Sail GP Cowes
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:23 pm
The SailGP event scheduled for 14 to 15 August at Cowes is still being advertised, presumably the organisers are hoping that the current restrictions will have been relaxed by then. If the event does go ahead, then, given suitable weather, it should be spectacular. I noticed that if you wish to watch this event from your own boat you need to register your boat by 1st May, so I have just done that, even though I have no more idea than anyone else when we might be allowed to make journeys for the purpose of going boating.
The sailGP events are sailed with the F50 hydrofoil catamarans which are derived from the craft used for the previous America's Cup races (AC35) but now built to a standard design for 'one design' racing, unlike the America's cup which has always been restricted class racing. The F50s are claimed to be the fastest racing sailboats in the world, a claim which may well be justified since speeds just above 50knots have been measured. Sailrocket is of course faster but is hardly a racing sailboat and if you think sail boat racing means two or more boats racing on open water then windsurfers and kitesurfers sailing on an artificial 'speed canal' don't count either. Mind you, the actual speeds of the new AC75 hydrofoil monohulls are at present known only to the competing teams although speeds just over 50knots have been mentioned - how they will compare with the F50 is an interesting question. If I had to guess I suspect they would be a bit slower - they dont have multiple element wingsails, just a jib, they dont have 'hard' wingsails and they don't have computer controlled 'flight control systems'. Wonder what others here think?
The sailGP events are sailed with the F50 hydrofoil catamarans which are derived from the craft used for the previous America's Cup races (AC35) but now built to a standard design for 'one design' racing, unlike the America's cup which has always been restricted class racing. The F50s are claimed to be the fastest racing sailboats in the world, a claim which may well be justified since speeds just above 50knots have been measured. Sailrocket is of course faster but is hardly a racing sailboat and if you think sail boat racing means two or more boats racing on open water then windsurfers and kitesurfers sailing on an artificial 'speed canal' don't count either. Mind you, the actual speeds of the new AC75 hydrofoil monohulls are at present known only to the competing teams although speeds just over 50knots have been mentioned - how they will compare with the F50 is an interesting question. If I had to guess I suspect they would be a bit slower - they dont have multiple element wingsails, just a jib, they dont have 'hard' wingsails and they don't have computer controlled 'flight control systems'. Wonder what others here think?