Look Out for USA's "Dog" in the America's Cup!

Bobbing up and down on a rib on the western Mediterranean waters off the coast of Valencia the other day I drew up alongside the challenger for next week's America's Cup and saw something you have never seen before on the open seas of this planet. BMW Oracle Racing's "USA" is so enormous, so powerful and so awesome to look at that the world's sailing media have re-christened it "Dogzilla," and for good reason. 30 metres in length (the same size as a blue whale), its piece de resistance is its wing, which towers up into the sky at an incredible 57 metres (or 190 feet). Dogzilla boasts the tallest mast ever witnessed on a yacht, and one that can be seen for many a mile on the open water. At speeds of 42 knots it is likely to mount a serious challenge to the current holders of the world's oldest sporting contest, Switzerland's "Alinghi," especially as "USA" is skippered by three-time winner and America's Cup legend, Russell Coutts. There are two potential problems, however: first, it is far more effective in strong winds than light winds, and nobody knows which way the weather will turn on February 8th when the first of the best of three races begins; and second, "USA" has entered so many unchartered waters with its design that nobody knows for sure how she will fare in match racing. The world will soon find out whether Dogzilla is a beast, or just a dog.