America's Cup

[amolitor]

I'm a sailor, I race sailboats, and even I think watching sailboat racing is essentially the most boring thing in the world.

That said, check this:



skip ahead to about 31:00, maybe 31:20, and give it a minute or two. Go full screen if you possibly can.

 

[runnah]

So you like sea men?

I too love to sail. My goal is to get a nice boat when I retire and travel the coast.

 

[leeroix]

^ nice! I regret not getting my arse out there to get some of the action! I sail San Francisco Bay regularly... My company did a lot of the printing work for the entire event also...

 

[amolitor]

The turn at 37:10 or so is also pretty epic. Drifting usually means something else in sailing.

 

[runnah]

The turn at 37:10 or so is also pretty epic. Drifting usually means something else in sailing.

Did you see this video? I bet those dry suits weren't as dry after that.

 

[amolitor]

Oh yeah, I saw that one. That was exciting.

 

[runnah]

Oh yeah, I saw that one. That was exciting.

I've done that numerous times in a sun fish but I imagine it to be a little more intense at 40 knots.

 

[amolitor]

In a laser is it just about as abrupt and astonishing, but a whole lot less dangerous. Also the laser is probably fine afterwards.

 

[leeroix]

Americas Cup is cool...
But this is where its at...



Volvo ocean race. starts again next october. goes for 9 months, around the world. 40+ knots in a monohull. completely insane...
if you fall over... you die. they can't and haven't stopped to get people... the life vest you wear only guarantees you floating dead.
there was actually a media sign up for the media crew member. I didn't get my stuff together in time.

 

[amolitor]

Those guys are just stone crazy, but not as crazy as the Vendee Globe guys.

 

[runnah]

In a laser is it just about as abrupt and astonishing, but a whole lot less dangerous. Also the laser is probably fine afterwards.

Do you have a laser? I want to get one but they are hard to find and pricey.

 

[amolitor]

I do not! There are a couple of local casual racing series that are hosted by the local university that quietly lets us rent a boat for the day for a nominal fee. A knockabout laser, like all boats, is free if you are sufficiently patient. Also, it will not have all the bits, and you're probably just going to have to pay for a trailer. So, it still costs money. A race-ready turnkey boat is quite spendy indeed! You can buy quite a decent 27 footer for the same price!

 

[Derrel]

Very good camera work on the first clip. Exciting to me, and I have no love for sailing or TV coverage of it.

 

[runnah]

Very good camera work on the first clip. Exciting to me, and I have no love for sailing or TV coverage of it.

Not a fan of salty sea men?

I'd take a laser over a jet ski any day of the week.

 

[leeroix]

Hobie WildCat?