Exploring our sport’s future

by Hans Buitelaar, Metstrade
Exhilarating sail races with impressive sportsmanship from competitors, like the recent Vendée Globe and the Americas Cup last fall, get increasing attention from the crowds. Organizers and sailors are looking to further upgrade the sport of regatta sailing. The adaptation of new technologies, guarding an arena where chances to win are equal so the racing will be exciting, marketing to attract large groups of spectators, online or on the quays, there are many aspects involved in hosting a successful regatta.

Leading figures in the sport of sail racing present different ideas about the future. First, they try to explore their lessons learnt. Looking back at the 37th AC, sailed in the fall of 2024, the obvious observation is that this is a designer’s race. Ever since the first race around the Isle of Wight in 1851, the challenge has been to design the yacht that will sail the course in the shortest time possible, within the boundaries of a rule that defines the parameters of the yachts.

The first winner, the schooner ‘America’ won because it was designed and built to be a faster ship. In early 20th century, the J-Class rules defined the dimensions of the competitor’s boats. The latest editions featured AC75 foiling boats at high speeds, designed within a box rule defined by the defender, Team Emirates New Zealand today. All of the box rules are tests for designers to draw the fastest possible boat within the design limitations.

Criticism sounds; if the boat’s sails and foil beams are powered by hydraulics and the force to operate these hydraulics is delivered by cyclists on board that are not involved in the actual trimming of the sails or steering the boat, is this still a sailing crew? Is it not better for competition to have crews sail in equal boats so there will be closer competition? Skipper Terry Hutchinson of American Magic, the challenger from New York Yacht Club, tells of his experience, “The cyclists on board present a great human story. They are on their pedals, but so much involved. They bring an energy to the team that you would not want to miss.”

Being as involved in Americas Cup sailing as he is, Hutchinson also nuances the notion of a ‘designers race’, “In the AC, the defender has the right to play the game on the water the way they want to play it, but always in a sportive way. The rule (Deed of Gift in AC terms) is defined and reviewed together with future challengers (sometimes in court). Yes, the development of the very fastest possible racing boat requires big budgets.

But the rule is intended to create a level playing field and race the race on the water. The rule is not composed to have a commercial competition or to hugely benefit the biggest budget. The designers may require money to materialize their vision; it is the crew that is going out there and race. Often, human strategy or human error is critical in the outcome of races, not technology.” – Full story