YACHT online has tried it out. The highlights from 2pm: Germany vs China; New Zealand vs Alinghi
The Americas Cup management has almost secretly introduced Virtual TV. Presumably the organisers were not yet sure how the new programme would be received. Or it was finalised too late to advertise it accordingly.
Who would pay 19.95 euros for a programme that can't even be tried out? But YACHT online has tested it and is delighted. Sitting in front of the computer and being able to zap back and forth between six races running in parallel is a new dimension for Americas Cup fans.
If you also listen to the free live radio commentary from the three reporters on site (in English), the entertainment value for regatta fans is high.
Under www.ac-interactive.com/en you can register for the 2005 season (including the acts in Malmö and Trapani) and pay by credit card. You need an e-mail address and will then be sent a password with which you can log in. From 2 p.m. and around 4.45 p.m., the two flights will then run - six races in parallel.
The visuals are designed in the same way as the former Virtual Spectator, which was used to follow the 2002/03 Cup races. Animated boats sail around the course in real time. The positions are transmitted via GPS. The graphics have problems when the boats stand in the wind for a long time at the pre-start, but this only slightly detracts from the fun.
It's a shame that you can't choose the camera's viewing angle yourself, as was the case with the Virtual Spectator software. The angles change automatically. However, you always have an overview of the current distance between the two ships.
And if you get bored, you can switch to another race. After the exciting pre-starts, it quickly becomes clear which encounters are close. It's worth watching them for longer.
As the duels are significantly shorter this time than in the last Cup, at just over an hour, there are few signs of fatigue.
You can replay all races in the archive function. However, this mode is extremely weak, as you can only do a quick run-through. And especially in the review, you would like to have the option of directing the race yourself in order to filter out the decisive moments.
System requirements according to the provider:
Javascript and Cookies switched off.
Windows minimum requirements:
* Any Intel or AMD processor, 400 mhz or faster
* Windows 98 or higher (Windows ME, Windows XP, etc.)
* 256K RAM
* 65,000-color video display card
* Internet connection: at least 350K (cable / DSL / network) for video
* IE 6+ Web browser; cookies enabled
* Windows Media Player Series 9+
MAC-OS minimum requirements:
* PowerPC 604 processor or later (G3, G4, etc.)
* Mac OS 9 or later
* 32 MB RAM and 64 MB virtual memory
* Internet connection: at least 350K (cable / DSL / network) for video
* Safari Web browser; cookies enabled
* Windows Media Player Series 9+ for Mac OS X
