They are the fastest, most powerful and downright extreme boats in the 159-year history of the America’s Cup. When they hook into even the slightest breeze, their windward hulls fly off the water by up to 20 feet.
Capable of sailing at up to three times the speed of the wind, USA has flirted with 50 knots. Conventional America’s Cup yachts average 11 or 12 under good conditions.
BMW Oracle Racing kept pushing the limits late last year when it added a radical wing sail, which towers 223 feet off the deck.
The multihulls are the byproduct of a bitter, 2 1/2-year legal fight between Ellison and Bertarelli, two of the world’s wealthiest men. Though convoluted and contentious, the court case has brought the stodgy old America’s Cup decidedly into the 21st century.
“I think it’s probably the coolest part of this whole exercise, given that we’ve had to go through the courts and there’s been that sort of, I guess, a downer,’’ Spithill said.
“But the real upside is that thing,’’ he added, motioning toward the black-and-white, triple-hulled giant. “Whatever happens, this is always going to be something that’ll be really cool to be a part of.’’
If the best-of-three series is as spectacular as the participants think it can be, the boats might just restore some dignity to a sport that has been sullied by a tit-for-tat squabble between the powerhouse sailing teams over rules, dates, the venue, and practically everything else relating to the regatta.
The genesis of the spat between Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp., and Bertarelli, a biotech tycoon, was each side’s interpretation of the Deed of Gift, the 1887 document that governs the America’s Cup.
Interestingly, it is that same 19th century document that provided the simple parameters for the two giant multihulls.
