This summer, in addition to serving as one of the host locations for the prestigious Copa America Centenario tournament, the city of Chicago also is the site of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series from June 10-12.
During a week away from the training ground, the Fire’s own Arturo Alvarez and Joey Calistri were given an opportunity Tuesday to check out the course and hit the water for a morning sail.
“I had no idea to expect,” said Calistri. “There’s so much that goes into working the boat. I had no idea we would go that fast.”
Though the experts sailing the boat described the wind conditions of Lake Michigan as pretty mild, the boat’s speeds this morning hit nearly 20 miles per hour, and both Alvarez and Calistri were given the opportunity to steer the vessel.
“I got to drive, to steer the boat,” said Alvarez. “We weren’t going as fast as when Joey was steering, he freaked us out a little bit, got some air time.”
Six teams, including the defending champion ORACLE TEAM USA, are in contention for the 35th America’s Cup which is scheduled for June 2017 in Bermuda. The qualifying events, which are known as the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, began in 2015 in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Bermuda, and continue this year across the world including Chicago.
“It’s pretty cool to see,” said Calistri. “It’s going to be like any other sporting event, it’s going to be really cool.”
Entering his first summer in Chicago, Alvarez agreed. “It wasn’t too windy today but it is called the Windy City, so I think it’s going to be perfect for sailing next week, should be a good show.”
After two hours on the water, Calistri picked up some new lingo that should come in handy come race week.
“I knew ‘jive ho’ before today,” said the Homegrown midfielder. “I thought ‘starboard’ was something but we didn’t hear it. There’s a ‘hull,’ it’s a buzz word.”
And should they decide to become two-sport athletes?
“I’d name my boat ‘Smooth Operator,’” said Alvarez.
What would Calistri go with?
“The Vito.”
For more information on the upcoming event, visit ACWSchicago.com.
