We have to listen to awful lot of God Zone jingoism from the Emirates Team Zealand team about how there should be tighter nationality rules for the teams (even though it was Team New Zealand that wrote current standards in 2000) and how NZ industry is building the US boat for Oracle (at least as much as rules allow).
What seems to get missed in the Kiwi flag waving ceremony is that the design team the Kiwis chose is US firm, Morelli and Melvin. Note the Emirates/Team Zealand press release below all about the local manufacture but not a word that the most of the 50,000 hours of design work are US Morelli and Melvin.
Extreme Sailing Series, precursor? model? for the AC45 races has started up again with races in Porto Portugal. If you find yourself needing a fast, exciting well televised 21st century multihull racing fix with AC45's not racing until August 21 in San Franciso, the Extreme Sailing Series is it.
This remains the best summary of the decision by Oracle team to go with 21st century multihulls. It remains the best, most succinct statement of fact on the AC34.
If anyone knows where this was first published, please let me know to give full credit.
So the larger chase boats capable of wrangling the AC72's are starting to come out. Oracle USA has a typical chase boat on steroids but the Kiwis commissioned the perfect chase boat from US multihull designers Morelli and Melvin.
To watch the greatest sailing race in multihulls, you should see it from a multihull.
The Lagoon 560 would be the best setup for San Francisco. The perfect platform for San Francisco Bay, acres of room for a race day crowd plus nice and stable in what can be a bouncy SF Bay.
Trick would be moorage but America's Cup is supposed to have a bunch of yacht moorages available according to the original plan. Not sure how much that has changed. I don't see them running an advertising campaign on "Get your spot before they are gone"
