AC45 TV Trials in New Zealand.
Ooooh boy. So slick. Love that TV viewers will be able to see laylines as they shift with the wind and hear onboard communication between the sailors. This will be fun to watch.
That said, I do wish that the folks producing these videos would explore an alternative stock music collection. One that reflects the innovation of the sport while referencing its history, rather than auditory cues that scream, “THIS IS EXCITING. NOW THIS IS SERIOUS.” I don’t want to notice (or in this case, be distracted by) the music. These boats and this technology? Shit speaks for itself.
Stepping down from my soapbox now…
(Source: youtube.com)
America's Cup to revolutionize live sports coverage
The backbone of this new experience is also a breakthrough in sports broadcasting – augmented reality from a helicopter. This will be the first time live graphic insertions have been done from a moving platform.
Developed by the same team that developed the yellow first-down line widely used in the broadcast of American football and the Race/FX tracking and highlighting system used in NASCAR, this revolutionary graphics system will have a similar effect on the America’s Cup, connecting new audiences to the sport by creating greater understanding. The superimposed graphic elements will be used as technical aids for viewers, such as ahead-behind lines that can enable audiences to clearly see who is leading the race.
AC45’s sailing for the first time as a fleet. Sick as shit. The big boys - Terry Hutchinson, Jimmy Spithill and Iain Percy - seem impressed.
(Source: youtube.com)
Sea trials for the new AC45 are underway in Auckland, NZ. AC45 test skipper and ORACLE RACING skipper, Jimmy Spithill says: ”It’s fantastic …everyone at the dock is smiling. It’s an awesome tool and it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Will I ever tire of JS refering to boats as tools? Probably not.
San Francisco has been selected as the host venue for the 34th America’s Cup.
“We sought a venue that fulfills our promise — to showcase the best sailors in the world competing on the fastest boats,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority. “And hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise.”
(Source: youtube.com)
