Here is a fascinating short video on the AC75 foiling monohulls preparing to race in the 36th America’s Cup to be held in March 2021 in Aukland, New Zealand. Described as “monohulls on steroids”, the boats are amazing feats of engineering from the twin-skinned wing sails to the canting foils and just about everything in between.
Old Salt Blog
a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea , hosted by nautical novelist Rick Spilman
Top speed in MPH about 57+ MPH.
I’ll stick to racing on the ground.
From 2019, New Zealand news
How fast can Team New Zealand’s AC75 go? Grant Dalton explains the new boat’s design
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/other/fast-can-team-new-zealands-ac75-go-grant-dalton-explains-boats-design
The point of sailing is to enjoy the journey, not to arrive before you’ve left. 🙂
I’m puzzled by why grinding is still done by arms when legs are much better suited for that work, particularly for these craft.
Also, given that the aerodynamics of standing (stooping, ouch) grinders are a challenge, prone grinders working with legs possibly would help with that problem as well.
It’s a notable fact that we don’t see competitors in the Tour de France driving their bicycles with their legs. There’s a good reason for that.
Everything else is done according to rational principles. I guess I must be missing some nuance.
Oops. Meant to say “driving their bicycles with their arms.” An error that maybe indicates how backward is the choice to use wispy arms when more powerful and more enduring legs are available?
If I had the money and still wanted to be out on the open sea. It would be in a catanaran. Sailing is for the love of getting there. Tho it also means not having a boat heel over from a stiff wind.
To Jean,
Sailboats are too much work, no time to enjoy sailing. I’ll take a powerboat and only use a sail as an emergency.
Fuel is cheaper on a sailboat. Tho there was a catamaran on the youtube channel Sailing LaVagabonde that was completely solar. I think the owner was from Greece. It was a episode when Rile was soloing in the mediteranean.
Mono-hulls on hydrofoils are no different from multi-hulls on hydrofoils other than width. If not enough wind to “foil” then they are different. Well, capsizing is also different.
Looks like about 6kts minimum wind speed to race without much debate. Upper limits seems to create some debate.
I like the new technology and speed but I also love the mono-hull chess-like competition.
F1 vs. grand prix racing.
Looking forward to America’s Cup.