City Front. That's the technical term. Where it's rough, where it blows, where it's cold - that's where the Cup will be sailed next year. After months of wrangling between the organisers, the city, environmentalists, local residents and commercial shipping, an agreement was reached on the regatta area for the next America's Cup. The necessary Coast Guard regulations are available as a draft and can be commented on by the public over the next 90 days. Environmental protection zones and transit corridors had to be taken into account as well as commercial and private fishing. Accordingly, there will be several hours of traffic disruption on the Bay on regatta days between 4 July and 22 September 2013.
The course of a race now looks something like this (subject to change due to weather conditions): Space sheet start out at the Golden Gate (assuming a westerly wind), then down to the leeward gate off Fisherman's Wharf (approx. 3 miles), followed by the long cross course to the windward gate at the famous bridge, before heading back towards Fisherman's Wharf. This all happens on the north side of the city, between the waterfront and Alcatraz Prison Island. Crissy Field, a former airfield near the Golden Gate, Marina Green, Fort Mason and Aquatic Park are the vantage points that visitors will have to remember. At least during the races, there is a good overview from there. However, the finish will be on the east side of the city, in front of the so-called Embarcadero, where it is warmer and also sheltered from the wind (assuming a westerly wind).
The course is exactly where folkboats, Knarrs and IODs normally engage in archaic, wet and cold battles at hull speed. On the AC72 cats, which are supposed to sweep along at over 30 knots, such races are unlikely to last more than an hour. Of course, you can watch it all directly, but a good pair of binoculars, a folding armchair and a woollen blanket against the cold, damp air should be to hand. Then maybe you'd rather go into a warm coffee house and watch the live broadcast on your iPad via Wi-Fi.
We will soon find out how many participants will actually be there. In any case, the China Team, which has been affected by staff shortages, has reacted to yesterday's report by YACHT online. Team boss Thierry Barot explained that the management is "busy planning for the future and fundraising". A detailed communiqué will be prepared after the next participants' conference in San Francisco at the beginning of March.
To the Report on the AC side.
