Update
Clockwise from top left: the first tubercles appear for this Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing leaving a regular foil on the opposite side to provide a control reference – the ability to carry mismatched foils is a great time-saver in a very time-hungry class; once again Team NZ puts it out there, though earlier than in the previous cycle, jumping straight into minimalist, thin and near-straight foils, harder to manage but it worked for them in the previous two Cups due to superior control systems and, dare we say it, maybe better sailing; Ineos did not persist for long with their lonely experiment with a complex W-foil – did they drop it to hide it (fast) or because it was slow (see 2021); American Magic are heading straight for the Team NZ approach while simultaneously smashing it on sex appeal…
and Ineos could stay in Cagliari and Palma respectively, but that seems unlikely.] We should soon get a look at all the teams’ latest ideas in the real world in Barcelona for the next four months, aside from the time spent in Jeddah for the preliminary regatta in October. Of course that’s another topic altogether. In 1992 it did not take long for the IACC yachts to evolve from
beamy to narrow. Right now it does not appear that the AC75s have settled into a single design space. As always in the AC, these are interesting times.
CupExperience.com
GREAT PEOPLE – Terry Hutchinson The month has seen the passing of the legendary Buddy Melges aka ‘the Wizard of Zenda’. I never had the opportunity to really spend the time to get to know Buddy – however, his influence has been felt through the sport. The evolution of scow sailing, the Melges 24 and now the Melges 15 all share Buddy’s genius. Not to mention back-to-back Star world titles, new to the class and with his own fresh take on sail designs. But looking at Buddy’s amazing career of world championships and Olympic medals I would say from this sailor’s lens if I had to pick one achievement it would be winning the America’s Cup at 62 years old helming America3
to victory. A
feather in an already full cap! When one contemplates the influence of a legend like Buddy
Melges, I get drawn to others who have had a monumental impact on our sport: the Harken brothers, Terry Kohler/Tom Whidden, Geoff Stagg and Farr International, and the Johnstone brothers, Rodney (designer) and Bob (marketing), to name a few. Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to race my
J/70 with family and friends. As one looks around the racetrack it is truly amazing to see the impact of the Johnstones. On the racecourse during a Wednesday night there are consistently
16 SEAHORSE
25 J/105s out for a one-design start. The rest of the fleets are sprinkled with J/122s, J/121s, J/80s and the occasional J/70. Switch to Thursday night and more J/Boats feature. J/22, J/24, J/70 and J/80s again, all out for an evening of great one-design racing. And running it all is the race committee working from their MJM powerboat. Bob Johnstone again, of course. Consider for a moment the J/24. A friend at home in Annapolis
was discussing a birthday celebration. As I listened I could not figure out whose birthday was being celebrated? I finally asked who is turning 40? The group laughed and disclosed the party was for their J/24! The thought of it makes me cry tears of laughter. Epically funny and yet a great reminder that the sailing and racing we do locally is a meaningful piece of our lives in a sport we all love. I am not sure I ever want to race J/24s again as my J/70 fills
the racing buzz when not ripping around on a foiling monohull. But the impact of these real legends on our sport is and will continue to be felt for decades to come. It also highlights the responsibility of the current generation to keep pushing initiatives forward. The fear always is ideas and concepts that are designed to ‘promote our sport’ are sometimes driven by disingenuous motives. One thing for sure sailors and leaders like Buddy were the real
deal and his vision will be missed. It carries on through the family and as a recent American Magic hire you can see in his grandson Harry Melges IV another great sailor developing, humbled and focused. Sail on Buddy, thank you for all that you did for our sport!
THE GAUCHO’S COMEBACK – Carlos Pich Before turning on the recorder new Gladiator helmsman Guillermo Parada explained to me that his return to the TP52 Super Series is a challenge. ‘Let’s remember that last year this team finished last, with more than double the points of winners Quantum. Now the challenge is to see how far we can climb at the end of the season.
IMAGES MUSTIL/FONALL A/CARABI/ROVIRA/TODD
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