by "HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
Published 05/18/2017 at 23:03
by "HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
Published 05/18/2017 at 23:03
Tags: Americas Cup
STARS: 3
Look, I don’t really like racing and and I don’t like the cost of top tier sporting events and I don’t even like the idea of sailing all that much...but the America’s cup is an amazing spectator event and I’m super excited we are only 8 days away. I’m gunning for Oracle Team USA, of course, as the defenders as well as the “home” team (the skippers and crews are hardly ever native to their yachts flag) but I can’t wait to see if New Zealand can clinch it with their new skipper
The old skipper, the man who lost by a nose to Oracle in 2013, was told to sit this out out on account of his age. He said nuts to that and will be heading up a new Japanese team...could be interesting.
There is also a true knight (Sir Ben Ansle) representing his country as well as a French team I don’t really care about. The swedes (above) are back with a familiar skipper with much experience under their belt and by far the best looking boat.
The racing is intense, even live and I recommend you check it out. You can watch it live on the site, on the app or on NBC. It really is good tv. WOO!
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
05/18/2017 at 23:13, STARS: 0
Those hydrofoil cats are just crazy - adds a whole new level of skill to the game over the traditional yachts, (even if they had super secret winged keels, etc, etc.)
"61hp" (61hp)
05/18/2017 at 23:18, STARS: 1
Thanks for the reminder! We were fortunate to catch of some of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2013 while roadtripping to Car Week. The AC boats are mesmerizing to watch in person, but I was surprised by how great they were to watch on TV as well.
Much more entertaining and engaging then I remember when my dad used to make me watch back in Dennis Connors years.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
05/18/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 3
seriously, the speeds they go and their agility coupled with their size and mass make it an extremely exciting thing to watch. Watching New Zealand in particular is going to be interesting since they took away the hyraulic hand “grinders” and replaced them with bikes. yup, bike like mad, try to avoid being thrown off at 30+ knots and then hope off and run to the other side to start over.
Its like watching the Tour De France if it took place in a hurricane and the road could decide to literally toss you off at random.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/19/2017 at 01:04, STARS: 0
I don’t follow this much, but I always thought this was just an insane picture. Is it fair that only 1/3 of the boat is actually in the water?
And what about when NONE of the boat is in the water?
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
05/19/2017 at 01:20, STARS: 1
That old trimeran was nutty for its size and wing power but the new foiling cats are straight insanity.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/19/2017 at 01:23, STARS: 0
Is there still a class for traditional yachts? I remember many years ago when Australia had a super secret keel that everybody was convinced was illegal.
"Roundbadge" (Roundbadge)
05/19/2017 at 08:56, STARS: 1
This is the kind of sailing I can watch. You’ve convinced me.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
05/19/2017 at 09:05, STARS: 0
Not anymore but I don’t miss them
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
05/19/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Ugg, I hate the America’s Cup. As someone who has grown up racing sailboats and match racing, these boats suck. Sure it is really cool to see them go fast, but this isn’t match racing anymore. There isn’t anymore strategy. They just go bang the corners and go fast. They isn’t the fighting and real sailing match racing is supposed to have. This is like taking top formula dragsters and racing them at a track. Sure they will be really fast in a straight line, but they will make as few turns as possible.
This is real match racing (also a very prestigious match race done thorough my yacht club):
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Below is the map from SF
These multihulls ar so fast and direct they can almost make the the course without tacking. It is just boring and to me it has lost all of its charm a prestige. It is a race only in name now and that breaks my heart.
This was the and will remain the proper way to do the America’s Cup
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