Missing your daily dose of America’s Cup racing? You’re not the only ones. One of the highlights of AC37 was Glenn Ashby’s commentary – the Yachting World team pick some of their favourite gems from the Australian sailor and punditThe strict America\u2019s Cup nationality rules and limited crew numbers on board the AC75 may create something of a bind for team managers and require the sailors to do some careful planning of where to call home, but it has a fantastic side effect for the viewing public: talented, knowledgable sailors who aren\u2019t on the boat but can jump into the commentary booth and provide added insight.
\nBack in the 36th America\u2019s Cup in Auckland we were treated to the wisdom of Nathan Outteridge, and his remarkable prospicience when it comes to wind shifts and tactical considerations. This time around Outteridge was famously called up to take the helm of Emirates Team New Zealand opposite Pete Burling, going on to win the 37th America\u2019s Cup.
\nThis year, joining double Olympic Gold medallist and broadcasting legend Shirley Robertson and Kiwi commentator Stephen McIvor in the booth was Australian record breaking sailor and former Emirates Team New Zealand trimmer Glenn Ashby.
\nAshby was an integral part of Team New Zealand\u2019s 2017 America\u2019s Cup win. Photo: Richard Hodder \/ Emirates Team New Zealand
\nGlenn Ashby multiple world champion
\nAshby\u2019s sailing CV reflects much of what has been cutting edge and slightly crazy in the world of high performance racing over the past two decades.
\nHaving grown up far from the sea in the Australian town of Bendigo, Victoria, he got the bug early and was racing by the age of 10. His first boat was a humble dinghy called the Northbridge Junior \u2013 an 8ft timber scow with a shallow profile, similar to a windsurfing board, that cost just AUD$150.
\nAfter beginning his career as a sailmaker after school he began competing internationally in the A-Class catamaran, winning the World Championships in 1996 aged just 18. He went on to win the A-Class worlds another nine times.
\nHe also raced in the Tornado catamaran \u2013 at the time the fastest Olympic class \u2013 winning a Silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 with Darren Bundock, and has won three Formula 18 catamaran World Championships.
\nIn 2013 he was wing trimmer for Team New Zealand in the dramatic 2013 America\u2019s Cup in which Oracle Team USA comeback to overhaul New Zealand\u2019s lead, something he described in an interview with Andy Rice as \u2018One of the most disappointing periods of my life\u2019.
\nHe returned in a skipper\/trimmer role for the 2017 America\u2019s Cup, with a very young Peter Burling helming to win in Bermuda, and was mainsail trimmer for their successful defence in Auckland at the 2021 America\u2019s Cup.
\nAshby piloting Horonuku at 222.4kph over the Australian sand flats. Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand
\nAfter 2021 Ashby returned home to Australia. However, the self confessed speed freak, who has also raced BMX and motorcross bikes, then led a unique special project for Emirates Team New Zealand, with a wind-powered land speed record attempt that saw a unique wing-powered vessel Horonuku flying at 222.4kph over the Australian sand flats. He also worked as a consultant for Orient Express Team France in the 37th America\u2019s Cup.
\nCommentary gems
\nFor the Barcelona America\u2019s Cup, Ashby\u2019s insights into how the AC75s operate were unrivalled, giving knowledgable and pithy explanations of how ventilation and cavitation affects the foils. He also quickly identified some of the subtleties of boat handling differences between the team, or how the sheet loads varied depending on whether they had opted for a pin head or square headed jib shape.
\nAs someone who has been deeply entrenched within the Kiwis\u2019 camp for many years, it was notable that when Ashby said they were \u2018DEFINITELY not sandbagging\u2019, they probably weren\u2019t. More than anyone else, he would have known what the Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 was capable of \u2013 and we\u2019re sure there was plenty of insight that Ashby chose not to reveal of his team\u2019s processes and potential.
\nBut his straight-talking Aussie delivery also delivered some true commentary gems. Early in the regatta, after American Magic had submarined their AC75 the previous day, he got a chuckle out of helmsman Tom Slingsby by saying he was \u201csure the shore team appreciated you giving the boat back without the jacuzzi jets on\u201d
\n\u201cYou could barefoot waterski behind these boats\u201d. Photo: Ricardo Pinto \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nHe described sailing the notoriously twitchy AC75s in cross seas and big wave state as \u201clike riding in a tea pot through moguls down a steep ski slope\u201d, while on a smooth and slick day he noted \u201cYou could barefoot waterski behind these boats going upwind at the moment.\u201d
\nAttempting to get ahead on a one-sided course day left Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli \u201cAs frustrated as a mosquito in a shop full of mannequins\u201d. And when INEOS Britannia had only to complete the course after Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli broke their mainsheet Ashby described as: \u201cFoot off the gas, cruising down the highway on cruise control eating a hamburger.\u201d
\nWhen the onboard data shared included some of the huge wattage outputs from the cyclors, Ashby noted on the windy first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup finals that \u201cYou could probably run a couple of toasters, a fridge and microwave off what the cyclors are putting out at the moment.\u201d
\nClose to the bone
\nSometimes Ashby\u2019s comments got a little close to the edge. When Athena Pathway skipper and British double Olympic Gold medallist Hannah Mills joined the commentary team for a day he said: \u201cI definitely feel like a thorn between two roses here \u2013 I can hear the chime of the gold medals\u2026 And it\u2019s not the first time I\u2019ve made a prick of myself either!\u201d
\nBut that was nothing compared to his Kiwi counterpart Stephen McIvor, whose questions led to a post-race interview with INEOS Britannia skipper, Ben Ainslie being referred to the Arbitration Panel.
\nSome choice words were picked up on Ainslie\u2019s hot mic. Photo: America\u2019s Cup
\nAfter Day 2 of racing, when the British team were 3-0 down to Emirates Team New Zealand, McIvor finished his live link to Ainslie with the question: \u201cAre you still believing that you\u2019re as close to performance [to New Zealand]? As I get that feeling coming off your boat.\u201d
\nWhile the meaning of the question wasn\u2019t totally clear, Ainslie clearly saw it as bias, firing back: \u201cMaybe that\u2019s the Kiwi commentator in you, mate\u201d before the interview ended.
\nThen as Ainslie climbed out of his cockpit, with the live link still a \u2018hot mic\u2019, he could be heard to say something we can\u2019t print here, but begins with F, ends with R, and has W in the middle.
\nAn anonymous party made a complaint to the Arbitration Panel for the America\u2019s Cup Regatta, citing Rule 69 Misconduct \u2013 though it was noted that Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Burling also let out a four-letter word in the heat of the moment, saying \u201c****, we crossed swords there\u201d when the two boats came together in the pre-start.
\nSensibly, the Arbitration Panel ruled that \u201cneither Ben nor Peter committed misconduct under Racing Rules AC Rule 69. The broadcast has not caused widespread offence and has not brought the sport into disrepute.\u201d
\nIt wouldn\u2019t be the America\u2019s Cup without a bit of friction, and we\u2019re definitely missing the intrigue, entertainment and insight of the past two months.<\/p>\n
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The post \u2018Like riding in a tea pot through moguls\u2019 \u2013 Why we\u2019ll miss Glenn Ashby\u2019s America\u2019s Cup commentary appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Missing your daily dose of America’s Cup racing? You’re not the only ones. One of the highlights of AC37 was Glenn Ashby’s commentary – the Yachting World team pick some of their favourite gems from the Australian sailor and punditThe … <\/p>\n