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I'd Rather Be Sailing...

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/26/2012 : 12:26:11

...but while I can't right now, I'm watching the AC World Series races on NBC--the match race final between the two Oracle boats, (Coutts won over Spithill in a back-and-forth squeaker), and now the fleet race. This is on SF Bay, with 15+ winds, SF Bay chop, boats doing 23-25 kts, and crews in firehose conditions... It reminds me of ripping across a Colorado mountain lake on a Hobie 16--a similar firehose!

One thing that jumps out: The captain and crews are doing a lot more yelling than we ever heard on the AC monohulls--things are happening so fast that there's no time for subtleties! One little mistake for a few seconds and you're 100 yards behind, or you've given up a 100 yard lead. Then there were the race boundary lines--touch them (or cross them) and you have to slow down until you give up two boat-lengths, all computed and communicated by computers.

Indy car racing on the water! You don't have to like it better than the "old" monohull versions, but you can't help but be amazed watching it! And I almost hate to say it, but I suspect monohull sailboats <i>and powerboats</i> will be historical artifacts before too long. Once you've sailed or motored on multihulls, you realize that the advantages are hard to argue against--except in aesthetic terms, which we could also say regarding modern sailboats against the beautiful but functionally obsolete designs of Herreshoff, S&S, et al.

Edit: Spithill (Oracle) wins the regatta overall with a last-second, 2nd-place finish in the crazy final fleet race.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now boatless for the first time since 1970 (on a Sunfish).

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/26/2012 12:51:13

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2012 : 12:56:18

NBC here shows nothing but people riding bikes around Key west, shirtless, in the rain as the Hurricane passes by. That and the small crowd outside Joe's Bar.

Paul

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Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2012 : 16:18:27

I used to faithfully follow AC back in the monohull days, just can't get into the hi tech multihulls. Times change and I'm getting old I guess. I still have a few video tapes from the 80's AC races that I ocassionally watch.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5429 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2012 : 19:47:09

Paul
Do you watch NBC on over the air DTV or on cable? At my house I've set up my DTV to use over the air or the cable box, but cable only carries ch 4.1 (NYC). If I want to watch alternate programming on 4.2 or 4.3, I have to use the over the air service. Most times the local channel will swap out coverage of different programs and live events as they see fit. Miami will telecast Key West hurricane shots on the main channel while Hartford or Providence in Dave's case will show AC.
Check your local listings for the the events you want. You may also find network programs on YouTube through the Search function. I've set up my BluRay player to route YouTube to my TV. I watched much of the less-popular Olympic coverage that way.
Moral of the story - TV will never be the same. And as Dave points out, neither will boating!
The only constant is change - keeps things interesting.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.