This week, the winner and runner up of the America's Cup E-Series had the chance to test their sailing skills on an actual AC40.

New Zealanders Liam Dimock (14), who won the America's Cup virtual series with the nickname "eSailingCentral", and Robbie Wooldridge (19), who is also known as "Booshify", had the opportunity to race against the United States Women's Team.

Wooldridge said, "It was incredible, just experiencing all the speed, 37 knots with very light winds, is not something I am used to." Wooldridge spotted the series on Instagram and decided he would give it a try.

The U.S. women won the line honours despite the fact that the New Zealand youth team and the co-helmers of the race led the first lap.

Wooldridge said that he used to play games up to 40 hours per week to improve his skills. This practice paid off as he beat thousands of other competitors to make it to the grand final last weekend in Barcelona.

Dimock claimed he got into the sport after doctors told him he could be close to pneumonia and that he should stop training with his "actual" boat for a few months.

"I asked myself: 'How do I keep my brain sharp?' Dimock added that he is "more interested in sailing than games".

Dimock joked that his friends are jealous and "star-struck" after he won the eSeries.

Dimock said that he would like to return on the AC40, describing it as "a really cool boat". He added that driving the futuristic monohull with foiling technology was "like driving an F1 car".

Wooldridge stated that while simulators were useful when there was not enough wind to sail or the wind was too strong, "nothing beats the real thing".

Both from Auckland, the pair shared tips, practised together and also met New Zealand skipper Pete Burling.

Dimock hopes that his victory will prove to be a good sign, even though he won't be at the America's Cup where New Zealand faces Britain or Italy.

He said, "I hope it's luck for the Cup." (Reporting and editing by Toby Davis; Alexander Smith)

(source: Reuters)