America's Cup 2024

[Molehill]

Formula 1 on water is back and the preliminary races start today.

NZ automatically qualify for the Final as the holders and got to choose what style of boat would be raced (it really is a screwy system). GB (Ineos/Ainslie), USA, France, Italy and those well renowned Sailors from Switzerland the challengers. All takes place in Barcelona (not sure why) over the next 2 months and hopefully will be a bit more exciting than the Sailing at the Olympics.

NZ have chosen that weird style that includes cyclists on the boat (no idea how it works, just looks odd). Having had a quick scan of previous threads on this (2), it seems the Kiwi brethren on the board are unsurprisingly the most interested.

 

[social]

Very dull compared to the cats but maybe because it’s 1 v 1 rather than fleet sailing

If it stays like this then I won’t bother watching much

The cyclists provide the energy to run the hydraulics which trim the sails and control the foils

While held by the Kiwis, it’s being held in Barcelona because they paid the most to stage it & it’s in a better time zone for marketing

Gone are the days when the winner held it at their home club

 

[Molehill]

If the preliminary races are anything to go by, NZ will win again and GB will be one of the first eliminated.

 

[social]

Watched 5 races and all have been completely one sided so far with the boat which wins the start simply sailing off into the distance

Boats look spectacular but they’ll need more interesting racing to survive

No idea why they changed from cats as they produce good racing

 

[Burgey]

It's tremendous to see such a battler's sport getting a bit of attention.

 

[social]

It's tremendous to see such a battler's sport getting a bit of attention.

I mentioned that a friend’s daughter sailed for Australia at the Olympics

She’s in Barcelona as a member of Australia’s Youth America’s Cup team

Good on her as she’s an exceptional sailor but it’s basically a program funded by wealthy people and I’m not even sure of its purpose

 

[Burgey]

Hopefully she doesn't declare her allegiance to England now the Olympics are over like that turncoat, traitorous bastard of a cyclist.

 

[Victor Ian]

such a piece of **** event. it had one good moment when bob hawke said 'something something a bum' and then has been the pits ever after.

 

[Molehill]

Having looked like this would be a straight fight between NZ and Italy, tuns out that GB is the boat making massive improvements through the regatta and now seemingly a big threat to all.

The French are the first to be eliminated.

 

[Molehill]

GB beat Italy 7-4 in the Final qualifier so will take on NZ for the America's Cup. The first time a GB boat has made it this far for 60 years. With NZ not racing for about a month, remains to be seen if they start off a bit rusty. There seemed little between them in the initial qualifiers.

 

[social]

Pretty embarrassing really

NZ v England in Spain in boring boats with Aussie skippers

 

[Molehill]

Pretty embarrassing really

NZ v England in Spain in boring boats with Aussie skippers

Erm, Sir Ben Ainslie is no Aussie. The Italian boat had an Aussie skipper, but don't think there's one on the Kiwi boat either.

 

[Bahnz]

The foiling boats are cool and all, though it is kinda hard to see it as sailing. 5 guys on bikes below deck powering the hydraulics, and 1 guy monitoring wind shifts on his computer screen and steering.

Been undeniably fun watching the highlights in the mornings though.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

We're up 3-0. Good start

 

[Fuller Pilch]

such a piece of **** event. it had one good moment when bob hawke said 'something something a bum' and then has been the pits ever after.

Was brilliant in 95 with Peter Blake's red socks

 

[Molehill]

We're up 3-0. Good start

Only saw the 2nd race when it was close until GB ****ed up on one of the upwind legs. Sounds like yesterday's was done as soon as GB picked up an early penalty. Hard to see how they come back from this, seems like they're knackered from all the racing to qualify for the Final.

 

[Bahnz]

The right of the host nation to set the boat specifications and venue offers such an advantage. More time for your team of engineers to plan and design the ship and to think about how to match it to the strengths of your team. The only real advantage that the challengers used to have was the Louis Vuitton Cup giving them more time to learn the ins and outs of their vessels, but even that's gone now. Watching the first couple of races, it really seems like NZ just has a much quicker boat, and I kinda struggle to see Ineos winning more than 1 or 2 races, and more than likely none.

 

[social]

The right of the host nation to set the boat specifications and venue offers such an advantage. More time for your team of engineers to plan and design the ship and to think about how to match it to the strengths of your team. The only real advantage that the challengers used to have was the Louis Vuitton Cup giving them more time to learn the ins and outs of their vessels, but even that's gone now. Watching the first couple of races, it really seems like NZ just has a much quicker boat, and I kinda struggle to see Ineos winning more than 1 or 2 races, and more than likely none.

tbf, these are all brand new boats so everyone started from ground zero

 

[Molehill]

tbf, these are all brand new boats so everyone started from ground zero

Well not really. As mentioned before, NZ got to choose the design of the boat. They've been ahead of everyone else from the start. Not sure which country it was (France maybe) who were even using a boat made in NZ and had their trials delayed by the late delivery of it.

Ainslie had the better strategy off the start yesterday and nicked a few metres on NZ, but they were still behind by the end of the first leg, and there is just no option for overtaking it seems later on. The boat in the lead gets to choose the best paths and can block off the one behind if it does get close.

Hard to see how they get back into it. Final has turned into a damp squib, the best racing came much earlier in the competition.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Poms won 2 races overnight (their 1st wins in the America's Cup in 90 years). It is now 4-2. Game on.