34th America's Cup: multihulls!

34th AC

Congratulations to Luna Rosa! At Last...... Maybe it will psych the crew up.
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The wind limits are very unfortunate-too damn low!

 

Sorry Doug, I totally disagree with you. It was a communication break down by the Omega - Camper - Emirates - New Zealand Team - and Dalton. The Same with Prada and Oracle one. All Communications Failure.

OC.

Don,t be surprised: the Omega - Camper - Emirates - New Zealand Team - and Dalton communications problem. He should have been advised by now. Problems will continue with them all now.

OC

 

34th AC

JNavas video of Oracle foiling upwind on 8/18/13:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8tcyLio7M8

 

It looks good but does VMG suffer for having the boat foiling high upwind? The extra speed may compensate but surely you are losing your leeway prevention device as the boat flies?

 

34th AC

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That was the spiel as to why they couldn't fly upwind. However, with the speed increases they've made recently coupled with realy good wind and, perhaps, less foil cant for more vertical lift and less leeway caused by the foil it may be possible with good vmg.

Pictures-L to R,-my ideas: 1) TNZ foil forming a "V"-most boats have been using a configuration similar to this gives altitude control similar to a "normal" surface piercing foil but requiring manual angle of incidence adjustment when speed exceeds or falls short of the range.Tends toward a lot of leeway when high. 2) "L" foil combined with curved foil(center of rough sketch)-still uses curved daggerboard+"L" foil but does not form a "V" and most lift is vertical or to windward. Still has similar altitude control characteristics of #1 and requires about the same or slightly more manual control. Low leeway.

 

An Interesting development, more to look forward to in the final match.

 

Another dull race that would have ended in another blowout if not for equipment failure.
2 duds out of 2 finals races so far.

 

34th AC

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Leo, you've been complaining about the so-called "dull" races for some time now-why do you keep watching? I find them interesting and exciting-and watching the birth of the most exciting America's Cup class in history is very cool. Sorry it bores you so much-surely you can find something more attuned to your interests to do with your time?

 

It was my impression today that Luna Rossa seem to be sailing better their gybes and tacks just seemed a bit faster and smoother. Still off the pace on boat speed of course.

 

I am hoping for some close duels or more disasters and spectacle. The
bow-stuff yesterday provided a few seconds of interest.

I have the races playing on one of the several screens in my lounge-room
with the sound low so it doesn't affect my work. Thanks for your concern.

And there's no need to apologise for it boring me. It's not your fault the
events are dull and more akin to time trials than "races".

 

They were supposedly designed for 78% more wind energy!

It's a bit of a farce when races are cancelled or delayed now because it's blowing up into a fresh breeze !

The boats are suffering damage in clement conditions. The carnage from trying to operate in 30-35 knots doesn't bear thinking about had they tried to foil.
SF bay is the clear winner
I think it would have been a better spectator event all around had they not had foils ( sorry Doug ).

 

34th AC

Sorry, Mike-the foils make the event and offer the greatest potential for a terrific series. I agree that the "new" wind limits are a bad joke.
As best I can tell nothing has failed because of a wind related problem and thats as it should be in boats theoretically designed and engineered to sail in 30 knot winds. TNZ's crash wasn't caused by the wind-it was caused by crew error. I haven't heard any details of the hydraulics issue on TNZ, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was somehow related to the "crash".

 

It reminds me the quarter mile acceleration 4000hp hot rod competition.
Now they need also the chute to slow down

 

I hope we are we going to see that potential realized during this series.
So far the bow-stuffing and men overboard have been the highlights.

 

There, fixed that for you!

You are absolutely entitled to have your own opinion. Other people are also allowed to have their own views. Mr. Johns' opinion is equally valid here.

So far the Louis Vuitton series is rapidly losing it's credibility as a measure of yacht racing and selecting the best challenger - because there hasn't been any completed head to head racing so far. I'm not doubting the abilities of the people sailing the boats. I'd like to both teams be able to complete races together so the contest is more between sailors and less between repair crews and parts inventories. The absolute best sailors in the world are sitting idle watching repair crews work - and they do not look happy about not being able to race each other.

I think the AC72s are magnificent multihulls with incredible performance capable of shattering people's conceptions of what efficiency and speed is possible from sail boats within a very limited set of conditions.

I'm not so sure the AC72s are great platforms for yacht racing. Time will tell.

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