Ricky Craven

100% carbon on headboard. Disregarding rig position/tune and backstay set up, I'd make this boat a fucking rocket ship and win every beer can race with a little sip of: (i) loose foot, (ii) float tack and lash forward, (iii) halyard up/cunno on, (iv) vang off, (v) sheet on, (vi) trav down.

Funky looking jib. Beautiful day for yachting.

On development progress of AC72s v AC75s, it is worth noting that the AC75 is a much more novel concept whereas the AC72s were scaled up C Class little AC boats.

My memory is not crisp enough to recall the development progress in the lead up to AC 34, but I'll take your word for it and yes, it was a phenomenal spectacle. The sailors and design teams do have until March 2021, so point taken. (Edit) Here's to hoping the FCS isn't the achilles heel.

I'm starting to get a bit rattled. I'm not confident that the AC75 can be sufficiently tamed by all of the teams such that there will be close racing. The visual footage to date shows boats struggling to keep their shit together, or going in a straight line at ~25-30kts in flat water (impressive - but not remarkable at all), or being towed in a straight line, or doing a really awkward tack or gybe with the go-go gadget arms flailing around... Match racing in 3 months? I hope so, but seems like a stretch. Also, remember when one angle to the AC75 sales pitch was: "there are going to be crew manoeuvers and sail handling like all of you Luddites are used to!" Hahaha, as if we would see a peel. Nope!

To clarify - there is no video!! I just liked your post because I would appreciate a similar "alert".

This is great stuff. Looks like too much fun. Huge fuckin cajones on these lads. "Nursing" the boat through rough conditions at 32kts. When they get into a friendly sea state.... warp speed. Hard to bet against Macif. Caudrelier and Cammas got lucky in the Fastnet, no?

That middle and back pack are reeling off some serious 24hr mileage. Big numbers across the board, really. I expect there could always be a few bad clouds in the doldrums, but generally speaking, the crossing looks pretty straightforward FIFO -- no chance for a shuffle, re-deal.

Pascal turned off the autopilot and took the helm for a few hours.

Great vid of 11th hour. You can feel the vibrations... boat just humming. That was not the same English squad as we saw last week. Shocker. Hugo Boss, cannot stress it enough, also complete shocker. Collapse of the British Empire continues in dramatic fashion. Next up, Ineos to hit the bricks or some such carnage. Jesus.

Get Conrad Colman a boat! Another great offshore ambassador for the anglos. His interview with Clean on SA podcast in March 2017 was one of the most enthralling sailing stories I have ever heard.

Thank you. Must be a lucrative operation with some excellent in-house IP/know-how. I wonder what the confidentiality obligations are vis-a-vis each team and whether there is "ownership" of specific sail designs.

Is there one North loft that all the Lorient, La Trinite Sur Mer, Concarneau/PLF - based teams use, or several?

Roi Jean doing a brilliant job keeping the pace up. Charal about to overtake Apivia. Might see a gybe for Agadir soon, no?

https://www.transatjacquesvabre.org/en/news/newswires/1429/skipper-s-log-alex-thomson-britain-hugo-boss-imoca Sewing szn. It all sounds quite grim, except for the fact they might be able to drum up ITV and watch the rugby.