Apart from the most obvious fact that these two boats are all composite, winged 30 knot racers, they are also laced with cutting edge electronics and sensors.

Case in point: The helmsman for the USA boat BMW/Oracle racing is outfitted with a Heads Up Display glasses that shows him all the wind information and rigging load information and allows him to make adjustments that would just be impossible without.

He looks like a member of the Borg.  Resistance is futile.

Update: Here is a picture of the cyborg in action: