'Mummy, this is really exciting!' screeched a little girl on Plymouth Hoe, clearly surprised to find herself totally enthralled by.A yacht race of all things.She can't have been older than eight and had obviously been an unwilling participant in the fever which gripped Plymouth in the lead up to the second leg of the 34th America's Cup World Series.She had clearly been dragged up to The Hoe, reluctant and sullen of face, by parents determined to make sure she witnessed history in the making.They doubtless reasoned that she'd thank them for the precious memory some distant day in adulthood.I didn't exactly have to be dragged along but I went somewhat reluctantly - just because I felt I should.It was an historic event and I pride myself on being in the thick of things whenever anything momentous happens in Plymouth.I figured I could watch a few minutes of the race start, just so I could say I'd been there, then I could retire with impunity to one of the temporary cocktail bars which had been installed on The Hoe for this great occasion.I know nothing about yachts and don't particularly wish to.As for yacht racing - well, it's always seemed to me to be on a par with cricket.In others words, akin to watching paint dry.That little girl and I couldn't have been more surprised by the sheer spectacle which exploded before us in Plymouth Sound.It was quite simply one of the most thrilling things I've ever seen in my life.Did I really just say that about a yacht race?!Gone are the days when America's Cup racers pottered along at a tame 12 miles per hour, processing regally (but not in the least bit dramatically) in a fairly orderly line, rarely overtaking each other.This new breed of hi-tech, high speed catamarans have transformed the America's Cup into a totally captivating and chaotic cross between Formula 1 and powerboat racing.They seem to literally fly above the water at speeds of more than 30 miles an hour, with Navy Seals (acting as umpires) struggling to keep up with them on jet skis.They collide with each other, capsize to rapturous roars from the crowd, and generally supply enough thrills and spills for the most avid of adrenalin junkies.Three helicopters swoop, duck and dive above the racers, beaming live pictures back to the giant screen on The Hoe.With 14 microphones and four cameras on each boat, every command and curse from the catapulting catamarans is captured to the delight of spectators.Hi-tech digital coverage of the race gives onlookers a feel of almost being in the front row of a 3D movie theatre.It's scintillating sailing at its best and the extraordinary images are transmitted live over the internet and to TV channels across the globe.The world's fastest boats, best sailors and one of the most stunning natural sports stadiums on the planet combined to make this second event in the America's Cup World Series a unique and unforgettable experience.The American commentators admitted to being completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd which packed The Hoe for the first day's racing in Plymouth.More than 10,000 people - from toddlers to pensioners - turned out despite grey skies, gusting winds and occasional torrential downpours.Of course Plymouth can boast something totally unique which even beautiful San Francisco Bay (which will host the America's Cup finals in 2013) can't match.Plymouth Sound is one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and it makes an ideal amphitheater for major seaborne spectacles with Plymouth Hoe providing the perfect outdoor spectator gallery.Even with 10,000 spectators amassed on The Hoe, on the breakwater at Mount Batten and on the clifftop overlooking The Sound's eastern edge, there was no sense of overcrowding or jockeying for the best vantage positions.There were fantastic views to be had for miles on end.Small wonder Plymouth has been chosen to host some of the biggest sporting events in the world including the start of the Transat (the single-handed trans-Atlantic race).And when you're watching these extraordinary events you can't help but be stirred by thoughts of those giants of history who set sail from these same shores - Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles Darwin to name but a few.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
And I Thought Yacht Racing Was Boring!
'Mummy, this is really exciting!' screeched a little girl on Plymouth Hoe, clearly surprised to find herself totally enthralled by.A yacht race of all things.She can't have been older than eight and had obviously been an unwilling participant in the fever which gripped Plymouth in the lead up to the second leg of the 34th America's Cup World Series.She had clearly been dragged up to The Hoe, reluctant and sullen of face, by parents determined to make sure she witnessed history in the making.They doubtless reasoned that she'd thank them for the precious memory some distant day in adulthood.I didn't exactly have to be dragged along but I went somewhat reluctantly - just because I felt I should.It was an historic event and I pride myself on being in the thick of things whenever anything momentous happens in Plymouth.I figured I could watch a few minutes of the race start, just so I could say I'd been there, then I could retire with impunity to one of the temporary cocktail bars which had been installed on The Hoe for this great occasion.I know nothing about yachts and don't particularly wish to.As for yacht racing - well, it's always seemed to me to be on a par with cricket.In others words, akin to watching paint dry.That little girl and I couldn't have been more surprised by the sheer spectacle which exploded before us in Plymouth Sound.It was quite simply one of the most thrilling things I've ever seen in my life.Did I really just say that about a yacht race?!Gone are the days when America's Cup racers pottered along at a tame 12 miles per hour, processing regally (but not in the least bit dramatically) in a fairly orderly line, rarely overtaking each other.This new breed of hi-tech, high speed catamarans have transformed the America's Cup into a totally captivating and chaotic cross between Formula 1 and powerboat racing.They seem to literally fly above the water at speeds of more than 30 miles an hour, with Navy Seals (acting as umpires) struggling to keep up with them on jet skis.They collide with each other, capsize to rapturous roars from the crowd, and generally supply enough thrills and spills for the most avid of adrenalin junkies.Three helicopters swoop, duck and dive above the racers, beaming live pictures back to the giant screen on The Hoe.With 14 microphones and four cameras on each boat, every command and curse from the catapulting catamarans is captured to the delight of spectators.Hi-tech digital coverage of the race gives onlookers a feel of almost being in the front row of a 3D movie theatre.It's scintillating sailing at its best and the extraordinary images are transmitted live over the internet and to TV channels across the globe.The world's fastest boats, best sailors and one of the most stunning natural sports stadiums on the planet combined to make this second event in the America's Cup World Series a unique and unforgettable experience.The American commentators admitted to being completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd which packed The Hoe for the first day's racing in Plymouth.More than 10,000 people - from toddlers to pensioners - turned out despite grey skies, gusting winds and occasional torrential downpours.Of course Plymouth can boast something totally unique which even beautiful San Francisco Bay (which will host the America's Cup finals in 2013) can't match.Plymouth Sound is one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and it makes an ideal amphitheater for major seaborne spectacles with Plymouth Hoe providing the perfect outdoor spectator gallery.Even with 10,000 spectators amassed on The Hoe, on the breakwater at Mount Batten and on the clifftop overlooking The Sound's eastern edge, there was no sense of overcrowding or jockeying for the best vantage positions.There were fantastic views to be had for miles on end.Small wonder Plymouth has been chosen to host some of the biggest sporting events in the world including the start of the Transat (the single-handed trans-Atlantic race).And when you're watching these extraordinary events you can't help but be stirred by thoughts of those giants of history who set sail from these same shores - Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles Darwin to name but a few.
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