The 35th America's Cup

[IXXI_carrera]

Happening this year in Bermuda beginning in May.

Doubt it'll be as exciting as the last series when Oracle came from way behind to beat the Kiwi's.

Simply amazing technology - less sailing, more flying.

Video: Flying or Sailing? | Sailing World

I'm not much of a sailor, but do enjoy watching the America's Cup.

[Buckterrier]

Yes it really is amazing technology. I watched it for quite a few years when I was a 'sailer', (I sailed a Melonseed). Hadn't seen it again until last year when I saw them fly. Simply wow.

[pwd72s]

I miss the old "lead bottomed money gobblers".

[tevake]

This series should really be fun to watch. The technology has been further developed.
And the crews have had a chance to get more familure with sailing these amazing machines.
You could see the progress in boat handling thru the last races. They were learning to complete jibes while staying foil bourn during that series. It will be fun to see how they have progressed in the mean time. Maybe tacking on foil?

Surely they will have worked on the foils to get rid of the speed robbing hum by now.

To me not only is the on water action fantastic, but also the breakout developments in design and use of materials is great to watch.

Pwd72s, what exactly is it that you miss about the lead sleds ?

Cheers Richard

[IXXI_carrera]

Richard,

I suspect they will be tacking on foil. Crazy speed on these machines. Approaching 55 mph and that was the previous generation. Likely even faster now.

Hope the TV coverage is good.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by tevake

This series should really be fun to watch. The technology has been further developed.


Pwd72s, what exactly is it that you miss about the lead sleds ?

Cheers Richard

The tradition of it all, I suppose. And the beauty of the monohulls.

[hcoles]

The max. speed with the smaller boats compared to the 72's will probably be lower. Depending on the wind I suspect the winning boats will foil for most of the race. I love how spinnakers are no longer needed because the apparent wind is pulled well forward of the beam in almost all situations. The "new" boats make the racing more interesting. No longer, they that win the start, win the race.

[tevake]

Yep the adhearence to tradition has stagnated the sport for years and still does in many ways. The tactics of close quarters sailing in the conventional boats was interesting at times to watch.
This new breed of craft offer so much more of interest, well to me anyway.

IXXI. You are spot on about the coverage. Seeing the course in the graphics they used last time really helped in the viewer being able to understand what was playing out on the water. What will they have come up with now😃?

I haven't sailed in the waters around Bermuda, but think it may offer some picturesque
Backdrop to the action.

Fingers crossed that we get to see the challenger series leading up to the actual cup races.

Cheers Richard

[Scott Douglas]

I agree Richard.
The graphics involved with the coverage from SF Bay were really fantastic and having been up there numerous times it was easy to relate to what was being shown. Let's hope the coverage is just as good if not better.
(This from someone who gets seasick standing on a dock.)

[Dantilla]

I paid no attention to America's Cup Racing until my sister married an engineer who's specialty is computational fluid dynamics.
He has done design work an a few America's Cup racers. Getting a bit more inside scoop has been fascinating.

As far as new technology, it makes it far more interesting to me, since I'm not paying the bills.

I like racing my (well-set-up) ITS-class 944 with the SCCA because the cars are all near identical, so it's driver v. driver instead of who can toss more cubic dollars at the car each year.

To participate, I like spec classes.
To watch, let the technology lead the way.

[hcoles]

I agree, the new graphics show the relative position when the tacks are split. This keeps your attention during the coverage - no longer need to wait for mark roundings to easily see who is ahead. The eight race winning streak was a significant achievement for sports in general. So many things can and do go wrong to cause a race loss.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Yes it really is amazing technology. I watched it for quite a few years when I was a 'sailer', (I sailed a Melonseed). Hadn't seen it again until last year when I saw them fly. Simply wow.

Same here! I was an avid windsurfer / Hobie C / Albacore sailor back in the heydays.... but I hadn't tuned into an America's Cup in some 20 years..until last year...HOLLY FKEN COW! I was just amazed at seeing those low flying aircraft skimming along the ocean surface near SF! I'll definitely watch the AC again this year!

[M.D. Holloway]

The romance left Americas Cup when it left Newport.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

The romance left Americas Cup when it left Newport.

Some truth to that...

[hcoles]

Holly cow is right.
The power generated is impressive as the boats round the weather mark and bear off accelerating to ~50mph, the sheets popping on the winches - very exciting.

[drcoastline]

Just found out the wife booked a the last week of The Loius Vitton Challenger series.