This afternoon, the Americas’ Cup will return to New York. Well, not the cup itself, and the races aren’t for the cup either. They are qualifying races for the big races next year. But they will be raced on super-fast AC45 … Continue reading
Tag Archives: America’s Cup
In early May, America’s Cup racing will return to New York City for the first time since 1920. The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series regatta, one of a series of warm-up races sailed in AC 45s, 45′ foiling catamarans, … Continue reading
Last Friday, the US District Court in San Francisco issued a warrant to seize Oracle Team USA’s prototype America’s Cup foiling multihull sail boat, in response to a lien filed by New Zealand sailor Joe Spooner, whose contract was terminated in … Continue reading
Unless I am mistaken, when the Oracle Team US AC 72 sailed to victory in 2013, there was only one American citizen in the crew. The members of Emirates Team New Zealand, which needed the sponsorship of Emirates Airlines to … Continue reading
A short video reminder of how quickly things can change. One Australia’s AUS-35 boat was racing in the Louis Vuitton qualifying matches in the America’s Cup of March 1995, when it suddenly broke in half and sank, in less than two minutes … Continue reading
For anyone in the New York Area I will be speaking at the New York Shiplore and Model-makers Club on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM on the “AC72 and the Evolution of the America’s Cup.” The AC72 catamarans which raced in … Continue reading
The comeback by Oracle Team USA has been nothing short of amazing. Oracle appeared to be facing certain defeat, with only one more win needed by Emirates Team New Zealand to clinch the Cup. Nevertheless, Oracle came back with eight … Continue reading
Oracle Team USA has come screaming back from what appeared to be an impossible deficit, winning the last 7 races. In total races, they have now won 10 to the Kiwi’s 8. Only the two race penalty assessed for past … Continue reading
After looking like they were in an impossibly deep hole, Oracle Team USA has come charging back. Only last Wednesday, Emirates Team New Zealand was on the verge of winning the America’s Cup. They had won 8 of the 9 … Continue reading
In brisk winds on Saturday, Emirates Team New Zealand’s hopes of winning the America’s Cup nearly came to an end when they came perilously close to capsizing during a tack in Race 8 of the Americas’ Cup races in San … Continue reading
The Emirates Team New Zealand challengers continue their winning streak against the defending Oracle Team USA, winning races 6 and 7. The Kiwis need only three more races to win the best of nine series to win the America’s Cup. … Continue reading
An amazing short video on the art and science of sailing the America’s Cup AC 72s on hydrofoils. When “foiling” these boats have been exceeding 40 knots. Hydrofoils: Flying on Water See also: ABOUT THE AC72: A NEW-AGE SPEEDSTER … Continue reading
In the first two races of the Louis Vuitton finals to determine which challenger will compete against the Team Oracle for the America’s Cup, both races were determined by which boat didn’t break before crossing the finish line. In race one, Emirates Team … Continue reading
In 1955, Ted Hood founded Hood Sailmakers at the back of Maddie’s Bar in Marblehead. Hood Sailmakers would grow to be a premier sail maker in the 1960s and 1970s. Hood was also a boatbuilder, designer and sailor. In … Continue reading
I have a distinct recollection a photo of Thomas Lipton on one of his Americas Cup challengers sipping a cup of the tea on which his fortune was based. I can’t find the photograph, so perhaps I shouldn’t trust my memory. … Continue reading
The 72 foot long catamarans that will be competing for the America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013 are both breathtakingly beautiful and slightly terrifying. Powered by a towering wing sail and well capable of sailing at the twice the speed of the … Continue reading
Back in the old days, the America’s Cup was sailed in 12 Meter yachts in the often misty light air of Rhode Island Sound. It was a competition more suited to still photography than video. How times have changed. Now elimination matches are being sailed in … Continue reading
When I was coming of age, many thought that the future of speed on the water would be in motor-powered hydrofoils. While there are still a few hydrofoil ferries in operation, the idea really never caught on. Now, however, hydrofoils have appeared … Continue reading
Alan Olson, a Sausalito boat builder and founder of the educational sailing nonprofit Call of the Sea, has some ambitious plans. He wants to build a new 140-foot wood long brigantine to be used as a sail training ship for … Continue reading
The old days before Facebook or even the internet, the America’s Cup races were sailed on stately 12 meters in the light air of summer off Newport, Rhode Island. The most exciting thing I ever saw a twelve meter do … Continue reading