ACWS foils into the Big Apple—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 6 May 2016 This weekend brings two important events together for North American sailors, namely Mother’s Day and the America’s Cup World Series’ (ACWS) New York regatta (May 7 and 8), which will unfurl on the waters off of the Hudson River. So, for sailors with moms who live near the Big Apple and who appreciate world-class sailboat racing, this weekend’s racing could be the perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day in style.

For the rest of us, however, it’s tough to ignore the commercial nature of both of these events. While there’s no question that it’s important to celebrate and honor our mothers, my own mom has been known to refer to both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as “Hallmark Holidays” on more than one occasion, her tongue-in-cheek reference to the gift-card manufacturer tinged both with irony and accuracy, especially when one considers how many gift cards, postage stamps and boxes of chocolate are purchased this time of year.

As for the America’s Cup World Series, it’s free to watch the racing from myriad vantage points around the racetrack, but for anyone who doesn’t live a subway ride away, the viewing landscape becomes more complicated. Cable TV subscribers can watch the racing on the NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Live Extra, and on the NBC Network, but-according to the event’s website-live streaming on the app will not be available to U.S. fans.

Canadians are luckier, as they can watch the racing on their mobile devices (for a fee, of course), sans the need for a cable TV plan.

While the ACWS is playing up the fact that this regatta will be the first time that Cup racing has graced New York City waters in 96 years, Oracle Team USA-the Defender of the 35th America’s Cup-apparently does not feel the gravity of this history, at least not enough to load their boat with American sailors. A glance at the U.S. team’s line-up for the New York event reveals a single U.S. sailor (Matt Cassidy) amongst a crew of five other Australian sailors. (N.B., to be fair, Tom Slingsby is a dual U.S. and Australian citizen.)

Racing commences Saturday, so stay tuned to the website for news from this historic event, as it unfurls.

Speaking of fast boats headed to the Big Apple, the Transat bakerly fleet started its Transatlantic run on May 2 in Plymouth, UK, with 21 singlehanders now headed for New York aboard a variety of yachts that stretch from modest Class 40s all the way up to the mighty “Ultime” class of maxi-sized multi-hulls. The fleet is making good progress, albeit with some retirements due to collisions and broken equipment.

Also on the East Coast-and eventually New York City bound-are Alex Thomson and his Alex Thomson Racing Team, who are currently in Newport, Rhode Island, preparing Thomson’s jet-black IMOCA 60 “Hugo Boss” for the upcoming Ocean Masters New York to Vendee Transatlantic Race, which starts on May 29. Don’t miss the team’s multi-media report, inside.

Lastly, the Clipper Round The World Race fleet is also bound for the Big Apple, however the 12 teams that are competing aboard identical, Tony Castro-designed 70-footers still have a lot of Pacific Ocean miles-as well as a transit of the Panama Canal-to send before reaching the North Atlantic.

As for Mother’s Day, there’s still time to FedEx a (Hallmark) card and perhaps order flowers for rush delivery. As for Oracle Team USA’s crew for this weekend, let’s just say that there will likely be some disappointed Oracle mothers who won’t get to watch their American sons compete on American waters…not to mention disappointed American fans who otherwise would have been excited to support their team and to wave the Stars and Stripes.

May the four winds blow you safely home,