by kokko » Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:05 am
While there has been trickle down in technology thanks to the Cup, I no longer think that is the case with this A/C. In the past, we have seen fiberglass composites, now carbon fiber composites, low stretch lines, first Dacron sails, now Kevlar sails, and wing keels all ok. GPS is great, but that came out of the military. I don't see the A/Cs of the past 20 years offering the average sailor anything. Canting keels? Fixed wings? Fine for high end racing, but it won't trickle down and I would want it.
For all the money the spend, they have built boats that cannot go out in >20 knots of wind or >2' of seas.
More than anything coming out of the A/C or other high end racing, the sailing industry has been driven by creature comforts. New boats have the bleack bottle design that blow out the cabin so you can take your living room out on the water. Compare the boats of the 70's-90's with those now offered today. The sailing capabilities of today's boats have been compromised by creature comforts. Practical Sailor had an article about this. TOdays boats have a much wider beam overall, and the beam is extended back t the transom. Lot's of room below, but they round up in a puff. THe old IOR boats are better sailers. It is comfort that is driving the industry today, not sailing technology.
DS1 Truelove