OK, I’ll admit it – I’ve been up the last couple mornings at zero-dark-thirty waiting for the 33rd edition of the America’s Cup challenge. It’s not being broadcast on TV, just on ESPN360.com, so here I sit, at 4AM, watching the race on my computer.
This America’s Cup challenge is unlike any other – Rules have been litigated for 2+ years in courts, and since this is just a challenge between two boats, there was no preceding Louis Vuitton Cup race. Best two out of three and it’s over!
But these boats are spectacular! With 90m sails (or wings), they’re larger than a Boeing 747! And it’s precisely that size makes them so fragile – Twice the race couldn’t be started because the waves were too high and could have jeopardized the boats. They’re gorgeous pieces of composite materials and engineering design, but like a butterfly, ineffective in high wind conditions.
The first race is now (finally) underway, and even though the USA 17 boat was squeezed at the start, it has now passed Alinghi 5 (at high speed) and is clearly the faster boat. This isn’t a race any longer.
This is amazing. These boats are doing 20+ knots in 7 knot wind. They’re going three times faster (!) than the wind! But …
There’s a part of me that would prefer to see two normal sized, mono-hull boats race. I’d prefer to see men hoisting sails instead of electric motors and gears. And I really wish they could race in most water conditions, not have to wait for specific wave heights. And most of all, I wish the race were closer.
But still, amazing! Simply amazing!
