The real questions that need answering at the America's Cup

I want to know...how many pieces of chewing gum does it take to win the America's Cup?

Anyone noticed how much gum these guys are chewing - especially one certain New Zealand trimmer and also, I notice today for the first time, Brad Butterworth aboard Alinghi.

When I was a kid we were always told to never chew gum while playing sport for fear of choking on it... (mmm, let's hope Dalts doesn't pat Louie on the back too hard, too soon).

How many pieces do they chew in a race, or do they hang on with the same piece of gum the entire race (yuck)....?

What brand do they chew - and importantly, what flavor....? (These guys need to be thinking future sponsorship/endorsement opportunities....perhaps the pack poking out of the shirt pocket, tucked behind the ear, maybe someone could invent a little gum carrier pocket to wear on the arm of sunglasses...).

What do they do with their used gum? Does Louie have a little (big!) pile stuck under the lip of the side of the boat near his winch...could that possibly be providing extra bondage making the boat just that little bit stronger in heavy air....

These are the questions that should be being answered. Forget questions at press conferences about tactics, crew work, nationality, weather...."what's up with the gum?!"