Something happened today that I totally couldn't have predicted even when the new cup format was announced.
I walk into Gabriels Subs down here on Edgewater drive this afternoon. Its the same sub shop that JC took me to when I first moved to town - he grew up around the corner and I go there everyday for lunch - my picture is on the wall (no joke). The ladies that work there knew that I was going on vacation and to SF. They are huge NASCAR and auto racing fans. They make a pilgrimage to Daytona every year, and they wear their Dale/Petty/Stewart shirts proudly.
Today when I went in after coming back from vacation - all three of them had WRITTEN DOWN QUESTIONS about sailing and racing because they watched EVERY SINGLE ONE of those races. They're hooked. I couldn't have predicted this in a million years. They are in love with "dreamy" Dean Barker (ooof) and think that Spithill is "fiesty" and they "Can't wait to see what he'll say next".
What is going on here?
Our passion/hobby/sport has been vaulted into the maintstream for the first time that I can remember.
I cannot imagine taking that allure away at this point.
We had our monthly conference call with about 65 of my colleagues spread out over North America... As always there was some spirited discussion on home town teams etc... from the previous weekend’s games. Somehow the AC came up and I was surprised on how many caught bits a pieces of it…
My counter part from NoCal was giving some great play by play details from his experience, and I was impressed with what he picked up in one weekend..
Yes, glad to see we’re getting some respect…
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: Team_Cat_Fever]
#264100 09/17/1307:46 PM09/17/1307:46 PM
I've been watching/DVRing the racing on NBSCN, but it looks like they aren't airing it tomorrow (Wed).
What are my options for catching what could possibly be the final two races of the series? Internet only? If so, where?
Thanks.
sm
Just checked my DVR and Yachting shows up for today. Even though I have it set to record the series the show for today wasn't set to record. Good idea to double check.
Have Fun
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: Team_Cat_Fever]
#264114 09/18/1306:37 AM09/18/1306:37 AM
Well since the racing is called off today, I guess we've got time to talk about this:
Do we think the development of these two foiling cats, the L boards in particular, will quickly trickle down into the A cat class, and perhaps other classes as well? I know they are already working with their C type lifting boards, the A's and the Nacra 20, the problem there is it's like riding on a sea-saw.
I'm talking about L boards with T rudders, foiling upwind and down, like these two boats.
I think if there were a type of moveable elevator flap on the T rudders, like the Moths use, it would be much more controllable. Maybe we could just steal a couple dagger boards and rudders off some Moths, and insert them into a light A cat, see what happens?
There's a slight difference in the power plant and power management between a 72 and a beachcat. 13 story wing vs. 30 foot mast. 10 pro sailors vs. 1 or 2 non-pro sailors. They're already doing some development in the A class, but I think it will be hard to come by ( money and skills) for us mere mortals, and very possibly will never materialize as being advantageous.
Ya think?
The AC went to the C class to get thier jump start with wings and even foils to a lesser extent.
What amazes me is that there are basically unlimited budgets and a very open box rule, yet we have in almost no time generated 2 boats who can get around the course within seconds of eachother at speeds approaching 50 knots. A minute win in the 12M days was considered a close race, now we have a 1 minute win and the anouncers are calling it a trouncing.
The A class has been proving this concept for years with new ideas and new designs, but the best sailors still win the events. The boats over time get slowly better and the class grows with it.
The new viewing technology and the boats may be generating a lot more viewership, but it is still too expensive to really try out a lot of concepts. The real proof and systems capable of actualy being used by teams less than 11 guys is still going to come out of the C class and super tallented fleet of sailors and designers they have put together for this season.
Starts this weekend bitches, and has the promise/potential to be an even better show
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#264119 09/18/1307:10 AM09/18/1307:10 AM
Good piece on the cameras, but I got to say, they seem to always miss the action with the selection of the wrong camera, or doing a replay, etc. That's where the YouTube LiveLine channel always comes in handy as a backup.
Philip USA #1006
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#264120 09/18/1307:11 AM09/18/1307:11 AM
I've been watching/DVRing the racing on NBSCN, but it looks like they aren't airing it tomorrow (Wed).
What are my options for catching what could possibly be the final two races of the series? Internet only? If so, where?
Thanks.
sm
Just checked my DVR and Yachting shows up for today. Even though I have it set to record the series the show for today wasn't set to record. Good idea to double check.
Wise to check it. My DVR now lists the event.
Philip USA #1006
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: mini]
#264127 09/18/1307:44 AM09/18/1307:44 AM
Noticed some of the foiling cats use an adjustable dagger board type rudder --seems like a logical means of adjustment for conditions --the 72 fters have an array of different size rudders they use for that days conditions as I understand it from the TV sources.
Interesting that they named the C Class championship the Little Americas Cup back 5 + decades ago when the Americas Cup was in conventional yachts never imagining the Americas Cup actually ever being sailed on cats much less 72 ft foiling cats going at 4 times their speeds. Now the C Class has essentially become the development class for the Americas Cup-.
Those of us that have been proponents of cat sailing saw this as a natural progression --most traditional sailors --Jobson ie --were resistant to it.
One of the books that first got me interested in Cat sailing was by Reg White from the UK on cataaran racing and experiences racing C Class cats in the early days of the sport.
Here is another nice looking "petite coupe" C Class foiling cat ---
I have a sick feeling in my stomach that we're going yo see that scene from "Wind" come to life, goes something like: "OK, we let you have your fun, now it's time to get serious and let the adults take it (back to monohulls) from here."
Mike
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#264137 09/18/1309:35 AM09/18/1309:35 AM
By chance have you seen someone new to the Moth class attempt to sail one? To say the learning curve is steep is an understatement; my friend who has tons of time driving a F16 (with vast improvement this year I might add), is a formula windsurfer etc. spent about 1 hour in the water for under 1 minute of time on the foils. That time hooked him, but he's waiting for the 2 person version with training wheels.
Good luck on your foiling beach cat design, bring it to a beach near me when it is done!
Scorpion F18
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#264145 09/18/1311:59 AM09/18/1311:59 AM
When the Bladeriders first hit the states, I sold my A-cat and bought one. I was fortunate to have the current world champion as my personal coach for a week at the US Sailing center in Miami.
At the end of the first day I would have sold you the Moth for $1. After 2 days, I was able to ride it more than 30 secs without crashing. After 5 days, I could get it up on foils and keep it there for an extended amount of time.
I brought it back to Lanier and attempted to lake sail it.
Within 6 months I had sold it to buy another A-cat.
I found that it was fantastic to sail it where there was a sea breeze. Sailing it on a lake, not so much...
Re: AC72 Oracle Team USA Spaceship has landed
[Re: P.M.]
#264147 09/18/1312:22 PM09/18/1312:22 PM
![[Linked Image]](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OjhCZsBg7s8/UjnICqW1Y1I/AAAAAAAAmuo/6nGv3PNf0Ls/w487-h865-no/Screenshot_2013-09-17-21-38-02.png)
