America's Cup Virtual Traveler
I only wish that I had set aside a couple of weeks to visit San Francisco this year, as the current America’s Cup Sailboat Race has become quite an exciting event. Thanks to Lottie Kendall of San Carlos, CA for some updates of what’s happening on the bay in this very exciting series.
For those lucky enough to be close, it’s been an action packed summer series on the bay with the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, followed by the Louis Vuitton Cup (for the right to be the challenger to the current holder of the America’s Cup) and the finals of the America’s Cup itself which is coming to a conclusion in the next day or so.
My thanks go out to Lottie for some excellent links and updates as to what’s been happening in the Bay this summer and through her blogs I am virtually present (the TV coverage helps as well) for the races.
Oracle Team USA is paired up against Emirates Team New Zealand racing amazingly high tech catamarans (called AC72) that often sail at 3 times the speed of the wind on hydrofoils when the wind permits. This is not your old fashioned slow sailing as these boats often exceed 50 mph.
For those unfamiliar with the America’s Cup, this is the first time since 1995 that the US has defended the cup having won the 33rd America’s Cup from Italy back in 2010. The America’s Cup has been contested since 1851 making it the oldest contest in modern sports. The United States held the Cup for 132 years defending the cup successfully from 1970 through 1980. Australia ended the streak in 1983 when it won the cup.
Unlike the old days when large single hulled boats traveled slowly and races took many hours, today’s races are fast and exciting.
Thanks again, Lottie, for allowing me to virtually be present on beautiful San Francisco Bay.
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