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SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — San Francisco Bay is enjoying host this weekend to a brand new crusing pageant known as Sail GP. The races are brief, the boats are very speedy and, if Saturday’s crowd was once any indication, it can be the wave of the longer term.
That is handiest the second one season for Sail GP, a world crusing pageant that patterns itself at the Grand Prix auto racing circuit. The 50-foot catamarans trip up out of the water on foils, activate a dime and will achieve speeds over 60 mph.
“Sail GP is all about high-adrenaline, close-to-shore racing,” stated leader advertising and marketing officer Erica Kerner. “It’s the quickest boats at the water. It’s completely unbelievable.”
In contrast to The united states’s Cup, which is as a lot a era pageant as a ship race, Sail GP boats are equivalent so the races are gained or misplaced by way of the ability of the sailors. This weekend is the season’s closing tournament and the prelims will come to a decision who joins the U.S. and Australia in Sunday’s ultimate, single-race dash for a $1 million.
“I feel it’s a perfect concept, I do, and that is the most efficient position to sail,” stated racing fan Doug Roberts. “That’s why they’re going to finally end up right here, since you’re now not going to seek out anywhere like San Francisco Bay.”
San Francisco Bay is a perfect venue for to observe a crusing pageant. It options sturdy winds and offers an available waterfront giving folks an up-close view of the motion. The possibility of seeing boats shifting so speedy, so as regards to shore, introduced out an enormous crowd of spectators Saturday.
“It’s doggone exciting! Who doesn’t need to be delighted?” stated Greg White, who traveled from Santa Barbara to observe the races. “That is beautiful just right stuff.”
White, who’s an avid sailor, stated Sail GP is already having an affect at the racing group. He stated The united states’s Cup switched from unmarried hulls to catamarans and are actually additionally racing on foils.
“They understand they have got to do one thing, as a result of that is right here to stick,” White stated. “There’s slightly little bit of, ‘I’m going to meet up with those different loopy fellows,’ and just right on ’em for it.”
Crusing fanatic Nate Bernardo thinks the shorter, 14-minute sprints of Sail GP might turn into extra well liked by the general public than conventional yacht racing and the The united states’s Cup could be in hassle.
“The The united states’s Cup is extra prestigious however Sail GP is slightly bit faster-pace and I feel it’s going to enchantment extra to the more youthful demographic,” he stated. “That’s the long run.”
There shall be 3 races Sunday, two extra qualifiers then the general, million-dollar race at 3 p.m. The development is targeted on the Saint Francis Yacht Membership and will best possible be seen anyplace alongside the waterfront from Crissy Box to Marina Inexperienced.
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