Americas cup sailing

[emptysea]

I'd have to go back 30+ years in the memory bank, but I believe it was the Aussies that were first to play a little more loose with the Deed of Gift than the Yanks. The winged keel that they used to win the Cup should have been banned as non-conforming to the 12M class. It was a loophole in the class rules that allowed it in, if I recall. I'm perfectly willing to be corrected on the facts, but my opinion that the winged keel should not have been allowed will remain my opinion. Interestingly, though, it was this controversy and the Aussie victory that brought the America's Cup competition into public. I thoroughly enjoyed watching those races and the challenge races that lead up to them. We even had a challenger from Lake Michigan The Heart of America Challenge. The skipper was Buddy Melges a small boat builder and racer who allegedly said he sails best with a hangover because his head only stops pounding when the boat is in perfect trim. (I feel that way about motorcycling, by the way)

[Chuckk_imp]

sorry to say, I am more of a power boater.. my lithium-ion 100 amp hour battery wouldn't push my kayak quite as far as New Zealand, I'm afraid.. still pondering the thought of installing that trailer hitch to my saddle bag brackets.. I have CF numbers for the kayak because of it having a motor.. I guess that I could add a license plate to it and call it a camping trailer or something .. heh heh ..
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[Henrik_imp]

Interesting to see a number of other members of this forum that also have a strong interest in sailing. As I am responding here, obviously I do too.

One small comment though: the boats in this new edition are no longer catamarans. They are these insane single hull boats with foils. I have watched a number of videos of the various boats training so far, and I find these simply mind-boggling!!

[Cormanus]

They are quite extraordinary, Henrik. There's a website for the cup [url=https://www.americascup.com/en/live]here where you can watch the race live or catch highlights. They go nearly as fast as a CB1100, but the new-fangled course seems to be a race up and and down with the only objective speed. It's amazing, but I'm not sure it's as interesting as an old-fashioned tacking duel. Still and all, I found it very hard to stop watching them.

I remember the final America's Cup race in 1983. It occurred in the early hours of the morning Australian time. When Liberty was a long, long way ahead, I fell asleep only to be woken by a phone call from a friend to make sure I was watching the Australia II win the race. Ben Lexen, who designed the winged keel, would be amazed by these new monohull, foiled boats that can travel at better than 40 knots in seemingly little breeze.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Yeah, that is amazing Henrik. The closest I have come to that was sailing on the Sea of Cortez for over a week in a catamaran. Sadly, in the end when we docked in Guaymas, Mexico there wasn't a CB1100 in sight anywhere.

[Charlie Bravo_imp]

I've been sailing for almost as long as I've been riding, 45 yrs, and still love it, but, sadly, had to sell my last boat. Couldn't justify the expense/use ration. Here's a pic of my last boat.

[Scotty_imp]

Was just out sailing last weekend!