Great question.
by grnd (2020-11-25 11:43:56)
Edited on 2020-11-25 12:15:55

In reply to: Given the hydrofoil technology, does the hull ...  posted by Barney68

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The boat that wins will spend the least amount of time in the water. These things end up being more platforms than boats. The differing hull shapes here are interesting and probably represent each team's best thinking about how that platform should best handle both the air and the water. For instance, the Kiwi boat almost has air channels on the bottom of the hull.

The America's Cup has always been a design contest. The reason why America (the boat) won the race around the Isle of Wright and won the cup the first time around is because it was a new, radical design. Every cycle (for the most part) involves substantial innovation. Pretty soon you are literally flying around in boats.

I kind of compare the constant pushing of design to this:





That's a great point.
by ndtnguy  (2020-11-25 15:03:21)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

If I had to reframe Barney's question, I think it would be "what is a boat?" Obviously the guy who builds the better boat will win a boat race. That doesn't detract from the need for seamanship. But there is such a thing as "a boat" and there is such a thing as "not a boat."

I think the sense that some people have looking at these is that they are getting close to being "not a boat."