In an exercise that couldn’t be further from the world of the heavily laden voyaging boat, a fleet of cats sailed recently in San Francisco Bay as part of SailGP’s multiday racing series with professional teams representing six nations: the U.S., Great Britain, France, Japan, Australia and China.
In addition to the difference in carrying capacity between the average voyaging sailboat and one of these fully foiling 50-foot catamarans, there is something of a speed difference as well. While most voyaging boats are lucky to hit 8 knots in perfect conditions, these cats — based on the America’s Cup AC50 boats — are reportedly capable of 54 knots.
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The first racing series was held in Sydney, Australia, in February, followed by the San Francisco races in early May. The series will continue in New York in June; Cowes, England, in August; and will conclude in Marseille in September. For more information, visit sailgp.com.
