Gallery: America's Cup Brings Beautiful Big Cats to the Bay

  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 01
    Abner Kingman
    01

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-01

    *Swedish team Artemis Racing under perfect conditions during a training session for the America's Cup World Series.* Photo: Abner Kingman
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 03
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    02

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-03

    *France's Energy Team is among 11 crews competing in the AC World Series in San Francisco.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 02
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    03

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-02

    *A China Team crew member secures the boat as it is lifted into the water. The AC45 is a smaller version of the wickedly fast AC72 crews will race next year.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • ACWSSF081213
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    04

    acws-sf-08-12-13

    *Hoisting the main wing sail on the JP Morgan BAR. The mast on the AC45 is 70.5 feet tall and the wing has an area of 915 square feet.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 04
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    05

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-04

    *Luna Rossa Challenge carry sails down the dock before a long training day.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 05
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    06

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-05

    *J.P. Morgan BAR, led by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Ben Ainslie, flies down the Bay.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 06
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    07

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-06

    *The Luna Rossa wing, damaged in a capsize during practice. It looks bad, but the carbon fiber frames of the wing can be repaired within days.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 07
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    08

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-07

    *The wing sails are carbon fiber skeletons covered in a thin plastic film. This makes them light and easy to maintain and repair.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • ACWSSF081214
    09

    acws-sf-08-12-14

    *Going fast and getting wet with Artemis Racing.* Photo: America's Cup
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 08
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    10

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-08

    *The AC45 catamarans are extremely light and are moved by a powerful wing sail. Crew weight is an important counterbalance in keeping the boats upright.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 09
    11

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-09

    *Sailing the boats is a very intense, and very wet, endeavor.* Photo: America's Cup
  • America's Cup World Series SF August 2012 image 10
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    12

    americas-cup-world-series-sf-august-2012-image-10

    *The AC45 catamarans can reach around 30 knots (35 mph).* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • ACWSSF081211
    Abner Kingman
    13

    acws-sf-08-12-11

    *Following a capsize, the crew uses lines rigged to the boat to right themselves with help from a chase boat.* Photo: Abner Kingman
  • ACWSSF081212
    Gilles Martin-Raget
    14

    acws-sf-08-12-12

    *Despite their power, the wing sails can be de-tuned, to swing peacefully at a mooring overnight, ready for action the next day.* Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget
  • AC101
    15

    ac-101

    *America's Cup 101: A primer for beginners explaining the history of the event and the technology underpinning the wing-sail catamarans that will compete in the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco in 2013.* Video: America's Cup
  • AChighlights
    16

    ac-highlights

    *Highlights from the final day of racing at Newport, Rhode Island, on July 1.* Video: America's Cup
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