Reflections on Big-Time, Little-Time Sailing

The Guardians-Indians had a fine season but it is over now. 

The Browns season is also probably over now. 

And the season for small boats at BYC may be over shortly as well. 

So.. let me share some observations on our sport of sailing, using the America's Cup (AC) as a reference of comparison. Full explanations for my evaluations may not all be included. 

- The technology of foiler AC boats is remarkable. I would not have thought that physics could allow the delta between wind and boat speed that actually happens. - Whether in traditional displacement hulls or modern foilers, match racing between just two boats is seldom so good as fleet sailing. 

- One design sailing is usually better than box design rule or handicap racing. - On the water third party rules judgements are not so good as the honor system. And the practice of `hunting’ for a rules infraction is crummy.-

If an AC boat drops off its foils, they just lost the race. 

- If the winds are light, AC boats do not race. Hey, light air sailing is a huge and good component of our racing sport. 

- Modern AC boats hit corners going to windward, and downwind, about 90% of the time so we see little to no tactics or strategies. 

- On modern AC boats the mainsail is never adjusted beyond 6-7 degrees off center, either up or down wind. 

- The current AC boats hardly ever heel over, so the observer has trouble identifying some of the variables that are accommodated for by the crew. 

- Grinders on current AC boats do not adjust sails, they generate electric current, which then power sail adjustments controlled with buttons and joy sticks. On TV, we see guys on stationary bicycles with readouts of how many watts they are making. They never look up at the sails. 

- No spinnakers on AC boats. More broadly, we see no sail handling on these AC boats. 

So, OK, the Americas Cup is by definition a match race with box design liberties. Me, I would prefer that the elimination races have all of those challengers race on the water at the same time. For this recent cup, that would mean five (5) boats on the water. I’ll bet that this elimination series would be more interesting, and would make for a greater build up, to the one on one match racing final against the defender. 

Technology aside. what we do with our boats is way more fun, and bang for the buck, than what

By: Godron MacDowell, Member, Berlin Yacht Club