SAILING AT THE EDGE:  BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE AMERICA'S CUP 

Written by JB Braun, SV EOS

Fresh off the 2024 America's Cup in Barcelona, JB and Kelley are excited to share a glimpse into the incredible technology and intense teamwork that define this iconic race.  Having joined the Salty Dawg community while preparing for their next cruising adventures, JB and Kelley were thrilled to be invited to contribute to the newsletter—especially given their shared adventures following alongside fellow Marbleheaders Katie & Jeremy Bloxham (Persephone) and Kate & Bill Jones (Carried Away).

JB’s career in the America's Cup world spans seven campaigns, with roles from sail designer to aerodynamic and hydrodynamic integration specialist, contributing to two America's Cup wins and a 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup victory.  His recent work with the British INEOS Britannia team has given him a front-row seat to some of the most advanced sailing technology ever seen.

Designing an AC75 is a study in precision and pressure.  By the time racing season arrives, major decisions—hull shapes, foil designs, and sails—are largely locked in.  At that point, time becomes your biggest enemy.  You can't afford to start over. You focus on what you can still control—like how to sail the boat better.

The AC75s are technological marvels—light, fast, and foiling above the water at breathtaking speeds.  Crew roles are mirror-imaged from side to side: when the boat tacks, sailors switch jobs, making rapid adaptability crucial.  Sail trim and boat handling must become almost instinctive to leave sailors free to scan the racecourse for wind shifts—an impossible task if you're buried in controls.

Sail design itself has evolved massively.  Materials and manufacturing are incredible now, but it still takes six to eight weeks to make a new sail.  You have to commit early and trust your decisions.  For example, the team's race-winning mainsail had to be finalized months ahead of the final Cup races—long before knowing how conditions might unfold.

Kelley, immersed in the team life for three years, found the experience electric.  The sailing team was small—four sailors and four cyclors—and many came from outside the traditional sailing world.  But they all had this drive to be the best, and it created this tight, supportive environment.  Being part of that world, meeting the sailors' families, and watching the entire team—from marketing to shore crew—become one cohesive unit was one of the most inspiring parts of the journey.

For JB and Kelley, the America’s Cup wasn't just about high-tech boats and foiling battles—it was about commitment, teamwork, and a shared passion for pushing the limits of what’s possible on the water.  Exactly the kind of spirit that makes the Salty Dawg community so special.

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