The Science of Sports and the America's Cup: Live Chat at Noon on Weds., Sept. 4

Join us for a live chat on Google+ to discuss the latest technology driving the America's Cup sailing yachts to average speeds of up to 40 knots, or 46 miles per hour

By The Editors

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The sailing yachts that compete annually in the America’s Cup match races have changed dramatically in the past year due to technological innovation such as multihulls and fixed wings. Join us for a live chat (on the Google+ Hangout platform) with Scientific American editor Mark Fischetti; Kent State University physicist Bryon Anderson, author of The Physics of Sailing Explained; and Adam Fisher, a sailing correspondent for Wired magazine, at noon EDT on Wednesday, September 4, to talk about how these changes make yachts seem to "fly out of the water."

Also joining: Paul Larsen, the fastest sailor in the world ever. Last year he and his team broke the world speed sailing record three times. He also broke the nautical mile world record. He has amassed 100,000 offshore miles and five offshore world records including the 24-hour record. Earlier this year he sailed at the other end of the spectrum by serving as navigator on the Alexandra Shackleton where he and five others re-created Sir Ernest Shackelton's legendary trip from Elephant Island to South Georgia using only traditional equipment.

The chat will be displayed below starting at noon on Wednesday, and viewable on Scientific American's YouTube channel. If you have questions to ask in advance, feel free to post them below in the comments section or on Scientific American's G+ page.

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