuits? Reality TV shows from each team’s compound? 

Or how about another regatta entirely?

Rumor has it that Larry Ellison is starting his own world sailing circuit, according to a story from the Register. "According to yachting commentator Rob Mundle, Ellison is planning a world series with events held across the world. In a report on his website based on what he described as ‘reliable sources’, Mundle said teams from the USA, Sweden, Japan and France are now ‘committed to the event.’"

The Register did not specify what type of boats would be used, but Ellison’s penchant for multihulls is well-known.

Muddle reported that the prize of the event would be provided by Louis Vuitton, which had been the namesake of the Challenger Series since 1983, and a longtime sponsor of the America’s Cup (the new Challenger Regatta will reportedly be called the ‘Prada Cup’).

Bay Area software magnate and multi-gazillionaire Ellison has not been especially popular with San Francisco sailors since 2013, when his Oracle Team USA staged one of the most dramatic comebacks in sports history, and won the hearts of even the most recalcitrant Cup fans. But after that stunning victory, Ellison decided to move the Cup to Bermuda — a move that was seen as largely financial.

But others (Including some of our readers) blame the City of San Francisco for not fully supporting and ultimately capitalizing on the event.  

So if the ‘Larry Cup’ came to San Francisco, would you go see it? We’d like to know.

EDITORS NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED