Let’s Discover the America’s Cup!

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Last year, Kent stumbled upon a thing: the SailGP regatta was going to be held in Chicago! On a lark, he bought us tickets and we high-tailed it to the Navy Pier. On June 16, 2023, throngs of sailing aficionados gathered, looking eastward onto Lake Michigan where the SailGP’s F50 catamarans were about to dance with the wind. 😉😁

The SailGP Series is a global racing league that features sailors competing in high-performance F50 foiling catamarans. These boats are like Formula 1 racers of the sea. They are among the fastest and most technologically advanced sailboats in the world, designed to fly above the water on hydrofoils and capable of exceeding 50 knots (nearly 60 mph). 

The series includes teams from various countries, each with world-class athletes, including Olympic medalists and America’s Cup veterans. The events are held in iconic locations around the world, with each SailGP event spanning two days – three races on each day. The first five fleet races involve every team, while the final match race pits the two highest-ranking teams against each other to determine the event champion. The series culminates in a grand final where the season’s champion is crowned.

SailGP events are designed to be spectator-friendly, with close-to-shore racing that allows fans to witness the action up close. For a VIP experience, there is the option to charter a spectator boat or, if you’re lucky, hang out in your own boat! Additionally, the series leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance the viewing experience, both for live spectators and those watching from home. 

True to form, Chicago provided a lively, albeit gusty stage for the event. The Navy Pier was set up with live music and merch tents, bleachers for general admission, and front-row seating areas on the edge of the pier (for those who are hardcore). There were jumbotron monitors, leaderboards, and a live host who announced the goings-on over loudspeakers. Out over the water, helicopters buzzed around, getting close-up footage that could be viewed on the jumbotrons and online.

From our vantage point in the bleachers, we had a very good view of the hydrofoiling catamarans slicing through the choppy waters, and were able to see the crew and the action via the jumbotrons. 

The catamarans were enormous and appeared to defy gravity and all physics. When engaged at high speeds, the hydrofoils, shaped like wings, are able to lift the massive vessel off the water’s surface, minimizing drag and maximizing velocity. The sails, towering at 78 feet, are like rigid wings as well (not your average cloth sails!) and can propel the boats to astonishing speeds, up to 40 knots (46 miles per hour)! And finally, the crew’s coordination was like a dance. Each member executed precise maneuvers in sync. It was an exhilarating experience, one that I’d gladly do again.

I mention all of this because we recently discovered that the America’s Cup is going to be held in Barcelona, Spain, and I thought it would be fun to follow it – virtually, that is….

The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is scheduled to take place between Aug 29 – Oct 7 2024. 

The participating teams include Emirates Team New Zealand, INEOS Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic, and Orient Express Racing Team. It will be an intense competition as these teams vie for one of the oldest and most prestigious trophies in international sports! 🌊⛵🏆

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more information!