This weekend a lot of you probably saw the live coverage of the Americas Cup World Series, raced on the cool beasts called AC45's.
We are lucky that our "West Coast Reporter" and professional photographer Jeremy Leonard was on the scene to take a really nice sequence of the pitchpole crash and recovery. He has allowed me to create an album for the pics in Beachcats Situations.
Take a look here.
http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures/?g2_itemId=91256
During a fleet racing on Saturday Oct. 6th, 2012 team USA Spithill managed to completely pitchpole the wing mast monster in the middle of the fleet all lined up for the start.
What is even more amazing is that they were able to right the boat (with two high-power RIB's) without damage before all of the fleet had even rounded the first downwind mark. They got a DNF for that race but were ready for the next one and took 2nd place.
Then on Sunday they handily won the fleet race to win the week fleet racing, oh, and then they beat up on Team New Zealand in the Match Race final and won the Match Racing as well.
These guys are good, but even they can make a big mistake.
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Damon Linkous
This was reported on another forum:
"Unconfirmed Rumor: The capsize at this weekends Americas Cup was due to a sheet (rope) around neck of a crew member at mark rounding. Sheet cut by other crew member, who also cuts his finger. Ensuing capsize due to crew off station. Researching now."
I (MN3) also saw a link where the cut finger was mentioned (bleeding everywhere) by the skipper (James Spithill) but no mention of a neck ... so really Unconfirmed but i have heard of injured star sailors going home with injuries... not for the weak at heart
MN3
I love watching these boats race. Just wish I could be on the West coast to watch them. I hate to hear someone got hurt during the pitchpole, but it is not very surprising given the speed, size and power of these boats. Great pictures!
Scott
Hobie 18M in Chicago
Personally I find the AC stuff getting incredibly boring, can't watch another 'Moet Moment.' Too much of a good thing is still 'too much!' Didn't watch any of the latest event........... I was out sailing. Maybe I'll watch the 72's race for a bit next year, but I suspect the announcers and video editing will still suck.
havliii wrote: Personally I find the AC stuff getting incredibly boring, can't watch another 'Moet Moment.' Too much of a good thing is still 'too much!' Didn't watch any of the latest event........... I was out sailing. Maybe I'll watch the 72's race for a bit next year, but I suspect the announcers and video editing will still suck.
The coverage was stellar. The announcers were terrible. I simply turn on the surround sound and mute the center channel (announcers). that way i hear the wind, the water, the mic-ed up skippers and crew....
worth going to Youtube and watching the fleet races again..
MN3
Enjoy it while you can! My guess is it will 'die on the vine' after the AC is finished next year.
Ever watch a pro golfer whiff a shot? Well, read this story about the Energy boat 'drifting away', 'unattended', 'at night', makes these guys look like real duffers.
havliii wrote: Ever watch a pro golfer whiff a shot? Well, read this story about the Energy boat 'drifting away', 'unattended', 'at night', makes these guys look like real duffers.
I'll give you that, but it also reinforces the stereotype of Americans as a bunch of litigious a$$holes.
I really enjoy the coverage of the races, but I watch soccer too. I apparently find the boring sports very exciting.