That was incredible and scary at the same time. I was certain that the most was going over... So much so that I was hugging the nearest kiwi in nervous anticipation. The whole jetty breathed a collective gasp when it went up on one edge then sighed in relief when it settled down.
Oracle looked competitive upwind today. Let's hope they can keep it up.
I overheard a guy comment on the walk back that "the America's cup as a sport has never been better." Have to say that I totally agree.
My family here in town is totally hooked. I bright three of them out to the jetty and get loved seeing the boats scream by.
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#263809 09/14/1310:01 PM09/14/1310:01 PM
Etnz was but by the same margin that they led in the first race at the bottom gate and they were able to show good speed upwind today. Even if etnz didn't near capsize they still would have been penalized for fouling oracle.
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#263811 09/14/1310:51 PM09/14/1310:51 PM
Nz was leading by 30 meters when the second race was called off. Looked like O solved their upwind problem with changes made.
When NZ went up I couldn't believe my eyes. Dean saved it with a last second turn into the wind. It looked much closer to going over in person than it looked on TV. Just a little gust and it would have been over. Looked like the wing didn't release on the tack. When they tacked back they fouled O and had to wait out the penalty.
My pictures look good. Snapped a bunch.
I also caught an H20 from Surf City having fun with the 72s in the background. If anyone knows who that is I have some pictures for them.
Mike Hill N20 #1005
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: Mike Hill]
#263815 09/15/1306:07 AM09/15/1306:07 AM
The penalty NZ got should have been assessed after they got back up to speed. As it was they were just getting things sorted and getting back up to speed so really no penalty. O had to tack to avoid them and lost more ground then what the penalty on NZ gave them.
The penalty NZ got should have been assessed after they got back up to speed. As it was they were just getting things sorted and getting back up to speed so really no penalty. O had to tack to avoid them and lost more ground then what the penalty on NZ gave them.
+1 Just as you said, clearly visible here on the penalty from the Umpire Booth Replay
Philip USA #1006
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#263817 09/15/1307:10 AM09/15/1307:10 AM
It has been a pleasure to watch the racing and read interesting comments here--thanks all.
Did anyone else think O could have sailed over the top when E lee bowed them in the crossing situation before the near capcize ? It looked like the speed differential was sufficient ,--instead they typically monoed away .
new term --monoed ;]meaning a typical monohull tactic rather catamaran tactic.
Wondering what tweaks O made to the boat to help it upwind--or was it just higher windspeed and playing shifts better? A cat that misses a wind vere lift can loose several boat lengths in example--Also it is amusing listening to the commentators trying to explain it. Jobson in particular has a history of disliking multihulls and clearly doesn't fully understand the differences . He has no time on high speed cats ,no real experience with them--how could he relate like --oh say those of us here on Catsailor .;]
They removed the extention on the pole--tweaked the pie warmers etc etc--wondering if they are still experimenting with some of basic tuning adjustments such as mast rake --Has anyone made a measured comparison of rake differential between the 2 cats . Generally raking back helps downwind performance and forward helps upwind.
The boats themselves seem very evan --really looking forward to the next races --the better sailing team will with fewer mistakes will win, Congrates to all racing --what an amazing experience it must be .
Carl
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#263825 09/15/1308:52 AM09/15/1308:52 AM
Interesting race yesterday...that was awesome. Interesting note I took away from that is how crucial the timing of the wing popping over is to a good tack. I'm not sure Oracle is mechanically slower upwind - I'm pretty sure it's all about the process and they're starting to get it figured out. I'm not sure they can really drill these tacks down much better with the daggerboard pitch controls also handled by the helmsman on his wheel, but they're getting better. Watch the replay of NZ's tack and look how fast they were still going when they went through the wind. They got up on the foils in the middle of the turn and if the wing popped over, it looks like they would have had a very fast tack. Even the pros still have a lot to figure out about how to make these boats fast. I think Oracle has a chance if they can keep learning.
Jake Kohl
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: ThunderMuffin]
#263827 09/15/1309:18 AM09/15/1309:18 AM
That was incredible and scary at the same time. I was certain that the most was going over... So much so that I was hugging the nearest kiwi in nervous anticipation. The whole jetty breathed a collective gasp when it went up on one edge then sighed in relief when it settled down.
Oracle looked competitive upwind today. Let's hope they can keep it up.
I overheard a guy comment on the walk back that "the America's cup as a sport has never been better." Have to say that I totally agree.
My family here in town is totally hooked. I bright three of them out to the jetty and get loved seeing the boats scream by.
My Bay Area counter part; who is not into sailing, emailed me about the race yesterday... he was there...
He was amazed and didn't realize the physical and mental challenge... He thought it was a bunch staunchly blue bloods with their yacht club blazers and white trousers (Ala Judge Smails)
He wants to comes down next weekend, that is if the cup is done and over with, to go sailing and try it for himself...
IMPO, what this is doing for sailing is what Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali did for boxing...
Last edited by Ventucky Red; 09/15/1309:22 AM.
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#263828 09/15/1309:23 AM09/15/1309:23 AM
Did anyone notice that as the ENZ near capsize is starting in the background, on board Oracle a crew member runs from right to left and his foot and leg tear down through the tramp? Either a tear in the material or a hole but he falls thigh deep!
Reviewing the full replay, at 28:53 just before ENZ starts their tack you can see the Oracle guy fall through. That can't be just stretchy tramp fabric, can it?
Last edited by David Parker; 09/15/1311:44 AM.
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: David Parker]
#263831 09/15/1311:49 AM09/15/1311:49 AM
Did anyone notice that as the ENZ near capsize is starting in the background, on board Oracle a crew member runs from right to left and his foot and leg tear down through the tramp? Either a tear in the material or a hole but he falls thigh deep!
Reviewing the full replay, at 28:53 just before ENZ starts their tack you can see the Oracle guy fall through. That can't be just stretchy tramp fabric, can it?
He step between the net and the wing fairing. It has happened a couple of times.