We could not ignore the next round of the America's Cup taking place in San Francisco. One of the main contenders for the win is the titled Oracle Team. The 34th America's Cup is introducing a new class of AC72 boats - 22-metre solid-sail catamarans designed for maximum speed (up to 40 knots) rather than stability. The slightest mistake and the boat could capsize or break.
Hundreds of sensors in the hull, keels and mast are wired to a server in a sealed container. The server, on the other hand, transmits information via a wireless access point to a computerized «wristwatch» and other devices to the crew. The computer records the mast tilt and turn to calculate the true wind speed, and calculates the optimum moments of sail manipulation needed to maintain the speed limit.
