The America's Cup is changing to AC72 class catamarans with a wing sail. How will match race tactics change?

Well the basic tactics of wanting to stay between your opponent and the next mark will remain the same. Wanting to be first across the start on the favored end of the line will remain the same and being on the favored side of the course with the wind will remain the same. You'll even still try to get your opponent into a tacking duel if you know your boat and crew can tack faster. Where the tactics will change is in the same place that they always have. If your boat is faster than the competition, your in good wind on the best side of the course your going to go for it and just build to maximum speed toward the next mark.

Tacking duels will never be the same because it takes so much longer to tack a cat. You also don't point as well with the cat, but if you can get your opposition in irons they may find themselves stuck there for a long time. I watched the last cup race between the cat and the trimaran earlier this year and all these tactics were used in that match. I see no reason why they wouldn't carry them over to the next series. What surprises me is that they've decided to go with the AC72 rather than the trimaran design they were so successful with earlier this year. I'd even rather see them racing in the Volvo 70 hull designs. That way you'd get a lot more crew work involved in the outcome of the race. Then a tacking duel would really be exciting. I'm sure that has something to do with the US not really being all that involved in the fastest of the Volvo 70's. I've also never seen a Volvo 70 with a fixed wing. I'd be interested in seeing a monohull with adjustable forward keel and a fixed wing sail though. I think that would bring together the best of all the designs.

If nothing else, I'm certainly looking forward to the next race. I just hope they open up the challenger series before the race. Right now it looks like they've accepted a challenge from Rome, and it's just not sporting to lock out all of the competition. You need to look back to the days of Sir Thomas Lipton and good sportsmanship. If you didn't like it being done to you, don't do it to others.

I miss the old 12 meter races where crew work was more important..