The Official America's Cup Thread?

[tadink]

Hey all -

big things going on here in the Bay - the AC thing is heating up a bit, and while the racing is still not especially interesting, the boats and the technology really is!!

6 Tons of boat is being lifted out of the water by a carbon fiber hydro-foil about the size of a surfboard, and the boats are hitting 50mph! This video shows some of the technology.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...JRhPg6J8#at=110

So far, the Kiwi's seem to have the edge in technology and boat handling, but they have not yet squared up with the Oracle boys. Prada and Artemis went at it today again, and Prada is clearly faster and has won both races, 2 of 7 so far.

If you have a chance to catch some of the TV coverage, don't miss it. They do a nice job and the images are pretty impressive....

I'll keep y'all posted....

td

[tevake]

I never found any AM. cup info on the link. Just like the sailing leading up to this point, out of sight.

Funny to me that the series was designed to be interesting for the TV audience and spectators. But very little has been available.

Keep us posted Tadnic, if you come across any good links.

Cheers Richard

[tadink]

ugh, the you tube link broke....ratz.

here's another link with some good action on it

Highlights: LOUIS VUITTON CUP - SEMIFINAL - RACE 1 - YouTube

[dennis in se pa]

As a sailor, mono hulls or even cats would interest me in this event. Somehow this new technology, while interesting, just sort of ruins the "sailing" part of it. They should have a traditional race also.

[VincentVega]

"sailing"

Same here. Call me old but the current fleet is more plane than boat in my mind. Amazing skill and quite a show but I'll stick to old fashioned boats.

the technology

Very impressive. I like the blank slate approach, the weight, loads and size of these things are incredible.

[gwmac]

I love it, just like all americas cup, very elite group of participants far removed from lake sailors like me. Steep learning curve on the new foils, hope to see the Swedes get the foil to foil jibes figuered out.

[tevake]

Originally Posted by tadink

ugh, the you tube link broke....ratz.

here's another link with some good action on it

Highlights: LOUIS VUITTON CUP - SEMIFINAL - RACE 1 - YouTube

Fantastic coverage of some incredible sailing machines! Thanks for posting that the best footage of these boats racing I've seen. It going to be amazing toward the end of the series when really completitive boats are going heads up with each other.
The jibbing on foil is exciting to see.

Cheers Richard

[cairns]

Sailing Anarchy has excellent coverage.

I just hope the Kiwi's win. Unlike say, a Larry Ellison or a Dennis Conner, they like to do it on the water. This stuff has more politics and intrigue than Formula 1.

[M.D. Holloway]

If it ain't in Newport it ain't the cup...sorry. Nothing like Newport. Nothing.

[tevake]

Newport, shmooshport, that was the oldschool tradition bound site of the elite yacht club set. These new venues have brought the sport to the rest of the world. And given others the chance to be players in the America's Cup competition, and to bring us sailing in interesting varied conditions.

Think of sailing the Doctor off of western Australia. I remember the boat breaking half and going to the bottom, Ha what a hoot. that would never have happened in Newport, too civilized, and predictable.

I see the Bay area as a very exciting venue for the races in these wild new boats.
This could be fun if there is good coverage!

How is it that Kiwis seem to be in the top tier of all high level sailing around the world, awesome!

Cheers Richard

[cairns]

If it ain't in Newport it ain't the cup...sorry. Nothing like Newport. Nothing.

No offense meant but I don't think you've seen the Hauraki Gulf or Sydney Harbour. They blow Newport away.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

As a sailor, mono hulls or even cats would interest me in this event. Somehow this new technology, while interesting, just sort of ruins the "sailing" part of it. They should have a traditional race also.

Agree.

All this new hi tech BS has ruined it for me. Sorry, those aren't boats.

[tevake]

I'm sorry to hear that many would rather watch led sleds slog around the course at 8 to 12 kts. this really brings us into this century of sailing technology.

Kind of like the tow-in foilsurfing of the sailing world. Totally raises the bar.

Here are the highlights of race 2

Check out the nose dive by Luna Rossa at around 16 min. scary!
Highlights: LOUIS VUITTON CUP - SEMIFINAL - RACE 2 - YouTube

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by cairns

No offense meant but I don't think you've seen the Hauraki Gulf or Sydney Harbour. They blow Newport away.

I have not and I am sure they are very nice but its like the college world series - if it ain't in Omaha its just an immitation.

I am sure those towns are nice and the water and wind is even better than Aquidnic Isle but unless you spent a summer in Newport during the cup you don't know what I mean...

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Agree.

All this new hi tech BS has ruined it for me. Sorry, those aren't boats.

I thought I was the only one to feel this way. It's an ego trip for the syndicate owners.

I don't remember guys dying in the monohull races.

[tadink]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I thought I was the only one to feel this way. It's an ego trip for the syndicate owners.

I don't remember guys dying in the monohull races.

yah, actually, there have been guys dying since the America's Cup started, many of them on the massive J-boats back in the day prior to the 12 Meters.

I was pretty skeptical about the choice of the AC 72 ft cats, and remain so, but they are super fun to watch out there! One glided by at about 12 knots, going against the tide, in about 6 knots of breeze this morning! Flying a hull, the guys on board sitting around chatting. They are truly amazing creations.

match racing? not so much, more like a drag race....but we are still in the prelims and the boats are not that closely matched.

The FOILS have changed everything in the sport - and so we'll see a LOT more of that in many other fleets. There is a video of a guy foiling in a LASER for pete's sake! And the development one design classes like the A-Cats and Moth, Internatonal14, etc will all be experimenting.....

so, in typical A-Cup fashion, there has been innovation already....and there has been legal battles and disputes and rich guys pitching fits. That much will never change!

should be an interesting couple of months....

td

[enzo1]

[tadink]

and here we go - anyone want to go sailing? or whatever they call this?

[tadink]

This is an awesome discussion around what we lay-people don't know about how to sail these things - fascinating:

America's Cup: What you may not know about the AC72 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

td