As previously mentioned, the Oakcliff Team was up in Boston on Monday to watch the Extreme 40s. I personally was interested to see these predecessors to the next Cup in action. I have to say that while I am not convinced that this is the right platform for the America's Cup, it certainly is a good show for the public.
Also I was lucky enough to get 'drafted' into doing some commentary live from the Team New Zealand boat. Each boat tends to have one helm, one tactician, one trimmer and one beef. The TNZ's beef is also in charge of welcoming the guest on board. As I stepped on with sunglasses and the required helmet and life jacket he started to ask if I had ever sailed before ... and then just caught himself. It was extra funny to the other 3 as earlier in the week he had asked Rich Wilson and Seb Josse - two great round the world alone sailors if they had ever been on a boat before. At least he is learning.
My biggest impression was that the cats force you to increase your reaction time, boat for boat as well as tactically. Pretty much it is like driving a race car and you need rear view mirrors as a tiny bit of a puff and a boat 10 boat lengths behind all of the sudden is right on your tail.
As for the Team New Zealand professionalism it is truly amazing. Coach Rod Davis was shadowing and had something constructive to say between every race. On board even when we had an average start and then missed a big puff on the left the team was fully engaged, focused and verbally reminding each other, just keep chipping away. They set themselves up for every opportunity that they could grab and didn't let the thing that they couldn't control get into their heads. It worked as in one mark rounding we sailed around 3 boats in about 3 seconds and they ended up winning the regatta overall and grabbed the top spot on the tour.
So, am I a convert? No, but I would definitely like to jump on-board again at some point.
The Ker 11.3 and the Ker 50 will be in Marblehead for the start of the race on Sunday but yesterday and today the 50 was the star of the show at Courageous Sailing in Boston. Courageous was one of the forerunners of community sailing, reaching out into the cities to get youth onto the water. They are creating acorns, literally, two of our current team members came from Courageous. 
