First AC race

[jlavery]

Why would that be a good thing? And what would be “proper boats”? Gaff rigged schooners? Seawanhaka rule gaff sloops? Foiling cats?
And bear in mind all the competitors and most of the target audience will be massively younger than the average age of this forum’s participants.

Good point - where do we stop?

 

[jlavery]

Why would that be a good thing? And what would be “proper boats”? Gaff rigged schooners? Seawanhaka rule gaff sloops? Foiling cats?
And bear in mind all the competitors and most of the target audience will be massively younger than the average age of this forum’s participants.

Good point - where do we stop with the retrograde move? Onward and upward! But with a RC which acknowledges that sometimes conditions aren't suitable.

 

[Wansworth]

Well I think that would be a good move. But less of a "spectacle" for people who don't know much about yacht racing.

But so much more elegant,some good close up filming from inflatables.Our móndennos day obsession with speed is just. Money spinner

 

[Wansworth]

But so much more elegant,some good close up filming from inflatables.Our móndennos day obsession with speed is just. Money spinner

The public need educating or is the lowest common denominator a non sailing family out for a day at the beach.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I would love to see the AC reverting back to 'proper' boats, but have to accept that the AC has always been innovative and the latest competitors do provide some spectacular imagery and excitement which hopefully will broaden the interest of those who have never considered watching yacht racing as a sport.
Perhaps there is a case for a second AC restricted to 'proper' boats, but whether it could compete for funding sufficient to operate against the spectacle provided by these latest entrants, especially from the media which has finally seen a broadcast-able watersport, is doubtful.

 

[dunedin]

I would love to see the AC reverting back to 'proper' boats, but have to accept that the AC has always been innovative and the latest competitors do provide some spectacular imagery and excitement which hopefully will broaden the interest of those who have never considered watching yacht racing as a sport.
Perhaps there is a case for a second AC restricted to 'proper' boats, but whether it could compete for funding sufficient to operate against the spectacle provided by these latest entrants, especially from the media which has finally seen a broadcast-able watersport, is doubtful.

Again what is “proper” ? I am sure the over 70s at the time objected to the move from gaff rigged schooners to things like the new fangled J Class.
The foiling genie is not going back into the bottle, so the only real questions are whether the current monohulls with swinging weight foil craft are better than foiling multihulls as used in SailGB, or whether something better than both.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Again what is “proper” ? I am sure the over 70s at the time objected to the move from gaff rigged schooners to things like the new fangled J Class.
The foiling genie is not going back into the bottle, so the only real questions are whether the current monohulls with swinging weight foil craft are better than foiling multihulls as used in SailGB, or whether something better than both.

I was using the term 'proper' as shorthand for boats where the hulls stay in the water (the sort of boat that most of us on the forum muck about in) but I agree the genie is out of the bottle and accept that visually these 'foils' provide an element of spectacle to yacht racing that might in the long run provide televised coverage similar to that of F1.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

The AC yachts have pushed technology, which eventually reaches cruising boats. Long may it last.
I love the spectacle of the AC these days and when the wind gets up, the tactics come into play and make the up and down nature of the course irrelevant.
Definitely a good watch on TV with the moving lines and tactic analysis. I love the raw power these boats have when going full chat.