These large yachts required lots of manpower to crew. The ships were manned like the old sailing ships from the 1800s and earlier. Lots of pulling on lines with large number of crew. I found it very entertaining as they raced and thought this might be a pleasant respite from dreary winter weather. It was enlightening to watch how those ships were sailed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sviJUw9MfMM
Good stuff, and I have trouble coming up with 2 to sail on the Thistle.
How did they do this bare handed. (Even more amazing, how did they keep their hats on.)
Several step higher, how did a crew do any of this in the snow and cold rounding the Cape. For days at a time 24 hours a day.
It was hard work for sure and physically demanding. I also noticed no gloves. Their hands had to be really calloused. He said in the film that they used fishermen and navy sailors as crew as they were the only ones capable of doing this. Watching the crew was very enlightening for me to grasp the physicality and manpower needed in the days of tall sailing ships. Those canvas sails must have been extremely heavy dry let alone when wet. Those sailing yachts sure were beautiful.
Early America's cup was amazing as were J Boats