Good article by Jeremy on JC ty the way...

More questions related to big beachcats and sailors...

How important will match racing techniques be in the AC45 boats? Watching the match races they're doing now it seems that clear air dominates over any match racing tactics.

Is it true that it's easier to take a monohull match racer and make them a cat fleet racer? Should we be looking at talent from this pool over sportboat folk (49'er, Skiffs, etc)

Should youth consider experience in "team sized" boats (Farr 40, Melges 32, etc) for AC45 team positions (trimmer, bow, tactician, wing)? Seems smaller sportboats and multis only use 2-3 sailors (helm and trimmer)


Judging from the amount of hiking the crews are doing, should the youth consider a stint in the Finn class? I understand that's one of the most physical boats to sail well...

I personally think that for the skipper (and arguably tactician) positions of the YOUTH fleet race event, large-fleet cat racing experience (as a skipper) would rule the day.

While large-fleet experience in monohulls may be a good selling point (knowing how to jockey for position on the line, how to approach marks, etc.); several of the adult teams have shown just how difficult it is to tack and maneuver these boats like a dinghy.

Said another way, there's no substitute for experience in big fleets with fast straight-line, slow-maneuvering boats. And beach cats are the closest thing out there.

Mike

where would the positions for the non-drivers come from?

Bow, wing, the other guy that hops around a lot (and hangs off the back in light air)?

Ideally, they would be sailors, especially with trimming experience...

I specifically asked for there to be a requirement that at least one member of the team be of the opposite sex (like the old Eco Challenge rule), and was backed by others on the call. Did anyone see that in the final announcement/requirements?

Mike

While the rules don't demand female crew members the weight requirements basically force you to have at least one. 6 People at 450 kg (990lbs) means you have an average of 75kg (165lbs). Given teams will need at least one ape on board say 90kg (200lbs), but more realistically closer to 100kg (220lbs) that leaves you with the 5 remaining crew at 70-72kg (154-158lbs), which is pretty small. Insert a 60 kg girl into the mix and the crew start to come back up to around 75kg each and having a small crew member who can duck off the hull to clean something else of check traffic to leward is always helpful.

If I was recruiting I'd look for the following. (from back to front)

Skipper-> proven high performance cat sailer.
Wing Trim -> Skippers normal crew
Tactition -> Female with big fleet and/or match racing history. I'd be looking at people who have been training / trailing for womens match racing at the olympics.
Jib/kite trim -> someone with wide experiance including boats up to 50'
Misc (Ape/grinder/mast/fd2/pit/etc) -> Agility and strength are key here. In Australia I'd be looking for a skiff sailer who also sails regularly on keel boats.
Foredeck. Cat and dinghy sailing is irrelevant you want someone who is agile, strong and can see in advance what is happening. You want someone who is used to doing all the work forward of the mast so if the mainly sail on 50+ boats they are the wrong guy. Think Melges 32 or Farr 40 decky.

I think this team could be very competitive. Lots of high level racing in fast asymmetric boats (skiffs, cats, and keelboats), as well as large fleet experience on an international level. I have seen most of these guys sail, and they are very, very fast.

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