The thought process was, we can teach professional, big-boat, match racing sailors how to sail cats, much easier than we can teach cat sailors to match race.
EDIT: I agree about the nationality rules. Jerome (Rome) Kirby is from Newport (and is either Ken Read's godson, or should be) and is the only American currently on the boat.
Don't forget, the rules had loopholes in the past, and you saw a lot of shady passport-changing leading up to each iteration.
Mike
Yeah...not so much. The speeds are so great on cats that one bad move (or 2 extra tacks) are going to give the other guy hundreds of yards. Like Randy Smyth said in Rick's book, "Speed is all that matters, go as fast as you can, as long as you can." and that was long before anyone ever went 40knots on a cat! Speed is much more important now, because 'going slow' costs you so much now, more when the other guy is going 40!
These guys still seem to think tacking is going to win them a race.
That has been our observation all along (except maybe for Jeff, LOL)...
Anyone else wish the skippers were Ashby and Bundock?
Mike
I appreciate the shout out, and of course will stubbornly stand by my opinion/experience.
As for the tack, I don't think NZ was trying for a leebow, because as has been pointed out, that rarely works in fast boats (cats or otherwise). To me the decision was (with Oracle being MUCH faster upwind at the time):
1. Cross, which would have given Oracle the favored current and starboard advantage on the next cross
2. Lead back to the boundary where you have room to tack, knowing Oracle will then have to decide to either tack early underneath you or carry to the boundary and fall in line. The foiling low mode Oracle displayed basically killed this option.
I think the decision was much like the foiling tack- the opposing boat had a very clear upwind speed advantage which severely limited tactical options, therefore you have to try a much more uncomfortable move. Your mileage may vary.
