I am not a racer, but many, many years ago I did a bit on the Bay. I have sailed multihulls though, and if you haven't, I can tell you they are a creature of a different ilk.
So, imagine if you will, somebody has designed a couple of 72' cats that can go upwards of 40 knots. No really, try to imagine it.
Now somehow, these cats are racing in a race of international repute, let's say, the America's Cup. I know it's a stretch, but come on, get with the program here.
As they come up to the start, these two boats fight for position at the leeward mark. But these boats aren't monohulls and this normal bit of jockeying for a race start is less effective with these unconventional craft, especially at 10 to 20 knots.
Why wouldn't an intelligent skipper run his boat all the way up to the windward side of the start box, completely ignoring the other boat messing about at the leeward mark, get his boat up on the foils, yes, someone actually figured out how to foil these hypothetical cats, and run down to the start at 40 knots or more, blowing by the other boat dawdling at the leeward end of the start at a piddly 20 knots, and be in control of the race from the start.
Now as mentioned above, I am not a racer, and haven't been in nearly half a century, but just exactly is wrong with my scenario, seriously.
It seems to me all these guys sailing these AC 72's are still stuck in the monohull frame of mind. They keep playing the game as it has been played since the schooner America took the first cup race.
I would like to hear from you guys that race every week, especially the winners, and hear how your game would change, if you had an AC 72 to skipper.
So, imagine if you will, somebody has designed a couple of 72' cats that can go upwards of 40 knots. No really, try to imagine it.
Now somehow, these cats are racing in a race of international repute, let's say, the America's Cup. I know it's a stretch, but come on, get with the program here.
As they come up to the start, these two boats fight for position at the leeward mark. But these boats aren't monohulls and this normal bit of jockeying for a race start is less effective with these unconventional craft, especially at 10 to 20 knots.
Why wouldn't an intelligent skipper run his boat all the way up to the windward side of the start box, completely ignoring the other boat messing about at the leeward mark, get his boat up on the foils, yes, someone actually figured out how to foil these hypothetical cats, and run down to the start at 40 knots or more, blowing by the other boat dawdling at the leeward end of the start at a piddly 20 knots, and be in control of the race from the start.
Now as mentioned above, I am not a racer, and haven't been in nearly half a century, but just exactly is wrong with my scenario, seriously.
It seems to me all these guys sailing these AC 72's are still stuck in the monohull frame of mind. They keep playing the game as it has been played since the schooner America took the first cup race.
I would like to hear from you guys that race every week, especially the winners, and hear how your game would change, if you had an AC 72 to skipper.