Much has been said about the passing of Ted Turner, but as you will come to expect, Rule 69 always provides a unique look at topics in our sport. This one from contributing writer, Brian Hancock. Enjoy.
The Mouth of the South has gone way south, as into to Davy Jones’s Locker. The great blustery Ted Turner has moved on either down where all great sailors end up, or to the big garden in the sky. You never know until you go.
In so many ways he changed not only how we view the news, but sailing as well.
We used to think of our sport as a place for gentlemen to play. Indeed for much of the last 100 years people thought that sailing was for the rich only, those that had enough fun cash to buy a boat and join a yacht club, but then came Ted. Okay, he was rich, but he lent an edge to sailing like no one had before, and no one has since.
Let’s start with the big one. He won the 1977 America’s Cup. Stick that in your back pocket. Courageous was not the fastest boat, but Ted knew how to make it work. That’s when he got coined Captain Courageous. Later changed to Captain Outrageous because of the press conference after they had won when he was pissed as a coot and may have spouted off a bit. Shocking, we know…
Then in 1979 he won that disastrous Fastnet Race aboard his boat Tenacious. That was the one where 22 people died. He also won the Sydney Hobart Race. He also married Jane Fonda and say what you want about her, I have always been Fonda Jane, and still am. Watch Grace and Frankie.
I can’t really comment on how he changed the world of news TV, but he changed the world of 24/7 television news coverage and it doesn’t matter which side that you are on, Ted made it better for all of us.
I did sail with Ted once, in Sardinia, and since you’re asking, Jacque Cousteau came along. Ted had given him some money to build a really innovative boat and Jacques, a little guy then but also one of my heroes was there, and for me, as a small kid from inland Africa it was an extraordinary experience,
Rest in peace Ted Turner. You have earned your space in the sky. Title inspiration thanks to the best song ever from The Beastie Boys.
