Americas Cup

Yes! Awesome stuff, the onboard cameras and helicopters make for some exciting action.

Pretty funny when the grinder from New Zealand fell off the boat and they sailed off without him. Evidently they even have a rule about it that allows the teams to complete the race without all their crew if someone goes overboard.

Watched the whole two hours using the high-def YouTube feed on a 55 inch flat screen. Awesome.

After the fleet racing they had a 500 meter speed run, three attempts each. New Zealand won with a 28 mph average in about 15 mph wind. When these boats race in 20+ it's going to be insane.

I can't wait to see the big boy's come out to play

I made this gfx last year (to scale)

ha! nice pic. I'm reposting.

You guys saw that crash in the windward pin? I think it was Emirates (NZ) ramming someone else and a couple of guys fell off the boat. I unfortunately only saw highlights but looks exciting. Hopefully many the action gets more people into sailing and cat sailing.

This stuff makes F1 car racing look like child play.
I am so glad that the America's Cup is back with catamarans. While tri's are cool too, nothing beats the excitement of cat racing!

~~ Check this out>>>>> http://youtu.be/bJpFueH1wvQ

I wonder how our small fleet of Phoenix 18's would stack up in this? ok ok, we'd get run OVERRRRR...... 😆

I'd love to learn by crewing on Oracle....

Edited by argento102 on Aug 10, 2011 - 06:25 AM.

What is really interesting, for me, is that the boat in front, Artemis, which was on starboard tack when the collision occurred, was disqualified. Watch it again. Both boats are on port tack, Rothschild is set up right on the layline and slightly inside Artemis. Artemis tacks, gets onto starboard tack going verrrrry slowly, Rothschild starts to bear away to miss her and doesn't make it by about 3 feet. Artemis gets a DSQ. I assume for tacking too close. Rothschild, or you or anybody, doesn't have to start to keep clear until the tack is complete and the (new) starboard tack boat is on the right course.

Rules are tougher when you only have three seconds to make an expensive decision.

That is simply amazing racing footage. I cannot believe how hard those two boats smacked into each other. That analogy of it being like Formula one on the ocean is spot on. The state of the art Catamarans with the finest Sailors in the world in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It is simply amazing how fast those boats can go.... I watched the Youtube short on the speed trials and to be able to run 42 knots is just awesome for a sailboat. It really is exciting to watch and I really love the way those beautiful hulls slice thru the water... that has got to be the most exciting sailing to watch anywhere... peace

Pete

42 knots

it was 42 kilometers not knots.. .more like 26 mpg

more like 26 mpg

Would that be gallons of rum Andrew? 😕

More like 26 mph I would guess.

~~ Check this out>>>>> http://youtu.be/bJpFueH1wvQ

Whose fault was that? Why was the black boat protesting? IMHO, they were the ones who were in error.

Oops my bad!! Sure seems like 42 Knots!!

smfinley wrote:

more like 26 mpg

Would that be gallons of rum Andrew? 😕

More like 26 mph I would guess.

YES RUM! thats what i meant! 🙂

ericweller wrote:

~~ Check this out>>>>> http://youtu.be/bJpFueH1wvQ

Whose fault was that? Why was the black boat protesting? IMHO, they were the ones who were in error.

Rothschild despite being in front, did not give room for the other boat before completing it's tack

discussed in detail here - http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=235838&gonew=1#UNREAD

18.2c
When a boat is required to give mark-room by rule 18.2(b), she shall continue to do so even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins. However, if the boat entitled to mark- room passes head to wind or leaves the zone, rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply.

petefromtn wrote: Oops my bad!! Sure seems like 42 Knots!!

I often tell people cat sailing is the fastest 20mph you will ever feel!

I don't doubt that watching the videos makes it seem like they are really flying.. The way the teams work together on the boat is also very impressive. Looks like perfectly organized mayhem!! Also looks like a LOT of work...What is the fastest an 18 foot cat can go so far? Peace

Pete

What is the fastest an 18 foot cat can go so far? Peace

my guess is about 80mph (when dropped from a plane), but thats with the jib furled and the main reefed to reduce drag

What is the fastest an 18 foot cat can go so far? Peace

We had GPS data showing consistently over 20mph on a 20' cat. And that is a 30 year old Supercat design, so I am sure the newer boats are faster.

Well in that light I guess that is just plain SMOKIN'!! There is a fellow up north of me who has a supercat for sale but it has a bent mast.... I NEARLY bought it but that damn mast is pretty pricey. It was nice to see the American boats come in first and third on the second day but they kinda flopped the speed run. Those New Zealanders are really doing well and that damn boat of theirs just plain hauls butt!!

It's awesome that these boats are practically floating TV studios, so high-def video from all angles. All this AC45 sailing is really just a rehearsal for the real thing!

New Zealanders are really doing well and that damn boat of theirs just plain hauls butt!!

all the boats are the same.. its all about the skipper and crew

all the boats are the same

That is like saying all F18's are the same isn't it? I bet they all have their own little tweaks. Or do they walk up and pick a different boat each race? 🙂

But yes skipper and crew is likely the biggest difference.

They are built to the exact Formula rules (i think) but of course they all have little tweaks. Just like to F18 fighterjets, or 2 porches

The Alter Cup is a neat deal... 10 same boats.. rigged the same and 10 skippers. they switch boats throughout all the racing. and it can be different make/model of boat year to year

The AC45's were all built together in New Zealand as one design boats (I guess really One Manufacture One Deisgns) and then delivered to the teams for assembly and decoration. To say the boats arrived (in 40 foot shipping containers) with "some assembly required" is an understatement.

One account of assembly:
http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Artemis-Racing/Latest/News/2011/3/Artemis-Racings-AC45-almost-complete/

Pictures of construction:
http://valenciayacht.blogspot.com/2011/01/ac-45-construction-photos.html

So I'm sure each team has there own ideas about fitting out the boats, and sponsors to satisfy in the selection of lines and pieces. It also sounds like the final assembly of the wing masts would take some skill, I'm not sure if they had outside technicians for that. They have to apply the heat shrink plastic to create the wing surface.

Scary to think what that container full of boat parts cost. Would love to have one dropped off at my doorstep though 🙂

Great links Damon.

Gotta be one of the coolest looking boats on the water anywhere. I gotta say tho that the videos I have seen of that hydrofoil Trimaran that holds the world record for sailing speed is pretty amazing looking.... I believe it is called Le Hydroptere' Amazing what a sail can achieve these days... peace

Last years boats were pretty damn sexy too!

I am more a cat than multi-hull guy but WOW~

As awesome as the AC45's are, the 72's are going to be un-freaking-believable. The fully developed 130 foot wing masts, crossing tacks at a closing speed pushing 100 mph! I couldn't find a reference as to how many crew the fullsize AC boats will use, couldn't be still five?

Can someone hook me up to ride in the passenger basket at the back of the boat?