America's Cup

[stephen]

Whatever you decide is fine with me. I just hope the coverage is as good. I, obviously, do not need the onshore viewing, but the camera work has been great. I was watching the AC mono hulls when available. The you tube format was perfect.

Ian, if you find the American commentators grating, do not, I repeat do not watch American coverage of the Olympics.

Whatever boats are chosen, I only hope they push the envelope of what is possible and are affordable to bring more competition. To hell with the super rich.

Stephen

[trevor]

Take that!!

Looks like the Royal Yacht Squadron needs to start dusting of the America's Cup trophy cabinet.

Great sailing by the Jimmy on the Aussie boat, but faster boat & better crew always wins the AC. Money can't buy everything.

Oracle's boat looks scary, it bounces off the foils too easily, showing foiling is a retro fitting not a design like the big red tractor. Who said they would not match race these things? Oh that was me



Race 4 coming up.....

[trevor]

Oracle -1

Good tactical race by Jimmy.

Still lots of racing to go........

[IanA]

Would be nice if Oracle can pull a few more wins out of the hat, and bring the series down to the wire. Big ask tho', they still have the two point penalty to make up - what a black cloud that must be, hanging over Jimmy's head.
I am still in awe at how accurately they can steer these things at 35+knots, placing the bows within a couple of inches from the opposition particularly during the starting antics. Phew!!

[trevor]

Would be nice if Oracle can pull a few more wins out of the hat, and bring the series down to the wire.

Go and say three hail Mary's you sinner

If it goes down to the wire than Larry will head to the courtroom. We need to crush them so we can get the thing back on track.....

[IanA]

Awright, just the occasional win to keep it interesting?

[stephen]

I just finished watching races 3 and 4. These boats are very competitive. I still feel that Oracle is too far back to catch ETNZ. I expect them to win some races.

Anyone not watching should.

My wife and I are going to the Tuesday races. I expect the viewing is better on TV. They have commentators, computer readouts, and replay. And the cameras get you closer to the action. Still, I want to go in once. I can come home and watch the tape delay on You tube.

Stephen

[stephen]

I just returned from Race 5 in SF Bay. My impressions:

1. The boats seem a lot faster live than on TV.
2. Oracle's boat seemed to break while rounding the 2nd mark.
3. I can not imagine ETNZ not winning.

I watched from Pier 39. There is nowhere to see the entire course. Pier 39 seems to be the best SF vantage point.

We walked through the AC village. It had interesting exhibits, I will not do that again.

I haven't decided if I will return to the live action. By going, I really appreciate the broadcasts.

Stephen

PS. In an interview on the evening news, the Oracle skipper said they needed to regroup, there was no mechanical failure. I guess the lack of a defender's series is showing.

[trevor]

PS. In an interview on the evening news, the Oracle skipper said they needed to regroup, there was no mechanical failure. I guess the lack of a defender's series is showing.

Winners never quit, quitters never win.

Look very carefully at the upwind leg we forced them into the middle of the course and sailed in the slacker water on the right and got the power of the right. A classic lee bow tack and that was it, game over!

BTW: As we would say down here. He's being a woose* and spat the dummy*.




*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Woose
*http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...%20the%20Dummy

[stephen]

The AC is not being telecast live except on cable today. I will wait for the tape delay on You tube.

Yesterday at the pre-race, there was what I believe was a past USA AC boat on the water. Also, ETNZ sailed up and down the entire course 3 times leading up to the start. Oracle went up and down once. ETNZ seems to be more driven to my uneducated eye.

Also, there was an unbelievable display of sail boats from all over the world at the regatta. Real wealth! This is not a game for the proletariat.

After the finish of race 5, the 2 boats did a sail buy close to shore on the way back to the start for race 6. Great viewing, I will attempt to up-load some pictures. I was using a 75-300 mm zoom to take pictures. I doubt that my camera work rivaled what is being shown on You tube and live broadcast. They must be filming from the 3 overhead helicopters.

Stephen

[trevor]

I think this say it all

[IanA]

Cocky Kiwis!!!! But good luck to you anyhow. Have not seen one mention of the AC in Aus newspapers, TV, sports news, anything, except for the sailing press and websites. Of course we have had a Federal Election, Australian Football finals and assorted cricket disasters to distract us over the last week or two, but the resounding silence compared with the Cup Fever of only a few years ago, is amazing.
Roll on tomorrow's races!

[trevor]

Cocky Kiwis!!!!

Who us? Never

[stephen]

The SF Chronicle says today that Oracle will switch tacticians. Sir Ben Ainsle will step in today. They still will need to sail mistake free. ETNZ will.

Stephen

[stephen]

Two more races, two more ETNZ victories. I think it is time to try ramming the ETNZ boat in he start box. I am sure Larry Ellison can afford a cruise missile.

Stephen

[IanA]

The big danger for NZ now is terminal boat damage. Larry has a spare back home in the garage, but the Kiwis would be stuffed if they say, flipped or lost a rig. Although, I bet Luna Rossa would probably loan them theirs, just to see it happen.
The best bit of the walkover today was hearing the Kiwi commentator crowing about the "Wun minnut, sux siccunds finnushing margin" !!
Great stuff.

[trevor]

We have a second boat and Wing. It's the same as Luna Rossa's we don't know how much of the new bits we developed have been put back on boat onne and it would take 2-3 days to refit.

If OTUSA were to be found guilty by the jury of deliberately ramming then they can be disqualified instantly (under rule 69 the one they've already broken). If it was an accident then the way the schedule works we can throw a postponement card and get the 2-3 days we would need.

But we don't need to get into the situation. As the first race today showed we just beat them upwind, because whatever they have done to get better upwind speed, they've lost in downwind speed, so we are closer at mark 2. On the upwind all we have to do is make them tack, they can't do one hull tacks, so every tack we take 2-4 lengths out of the them. That and the fact they don't have a self tacking jib, another "thing" that needs to be adjusted on every tack.

Then some idiot decided that the OTUSA tactician needs to grind - how stupid is that. You try talking to the driver, watching the opponent, looking at your computers all while your heart is beating like a drum. Ray and Dean are both very calm very level headed and you can hear them working as a team. This is a team sport, Larry might have bought the best sailors but they are not the best team.

OTUSA lost this regatta months ago, there is nothing they can do now, the one thing you can't buy is time. We always foiled from day 1, we've never had to learn something new in SF. Apart from one hull tacks - or were we just keeping that up our sleeves?

And noticed how "wet" OTUSA looks, water soaking the crew and the bow digging in on every tack, every cup of water thrown on the crew is water that should be in the sea. That costs energy - simple laws of physics.

Should be all over by 9am Monday (NZ time).

[richarde1605]

As you say Ian it's still to early to pop the champers. Following are random thoughts:

I think the best tactical move was pulled some time ago when the Kiwi's sailed Aotearoa in 'slow' guise in the LV Cup, thereby depriving Oracle of the data of their true potential, especially upwind, commonly thought to be their weakness v OTUSA. Then they souped it up just before the finals, reducing windage and whacking on a couple of pie warmers just for fun. They could have done this if needed in the LV if they had to. Confidence in their setup for the LV made this moot.
Now they are just sailing better, in a faster boat than the defenders. QED.

[richarde1605]

@ Trevor, even with the older design I think ETNZ could manage the 30% win rate from here....

[richarde1605]

The blog has been updated, I'm sure I said something like that.
Barring major failure, ETLRAUSNZ are going to bring the Auld Mug down south....

[richarde1605]

I didn't think you needed a jib in this game? Although I see 'pressure' in them, that was also in my random toughts.
I have to work at six am Aus time, so it will be the virtual eye, for the next episode.
Money can't buy, or implement a bettter plan.
What will happen now?
Just ask LR, the Cup needs to be somewhere else....
Don't forget Aus broke the drought...

[stephen]

Trevor, it sounds like you think a cruise missile is a better option?

Stephen

[trevor]

Trevor, it sounds like you think a cruise missile is a better option?

Stephen

It's the only chance they've got of winning now. Jimmy put a brave face on it in the last post race press conference, but he got about 20 questions I think Dean got about 2, and shock horror actually smiled.

Yesterday according to our coverage there was 300,000 people watching on the internet of TVNZ's coverage. We are gearing up for a big party in the office on Monday morning. Even if we loose one, Oracle are still on ZERO, I can't see it going past Monday. If Oracle come back from here it will be a bigger miracle than Laserath being raised from the dead. They need 10 wins we need 3 as Richard said we only need to now win 30% of any remaining races, the odds are looking bleak for Oracle. They have to win both races over five days we only have to win 3/4 of the races over Sunday and Monday (NZ time).

BTW:
There does not seem to be much home town support for Larry and his boys (or are Stars and Stripes flag hard to buy )?
Is it because there are now no Americans actually on the boat?
or the cheating scandal?
Or are the local just not bothered?
Sailing is not really a minority sport in NZ (or Aus.) like it is in most countries, so even though it's a great venue and you local taxes have paid for a lot of it, do people just not care?

Sorry lots of questions, but if you were from another planet you would think we are sailing in home waters....

[trevor]

Reading the local paper today:- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news...ectid=11124520

"In fact, Cup organisers had to buy airtime - meaning they effectively paid NBC to televise it. They positioned that as an investment for the future - hoping to get more fans and better ratings from this regatta."

So Larry and Russell turned the Cup into this 20 min circus to make it TV friendly and USA TV still does not care.

Roll on the next one.....

Hopefully Jimmy and his team will be sailing a boat for an Australian yacht club, or better still two one for Nathern as well, Sir Ben in a boat from a GB club and Alinghi, with whoever they can find who sails in Switzerland....

Oh yeah we seem to have forgotten this is a race between yacht clubs and only happens if one club challenges (the challenger of record) the holders (the defenders) which is the "Royal New Zealand Yacht Club" based here in Auckland, not ETNZ.

RNZYC could pick a different team to defend it -- well in theory -- Yeah Right!

TTFN 20 knots today need to go sailing...

[richarde1605]

Finaly some coverage, wet day here so I am building an aeroplane, with the telly on. Wide World of Sports just gave a brief summation of the Auld Mug, made a deal of the Aussie and Kiwi connections, perhaps a minute of air.
Bring it on Trev, much love in the good natured rivalry, we all know it's us against them and we had to sail further to get here, or there! (NZ and Aus)

[richarde1605]

I think we might have a squadron in the wings who might put forward a challenge, Ian is keen to get wet....

[stephen]

I am glad that if Oracle had to lose that ETNZ won. This event should always be held in New Zealand or Australia, the greatest sailing nations in the 21st century. I only hope in the 35th AC that the event will be telecast free to the world with style.

The San Francisco area is different. They will support winners, do not have much use for anything less. You would be shocked how many people do not follow any sports at all. On the plus side, the Bay Area has the best climate in the world and is high on the scale of tolerance for all lifestyles. There are tons of highly educated people from all over the planet making life interesting.

Stephen

[richarde1605]

I only have one issue with the AC, the name! It is the World Cup of sailing.
Play on, play fair, what is the next challange?
I think Gretal II is still afloat, 12M anyone?
You can only throw so much money at it.
Impressed with three times wind speed the other day.
Where is the passion? And indeed the national pride in this competition........

[stephen]

World Cup is already taken. If you change the name you are in danger of losing the history and prestige.

Stephen

[richarde1605]

Auld Mug....

[IanA]

Richard, Gretel I (1962 AC challenger) is still afloat and was (is?) for sale in Germany, needing restoration. Don't even dream of it! Old 12 Metre boats are a nightmare to own sail and maintain, We have had several in Melbourne with great plans for commercial sail operations, corporate entertainment and the like, and all have ended in tears.
I had a couple of sails on Gretel in the 70's when she was converted to an ocean racer by a local syndicate, and it was hair-raising scary. The potential for injury from the old gear on board was alarming, and I was not the only one who thought so. Later she was set up for charter trips in the Whitsundays with a reduced rig and was pottering around up there until about 1994. How she ended up in Germany- no idea.
Still having trouble getting the old guard Colonel Blimps in our local yacht clubs to even countenace looking at the present AC reports, they just don't wanna know! Wonder if I will be like that in twenty years time? (about the time my boat is finished?)..

[trevor]

I only have one issue with the AC, the name! It is the World Cup of sailing.

I'm sure as you well know it's named after the first boat to win it the boat "America".

http://www.americascup.com/en/about/history

Shortly after America won the 100 Guinea Cup in 1851, New York Yacht Club Commodore John Cox Stevens and the rest of his ownership syndicate sold the celebrated schooner and returned home to New York as heroes. They donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club under a Deed of Gift, which stated that the trophy was to be “a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations.” Thus was born the America’s Cup, named after the winning schooner America, as opposed to the country.

Anyway Dalts was on the radio again today. Stated some tings I didn't know (and I have have missed lots).

1. They are not allowed hydraulic accumulators, so the boys have to grind when oil is needed.
2. The AC72 is like Concorde, bloody impressive, but not financially viable. He will talk to the other teams and a fast cheaper monohull is probably going to be the next boat (There are rules about the size they will still be big). He wants a team like Young Australia* to be able to enter.
3. He's promised not to be, not on the boat again.
4. He's heard the rumours that OTUSA have a new bow, they could have planned this for the second week, all it needs is a Skill saw! -- lets see if they have.
5. This week will have wind against tide so the course will be a lot rougher.
6. He knows which boat he would rather be on. We've shown in a big gust and a bad wave we survive. OTUSA might not.
7. OTUSA must be close to the max. weight they have fragile monofilm where we have rigid hard decks. Have a close look to me it looks like they have a very small "black" section to cross the boat only a couple of feet wide rather than the tramp we have.



*This was a young team from Aussie in a old boat skippered by guess who? Jimmy Spithall. They had no real base just a pontoon and got help from other teams (like free food and lodgings). When they broke stuff they had to beg borrow and steal. They won our heats in 2000 and had no real chance but made the Cup fun that year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Lo...alia_.28AUS.29

[stephen]

Just returned from my morning bike ride. There is a lot of wind at 9:30 AM. do not know what is forecast for race time.

Stephen

[stephen]

I think ETNZ are going to need a change of undies. They almost flipped over.

Stephen

[trevor]

Freeck!!!

Sorry heart rate is just returning to normal.

That was nearly the end for both boats, Jimmy was was going for a luff, if he had gone under us that would have been a massive accident. You can see OTUSA had to do a crash tack to avoid us (notice they also stopped) great sailing by both teams.

So we see what they've done to their bow. I would not have thought taking a pole off the front would make that much difference so they've done something else.

Dalts get back on the frecking boat! Not that I'm superstitious

Race 9.........

[stephen]

Second race is cancelled, too much wind. Try again Sunday. Even with an improved Oracle performance, that race was really close when the near capsize occurred. Not time for ETNZ to panic.

Stephen

[trevor]

I suspect the guys on the boat didn't realise just how far it went they would have been too focused on doing their jobs. Notice Ray who was bloody miles in the air was steering right along with Dean, the boys were still grinding, they've all been in this position many times in their careers.

We often see on windy days similar things, and I've done it in boats and Blokarts. It's those watching who say things like "bloody hell that was close" where as you are so focused on "saving it" that you don't have time to think (just like when you have a slide on a bike). When sailors see the footage is when they will be saying OMG how close did we come to loosing the Cup in those 5 seconds.

[IanA]

Brilliant save by ETNZ but just as impressive helmsmanship by Whoracle as well. If they hadn't responded by rounding up as quickly as they did, there surely would have been a T-bone collision and a rollover. Did the hydraulics go AWOL on NZ, or did someone slip up or hit the wrong button? I haven't seen if there were any on-water repairs made between the two races. Roll on Tuesday!

[stephen]

Congrats to 41 year old American Chris Horner for winning the Vuelta a Espana, Spain's version of the Tour de France. In my opinion, this years race was far tougher than the Tour, more mountain stages.

The weather today is beautiful at 10:30 AM. Wind conditions are light at this point in time.

After Saturdays race, we walked out on the new Bay Bridge, 3 hours out and back. The best way to appreciate the beauty of the Bay Area is from the center of the Bay. The Golden Gate bridge is equally as impressive, and a shorter walk. Both experiences are worth doing when visiting SF.

Looking forwards to todays racing.

Stephen

[stephen]

Interesting turn of events in race 1. Unless Oracle doubles up, it will be meaningless. Oracle sailed less distance and had a higher boat speed.

I am guessing that Oracle has added 5 pounds to the front of the boat.

Stephen

[stephen]

The 2nd race was the most exciting race I have ever seen. Advantage ETNZ.

I am sitting hear with a young sailor. He says that Argentina is a big sailing country. Any thoughts?

Does New Zealand not have some billionaires?

Stephen

[richarde1605]

I did not express myself well, "America’s Cup, named after the winning schooner America", as opposed to the country. Somehow the name seems to imply ownership rather than origins, the deed also mentions 'friendly' not sure if that part is always taken in the true spirit......

Bloody incredible save, credit to both teams for averting disaster. Fantastic how they kept grinding away, that's what you want, grinders who don't like to swim, they will do anything to stay on board. When Australia 'winched' their boat in half against the Kiwi's there were a few that did not want to leave until the very end..

It seems Ian has his wish of the defender having a go, but it seems to me that ETAUSLRNZ will have the goods to take the new defenders title. Though Trevor it might take a few more days........

I can't wait for the next race to happen soon enough...

[IanA]

[QUOTE=stephen;1056698]The 2nd race was the most exciting race I have ever seen.

+1 that, Stephen! Compare the stumbles of the early LV races with the polished techniques and aggressive tactics in the last two races - what a difference.

The sad thing is, just as the teams each seem to be making significant advances in mastering these monsters every time they go out, it is so quickly getting closer to the finish of this great adventure. I wonder if we will ever see their like again in match racing?

[trevor]

Jimmy and the guys have been watching & the buggers and learnt how to sail the bloody things (like our roll tacks). But he keeps saying it's a development series it's not how quickly you sail at the beginning it's how quickly you improve.

Today's press conference is classic Jimmy was asked a question and basically said it would have been better if we sailed like this a year ago

The whole office was watching today, us sailors with out hearts in our mouths, the non sailors just getting excited and scared as the lead changed. The biggest thing I can see is they are pointing lower and faster upwind and foiling more than us. On the plus side that seems to have made them slightly slower downwind. (there is no free lunch).

It's now a match-race!

My prediction: Whoever starts from the port side into the box will win, it's clear the port starter has the advantage under these rules (where as it was always the starboard boat in the past). Expect to see more one all days and perhaps 2:0 to Orcale. BUT we only need two more they need seven.

Forecast is still windy for the next race (Wednesday NZ Time), who said it was going to be less windy in Sept?

[richarde1605]

You did, for one. We designed our boat for the LV, they designed for the lighter winds of September, or some such. Interesting how close it has become, they missed out on racing, training is a different mindset....

Peace all...

[stephen]

For me, I would like to see the AC72's again. This is the most exciting sailing event I have seen. I have been following AC and Volvo racing for quite awhile. The competitive AC 72's, to me, are the way to go. I would like to see a wider course for more strategy options. Other than that, the SF event has been exciting. Probably more affordable boats are called for, the faster the better being a consideration.

Stephen

[Richard230]

There was an article on the front page of my local newspaper today saying that many people in the SF Bay Area are rooting for the Kiwis because they think Larry is stuck-up and has too much money. Plus, apparently there is only one American left on the crew of his boat.

[stephen]

Tuesday could be the big day for ETNZ. I would like to see more racing, but Oracle loses every time they make a mistake. What are the odds that they can go 9 races with no mistakes?

Stephen

[IanA]

Another remarkable aspect of this event has been the venue and importantly, the weather. The breezes have been consistently in the 15-20 knot range and the seas not particularly lumpy(on TV, anyhow).
Would it have been as exciting if sailed in 8-12 knots? Don't think so. The boats would probably struggle to fully foil upwind and those roaring tailsliding gybes around the downhill marks wouldn't be nearly as spectacular.
Full marks to SF Bay and the Man for giving us the privilege of watching the greatest sporting spectacle so far this century.

Anyone seen the ORMA 60 trimarans in full flight? They are different but seriously extreme in terms of excitement and, (relatively) less expensive than AC72's. Only trouble is, the crews would have to be all crazy French guys, with just a sprinkle of Aus and Kiwis.

[richarde1605]

http://www.multihullcentral.com/orma...ney-to-hobart/

Happening live on boxing day, if all goes well...