Sailing/working with the Extreme 40 "Nespresso" at the America's Cup venue this week...
Very cool boat. Very cool fleet. Pretty impressive scene that they have going on over in Europe (and elsewhere on the world circuit). Seriously, "elite level stadium racing?" So just when you think, "Man, why can't the America's Cup be like this?" your cool-ness gets eclipsed, put in perspective, as it were:
Ok, that's very cool too, in a wholly different way. The AC is something totally different. Not better, not worse, just other. For all the foibles and politics and legal battles of the AC, when you see these things at speed in close quarters you realize that the boats and what all the teams have created is absolutely astounding. They truly are awesome... the boats - and the sailors of these machines - are nothing short of impressive.
Now back to reality: what would it take to get an Extreme 40 circuit going around here? Seriously, go here and check out any of the races...
Wayne Zittel