Americas Cup Rules & Tactics Explained

[@alanmansfield664]

Quietly spoken, clear and instructive. Most enjoyable.

[@garyr1522]

perfectly put

[@robincole1873]

A great insight into what the umpires see and how they make their calls. Thanks.

[@375dash]

Really good work here - getting time with Mr Slater, really teasing out the nuances of what they are doing for high speed racing and how and why it deviates from the regular RRS, while also making sure the fundamentals were explained. Top job!

[@Aoi_Fans]

Great video. Sometimes the work of chief umpire Richard Slater is hidden in the shadows so I'm grateful that Matt shines a light on this topic and gives us a glimpse behind the scenes. I certainly learned a thing or two here.

[@jameshammond2757]

Awesome video, looking forward to flying into Barcelona tomorrow to support NZ 🇳🇿

[@Terra_Lopez]

Wow, good on you! 😊

[@marcohanig176]

I almost didn't watch this because the title sounded like "rules 101." Instead, this was definitely for experienced racers. Thanks so much for doing this!

[@BoldRam]

But still completely understandable by a noob as well.

[@dejuanmcguire9348]

Thanks for that comment. I am looking for "Rules 101" so at least I know what to expect from this video.

[@HERU-ls9jn]

As a complete novice but lover of the Americas cup for the past 7cycles this is so informative. Makes it even better knowing the thinking behind rhe strategy. Brilliant

[@MikeCaffyn1]

Absolutely Brilliant - and so so useful to all of us mere mortals.

[@tutornick]

thanks for posting.. I know very little about sailing but have found your videos on the Americas Cup very informative and entertaining. looking forward to seeing the finals

[@denisbenard7480]

Great episode!! I have been racing all my life but there were some rules I did not understand, this was super helpful. I will probably have to watch a few times 😊

[@johndone5906]

Matt, you’ve done it again; great presentation, well presented well explained and as always very timely. Thanks for what you do.

[@andycarter95]

Very clearly explained and the first time I’ve seen these rules specifically explained- thanks

[@jimmoore8920]

Well done again

[@marksinclair701]

That was super-helpful, thanks!

[@bwtcf]

Wow. Absolutely brilliant video. Thank you (and Richard) for such an illuminating run through so many critical incidents and rules. Must watch content.

[@au1639]

Excellent materials. All watching the race tomorrow, needs to know these, to enjoy the show. Would be nice if these graphics are revealed more, during the race.

[@NICOLAS25478]

Or at least in a after race report to explain what realy happened cos often the viewing angles are very badly chosen in relation to what we need/want to see.

[@au1639]

@@NICOLAS25478 fully agreed.

[@toddbrown7074]

really good video and glad you homed in on several of the head scratching ones we have seen thus far. That one where Luna Rossa cleared their penalty and immediately could cross ETNZ still doesnt feel quite right, but now I atleast understand the logic.

[@davidcarroll4150]

Awesome video. Thanks for that ….. it explains a lot actually.

[@edcotterjr1926]

Need a video on how the boundaries work and how the crews know where they are. Thanks.

[@jorgeconcheyro]

I hope this video gets a lot of views so Matt can record some more with Richard. Even if you know the rules, at these speed is almost impossible to see the penalty. Awesome video, thanks Matt!!

[@MckayGeoff]

Excellent video - very informative!

[@lawrencefalk8714]

super helpful! thanks!

[@philipjohnson1103]

Very good episode! Cleared up a lot of my questions. Thank you!

[@MrGiuse72]

OOOOOOOOOOHHH !!!! AT LAST !! :-D thank you very much for these very important insights.

[@spectralize13]

An awesome episode. Thanks for that.

[@thethirdman225]

Fantastic video. Great explanations. More of this stuff please!

[@Silvius.2]

Thanks great explanation of rules.

[@StephenFoxworthy]

I loved the opportunity to hear from the Richard and the umpires, but I personally think that the umpires are giving too much power to the leading boat with these rule interpretations. In the example of LRPP getting a penalty for not giving time/room for ETNZ to avoid, my interpretation would be that ETNZ had time to consider their move prior to tacking, and if they tack too close and then LRPP gain an overlap, it should have been ETNZ getting the penalty. We saw the same with LRPP vs TGB, I thought the Italians got away with a number of close calls because the judging seems to be in the moment of overlap, and doesn’t consider the fact that the lead boat chose to out themselves in the situation where an overlap is bound to occur. There are so few chances to overtake or have lead changes due to the disturbed air from a leading boat that when a close cross occurs and the lead boat tacks too close, they shouldn’t then also have a ‘get out of jail’ card as Richard calls it - you played that card when you chose to take so close…

[@FrontNine09]

Totally agree, it is also less safe as it's better for the leading boat to tack in the face of the trailing boat given their protections.

[@Gottenhimfella]

The umpires are required to make decisions based on the rules the teams have agreed to. In cases where there is latitude, the umpires regularly meet with the teams to explain their thinking and hear the point of view of the sailors. I think you can be sure any improvements which need to be made will be made for the next Cup. It would self-evidently not be desirable to change the rules (or even the interpretations, unless those had proved dangerous) in the middle of the contest, because the teams have to have the opportunity to practice new ways of manoevring under new rules, under racing conditions (but at the start of a series, or in the prelims), with the umpires adjudicating.

[@FrontNine09]

@@Gottenhimfella Quite right, and I believe that under these rules the umpires have got every call spot on. Let's hope the rules are changed for next cycle because deleting Rule 13 makes no sense.

[@Gottenhimfella]

If a boat tacks too close, the trailing boat will get an overlap, and then they can luff. Provided they do so in such a way that the other boat has room and time to respond (and bearing in mind they have displays which show the "keep clear" boundary for each boat, also the two ghost boats) then there is no need for a penalty, because the response will involve a downspeed tack which is a natural and suitably costly penalty. It is better to avoid involving the umpires except when the rules are broken. If a boat tacks so close a collision would have been inevitable without drastic and speed-draining action from the other boat (eg risking coming off the foils), the other boat can be penalised up to and including disqualification. The ghost boat displays allow the umpires to evaluate such contingencies quickly and accurately.

[@FrontNine09]

@@Gottenhimfella this is all well and good in theory, but a tacking boat is around 8 knots slower on the tack exit, furthermore the geometry of the diamonds widens the keep clear zone. The trailing boat therefore has to make a big bear away or luff/tack to keep clear (depending on whether they're to windward/leeward) whilst overtaking. This turns the entire purpose of Rule 13 on its head, is more disadvantageous for a trailing boat (not good for racing) and in my view is more dangerous.

[@Skylife333]

Amazing video! I was craving to learn how the rules were used with theses boats. Fİnally a well described analysis.

[@farmerjimbob67]

Fascinating video!

[@Onelesstraveledby]

Congrats, and well done team New Zealand! Well deserved, and in convincing fashion. Good effort England, to make it a race against a bit of a faster yacht, I think!

[@BoldRam]

Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you!! 👌👌🙏🙏

[@IBPROPN15]

One of the best videos, thank you.

[@cubatea]

superb video and explanation. thanks

[@tjpowell5117]

I accidentally went to Barcelona at the exact same time as Americas cup. I got to watch the first few races live. What an event!

[@Eltoca21]

Super interesting and fascinating. Love this. What is the idea behind having the shadow/ghost boat for each boat that we see on the graphic?

[@Gottenhimfella]

It shows where each boat (and their keep clear boundary) will be in three seconds time if they continue on their current heading at their present speed. It lets the umpires (and the crews of the boats) see if they will be too close at any time within the next three seconds, by using their visualisation skills to interpolate)

[@Cheers_Warren]

Thats,great to see but I feel the rules don't encourage tight engagement which is normal in match racing. it seems that the boats need a light or signal so its clear to the sailors when a boat is on port or starboard because there is no grey area.

[@red.blue.seahorse1951]

they do have what your talking about but not a light, they have the display we just saw. Are you missing the point of how fast these boats are- too fast for umpires to keep up with , and also how difficult they are to keep up on foils. the old 12 meter match racing yachts did not manoeuvre any more than these do.

[@Cheers_Warren]

@@red.blue.seahorse1951 that’s good that they have a port starboard signal. We do get the red green circles on the boats in simple p/s but as spectators we don’t see what the sailors see . With so much electronics involved we need way more information .

[@davidmorritt8115]

Really interesting, thank you.

[@stevelowe5985]

The other comments have said it all, great video. Thanks.

[@paulsmith4220]

Brilliant. Compulsory viewing...

[@aamontalto]

Excellent video.

[@paulhilliar]

Best episode ever

[@PaShaBaLaLaLaLa]

Great content, thank you. Could you please comment on the process of changing course rotation depending on the wind during the race. I somehow think it might be more interesting to keep it ‘old school’, this would make the race more challenging.

[@johanbergkvist8834]

That was very interesting!

[@andyfrizzell4352]

Fantastic content. Great insight.

[@Gottenhimfella]

Does anyone know how long the ghost boat vectors are? Nathan Outteridge mentioned recently that the race boat on-board software display has a ghost boat vector 10 seconds long for both boats, which seems much too long, and longer than these umpire software vectors.

[@PlanetSailOnline]

3 seconds

[@Gottenhimfella]

@@PlanetSailOnline Brilliant, thanks. Any idea whether it's the same for the race software (on the boats)? This was super-interesting, probably the best in-depth analysis I've ever seen of AmCup decisions.

[@paulgush]

It's very interesting to see the rules and their interpretation explained but these are _bad_ rules. Too often the calls have come down to the arbitrary shapes of the boxes drawn around the boats, and the instantaneous tack and gybe rule is ridiculous. Unsafe too, as we saw with prada and Ineos in the prestart. Lastly the use of telemetry and 2-D animations is a flawed concept. It simply can't show how close is too close or how dangerous a maneuver may be.

[@leesweet9]

Excellent explanation! What is the 'second' boat (in front of the actual one)? Where it will be in X seconds?

[@SwOoPy287]

Thankyou for the unsure 👏👏

[@B-nu8ss]

As a fan of both this and F1, it is hilarious for this umpire to say that 10 seconds is "a long time" to take to give a penalty. Also, I wish F1 (and motor racing in general) would adopt as clear a rulebook as there is for match racing. It would clear up a lot of controversies.

[@nh-ss5pw]

Bravo !

[@gramos9115]

why do the race organisers keep changing the course length ?

[@carlosferrao3753]

A question to Matthew, I’d like to know what clock do you wear.

[@johnholmes7342]

The boat in front always wins, they don't have to be fastest, they just have to be in front. Rule#1 for match racing: Stay between you competitor and the mark. Speed helps, but strategy always wins.

[@thesailingkiwi]

Very clear

[@matthijsklomp]

What does Ian think about Mozzy sails proposal of zero VMG as a way to clear a penalty?

[@wolfgangreitz9065]

Not many tactics but many rules explained. Which other sports have so many rules that need lots of explanations?

[@NZbluesky]

Wow thank you!

[@londonman8688]

why are these rules required ???

[@davidcooper2516]

Brilliant! Thanks so much for this.

[@NobodyOfNote-qv5wh]

My fear is that nomal race sailors are looking at the AC event and not realising they are applying a very different rule set. For example at the top mark. Already heard people thinking port has right of way at the top mark at the 3 boat length circle in normal racing....!!!😮

[@philippesails4973]

I love this channel. As to the rules, if you thought you got them, just watch the video…you will fall in love with cyclism! What a contradiction: to put boats on foils to make them quicker, To attract a wider audience…that will NEVER understand those rules, But you lose the traditional audience of AC! No wonder the kiwis told that if they win (I would question the if), they.lol move back to more standard boats, for cost reasons ans also to get closer to something that what we call sailing.

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

Can we get a clarification on what happen when the NZ woman's team was penalized for being in front of the start line, went back, started correctly, yet were force to return. Was that umpires incorrect decison or a deliberate attempt by the umpires to prevent nz from reaching the final?

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

The umpires need to address this as it looks as though they were biased.

[@StephenFoxworthy]

@@kiwioffgrid2437 they didn’t fully cross the line on their 2nd attempt, they were close but still OCS so had to do it all again

[@vanbarrettdesign]

Fairly well done, but this presentation could have been done better and maybe a month ago. At times, I couldn’t hear Slater what he said. Again, we need more of this and more in depth commentary. Why hasn’t this been done sooner, especially if the rules have changes to accommodate the new boat design? Why? To me, it seems like the whole AC Organisation has dropped the ball on this year’s event.

[@LooksInteractive]

Grreat

[@williamware9443]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@TheChewbee]

Super vidéo however super tough to follow if you are 1- not an expert 2- not a native speaker

[@Silvius.2]

Sadly LR jimmy and bruni not read rules? LR not getting a penalty only turning a bit away from kiwis at tacking on from kiwis.

[@nickwalters5380]

About time. Not seen the vid yet but an explanation of the rules, tactics, and dirty underhandedness of match racing would be good. To make this event more TV friendly some sort of 10 min video (the limit of modern concentration) to explain sailing, match racing and the the rules would be nice. It's pretty simple, port starboard, windward leward, rights at the mark. Just sail faster. Edit I take it all back. Go Ineos.

[@gervaseclifton-bligh7216]

Matt looking as confused as me at some points😂 That’s what happens when the rules aren’t applied consistently I guess

[@antestiusleontius3774]

Can you please correct the title? It's America's Cup with apostrophe. Grammar is important.

[@robferenczi3024]

I wonder why they do not let the computer analyse protests. It can apply the rules faster and without any human interpretation errors.

[@johnh9031]

I think the Brits might have this one, gonna be so close though

[@Gottenhimfella]

I'd love to see this in depth dissection of the penalty imposed on GB in the final stage of the prestart, Race 4 of the Finals, when Italy, as windward boat on the same tack, kept turning towards GB for nearly a second after GB gained an overlap (as a result of that turn), at the end of which time the true wind crossed Italy's stern and they acquired rights due now being on starboard.

[@Boblewis5]

I think the point was that for almost all of that turn, LR was clear ahead and only a fraction of a second after the overlap LR became starboard which you can see from watching the boats … you need Slaters monitor. Rule 15 requires GBR to give some time for LR to process the ROW change and respond and by then LR was on Starboard. Obviously judgement involved in time to respond but the call seems within reason.

[@robertwoodroffe123]

@@Gottenhimfella the start of Manoeuvre ! Don’t enter an intersection on the road in a giveaway situation, and say the rear ended u

[@fedup3449]

There's no umpire vote anymore, it's just meeeeeeeeeee, and I'm elfin antipodean, O bloody K mates?

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

Also, the protection zone around the boats often crossed however were only enforced sometimes. Either it's a penalty or not. No room for interpretation should be allowed. After witnessing the woman's race I don't trust these umpires to be objective. We need rule clarifications that are 100% objective, never subjective. No grey rules allowed!

[@garygavin857]

England lose on penalty shoot out after extra time. Lol. If its that tight & close then the fine margins matter. Knowing the rules , blocking your opponents in thou shall not pass is how Ineos won their last match. We all know be first be fast block block then sail away first is how it happens. So is Ineos going to be fast handle the conditions be competitive make no mistakes & outsail NZ. Thats what we will learn. 6 all with a final match to win is the TV producers dream. Lets see how NZ handle the pressure. They made the rules after all as the holder. Do we want close racing No. A boring 7.0 Ineos win will do for me. That is a stretch off the imagination. We are watching because it's compelling & we are invested. Planetsail dots the T's & crosses the I's .

[@kevinoshea9125]

Baffling!!! And I’m not stupid!

[@agar041]

Maybe complainslie should watch this

[@francescoterzani1295]

Secondo penalty to LR is still complete bullshit today, 2 totally identical situation with opposite outcome. honestly the penalty sistem is just not there this cup

[@JamesAuchterlonie-b9n]

I don't know... Racing is about no limits. It's like saying you can't take chances. As a racer, it's about infinitesimal limits. We as racers are well informed of the consequences. Death or injury is not a concern... Just saying ,🤷

[@petersellers9219]

Now that I've absorbed a gist of the rules I'm less interested in the sport

[@simplerefinedliving9285]

Great video analysis. Fine to have your point of view on that "PENALTY", just seems the same with all British supporters tho. Absolutely no way did Mr. Slater get that wrong, I'm completely miffed why you can't accept it and move on. Ineos are coming across as sore losers & complainers and its not a good look. Mr Ainsleys true colours are being displayed and he needs to grow on because TMNZ will just keep putting the needle in. His constant use of the Protest button is just a joke....

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

"Allowed to turn tbe penalty off earlier"....opens the for subjective and corrupt decisions to be made. There needs to be no room for subjective interpretation of the rules.

[@TM-yr3pc]

Typical AC, too complicated for the non sailing viewer.

[@ryan2manyfishburgh595]

Terrible title. - no explaining whatsoever.