Sail-World Mailbag- Will the Cat cut the Mustard?

by Sail-World Readers on 25 Jan 2011
Sail-World readers comment on the recent commentary piece on the AC45 and use of catamarans in the 34th America's Cup .

We have produced their comments below:

(NB We will only publish letters where the writer is identified, unless there is a a very good reason to maintain confidentiality. )

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Sender: Miguel C Campoamor

Message: Hi Richard,

Thank you very much for the very interesting information about AC45 capabilities, and I agree almost 100 x 100 with your very clever opinions. But, I have serious doubts about the match racing capabilities of the multihulls. Of course, it is possible to do match race tactics in multihulls, but it is not the same than in monohulls: more speed that means less time to think; less tacking manoeuvrability that means less cover capability and less tacking duels, and, of course, almost impossible to do false tacks (what kind of match race is this without false tacks?). Match race is the chess of the sailing and, like in chess, you need time to think (ok, except in blitz-chess, but this is an exception in chess). And, in my opinion, America?s Cup is essentially match race. I love multihulls but not for match race, and less for a close match race. How close will be two fast & furious cats? The same than in the 33rd AC? (dog-zilla against kitty cat-alin-ghi) A little bit more? A little bit less? It seems that AC45 is more manoeuvrable than the rest of catamarans ever known until now, but this characteristic probably will drop dramatically in the heavier and wider AC72 cat-zilla.

Best Regards,

Miguel C. Campoamor (former catamaran sailor)


Related News Item: Gladwell's Line: Will the cat cut the mustard at the America's Cup?

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=79477

Message sent from : Europe Racing

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Sender: Nolan Richards

Message: Great perspectives on all aspects.
I have been to several AC's and agree that high tech, slower monohulls may bring out the best tactical and sailing ability in teams.
And why not sail the AC in these -all-the same-AC 45's.. they exceed the 44 ft and are a heck of a lot cheaper to campaigning!


Related News Item: Gladwell's Line: Will the cat cut the mustard at the America's Cup?

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=79477

Message sent from : US Racing

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Sender: Alan Griffith

Message: An excellent story. I have been sceptical of the use of multihulls for the AC but following your article and logic I will take more interest.

Well done.

Related News Item: Gladwell's Line: Will the cat cut the mustard at the America's Cup?

Link to News: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=79477

Message sent from : Australia Racing

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