Winners of America’s Cup e-Series in ‘Gamer vs. Sailor’ Race
by America’s Cup, 2 Oct 08:52 PDT
2 October 2024
America’s Cup e-Series champions compete in ‘Gamer vs. Sailor’ Race © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
The America’s Cup e-Series concluded today with a pioneering event blending the virtual and real realms of sailing. The top two racers from the inaugural e-Series championship, eSailingCentral (Liam Dimock, 14, New Zealand) and Booshify (Robbie Wooldridge, 19, New Zealand), faced the NYYC American Magic Women’s Team in the unique “Gamer to Sailor” race held in Barcelona’s waters.
This journey initiated weeks ago with the start of the America’s Cup e-Series, the first esports league dedicated to this prestigious sailing competition.
Numerous virtual sailors from across the globe competed in rigorous online qualifying rounds, leading to an exhilarating Grand Final where eSailingCentral claimed victory, and Booshify finished impressively in second place.
However, the rivalry wasn’t over. To showcase the realism of the AC Sailing game and the adaptable skills of virtual sailors, the two leading e-Series competitors underwent an intensive three-day training session.
With expert coaching from Emirates Team New Zealand, they received thorough safety orientations, practiced in state-of-the-art simulators, and observed real AC40 racing firsthand, gaining insights from seasoned sailors.
Ultimately, they boarded the high-performance AC40 yachts to apply their virtual training under the careful supervision of their coaches.
“It was astonishing how quickly Liam and Robbie adjusted to the real AC40,” stated Dan Bernasconi, Emirates Team New Zealand’s Technical Director. “Their grasp of the boat and tactical awareness was remarkable, reflecting the skills they cultivated through the e-Series and AC Sailing.”
Today marked the peak of their training as they tested their new abilities against the skilled NYYC American Magic Women’s Team in an exciting exhibition race.
The race began tightly, with the e-Series champions displaying their new skills by taking an early lead and winning the first lap. However, the second lap saw the gamers losing their foils, prompting the NYYC American Magic Women’s Team to capitalize on this and ultimately win the “Gamer to Sailor” race.
“Racing an AC40 has been an experience I could never have envisioned. The speed, the power, the sensation of the wind—it’s been truly unbelievable,” remarked e-Series champion Liam Dimock.
“The simulator prepared me well for the tactical elements, but nothing compares to the actual experience. A huge thanks to the AC Sailing developers and the America’s Cup for turning this dream into reality.”
“This was the vision from the very beginning,” stated Grant Dalton, CEO of the America’s Cup Event. “We aimed to create a game so authentic and immersive that the skills gained in the virtual space would seamlessly transfer to the water. The ‘Gamer to Sailor’ race exemplifies the power of technology and the enthusiasm of a new generation of sailors.”
The ‘Gamer to Sailor’ race represents a significant achievement in the evolution of sailing, illustrating how esports can inspire and engage a burgeoning generation of sailors and fans.
The America’s Cup e-Series has not only highlighted the thrill of virtual racing but has also paved the way for gamers to experience the excitement of real-world competition, proving that skills acquired in the digital arena can translate to success in real life.
Download the game on Steam, or learn more at www.acsailing.com
