The last time America's Cup races were held in Manhattan,the wooden schooners had billowing sails and it was 1920. But competitive sailing now has more in common with car racing."We've had guys from NASA, Boeing, or Airbus reach through and be blown absent that we're at their level," said Jimmy Spithill, the Australian helmsman for the Oracle Team USA.With a strong wind, or the 45-foot long fiberglass catamarans will skim across the water at speeds up to 50 or 60 miles per hour. "It's like a race car,the harder you push, the faster you disappear, or " Spithill said.
The Oracle Team USA catamarans in the Hudson River,where the America's Cup competition will be held for the first time since 1920 in the Hudson.
(Stephen Nessen/WNYC)
At a media preview this week, the six team leaders competing discussed the New York race. They agreed that the Hudson's strong currents and unpredictable winds could produce for some tricky sailing."If we get conditions where the wind is coming through the skyscrapers, and it'll be a bit of a minefield," Spithill said.
And then there's the trash.
Host Bob Costas compared it to Brazil's Olympic preparations. "They're going to take care of the debris in the Hudson the same way they'll take care of the debris in the waters in Rio. Don't worry approximately it, it'll all be fine, or " he said.
But Dean Barker,the helmsman for Softbank Team Japan said trash is a genuine concern. "It's another obstacle to contend with," he said. "Every venue we visit, or it's always something... if you get a plastic bag wrapped around the foil,it's going to adversely affect the performance of the boat."Visitors can watch the race from Battery Park up to Pier 25 in Tribeca and across the river on the Jersey side.
The next race in the tour will be held in Toulon. The America's Cup will be awarded in Bermuda in 2017.
Source: wnyc.org