34th America's Cup: multihulls!

Okay so here's a question(s) for all you pre-race aficionados.
Why do the wings have only limited movement? What Im seeing is that they only move to what might be considered a shallow reach station max, and when going downwind the wing looks like its still in a weather position. Not at all like a conventional mainsail out at 90 degrees when running downwind. Okay maybe not exactly 90 degrees but you get the picture.
Cant they just flatten that wing and move it out 90 degrees? Its hard to imagine they are capturing all the available energy down wind.

 

It should also be possible to identify the range of body types that are
best suited to each task on the boat, just as there are desirable
anthropometric attributes for different sports. For example, there is
no hope for short stocky types in Olympic women's rowing now that it is
conducted over 2000 metres. When it was a race over 1000 metres, strong
powerhouses, the types who could pull a bogged tractor from mud, were
dominant.

 

The boats never sail with the apparent wind aft of the beam. They sail over 3 times the speed of the wind in some conditions and so are always sailing "upwind".

It is only slow boats that ever have the apparent wind aft of the beam unless it is blowing a gale.

 

Halfway through leg 3 and US has improved out of sight over the last few days.
Hobbits are worried!

 

The Ebb produced chop and USA's slippery hulls are working ... not to mention foiling upwind at 30+ knots

 

34th AC

Yee Ha! Oracle 300m ahead 4th leg-Go 17ers!!!! Congratulations Team USA-a monumental win-you beat TNZ with Dalton on board! Big psychout of TNZ? We'll see.. Looks like wind is going to prevent race 2,damnit.

 

They seem much better co-ordinated as a team too.
Great win.

 

Doesn't look like much hope in these weather conditions. Hoping for lighter weather next time.
@RHough
Thank You for the answer. I started watching the Cup on TV just after the post and they covered that exact topic very nicely. Ask and you shall receive. The Bicycle example was a good illustration.

 

Wind was dropping a few minutes ago.

 

Did a poor move by Spithill halfway through leg 4 cost Team Orc this race?
That's the difficulty for them - they can't afford tactical mistakes like that.

(Sorry, now that exclamation marks have been restored after Doug used most up earlier...
monumental win hobbits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

34th AC

Congrads to Team New Zealand but I think the momentum has irretrievably shifted toward Team USA. They just gave it to TNZ to make the rest of the racing a real(continuing) nailbiter.
As even the talking heads are now saying, this is the best racing, from every standpoint, of any America's Cup in history. I know it is for sure from the standpoint of televised races.
Thanks Larry and Russell for the vision! Go 17ers!!!!

 

I read many enthusiastic comments around about the last race, but I couldn't follow it live because I was travelling back home at that time...
Ok, took the note for tomorrow. Have to watch the replay.

 

However, the whole idea of sailing is to use the power of the elements, not the human power...

 

They are OK but not spectacular because the boats are so far apart for most
of the race. Sometimes it's a bit like those pursuit bike races where the
competitors are on opposite sides of the velodrome for the entire race.

NZ might improve the racing if they win and hold it in the more difficult
environment in Auckland.

 

34th AC

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Next races Tuesday-see schedule thread.....