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Monday, February 15. 2010

America's Cup #33


Image is Currier and Ives' 1851 portrait of "America," the first boat to win the famous race.


The America's Cup (named for the sailboat, not the country) is now sailed with multi-hulls with 17-story masts. 33 knots out of a 10 knot wind speed. Here's winner US-17:



h/t, SDA, with links to more details of the race

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 08:02 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

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The J-Boats were prettier.
#1 bob sykes on 2010-02-15 08:17 (Reply)
I'm a nostalgia sort of guy as I age and I find it hard to suppress the (outrage?) against what sports have evolved to. .... Then I remember the point is to WIN, by (almost) any means possible, even if that means pushing the technology to unrecognizable extremes, whether that be the extreme physical conditions in the mountain of football player flesh, space-frame space age construction of NASCAR vehicles, overbuilt engineered monstrosities of rock crawler jeeps, or way over computer designed wind surfers passing as "sail boats".

So, yeah, I like the old stuff. That is why I go to classic car shows and reminisce about tuneups every 5000 miles, burning more oil than gas it seemed, engines that wouldn't start in 10 degree weather, no air conditioning, armstrong steering and standing on the brake pedal to stop while not trying to skid out of control. Then I emerge into the sunlight and give thanks for technological progress.

I love technology. I dream technology. I give thanks for the technology that employs me and makes my life more comfortable. I miss the old designs but I wouldn't go back to "classic" for anything.
#2 JoeC on 2010-02-15 10:18 (Reply)
I think it is interesting to watch the evolution of sport in which technology is involved. In sailboat races of a particular one-design "class" the emphasis is much more on the seamanship, strategy, and skill, rather than "win at all costs".
It looks like NASCAR, after developing an ever-expanding rulebook in order to keep things competitive, finally scrapped it all and is now the motoring equivalent of laser sailboat racing.
#2.1 DOuglas2 on 2010-02-15 10:31 (Reply)
JoeC ... I'm with you on this subject. I love technology too, and the miracles it has brought us. But I love the old classic sailboats, like the America. Until old age set in and forced us to stop sailboat racing, my husband and I owned and raced sailboats. And what a thrill it was -- rounding the mark in a clutch of other boats, figuring how to catch any wisp of wind which would put us ahead of our competitors, scooting across the deck to 'hold down the high side' and allow us to crowd on more sail, manning [or woman-ing] the winches to improve the set of the sails. All wonderful memories we look back on.

When my husband was courting me and I lived in Washington D.C., we drove to Annapolis and rented a day-sailer to sail in Annapolis Harbor. During that afternoon, we looked out over the harbor and lo and behold! There was an America's Cup boat majestically riding the waves quite near us! What a thrill!. Brought tears to my eyes, it did.

Marianne
#3 Marianne Matthews on 2010-02-15 11:41 (Reply)
Heh. Must be why I still have my "classic" 1972 jeepster Commando gathering dust in a Houston garage. I just can't bear to part with that piece of 'ancient' machinery. But at least it is one piece of machinery I can work on without a plethora of computer aided diagnostic tools.

The few times I have driven it makes me glad for my 2007 jeep, with its automatic, A/C, traction control, anti lock, power everything, in spite of being unable to repair only the most mundane of the items in the newer vehicle.

The only really old technology I treasure now days is a good self-winding mechanical watch. THERE is an item with personality.

I'll take back that "classic" comment above. I do like classical music for its artistry. (well, except opera, but we've already had that thread).
#4 JoeC on 2010-02-15 16:40 (Reply)

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