The America’s Cup is arguably the only event that makes sailing exciting and amazing. On Wednesday racers took their multi-million-dollar race yachts to the straight of Bermuda and ludicrous winds did this to New Zealand’s boat.
New Zealand’s America’s Cup yacht flew out of the water and crashed in spectacular fashion
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Team New Zealand tried to adjust during the second race of the day when their yacht pitched out of the water and capsized — falling over its own wingsail.
It was one of the wildest days of sailing in recent memory. Winds exceeded 20 knots, with crosswinds reported to be four times that. Veteran British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie explained what it was like to The Telegraph:
“I’d liken it to skiing on ice. You really have to go for it as fast as you can. If you try to play it safe, that’s almost worse. It was absolutely mind-blowing. I’m sure it made for good TV.”
It’s unclear what kind of damage was done to the boat in the crash, but it’s expected repairs will cost in the millions.
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