I know that its measured from the stern but does the opposite boat need to get its bows past the stern or just the sprit?

Oops, was reading too fast.
http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ac34-rrsac-1p14-030713.pdf
There is a special definition called Bowsprit Overlap:
"Bowsprit Overlap A bowsprit overlap exists when there is no overlap but a part of the bowsprit is
overlapped to the outside of either of the other yacht’s hulls."

It only seems to apply when giving room (R18 etc) but not when sailing normally (R11).

I see.

So yes, all the NZers had to do was stick their pole in there.

The fat lady found the racing this weekend awesome (her words) however, she remains on the stage and would like to point out it's taken the U.S. team a weeks worth of work and racing just to match NZ. Matching won't win them the cup. They have one day to become dominant and that would be a miracle.

"I can honestly say this is the most fun and exciting sailing I've been involved with," said ORACLE TEAM USA tactician Ben Ainslie, a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

I didn't really expect that.

Jimmy was probably anticipating a luff as he had tried to do at the mark previously when he got a bow under NZ.

Jimmy had a bit more of a bite on ETNZ though when he had overlap. I think with that overlap yesterday I'd give them plenty of room to round but if they tried to take me up I might take my chances and keep trucking forwards and try to get clear ahead and then turn down.

I almost puked when watching the second race, up on the beat, when Kenny just HAD to say my most despised Gary Jobson line of the ACWS: "...and people said you can't match race on multihulls."

Of course, Jobson said it any time a boat tacked near another one in the ACWS.

To his credit though, right after Kenny said it yesterday, Jobson replied: "This is match racing on steroids!"

Mike

Mike:

I can tell you (anecdotally at least) that this finals has made several "converts" to the dark side.

Match racing purists want boats that have close speeds upwind and downwind. There is something to be said for that, as it makes it harder to have a runaway as soon as the leader rounds the mark (onto a faster leg).

And don't kid yourselves by listening to the commentary. Lee bow tacks don't work on cats. The best you can hope for is tacking in front, and if you can do that, you were already ahead...

Mike

And there you have it, folks.. The AC34 - you'll laugh, cry and puke...

I've got to admit, after seeing the LV series I was a little concerned that the naysayers may have been correct about match racing on catamarans. Thankfully, the ebb tide leveling out the race course coupled with Oracle figuring out how to tack better have made a real race out of this thing. The high speed and physicality are intense and I about capsized my recliner twice over the weekend I was hiking so hard. That was pretty exhilarating to watch and even if NZ takes the cup home, they'll have a hard time convincing the world that this wasn't a pretty awesome concept.

+1 It's almost hard to root against either team, given the huge talent and awesomeness of the boats. That neither team is entirely out of the regatta (although OTUSA seems to be hanging on by one hand) and these races are becoming true nail-biting events with multiple lead changes makes it worth sitting through all those boring LV single boat races.

*EVERY* *SINGLE* *PERSON* that I have introduced to this racing has LOVED it. My friend Robert is ready to go buy a catamaran, having NEVER STEPPED ON A SAILBOAT in his life. This is all due to the 34th America's Cup.

Here's the google chat I just had with him a few minutes ago:


He's sitting here arguing tactics with me, giving me pointers on how to sail my boat, asking all kinds of GOOD questions... he's totally hooked thanks to Larryvision. Now I just need to get his tall lanky butt down here to FL so he can crew for me.

We took Kate's whole family to the races on Saturday. Three of her cousins, her aunt and uncle... they had a blast sitting on the rocks watching the boats go by. They saw the near capsize and starting hooting and hollering with all the others out there to watch. Its amazing how well its worked to expose the sport to a wider audience.

Just how dumb is Tom Ehman?

America's Cup: Kiwis take official's cheating claim to Cup jury:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/paul-lewis/news/article.cfm?a_id=181&objectid=11125598

Yeah I can't believe he did that without any proof whatsoever.

I posted that here yesterday. Ehman has a history of stirring the pot.

Right but the cup doesn't have a history of an IJ/governing body that seems all too eager to slap the "cup image clause" around.