Americas Cup Races

[airshifter]

Has anyone else watched any of the racing? At this point it appears almost certain that the Kiwi's will take the cup.

The real shame is that unless the US turns things around it will happen very quickly as well. These boat are just fascinating technology and they are getting more out of them every day. In todays racing the US team clocked 58 mph before the race was called off due to wind limits. And from wind power, that is simply flying.

New Zealand came very, very close to capsizing their boat today. The boat had to have been at an angle close to 45 degrees, and appeared to be very close to the balance point before they finally saved it.


This stuff is like F1 on the water. The acceleration these boats can get is just as amazing as their top speeds with the boats going from 10-15 knots to up on the foils and doing 30 knots or more very quickly.


I'd love a ride on one of those things. :D

[chac47]

I'm watching. My pulse rate rose somewhat this morning as I watched the near capsize but the guys had little time to dwell on it before they were into the second race and were ahead until it was called off. San Francisco bay looks beautiful - fabulous the views from the helicopter. I do hope the guys bring the cup back to N.Z. Like many kiwis I'm watching the races on TVNZ but listening to the far better and more professional commentary on radio.

[BleAivano]

I have been following some of the previous cups quite extensively but don't give a sh*t about this one.
The boats are extreme and quite cool to watch but a bit too extreme and not really suitable to match racing.
The multi hulls lacks the manoeuvrability of the mono hulls which means that they
can't be used for super close manoeuvring like the IACC-boats.

I definitely prefer the previous IACC-boats and I really hope Oracle looses because how
they ruined the cup by all the court-processes. Sure Alinghi was far from innocent and
I don't like what they did either but I still dislike Oracle mostly.

[airshifter]

Today was good racing with each team taking a victory.

I agree the new classes of boats have changed things quite a bit, but "close" racing is relative to speed really. When you have boats crossing with close to 8- mph combined closure and getting withing a half a boat length, that's close IMO.

They mentioned today that this year has had more lead changes than any other Cup in history. So in that sense, things have changed quite a lot. Some of the races thus far have seen one boat make up huge ground or stretch leads by massive amounts.

[Tazio]

I have been following some of the previous cups quite extensively but don't give a sh*t about this one.
The boats are extreme and quite cool to watch but a bit too extreme and not really suitable to match racing.
The multi hulls lacks the manoeuvrability of the mono hulls which means that they
can't be used for super close manoeuvring like the IACC-boats.

Totally agree the boats should be mono-hull, what a travesty.
I went off shore and watched when Dennis Conner was defending the cup off San Diego. We used to frequent the same deli in Point Loma FWIW :dork:

[chac47]

One more win needed by Team New Zealand after taking the first race today. They nailed the start of the second race only to have the race stopped due to the wind suddenly rising above the limit. Fingers crossed for a restart and another win. Quite nerve wracking!

Racing postponed, darn it!

[airshifter]

That wind limit keeps breaking up the races. It must be frustrating for the teams.

I hope the US can score some more wins, just to stretch out to more races. It appears the US chances of actually keeping the cup are next to nothing now. For the most part they have improved their performance on the boat it seems, but the tactical decisions simply aren't keeping up with New Zealand.

[airshifter]

Another win by the US keeps the racing going on. Still no chance long term unless the Kiwis destroy their boat or something along those lines.

Today the boats were getting on the foils going 30-32 knots... upwind. Crazy stuff.

[chac47]

That hurt! Emirates Team New Zealand 1100 metres ahead in the first race today, the cup within grasp but light winds stopped them finishing the race within the time limit. This is getting hard on the nerves but I'm only watching, the crew have to get it all together and do it again in 30 minutes or so

[chac47]

Oracle win the re-run of race 13. NZ trailed behind after a couple of tactical errors and a penalty. NZ has only to win one more race but that's proving no easy task. I'm sure they'll regroup and come out firing tomorrow.

[airshifter]

Didn't catch the coverage today... but it's just a matter of time until NZ wraps it up. It does seem that the gap in boat handling has narrowed, and now it's mostly up to tactical decisions. Both teams have made some strange decisions at times, even to a novice such as myself. But in all fairness what seems somewhat simple on the surface is without doubt a complex tactical game.

[BleAivano]

Didn't catch the coverage today... but it's just a matter of time until NZ wraps it up. It does seem that the gap in boat handling has narrowed, and now it's mostly up to tactical decisions. Both teams have made some strange decisions at times, even to a novice such as myself. But in all fairness what seems somewhat simple on the surface is without doubt a complex tactical game.

I'd say that the previous class had more tactical elements.

The IACC were "regular" sailing boats with a mast, a main sail, a fore sail and an additional downwind
sails (either a spinnaker or gennaker). All these sails have different size versions and the amount
that each boats was allowed to carry on-board for each race was limited.
There was also allot more tactical elements regarding trimming of the sails.

The new boats obviously also have allot of trimming and etc.

Tactical decisions usually means, trying to impose a penalty on the opponent,
trying to get an advantage in the pre-start to get a more favourable starting position,
which side of the course have the most favourable winds and etc.

Here is a few clips from older AC's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1hYEuJWjW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okBs1mZq8zk

[airshifter]

For me, getting your head around the speed and distances is the primary factor. Though the boats aren't nearly as close in physical proximity, the race can still be very close. The efficiency of the wings does make for less sail surfaces being used most of the time, though apparently the race I missed did have the boats using the "code zero" (gennaker?) sails. They did some practice with those yesterday as well.

I've never really been a major fan of the racing, but to me the tech and speeds involved has made it more interesting. Having a basic understanding of sailing a large boat I can understand why the new designs might upset the "purists" if you will. I completely agree with the fact that sail trimming has changed in a huge way, but on the flip side the new boats have many more options when it comes to course and how deep or shallow to run to a mark. This does results in less tactical direction changes at times, but it seems the trend is to still cover the trailing boat unless the gaps get big.

I still can't quite wrap my head around boats making up huge ground.... some races have seen the trailing boats overcome 700-800 meters to win.

In that first clip you posted they refer to Spithill as "Jesse James Spithill". I've never heard that before. :)


At any rate, I hope the US can pull off a couple more wins so the racing continues. I have serious doubts they have any real chance of winning, but the longer it takes NZ to get that last win, the longer we get to watch.

[BleAivano]

Wouldn't be too surprised if Oracle won the remaining 4 races as well.

But I really hope that Emirates can bring it home.

[anfield5]

Oracle have certainly upped their game, but even if they are now fundamentally better than TNZ, they will make a mistake and with the short races and high speeds one mistake is all that is needed.

From a one eyed Kiwi point of view, the first race an Friday (Saturday our time) took some digesting. 1000m + in front and moving further away, then the time ran out, you could here the whole country sigh and throw things at 4 million televisions.

[airshifter]

Good racing today. Though Oracle took both races the leads changed from several hundred meters down to single digits at times. Both boats struggled with the lighter winds some. Some tactics on the first start, but still it didn't really buy much time overall.

I hope it drags out until the last possible race. I don't even care if they only get one race a day in. These things are fantastic to watch.

[airshifter]

.... and the Oracle team takes another win, pushing the racing into today.

I'm surprised that NZ hasn't been much more aggressive on the starts, especially when the lead margin was so high.

This could push on for two or three more days, and it looks like it may happen. The Kiwi's should pounce before things get too close.

[BleAivano]

really strange that Oracle have managed 7 straight wins and I can't see any other result now then Oracle winning the final race as well.

[airshifter]

You certainly saw it coming... I never did. Thus far Oracle has completely turned the tables and is now seeming to dominate each race. Even after getting a bad start they overtook on the third leg and put huge ground on New Zealand today.

At this point Oracle is almost in a no lose situation. They have turned things around and overcome the penalties, thus winning more races even if they lose the final race and the cup. If NZ loses the everyone will wonder why they couldn't manage one more win.

[anfield5]

D-Day!!

[BleAivano]

oracle in a big lead. They will win it.

[BleAivano]

I find it really really strange how first ETNZ can get their 8-1 lead and then loose 8 straight races.
Although they were on their way to victory in the aborted race.

[anfield5]

Let me say well done to Oracle. Being a Kiwi I would have much rather seen TNZ win the thing, but after the upgrades on Oracle (designed and built by a NZ boat building company) they were simply too fast.

I hope that when TNZ arrive home they are given a decent reception, because they did everything they could do to win and we should all be extremely proud of their efforts as well as being disappointed with the outcome.

Hopefully at the next Americas Cup Oracle can refrain from the underhanded activity and blatant cheating that so nearly cost them everything, because when all is said and done they are an incredible racing team who have the ability to win on merit.

[webberf1]

I just heard the news that Australia beat NZ in the America's Cup. Yay for us.

[airshifter]

I do hope the Kiwis get a warm reception. I had no idea that Oracle might come back to maintain the cup, and it seems as if some boat changes along with personnel changes made a major difference.

Either way, I'm glad it stretched out, and IMO all teams were still learning more day by day and put on a great show. These are incredible machines, and the people on them must certainly earn their spots as I'm sure it isn't hard to find people interested.

[anthonyvop]

I just heard the news that Australia beat NZ in the America's Cup. Yay for us.


It was mostly Ben Ainsle's doing.

The man is the greatest sailor on the planet and nobody is even a close 2nd. I hope my UK friends appreciate what they have.

[Roamy]

I find it really really strange how first ETNZ can get their 8-1 lead and then loose 8 straight races.
Although they were on their way to victory in the aborted race.

Payback for the Ryder Cup :)

[henners88]

I just heard the news that Australia beat NZ in the America's Cup. Yay for us.


It was mostly Ben Ainsle's doing.

The man is the greatest sailor on the planet and nobody is even a close 2nd. I hope my UK friends appreciate what they have.
I think after seeing what Ben achieved with the American team, there was talk this morning about funding a British team with Ben very supportive of it. Its nice to see he is recognised for his skills worldwide. Nice of you to say too Anthony.

[anthonyvop]

I think after seeing what Ben achieved with the American team, there was talk this morning about funding a British team with Ben very supportive of it. Its nice to see he is recognised for his skills worldwide. Nice of you to say too Anthony.

There has been talk of a Ben Ainsle Racing consortium making an assault on the next A/C but with the money Larry Ellison will probably throw at him to keep him would it be worth the hassle?
Fundraising, lawyers, Sponsors can be grueling when he can just sail, make history and make a fat check staying with Oracle.