Americas Cup 37: Mystic Lost

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Photo: NZPA / Stuff.co.nz

Last cup cycle we published twice the Sail GP lift off chart vs the light wind performance of the new Cup foiling mono, along with simple verifiable facts that the F50s could actually race in light winds, you can have a proper regatta with actually driving moving vessel through the water in floating mode.

Ahh why I dared to wrote that, Blasphemy! I was killed for that post: “Do a little research before taking on the AC” was one of the comments, and several others diminishing the simple fact that the new Americas Cup design can only go forward (literally) in perfect +8-10 to 18? knots conditions.

What all missed to see at the time that our description on what all were seeing tried to address that you cannot have an Americas Cup design with such short range of operation.

Yesterday I told on of my friends here in Arg how I enjoyed Prada-NZ in 2000s (I only Surf & Windsurfing at the time) or the news of Conner in the 80s as a teenager, or how exciting was the 2007 Final Alinghi vs NZ, one of the most thrilling regatta finish ever done in light winds but with actually moving yachts! (See video above)

So its not a Multi vs Mono thing, its about having a proper design that can race in a wider range of conditions.

Now after Vilanova AC40 suddenly we have the establishment and monohulls hardcore fans alike questioning this design which was put in place only to please Prada – Bertelli: “See Patrizio, they are not Multis” ….

For me the AC can be raced in TP52s! 12mts or any other Yacht that can actually Sail.

AC40 & AC75 are such Weapons indeed, but having great boats that can only race in perfect conditions is not suitable for Sailing major most important event that relies on such dynamic climate forces… or lack of them.

Solution next Cup: Spread the wind range operation or go IMOCAs style?

They said Catamarans were a joke cause supposedly couldn’t Match Race, to end watching this foiling monos that cannot actually sail…

Hey don’t get on me again, only decided to write this down after reading comments SA and articles in Scuttlebutt, the hardcore traditional camps that cannot be accused of Multhull blind fanaticism, read:

SA Forums: The Alchemist

The_Alchemist said:

These races are a classic example of what you get with this design of a boat.

Decent winds gives decent sailing, just do not fall off of the foils (one mistake and you are done!).

Light winds and it is a joke that insults the America’s Cup.

We did not see it this race, but heavy winds or high sea state and the boat can crash and end your race.

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Sailing Scuttlebutt

https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2023/09/18/sorry-this-is-now-going-too-far/

Bill Canfield:
Something is wrong with the America’s Cup concept when the most exciting part of the race is when they fall off the foils. What did we learn from the first America’s Cup event?

1.Sailing can be boring to watch, but when you add light wind foiling to the mix, it gets really boring.
2. In light air, being behind is advantageous.
3. When you can only see two heads, it looks more like model boat racing than a real event.
4. When the action is stopped for lack of breeze, you probably should not show live exciting action from past events in 12s and 70 footers. It is confusing to the non-sailor and they may question the wisdom of moving to foiling boats that feature just heads.
5. What does spending millions of dollars on just the tips of foils really achieve unless conditions are perfect which seldomly occurs.
6. How and why would one take the world’s most premier and historical sporting event and throw away the positives, traditions, and all things that once contributed to its heritage and historic value?
7. In 1987 Fremantle, three million viewers got up in the middle of the night to watch the action. We can safely say that will not happen again with these non-sailing hulls.
8. SailGP has a much better product than the America’s Cup and they continuously make their events better with innovating ideas.