America's Cup
 

It's exciting. It's fast.... But it is NOT sailing.... and Mother Nature agrees!

As a lifelong sailor, I coukdnt agree more. Its not sailing. Bring back the 12 Meters
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I have no idea what language you two are speaking...

It’s like sailing, but faster.
Back when video cameras first came out, I was racing Lightnings.
They taped the marks and showed them at the party after the regatta.
What was intense for the crews looked like paint drying.
I can’t imagine coming around a mark at close to 50 knots, that’s over 50 mph.
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I guess it’s progress
More speed more efficient etc

Like catamarans more speen for the hp. But I don’t want one

How about they give each country x amount of white oak mahogany cedar etc
Build a boat not to exceed curtain dems like the 12m calculation

Then give em a compass and some yard for telltales

Then you’d find out who can sail

And/or make it a round robin
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I like the way you think.
The americas cup has been NASCAR’ized to hold peoples attention. I guess its also just pushinf the evolution of wind power but its just gone too far
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It is exhilarating and it is exciting and it is pushing the technical and the athletic envelope. But there is none of the majesty that existed with the 12 meter hulls.

The photo is a one in a million, though... Crazy! Flat open sea and it did not hit the carbon fiber mast.

Does that little part of the water where the lightning hits boil??????
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#^&#^&#^&#^& that. bring back the J's. :D
Let's see Shamrock V racing around again

Actually, I agree. Going back to a one-design model like the 12's would be fun. The new stuff is cool to watch a race or two, but it isnt the same.

Absolutely. I have smelled it from inside the doorway of a boatyard building when lightning struck in the harbor. Newport in 1978, I think. Smells almost like a clam bake before the clams and lobsters put in... It all happened so fast, so loud... The flash, and the immediate thunder. The smell is all that lingered.

Grew up racing tournabouts, them mercurys, then crewed for a friend in his 110 and then in my junior year saved enough mowing lawns and other odd jobs to buy my own 110. Even to this day i have vivid memories of racing in what was a small fleet out of scituate and cohasset, but the 6-8 boats were competitive as all h*ll. Racing in the Quincy Bay summer regatta was always a hoot, matching skill and swaping stories with other 110ers from all over the country. Give me a warm summer evening with a steady 15-20 and I would be out after dark sailing the coast, hiked out on my trapeze. Even bought a second boat after college because i just loved that one design. Nothing like getting knocked down in a strong gusty 25 with all sails and spinnaker flying. Timing to spill some air becomes super critical and an adrenaline rush.

I really miss sailing, probably the best food for your soul, being carried on the wind on a dark star filled night. One such night i was out during the perseids meter shower super cool.

Other than wind surfing I know nothing about sailing. I do know the year the America's cup was in Newport and my brother had a house there was one of the best summers of my life.😀
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Sir Thomas Lipton, the NYYC's most beloved loser. They even gave him a participation trophy after his fifth loss. :laughs:

Between the cost of a J, and the size of the crew they needed, I imagine that even those well heeled sports would balk at the expense.

This was the beginning of the end. But it is as good as any representation of what purists like me see what sailing vessels should be in the America's Cup. I go back to Nefertiti (from here in Marblehead), Intrepid, and Courageous days... This is of the 12 meter Stars and Stripes.

Gleam is my favorite.
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:soon:The fact that Connor made that series competitive, given the huge technological advantage that the Aussies had, really speaks volumes as to how good he was.

That’s a pretty rig for sure.

But I do miss seeing shamrock v and endevour racing around the bay.
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