Match Racing & The America’s Cup

This week starts the finals for the Prada Cup between INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa Prada-Pirelli (ITL) to determine who gets the honor of challenging Emirates Team New Zealand for the 36th America’s Cup.  America’s Cup racing isn’t like what we do here at Buckeye Lake (duh!).  The major difference, however, isn’t equipment and training as you might expect.  It is a totally different racing format – Match Racing.  Most sailors aren’t all that familiar with it.  It’s head-to-head, one-on-one, winner take all racing and has its own unique rules and strategies specific to the discipline.  The following video is the first in a series (~ 45 min total) produced by Dave Perry & US Sailing.  It will take you through the process so that you can better understand what you’re watching as you cheer on your favorite syndicate to win the Prada Cup this week.