{"id":477,"date":"2012-07-02T13:59:50","date_gmt":"2012-07-02T13:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=477"},"modified":"2012-07-03T10:55:57","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T10:55:57","slug":"newport-and-the-americas-cup-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=477","title":{"rendered":"Newport and the America’s Cup Trials"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday I visited Newport with a friend and had a great time watching the trials for the America’s Cup. \u00a0These boats are not the same ones that will race for the cup itself as they are around 45′ long and the cup boats will be over 70′ long. \u00a0Don’t ask me why they will dump these boats and go to longer ones. \u00a0It’s too complicated to keep track of these guys and all their rule changes.<\/p>\n

Back to Newport. \u00a0I have to say that they have done a terrific job of making the cup a more compelling spectator sport with this new venue. \u00a0They have been staging “trials” in a number of locations world wide with the current races in Newport over several days. \u00a0 The course is a very short one, perhaps a mile long and a half mile wide with the entire course within easy viewing of shore. \u00a0To see these boats shoot by at some 20kts is really a sight to behold. \u00a0Some lament the demise of the old style monohull but to me, the cup races are a lot more exciting now. \u00a0And, if you are lucky, you might even see one capsize as happened on the first day of racing. \u00a0Call this the water equivalent of NASCAR racing perhaps.<\/p>\n

The first thing that we saw as we headed over to Fort Adams, the viewing area, from the Newport Yacht Club was the boats on moorings getting ready. \u00a0They are really high tech machines. \u00a0I expect that the tenders themselves cost more than Pandora, my SAGA 43. \u00a0 The boats, especially the American boats from Oracle, look even more “nasty” in black carbon fiber.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There was plenty to look at with sponsors all around. \u00a0One of the major sponsors is Red Bull energy drink. \u00a0Very appropriate given the frenetic nature of sailing these boats. \u00a0Nice vehicle.\"\"<\/a>Plenty of potential consumers to see the displays. \u00a0In spite of so many folks crammed together, it was easy to get a spot with a good view.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>Once on the course these boats really show their stuff. Hulls flying in a very modest breeze. \u00a0 This boat is from France. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>Prada looks great as one would expect. \u00a0Very stylish but not as sleek as Oracle in her black paint. \"\"<\/a>While most of the races were match, meaning two boats racing at a given time, the final race of the day was a fleet race. \u00a0What a mob scene, with all the boats starting at once. \u00a0And to make it more exciting for the crowd, the start had them all headed directly for the crowd and tacking just off the breakwater. \u00a0What a great sight. \u00a0Amazingly, they didn’t hit each other.\"\"<\/a>After tacking so close they all headed off toward the first mark. \"\"<\/a>After the races the boats headed back to their moorings in the harbor. \u00a0I was struck by the contrast of the current boats verses one of the classic 12 meters that used to race for the Cup, in wood no less. \u00a0 Just a little different wouldn’t you say?\"\"<\/a>One thing for sure is that the current approach to the Cup will reach many more than past races that had become somewhat marginalized in most people’s minds I expect. \u00a0This video is an example of the “showmanship” that has become a part of this event. \u00a0A great approach for the “Youtube generation” in my mind.<\/p>\n