America’s Cup 2021: Calls Are Growing Among Experts To Get Rid Of Frustrated Mega-Ships

A growing number of leaders in the sailing world are calling for the America’s Cup to ditch its current foiled boats and return to a more traditional form.

The last three America’s Cup competitions have been contested by foil boats, which has increased the pace and cost of racing. Some sailing experts believe that these have been long enough experiments and a return to more traditional boats will provide a better show and quality of competition.

New York Yacht Club Commodore Chris Culver told the Sailing World website last month that if the American Magic won this year’s Cup “it would put the ship back in the water.”

“It will be between 80 and 100 feet long. It will be a displacement monohull that is good for traditional racing. You need to be able to see the boats from a distance, and the boats have to be majestic.”

Culver’s view has now been backed up by Italian sailing legend Riccardo Bonadeo, who told La Stampa’s website on Tuesday that the frustrated boats were taking the sport too far from his definitions.

“There must be a technological evolution, but in the boats that sail. I share the idea of ​​the New York Yacht Club of new hulls of 80-100 displacement for the next edition,” said Bonadeo.

“With the AC75 we have entered another dimension, where aerodynamics are more important than hydrodynamics.

“In fact, we are talking about flight, not navigation. And the marine skills of the crew are no longer improved, but other characteristics of the latter are required.”

Bonadeo, a former Commodore of the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club and president of the Azzurra campaigns in 1983 and 1987, also echoed the views of his patron of those campaigns, Cino Ricci.

“I don’t see the sails changing, I don’t see the men moving together on board to carry out the intuitions of the strategist and the helmsman,” Ricci told La Stampa in a separate interview last week.

“Anyway, I don’t see the art of sailing. Which for me means taking advantage of the wind according to its variations and the sails I have available ”.

Culver reinforced his opinion on frustrating the idea that the AC75 boats and their extreme cost (the Team INEOS campaign is reported to have cost more than NZ $ 220 million) has eliminated the sport’s national competitiveness.

“The America’s Cup must address national and national pride.

“We want to see more challengers, and this will happen if we make the Cup more economically viable. If you reduce the time it takes to design the ship and campaign, the costs will be lower.”

However, not everyone in the sailing world supports the return of the Cup to a more traditional form.

The New Zealand team is a clear supporter of the AC75 and Luna Rossa’s helmsman Francesco Bruni has been outspoken in his support of the class.

“Three years ago I was skeptical about the new class. I thought to myself, too many computer simulations and little navigation, but now that we have them and we are sailing, well, I must say that it is a very successful boat, a good project, “Bruni told the Fare Vela website in December.

“They are incredible racing objects, which also surprise us and give us great sensations. Especially upwind, when we hit 35-36 knots with VMG close to 30, we are in awe.

“I have to say that I would like them to remain an America’s Cup class regardless of who wins the Cup. A really good item.”

Opinions are worth little at this point, however, as only the America’s Cup holder can choose the rules of their match. For now, those voices will be forced to join a chorus of support on the shores and in front of televisions and screens as the Prada Cup and America’s Cup unfold in the coming months.

Enjoy a smooth sailing to the Cup with Auckland Transport

• Avoid traffic congestion and parking problems and download the AT Mobile app to plan your bus, train or ferry trip to race venues before you leave home.

• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It’s the best way to get to the Cup

• For more ways to enjoy race day, visit at.govt.nz/americascup