The America's Cup race Monday was called for lack of wind. Wednesday's race had a good stiff wind, but a sea state with waves above 1 meter, and was postponed again. Tomorrow's race forecasts even larger waves and will likely postpone yet again.
I wonder if it is time to say something obvious. Alinghi 5 and USA are undoubtedly the fastest sailboats ever afloat. The two giant multihulls reach at multiples of wind speed. But a Catalina 42 sailed by a club champion in any local yacht club could have completed two races by now and walked away with the title, while the big boats sit in their berths.
The America's Cup is an ocean race, and these two contenders may be a match for each other, but not for the sea. A ninety foot boat that cannot contend with 40 inch seas is poorly designed. Perhaps Larry Ellison can build a bath tub big enough for the contest to procede, but clearly neither boat is up to the Cup.
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For the record, they got a race off today, Friday, in wind of 6-8 knots. What a lovely day for a gentle sail! Even so the windward hulls were aloft and made for some striking photos. BOR/USA finished 3200m ahead of Alighi 5.
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