Completely Polarised
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 20 Oct 14:00 PDT
Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 7 – October 18, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
In the peculiar corners of my imagination, I started thinking about sunglasses. With a playful grin, too… They’re somewhat contradictory to the AC75. Don’t misunderstand, I cherish my polarized shades from Barz Optics. They may not see as much action these days as in the past, but they surely remain a key item in my kit bag for yacht trips or boat reviews, you can bet on that!
Apparently, our Managing Editor, Mark Jardine, feels the same way. So, before we weave a narrative as intricate as a busy US Freeway interchange, let’s get to the essentials.
The boat
The initial intention for this piece focused on the AC75 as a vessel. People reach out and say, ‘They’re just plain strange,’ or ‘They don’t resemble the ones we see on TV during the holidays,’ not to mention, ‘They aren’t yachts, and it’s not sailing.’
Fair enough, and taking flight in SFO in 2013 certainly ‘raised’ the objections against them. (Boom. Boom. Basil Brush…) And yes, we enthusiasts got into it early with covert shots from the Hauraki Gulf, but the average viewer had their first taste during AC34. Then, when cyclists appeared on the AC50 in 2017 for AC35, with backsides in the air, well, ‘normal’ had definitely departed by that point.
These modern versions of the AC75, with almost everyone concealed and ‘twin’ crews so no one crosses over during tacks and gybes—by the way, that would necessitate rolling under the foot of the deck-sweeping main if it were actually feasible—certainly make for fascinating viewing. Attempting to commentate and explain it all during recent radio interviews feels akin to the SEAL training one would need to perform those maneuvers under sail accurately and safely. Enough said…
In my discussion with Andy Claughton, which asked, “Look familiar?”, I remarked that these yachts remind me of slot cars. Claughton chuckled, as he appreciated the analogy. They glide around nearly flat until everything goes terribly wrong (which can happen quite swiftly), requiring speed on straights, and both diligence and courage in turns, where you are a hero until you become a complete zero.
Yes, being the Flight Controller aboard an AC75 is no simple task—very stressful and undoubtedly complicated with the speed of closures, wind shifts, and lay lines to account for all in quadruple time. Remarkable indeed. Then there are the G-forces to manage. One might find the image of a Flight Controller under the definition of GABO (Got A Bot On) in the Dictionary.
One thing is apparent: the technological advancements on display are both astonishing and captivating. Indeed, they operate within a narrow window, but so has every America’s Cup class that came before them. You definitely won’t see one of these competing at the Fastnet, or showing up for the Thursday Twilight at your local yacht club, though the latter would be incredibly exciting and certainly present a challenging situation for the Handicapper. I have no idea where you’d get an IRC certificate to compete in the former, either.
So, what’s the significance? They say you won’t witness much of this in ‘normal’ yachting. We’ve mentioned it before and will restate it now: the same could apply to F1 and WRC, but much of the technological magic developed in the top tiers is rarely visible, yet it works tirelessly across the entire spectrum—from that to your Korean shopping trolley. Quod erat demonstrandum… i.e. Flappy paddle me that Batman!
Now, you have to think laterally, but the Hydrogen chase boats give just one insight into where everything might lead, both in transportation and recreational boating, with the T-Foil taking center stage. The next generation of foiling powercats will undoubtedly feature retractable T-Foils rather than the current fixed versions that traverse the tunnel. Reduced drag and being partially or fully retractable will mean less fuel is needed to operate at either displacement or planning speeds. This is just one example of how the impacts will be experienced.
Still not convinced? Boil the kettle, if you will. Foil development time. Contemplate the next AC75s achieving speeds of 60 or even 75 knots off 13-21 knots TWS. Yes. I’d love to see that.
The event
I recalled how a well-credentialed observer remarked that it takes a decade to clinch a win, and INEOS has been working at it since 2012, so their time has arrived. Mark Jardine expressed the nation’s thoughts in his article “Should the British Start Dreaming?”
Regarding this discussion, the contrast was as sharp as it was intense. Some wanted a clean sweep by the Kiwis, while others desired a nail-biting finish. A score of 4-0 spoke volumes; 4-2 sparked memories like ‘dare to dream’ as certain tweaks bore fruit for the Brits; and then 6-2 could have just been one more, or a chance to come back—like we haven’t seen one of those before…
Ultimately, just one more outing was needed, and a 37-second margin was termed ‘textbook’ and ‘clinical’; however, the entire ETNZ campaign could be characterized that way. That’s not all that surprising when you consider the roster too. ‘Pace’ could be another descriptor…
However, the major takeaway from this is simply, way cool. A three-peat serves as the exclamation point attached to it all.
Both teams remarked they would be each other’s Challenger of Record, regardless of the outcome, so anticipate the Brits to sign up again. It’s still not back ‘home,’ and it’s been quite some time since that side of the pond held onto the Auld Mug. They posed a strong challenge for AC37 and will have plenty to build on moving ahead.
Kudos
I’m fairly certain it was KZ7 that took out the trimmers’ pits and situated everyone around the coaming (might have possibly been KZ5), and by the time we reached the AC class, everyone was crouched beneath it. Innovation has undoubtedly been a significant component of the Kiwi approach since they entered the competition at Fremantle.
Well done ETNZ. From hosting rights to TV coverage, to incorporating other events into the mix, and bringing in additional countries and teams by creating opportunities for them to be involved using AC40s that would have otherwise languished unused. Hear, hear.
Alright. There it is. There’s a wealth of additional information on the group’s websites for you. Just use the search field or ‘edition’ dropdown menu located at the top right of the masthead to explore. Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thank you for visiting Sail-World.com.
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor
