This article is published in number 10 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until March 16, 2021
The boats of this America’s Cup fly more than sailing, like that of the flying Dutchman. Air weighs a kilo and three per cubic meter, water a thousand. So these “things” sailing have to make room by moving air instead of the usual water, they make less effort and go three times faster than their floating sisters.
Hydrofoils – invented by Forlanini – have existed for a long time but those with sails are few because the wind pushes not only forward but also – and a lot – to the side, and until yesterday no one knew how to avoid capsizing.
The solution adopted on the “AC75” (America’s Cup 75 feet, which means 22.86 meters) to remain standing are two weighted wings. The windward one with its weight keeps the boat straight, while the weight of the leeward one, which is submerged, pushes the hull out of the water when the boat is at speed.
The boat weighs only 7 tons and the main sail, the mainsail, is made up of two separate skins that create a thickness similar to that of an airplane’s wings, and are 25% more efficient than a traditional sail. With more thrust and less resistance these boats not only fly but go at impressive speeds, generating curiosity, surprise, wonder, but also a series of niggles. Aside from the fact that they cost more than an F35, the AC75 have an unstable balance, like the bike that if you stop or if you find gravel you fall skinned knees etc.: if they go too fast the flap pushes too much, they take off and then instead of landing they fall. The role of flight controller was therefore created, which changes the angle of the rudder to bring the bow up or down. A hydraulic system is used to raise and lower the arms, that is, oil is pumped into a cylinder which pulls them up. The oil is put under pressure by two thirds of the crew, modern convicts who turn cranks all day, and it seems they do as well
at home. The speed creates a monstrous “apparent wind”, so you are constantly sailing with 100 kilometers per hour of wind in your face, while the public on the boats around suffer the heat and the calm draining beers after beers.
Apart from Tom Cruise, who is standing there on the roof of a train that goes at a hundred per hour? Our poor sailors are bent over so as not to resist and when for maneuvering reasons they move from side to side they have to be careful not to get sucked into the wake, so they put a rope handle on the stern of the mainsail to which cling, last hope before the flight in history.
Sailing? Not Sailing? It doesn’t matter: to win you need to excel in technology, courage, vision, individual preparation and team organization. And once again the Italians are already in the final.
text and illustrations DAVIDE BESANA
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