hen viewing for the first time the CGI video depicting the range
of articulation in the foils for the various modes of sailing, one
might think Optimus Prime would be an appropriate name for the
vessel, given its resemblance to a Transformer robot – er, well,
transforming. Comparisons to a lizard on hot sand have also been
made, as well as comments to the effect that it looks like it might
crawl up the beach and lay its eggs.
There have been cries of ‘that’s not sailing’ and ‘we wanted proper yachts’, with an
underlying sentiment that Grant Dalton has come up short in his promise to return
to a form that’s ‘more recognisable’ to the majority of sailors.
These views you can give a bit of credence. But the problem is you can’t put the
foiling genie back in the bottle. It’s out – and it is faster than displacement sailing. So
Dalts has an obligation to the future of sailing technology as much as the past.
Just as the internal combustion engine spelled the end of the horse-drawn era for
general transportation, yacht racing in displacement sailing mode will ultimately be
relegated to history other than for a few who seek to indulge in nostalgia. Horse and
cart is a quaint way to get around a city as a tourist, but my car is faster. Period.
So, the debate shifts to whether there is a tangible difference between the foiling
AC50 cats and the AC75s, and whether the cats should have been retained given the
investment and experience gained. Once foil-borne, the hull is somewhat irrelevant in
this discussion, other than to provide a platform for crew work, sail handling and to
support the rig.W
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THE AMERICA’S CUP
ETNZ’s concept design for the 2021 AC75 has elicited
responses ranging from applause to derision. Mind you,
the extremes of the spectrum are both peppered with
expletives, so they share some common ground.