Paul Cayard


Winner takes all


I don’t know the America’s Cup like I used to. I have not been involved for 10 years. Now I am a spectator, just like most of you... Fortunately there are now several commentators who are very well informed, spend lots of time analysing the performance differences and the why. While I am impressed by the technical evolu-


tion of these watercraft, I am not that interested in the Cup any more. However, I did watch most of the races this year and, since I spent 30 years in the Cup, I suppose I could share my thoughts and observations of the 37th. Also, it’s now or never because it will be three years before there is another one. My observations in no particular order:


1. Amazing how fast you forget about the competitors once they are eliminated. The only good thing about losing in the final (and I did this twice) is that you are the last boat on the racecourse… in the game longer than anyone, even the winner. 2. Impressive how much the starting game evolved over the two months of the latest event. All teams went from the one-manoeuvre prestart (for the port tack entrant), to two or three circles by the end. Was this just the helmsmen getting confident, or the output of the cyclors being able to keep up with the demand of that many manoeuvres in two minutes? 3. The cyclors have no profile. Luckily they have names. I had no idea if one team of cyclors was beating the other team of cyclors… putting out more watts than the other team. Certainly not that I could see.


32 SEAHORSE


4. The evolution of Ineos was impressive. It looked as if they had the right size of foils but did not know how to use them at the outset. Once they got sorted their ultimate top speed was better than the other challengers. 5. I thought the prestart penalty on Ineos in Race 3 was a bad call. In dialling down at 60kt closing speed ETNZ were relying on their own, and Ineos’s, rudder not washing out. If either of them had lost rudder control there might have been deaths. It was certainly a very aggressive move by ETNZ. Ineos responded as best they could to ETNZ’s constant course change, and both managed to keep clear. I don’t see a penalty on Ineos there. 6. I believe this time ETNZ and Ineos had slightly larger-area foils than the others but thinner sections. This allowed a higher top-end speed but probably made them very critical for the flight controller. 7. Impressive how small the rudders were in chord length and how easily they stall. Knowing where the edge is and how to re-attach flow if you go over the edge is critical. It seemed ETNZ was the best in this regard as well. 8. The evolution in onboard communications is impressive. Very professional across the teams. 9. The number of equipment breakdowns for Prada Pirelli was surprising and significant to their results. Bruni is my favourite sailor. There is something extra impressive about a guy speaking so precisely and calmly in a language that’s not his own. 10. Amazing how hard it was for a well-established team like Alinghi to come back into the game. That should serve as a warning to any dreamers.


VAN DER BORCH


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