No Need for Speed
Credit: WMRT
While the bizarre spectacle that is now the Americas Cup lumbers towards a start date in August, and Sail GP (Powered by Nature!) jets its ten 50ft catamarans, and associated paraphernalia, crew and egos across the world from Christchurch to Bermuda, one event took place last weekend in California that has more skill, tradition and competitive tension than both the high profile events put together. And you could watch the great coverage live and for free anywhere in the world.
But before we get to that you might enjoy this little passage from “Anarchist David” on the Sailing Anarchy Website
Would you contest the world’s most prestigious match-racing series when half the crew can’t sail, wouldn’t know a tack from a gybe, couldn’t tie a reef knot, and never lift their heads above the gunnel? Of course not. Yet that will be the situation for the next America’s Cup, now only a few months away.
It sounds ridiculous, and it is. But that is the outcome of the Class Rules for AC37 as agreed between Grant Dalton and Sir Ben Ainslie back in 2022. Of the prescribed crew of eight, four will be grinders or cyclors. Their only role is to apply whatever physical grunt their bodies can muster to power the hydraulic and electrical systems of the swing-foil 75-foot monomarans in which the Cup will be decided.
Early indications are that all six boats – the NZ defenders and five challengers – will employ cyclors rather than conventional grinders. They will be head down, bum up throughout each race. To reduce aerodynamic drag their positions within the hull are such that they have no view of the actual racing.
Is this sailing? Hardly. Is there any other recognized sporting competition on the planet in which half the competitors have no applicable experience, skills or knowledge? Back in the 12-metre days, the few ‘deck apes’ chosen largely for their upper body strength didn’t spend all their time on the coffee grinders. They were genuine members of a sailing crew.
1964 America's Cup US defender 'Constellation'. An platform for crew to display sailing skills rather than just muscle power.-© Rosenfel
The Congressional Cup
So back to that event in California. You might find it hard to fathom my enthusiasm for an event sailed in 35 year old five tonne plastic monohulls. The Catalina 37’s rarely get over 7 knots but to provide the fairest possible racing, the boats are maintained to an identical standard in all performance-related areas: weight, equipment, rig tuning and sails.
Founded by Long Beach Yacht Club in 1965, the Congressional Cup set the standard for top-level match racing worldwide, and pioneered the concept of on-the-water umpiring.
Each year, the world’s top-ranked sailors return to Long Beach, Calif. to compete in this five-day regatta, vying for the prestigious Congressional Cup trophy and the Crimson Blazer. What The Masters Green Jacket is to pro golfing, the Crimson Blazer is to yacht racing. Often referred to as the gateway to America’s Cup, many AC skippers have cut their teeth on the Congressional Cup: including Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Ed Baird, Dean Barker, Taylor Canfield, James Spithill, Paul Cayard, Francesco Bruni, and the like.
Credit: WMRT
Most refer to the Congressional Cup as their favorite regatta of the year, due to the high level of competition and warm hospitality, alike. The event is hosted by a legion of 300 member volunteers which may be a clue to the events longevity.
The Congressional Cup Catalina 37s are big, heavy boats with large sails and high loads. Racing with a crew of seven (helm, tactician, main trim, jib trim, spinnaker trim, pit and bow) takes an incredible amount of timing, strength, balance and teamwork. The co-odination between the “departments” on the boat is a pleasure to watch with quiet meaningful comms, (mostly audible on the video feed) giving great insights for weekend warriors on how it should be done. No shouting, (except at the other boat) no swearing, just tactics, trim and exceptional judgement piped directly into your loungeroom.
So why on a wooden boat website like SWS would I be spruiking the racing of these Tupperware dinosaurs? The answer is easy! The values espoused and enacted over the five days of the regatta are EXACTLY the sort of thing we admire here at SWS. Tradional sailing skills… I love it when the skippers elect to back their boat out (literally) of a tricky situation or hoist a spinnaker in a prestart manoeuvre. The crew work and sail handling are extraordinary, the tactical sailing (explained without humour and accuracy by the commentary team in stark contrast to the over hyped yelling of Sail GP) makes me want to be out there giving it a go, and the sportsmanship displayed by winners an loosers alike, is a rare breath of fresh air in elite sporting contests in the 2020’s
If this has whet your appetite check out these Youtube posts of the action.
Skip through the waiting phase and go strait to the prestart.
But beware… an afternoon can quickly vanish once absorbed in the cut and thrust of old school match racing!