America's Cup 2010: Race Thread

It was an exciting start! Then a "WTF" moment when USA stalled and Alinghy took off in the lead for 660 meters. But USA recovered and then took up the hunt and ran down the Cat! That was awesome too see them gradually overtake and pass Alinghy. They dropped the big jib and still flew!
Utterly amazing to see that Trimaran on one hull cutting through the water smooth as silk. I LIKED IT!!!

The next race will see a different course being sailed and you can bet Alinghy will be ON IT!!! Yep...a bit of a drag race overall but poetry in motion as well. IMHO

Let's go sailing!!!!!!!!

 

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Well,you know thats what a lot of people said about a big cat, or a big tri or a big wing!

 

The Wing

I sure would like to know how they control the wing with its multitude of elements(9?)-it must be so complex that its simple.....

 

The fist setup was WiFi ... too much carbon in the wing ...

Now they have a bank of garage door openers ... true story ... simple worked.

It was in one of the interviews that is so buried in the BS at SA that I can't find the link.

R

 

Thanks for that ,Randy. Does someone sit below and react to calls from the trimmer -do you know how they implement the actual settings?

 

This sounds a bit like throwing a towel..
Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), helmsman and team president Alinghi (SUI):
"I have absolutely no regrets and no frustration. Actually I quite enjoyed myself on the water today. It’s racing, you win, you lose that is part of the game. We gave everything we have got over the last two and a half years. So there there is nothing to be frustrated about or ashamed about. Again, the Cup is not over. We still have one race to go. They have to cross the line, finish the race and score two points."

 

Canting mast

Fantastic picture illustrating USA's mast vertical with the boat heeled: (click on image)
from Oracle website-

 

Basic mainsheet for front element Angle of Attack, the camber/twist is done with ropes and pulleys on the "mixer" at the top of the lowest flap element.

What surprised me was that the flap elements are flexible enough to twist so that the leech stays a fair curve when they twist the 9 flaps. The virtual eye digital model had the flaps showing gaps between them.

The covering material is under tension, and I have yet to see a wrinkle when they twist the sail. Neat stuff.

 

I too thought that these boats were awesome. The spread is to be expected when you start sailing at these speeds. I believe that the boats are designed as in shore speedsters ,not ocean crossing yachts. They were designed to compete for a single event, not an entire season. What's the point of pushing them outside of there design envelope and breaking one or both.These boats were sailing upwind at better than twice the true wind. Now that's a sailboat!
The AC is IMO the ultimate one design developmental class. You don't get simpler rules than lwl and draft. Yipee. David
Boatsmith Inc
We Build Your Dreams
(561) 744-0855
www.boatsmithfl.com

 

Mast Rake BMW

Mast rake: jib-no jib. This was pointed out in this thread by RHough: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/americas-cup-disaster-31404-4.html#post344182

pix: Giles Martin-Raget

 

If we are talking foilers, what the heck difference does the number of hulls make? Whether you have one or a dozen foils in the water, whatever they are bolted to is largely a matter of decor!

 

I love the mast angle you pointed out Doug
wow
what a ride that must be

 

2/14/10 Race 2

Prepare yourselves-history in the making: (maybe)
6AM EST live video here> www.americascup.com

 

RACE ON(probably)

Start in just a few minutes-Coutts and Larry on board USA-AP flag down-Alinghi has same straight boards a race 1-10 minute warning-go USA! Penalty Alinghi! Incredible! Start to USA.. Alinghi to right USA to left boat speed to Alinghi-Tower of Power going for it-tacking to cover -360m ahead of A-speed back to USA
WOW! Alinghi AHEAD at first cross!!! 70m Wow! Alinghi 117m ahead- both on stb-256m ahead for Alinghi-too bad they had to bring a penalty on themselves!! Alinghi 490m ahead-Alinghi down to 290m-back to 525m ahead for Alinghi! USA's leeward hull submerges all the way to the cross arm-wave piercing illustrated!
Loick Peyron steering Alinghi-Shift gives 300m back to USA-Alinghi 350m ahead-Alinghi raises protest flag! 230m lead for Alinghi-USA tacks-97m ahead for Alinghi as USA charges up! USA on layline-Alinghi high-any shift to right will force USA to tack-USA back in lead-match racing in multihulls! USA 28s ahead rounding 1st mark-USA 500m ahead-sure don't seem to be any passing lanes for Alinghi-USA 700m ahead-USA 1000+m in front and just pulling away-Wing is King-a Tower of Power-sorry,couldn't resist! 26-28k for USA; 21-23 Alinghi

 

Race 2

USA just did 33 knots-2000m ahead of Alinghi! USA 2:44 ahead-coverage is dropping off for 2-3 seconds at a time every 10 seconds or so-USA 2200m ahead-speeds nearly identical-no hope for Alinghi save for damage on USA-12 minutes left. USA has slowed a lot and is real high from the finish-just gybed.

Team USA/BMW Oracle WINS! Congratulations Team USA! final:5:26 ahead!