Are Americans interested in the America's Cup?

[LSA]

I'm not a sailor by any stretch of the imagination however I do grind a winch every once in a while when I go race with my buddies. We went up and watched the first two races.

Absolutely crazy all tied up, one of said buddies predicted an NZ sweep how wrong he was. 55mph top speed so far, that's freaking bonkers. After 18 races it's good to see the boats are still in one piece. Part of me just wants to see an epic collision, carbon flying everywhere.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

As a sailing nut and nail biting America's Cup fan, I am amazed just how many people could care less about this amazing event. ]

Go back to using actual boats with sails, and I'll have a huge interest again.

[Sunroof]

Lake Lanier just miles north of Atlanta, GA. Army Corps impoundment and Atlanta's drinking water source thats dam controlled. Heavy rains keeping lake at full pool, but the Corps can lower anythime they need to.

Home to the Worlds largest inland floating marina, one of Catalina 22's largest fleet (mine is a Catalina 30), considered the "most popular lake in the USA". A stunner to see huge boats here (45+ foot sailboats, 50+ foot powerboats, huge house boat community, etc, etc).

What the hell, for the Atlanta boater its all we got unless you want to take the 4 hour drive to the coast!!

_/)

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

The Cup is no longer about sailing, it's about technology and throwing money into the wind.

It's fun to watch but the rest of the world will never experience it. It's like polo. You can watch but don't touch!

You need to read a little more about the history of the cup. It's always been out technology and politics much more than actual sailing. From the days of Sir Thomas Lipton to Baron Von Bic - it's always been about throwing vast sums of money to feed billionaire's egos. From the old money at the New York Yacht Club to now I'm a bigger dick than you -Larry Ellison.

While the 72 Cats are not as beautiful as the 12M yachts - they have made for some really exciting sailing - and the speeds - OMG - 98% of the population would be terrified doing 50mph on the water in a speedboat ~ can't even imagine doing on a sailboat in 20 knots of breeze.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

It's fun to watch but the rest of the world will never experience it.

Same for just about any professional sport. How many folks will ever get to play football, baseball, hockey, tennis, golf, etc. at the pro level? Sure, most of us can do these sports, but we'll never get a shot at the pros. Same for sailing. Many people can sail their dingy around the lake on a summer afternoon, but only a very few will ever get to the big show. And as for this being just a rich guys pi$$ing contest...who do you think owns all those pro sport franchises that we all love so much? Rich guys...that's who. If it weren't for people of means indulging their passions, there wouldn't be any professional sports.

On another note, I wonder what it feels like when those cats come up out of the water and onto the foils? Is it like that instant when a plane's wheels leave the runway during take-off? The acceleration at the point of lift-off must be quite amazing for something so large. The boat starts rising up...the sound of water dragging along the hull drops away...the ride smooths out and you're flying! Yowza!!
Hard to imagine what a rush it must be for the crew to be skating along on the foils at 50mph, nearly 10 feet off the water.

[Sunroof]

As I mentioned earlier, if you want to get a feel for the old 12 meter yachts, go to Newport, RI and you can hop aboard and sail around the bay for the experience. If you want to go back further in time to the age of wood you can head over to the Herreshoff museum in Bristol, RI to see a few.

The days of wood and sail are sadly past and now its carbon fiber, foils and huge wings, but we did see a few boats at the Newport Boat show last weekend that were no less than gorgeous.................take a look.

[gatotom]

JeremyD, you are right on, America's Cup is a game for the super rich, it is nice to see them push the envelope of development on sailboats, well if you can call cats sailboats, they do float and they do have sails.

When I get our sailboat up to max speed, we truly are flying, I could not imagine 50 mph on the water, it would be insane, kinda like taking your Porsche up to 150 mph.

If anyone wants to see real monohulls battle it out, the Volvo Ocean Race is the ticket, speeds are not as high but 30 mph is not slow around the world plus the weather is not so controlled as the AC.

Sunroof, more pics of the Newport show.

[dyusem]

Off to the Bay...good luck NZ!!!

America's Cup » Final preview: Barker vs. Spithill for winner-take-all race at 1315

Welcome to Day 19 and Race 19 of the 34th America’s Cup. Defender ORACLE TEAM USA and Challenger Emirates Team New Zealand square off in one winner-take-all race for the 162-year-old trophy. The scheduled start time is 1315.

RELATED STORY: ORACLE TEAM USA, Emirates Team New Zealand in winner-take-all race for 34th America’s Cup

Skippers Jimmy Spithill and Dean Barker have been in similar positions before. Spithill became the youngest skipper to win the America’s Cup in 2010 when he was just 30 years old, and Barker was just 27 years old when he skippered the fifth and deciding race of the 2000 America’s Cup. Barker, however, lost the 2003 and 2007 Cups as skipper of Team New Zealand.

The stakes today are quite possibly higher than any match race the two have contested against each other. Only twice before in the history of the America’s Cup has there been a winner-take-all race. In 1920 the defender Resolute defeated challenger Shamrock IV to win the match 3-2. In 1983 challenger Australia II defeated defender Liberty to win the match 4-3 (coincidentally, the 30-year anniversary of that win is tomorrow, Sept. 26).

Whoever wins today’s race will go down in the history books along with perhaps the most historic match of all time: The 34th America’s Cup is the longest match in the history of the event at 19 days; four of the races rank in the top 10 for all-time closest finishes; the America’s Cup outright speed record of 47.57 knots (55 mph or 80 feet/second) was set by Emirates Team New Zealand.

Unfortunately for the Kiwis, that speed record wasn’t set upwind. That point of sail is now the domain of ORACLE TEAM USA, and it may well prove the difference in this America’s Cup. ORACLE TEAM USA’s AC72 looks most unbeatable when it’s foiling upwind, and that was the difference maker in yesterday’s second race. The Kiwis led by 7 seconds around the leeward gate, but moments later was overtaken by the defender, which closed in at 30 knots on its hydrofoils and took the lead away.

“That was the first time that we recognized there was a condition where maybe we aren’t as strong as we need to be,” said Barker. “It’s tough. We’re doing all we can, the guys never gave up, but clearly the Oracle guys were going well in that stuff.”

ORACLE TEAM USA deserves props for fighting back from off the mat. Emirates Team New Zealand deserves props for setting the standard by which to be measured. Whoever wins today’s race will be a worthy champion in America’s Cup annals.

34th America’s Cup Standings (first to 9 points wins)

ORACLE TEAM USA – 8 (10 wins; ORACLE TEAM USA was penalized its first two victories by the International Jury)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 8

34th America’s Cup Race by Race
Race 1 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :36
Race 2 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :52
Race 3 (Sep. 8): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :28
Race 4 (Sep. 8): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :08*
Race 5 (Sep. 10): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:05
Race 6 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :46
Race 7 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:06
Race 8 (Sep. 14): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :52*
Race 9 (Sep. 15): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :47
Race 10 (Sep. 15): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :16
Race 11 (Sep. 18): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :15
Race 12 (Sep. 19): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :31
Race 13 (Sep. 20): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by 1:24
Race 14 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :23
Race 15 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :37
Race 16 (Sep. 23): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :33
Race 17 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :33
Race 18 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :54
(* ORACLE TEAM USA’s first two victories didn’t count towards is scoreline as part of a penalty issued by the International Jury.)

[nota]

starting soon

[Gooch1971]

TV coverage just began on the NBC Sports network.

[strupgolf]

I'd like to watch it but cant find in on any station. It is awesome to see them.

[tevake]

^^ the program guide here fails to list the coverage time. But it is on the same channel that covers F1. Hope that helps you find it. you just have to flip on the channel to see that they are indeed covering it.

here it is on NBCSNHD

Cheers Richard

[strupgolf]

Thanks. Looks like usa is leading. Im taping it now, wow nice race and great boats. Thanks for the heads up on the channel.

[tevake]

Man, what a boat speed advantage to Oracle, even with a big mistake in the crucial first leg they have just roiled over Team New Zealand on sheer boat speed.

This show what a team sport we are seeing! big props to the work of the shore crews of team Oracle for finding this new level of speed for their team. this has completely turned things around!

Cheers Richard

[Bill Douglas]

Congratulations on a good win.

[Gooch1971]

Those boats could bring on a whole new level of sea sickness.

[romad]

couldn't read the whole post but the answer is NO.

[Neilk]

I have gone 30+ MPH on a windsurf and that feels like you are flying. I can't imagine hitting 50mph. It was amazing to see them do a down wind jibe (is that the term) and just accelerate like an F1 car. Just amazing to watch.

I hope they keep the cats but make the races longer. It seems like if you make one mistake, there is no way to catch up in these short races. Maybe they should do some endurance races that last 2 hours that earn double points.

[tevake]

Thanks Bill for demonstrating the great sportsmanship that is one of the fine qualities of the people of New Zealand1

This is surly a tough loss for the Kiwi people and sailing community. How ever to me the genuine in house effort of a national team, Kiwi designers, Kiwi builders, Kiwi team and sailors truly represent the best spirit of America's Cup racing. And gains my strongest admiration and respect! Even with lots of your country's talent sucked away to big $s of the opposing teams, New Zealand fielded the team to beat right up to the very end of this multi year event. Congratulations on a spectacular national effort.

Got to point out that San Fransisco did turn out to be a great venue for this type of racing and event! And these amazing 21st century boats really brought us a new level of sailing performance and exciting racing! I hope it is decided to bring them back for the next A C event. It would be great to see them developed further and raced over the next years till the next big show.

Big congratulations to Team Oracle for an amazing turn around and very exciting victory!

Cheers Richard

[Scott Douglas]

Now, can they 'shrink' the technology down to a 'trailer able' size boat for the masses?
That was quite a race.