does the wind work close to shore?

But that's a start. I recall "the Doctor" mentioned a lot during that series.

But recall the AC45s can get powered up in light air, too (at least enough to make a show of it...)

And maybe keeping the AC45 design as is might be a good "step", since many sailors/teams would need to become intimately versed in using the wing foil before they step further and move to hydrofoils...?

Are hydraulics that different than mechanical gears (winches) and lines? Both move in or out based on human input (either through direct manual manipulation or programming)

Some human should make and execute the decision (to trim/ease or change direction). How that command is executed (electronic, manual, hydraulic) doesn't matter as much in my mind

And drone jets will follow just as soon as the public gets used to driverless cars (at which point Google will make trillions)

We don't seem to have a problem with roller coasters and other "driverless" entertainment, even when it's assembled and run by folks with IQ lower than my shoe size...

As to light air days, why not just let them have two sets of daggerboards and they can pick which ones to use on any given day? Bummer if you pick the straight boards and the breeze fills, but I dont see how that is any different than leaving the code O on shore and then needing it....THe boards are your underwater sails, let them have different sets just like with sails...

According to statements by Coutts, there was no software control of foils.

I'm good with that, but would rather watch races in moderate winds rather than drifters...

With two boats and the high speeds of being able to get to the next wind puff or tidal stream, there seems little chance of passing once one boat is behind.

What if there were three boats racing, there would always be one boat with the chance of not being covered, we may then get much tighter racing as the lead boat would always have to play conservatively to prevent any chance of one boat taking a flyer to one side or other.

I thought we saw quite a bit of passing in this AC. "More than any other AC in history" as I remember it.

I have to say that this has been the most enjoyable amcup in my living history save 1983 .

As far as I'm concerned, stick with the 72's. Tighten up the rules a bit if necessary and have a yearly 45 world cup season a-la F1 in the great ports of the world.

My only wish would be foiling 45's in a 15 boat fleet (death) race